The Cookbook
- Missy Elliott
- Band Name: Missy Elliott
- Record Label: Atlantic
- Release Date: Jul 5, 2005
- Critic Score
- Most active
- Publication
- Most clicked
-
100Her adventurous and, yes, massive, persona is allowed to wander wherever it wants on The Cookbook, be it avant or common.
-
It's vital beginning to end--vital even when it's misguided.
-
90While other albums may have been more groundbreaking, none have been as excitable or infectious.
-
This is one helluva party LP.
-
What's different here is how relaxed Elliott is, how willing she seems to simply go with what comes naturally and sounds best.
-
80If not Elliott's most inventive album, The Cookbook is certainly her most colourful and entertaining. [Aug 2005, p.124]
-
80The Cookbook is a convincing return to form.
-
Despite the absence of Timbo, Elliott continues to do what she does best: cross-fertilizing genres, geographies and temporalities and continuing to transform her musical identity without sacrificing any authenticity.
-
Proves incontrovertibly that she doesn't need Timbaland's beat mastery to create a compelling album.
-
"The Cookbook" plays like a party mix tape. [4 Jul 2005]
-
While not as strong as some of her earlier albums, it does rectify the mistakes found on "This is Not a Test" and show that far from stagnating Missy is growing as an artist both in front of and behind the mixing board.
-
75Six albums in, Missy's recipe for success is still pretty fresh.
-
The Cookbook leaves the exact same impression on its listener as every Missy album since Supa Dupa Fly. She may have changed the recipe, but the dish tastes the same.
-
The pages of this cookbook are a primer on how Missy let her head get fat.
-
70Though it could use some portion control, "The Cookbook" still whips up a tasty meal.
-
The results of this musical promiscuity are mixed, but The Cookbook yields far more bangers than bombs.
-
68Like an untethered spouse suddenly separated from a longtime love, Elliott seems a bit lost somewhere between her intimidating past and her newfound independence.
-
67Behind all the ridonkulous disses and boasts, Missy sounds a bit unsure of herself. [Jul 2005, p.97]
-
An over-baked confection that falls well below its primary chef's abilities.
-
Lacks the usual innovative spice. [10 Jul 2005]
-
60You'd probably want Missy to wash her hands before she got anywhere near a real kitchen if this album is anything to go by. The perv.
-
60The production lacks [Timbaland's] invention and intricacy. [Aug 2005, p.87]
-
60For every killer raise-your-hands hook there is a snoozer of an SWV-esque torch ballad, and she can't seem to tell the difference. [Jul 2005, p.116]
-
Elliott's least cohesive, most conventional album yet.
-
60While a few of these efforts fail in the funk department, the album never sounds derivative. [Sep 2005, p.230]
-
60While not every cut is a winner, Elliott does a fairly consistent job of gaining the listener's attention through her outrageous lyrics and performance style.
-
50This is very much a fans only album, much like Missy's other efforts.
-
While Elliott's lyrics have always been racy, this disc's uninspired musical foundation makes repellent lines... vulgar rather than playfully profane. [8 Jul 2005, p.66]
prev
next
Page:
- 1
User score distribution:
-
Positive: 16 out of 18
-
Mixed: 0 out of 18
-
Negative: 2 out of 18
-
JewelMartini8Missy is Missy, with or without Tim. She did her thing. I woulda nixed the wack slow jams though. Missy's strength is party hits.
-
ShaniquaP9
-
mars889despite a few cheest love songs, this is one grooby botty -movin' cd!!