User ratings in Music are temporarily disabled. More info

The Cookbook
by
  • Record Label:
  • Release Date:
The Cookbook Image
Metascore
74

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.5

Universal acclaim- based on 35 Ratings

  • Summary: Slick Rick, The Neptunes, M.I.A., Tweet and Mary J. Blige are among the guests on Elliott's first new disc in two years. Longtime collaborator Timbaland produces just two tracks here.

Top Track

Lose Control
Music make you lose control Music make you lose control Let's go, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey Here we go now, here we go now Here we go now, here... See the rest of the song lyrics
See Full Track List »
Powered by

Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 20 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 28
  3. Negative: 0 out of 28
  1. Stylus Magazine
    100
    Her adventurous and, yes, massive, persona is allowed to wander wherever it wants on The Cookbook, be it avant or common.
  2. New Musical Express (NME)
    80
    This is one helluva party LP.
  3. The Guardian
    80
    The Cookbook is a convincing return to form.
  4. Village Voice
    70
    The results of this musical promiscuity are mixed, but The Cookbook yields far more bangers than bombs.
  5. Spin
    67
    Behind all the ridonkulous disses and boasts, Missy sounds a bit unsure of herself. [Jul 2005, p.97]
    All this publication's reviews
  6. PopMatters
    60
    While 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.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    42
    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]
    All this publication's reviews

See all 28 Critic Reviews

User Reviews

Write a Review
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 19 out of 22
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 22
  3. Negative: 2 out of 22
  1. BIGMAN22
    Mar 1, 2016
    10
    Missy Elliot has built a career of making music that you cant enough of and can dance to. here even without Timbaland on all the tracks sheMissy Elliot has built a career of making music that you cant enough of and can dance to. here even without Timbaland on all the tracks she still finds producers that can make the tracks enjoyable. another fine piece of work added to her wonderful discography.… Expand
  2. NateS
    Jul 22, 2005
    10
    Missy is back on top and I'm lovin it. "This is Not A Test" was pretty great, but in retrospect it seems that perhaps the Timbo-Missy Missy is back on top and I'm lovin it. "This is Not A Test" was pretty great, but in retrospect it seems that perhaps the Timbo-Missy collaboration was starting to get a bit too comfortable. Mixing it up with new producers was just the kick that Missy needed to create this, her best album of recent times. The ballads pack a wallop, the sex talk is dirty as ever, and the club bangers will get people out on the dance floor. Awesome.… Expand
  4. MalcolmS
    Sep 1, 2005
    10
    This CD is Supa Dupa Fly Pt. II, No Jokes. At first i was mad b/c Missy didnt have her usual Timbaland Produced CD but, Missy survived This CD is Supa Dupa Fly Pt. II, No Jokes. At first i was mad b/c Missy didnt have her usual Timbaland Produced CD but, Missy survived without the help of her life-time partner, and does a great job at it too.… Expand
  5. Cory
    Jul 12, 2005
    9
    The Cookbook is a compilation of rich recipes, varying from high-energy beats to good, old school R&B rhythms. The more noticeable tracks The Cookbook is a compilation of rich recipes, varying from high-energy beats to good, old school R&B rhythms. The more noticeable tracks are: Lose Control, On and On (done remarkably by Pharell of the Neptunes), My Struggles, Mommy, Meltdown, and Can't Stop. The track by Timbaland that stood out the most is "Joy". Some of the tracks like "Partytime" and "4 My Man" (with Fantasia) lack the spice that the others do. The record doesn't succeed the ultimate "Miss E... So Addictive" but The Cookbook is near perfect with only a few flaws in the recipe.… Expand
  6. mars88
    Sep 29, 2005
    9
    despite a few cheest love songs, this is one grooby botty -movin' cd!!
  7. NickD.
    Sep 2, 2005
    8
    Missy has her very own style, and you can either love it or hate it completely. If you're open to new concepts, you should be able to at Missy has her very own style, and you can either love it or hate it completely. If you're open to new concepts, you should be able to at least appreciate Missy's originality and slick party songs.… Expand
  8. bobdylan
    Sep 10, 2005
    0
    missy misses (get it ???) the point on this album, falling flat on her fat ass

See all 22 User Reviews

Current Music Releases

Full List »
99 Band on the Run [50th Anniversary Edition] - Paul McCartney & Wings
95 The Sky Will Still Be There Tomorrow - Charles Lloyd
92 This Could Be Texas - English Teacher
92 COWBOY CARTER - Beyoncé
91 The Carnegie Hall Concert - Alice Coltrane
90 THE TORTURED POETS DEPARTMENT - Taylor Swift
90 1989 (Taylor's Version) - Taylor Swift
90 Iechyd Da - Bill Ryder-Jones
89 I Got Heaven - Mannequin Pussy
89 Black Bayou - Robert Finley
89 Tigers Blood - Waxahatchee
89 Only God Was Above Us - Vampire Weekend
88 Ozarker - Israel Nash
88 What Now - Brittany Howard
88 Hey Panda - The High Llamas
88 Orquídeas - Kali Uchis
88 The Past Is Still Alive - Hurray for the Riff Raff
87 Filthy Underneath - Nadine Shah
87 i/o - Peter Gabriel
87 Lahai - Sampha
All Current Music »