The Agency's Posts

Treasure trove of George Harrison music unwrapped: Olivia Harrison and a few trusted collaborators are going through the guitarist's massive archive....
Read More>

Cast makes 'Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' shine: A comedy-drama saved by the casting bell,"The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel"arranges....
Read More>

Greg Allman: A Memoir That Brims With Truth and Hurt: Any one of Gregg Allman’s stories about his life could lure a reader into his new memoir,....
Read More>

THE AVENGERS SMASH BOX OFFICE RECORDS: In a strong start to Hollywood’s summer movie season the superhero team in “Marvel&r
Read More>

Sleep' author lets kids in on fun: A year ago, Adam Mansbach was an award-winning novelist and aspiring screenwriter wrapping....
Read More>

Movie review: In 'The Avengers,' a Marvel-ous team: Joss Whedon pulls off a heroic feat in making the superheroes of 'The Avengers' work together.....
Read More>

Reliving Days (and Lyrics) When No One Got Along: ‘Uprising: Hip Hop and the L.A. Riots,’ on VH1 wenty years ago Los Angeles was....
Read More>

Blunt approach to film? Be real: The star of 'The Five-Year Engagement' and 'Your Sister's Sister' says her recent roles have shown....
Read More>

DARK NIGHT RISES: LONDON — The University of London’s stolidSenate Houseechoes with secrets and....
Read More>

With 'The Pirates! Band of Misfits,' the treasure's in the details: High seas farce plunders laughs from a silly and frantic plot about pirates Maniacally....
Read More>

Johnny Depp on Jonathan Frid: "elegant and magical": LOS ANGELES (TheWrap.com) -Johnny Depppaid tribute to his "Dark Shadows" predecessor....
Read More>

Steve Harvey's relationship rules come to amusing life in 'Think Like a Man': Relaxed yet lively, the byplay in"Think Like a Man"has some of the spark of....
Read More>

Prime-Time Ratings Bring Speculation of a Shift in Habits: It is the police procedural that has network executives scratching their heads this season: The....
Read More>
Snap Judgment: Missy Elliott/Timbaland's "9th Inning," "Triple Threat"
Posted on: 09/18/12
Share/Save/Bookmark
 

At the end of "Triple Threat," one of two new singles Missy Elliott and Timbaland released online Monday, Elliot declares: "All we do is make hits, and if you want a hit, maybe we’ll return your call." 

That's a bold statement from an MC that hasn't released a full-length since 2005 and a producer whose most recent output is a scattershot series of collaboration records. But that's how devoted fans have been to the Elliot/Timbaland chemistry -- when they work their together, their hits hit harder than just about anyone's.

Unfortunately, Elliot might have spoken too soon -- neither of these tracks sound like obvious hits out of the gate. Of course, any news that Missy Elliott is back to rapping and that her long-awaited full length "Block Party" might be impending is most welcome. But all of her strengths -- the vocal dexterity, sexed-up swagger and sheer amount of fun she sounds like she has rapping -- are almost absent from these gothic, heavy tracks.

"9th Inning" is supposed to be Elliott's statement of purpose here: "2012 there be no games, / real rap, real bars, I’m not playing." After a year when Nicki Minaj spent half her album diving into the champagne bubble bath of radio trance and Azealia Banks is denying she's even a rapper at all, it's refreshing to have Elliott back making steely threats to own hip-hop again.

But this track isn't it --- the piano flurry and soggy minor-key churn play exactly against what she does best, which is put her vocal charisma front and center. "9th Inning" is both too busy and too turgid to ever let her take off, and that's a mistake for an artist as fun to listen to as Elliott.

All the talk of the duo's boundless innovation and hit-making prowess is forever warranted. Elliott has one gold and five platinum albums that never sounded like less than a space-age hip-hop utopia. But these tracks should be showing, not telling, their brilliance -- and these singles feel more like lectures than jams.

COMMENTS
Be the first to post a comment!


Post A Comment:




  • It's 2020! Start booking roles in commercials, fashion, films, theater and more with The Agency Online!

  • NEW WORKSHOP with Barbara Barna & Sean De Simone!

    Hi Everyone and Happy Summer! Sean at Sean De Simone casting and Barbara Barna are teaming up for a super informative and fun Hosting for Home Shopping workshop. A great opportunity for established or experienced TV Hosts and Experts interested in learning how to get noticed and how to get in....
  • MASTERCLASS W. Robin Carus & David John Madore

    A Special Offer for the Agency Community, from one of our favorite NYC Casting Directors! EMAIL FacetheMusicWithUs@gmail.com Or Eventbrite To Sign Up! Class Size is Limited.
  • Don't Fall Into The Comparison Trap

    Hi Everyone! As the second installment in an ongoing series of features by the Agency's amazing community, here's some sage advice from our own Regina Rockensies; a humble (& awesome)veteran we've had the pleasure of working with for a long time. Have an excellent week! : ) - The Agency....
  • One Model's Agreement

    Hi Everyone! As the first piece in an ongoing series of original articles by the Agency community, here's a short reflection on some of the values of professional acting & modeling that we can all keep in mind for our next casting. Good luck on your castings &shoots this week! : ) -....




 
home       castings&news       privacy policy       terms and conditions      contact us      browser tips
Official PayPal Seal