Search - Missy Elliott :: Under Construction Spec Ed

"Under Construction" - Pretty Dam Close To Perfect!

CrazyWhacko_88 | Not Telling You :P | 12/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"I never thought I'd ever respect or even listen to Missy Elliott, but here I am to say that I actually do. Why else would I be reviewing her critically and commercially successful studio album, "Under Construction"? With the help of long-time partner/super-producer Timbaland, a star-studded guest list (Method Man, Ludacris, Ms. Jade, Beyonce, etc.) and recurring background vocals from long-forgotten, multi-talented R&B songstress/eventual-ex-protégé Tweet, Missy Elliott continues to prove why she's made it this far. She's a fierce rapper, a more-than-capable singer, she writes her own songs (not to mention others), she's an excellent producer, she continues to push the creative boundaries of Hip-Hop music, she never seems to be afraid to try something new, she's a representative of sorts for females (mainly female empowerment) and even amidst all the sweaty, energetic party records she continues to pump out, she always seems to have something important to say. Without a doubt, "Under Construction", her 4th studio album, serves as proof of this multi-talented phenomenon's brilliance.



Of course there's the club-banging, role-reversing smash hit "Work It", where Missy Elliott matches her male counterparts in unapologetically raunchy come-ons and unswathed sexuality over Timbaland's minimalist beat & DJ scratching (on another note, try finding another track that incoprates the sound of a wailing elephant and a line that is literally rewound for some neatly catchy gibberish) ; Funk-inflected, old-school Hip-Hop jams come in the form of the somewhat-raunchy "Bring The Pain", the nostalgic "Back In The Day" & the weird-as-hell "Funky Fresh Dressed", featuring a drug-sex-hungry Method Man, the always-dope Jay-Z and long-forgotten female rapper Ms. Jade, respectively ; "Gossip Folks", featuring Ludacris dropping an autobiographical verse about rising to the top, is Missy's obvious ode to haters and non-believers ; on the suitably titled "Hot", Missy Elliott mercilessly takes more stabs at haters and competitors far below over more of Timbaland's minimalist, old-school-inflected, bouncy beats ; and the synth-heavy ballad "Ain't That Funny" finds Missy Elliott venting out on a no-good lover with unbridled vengeance and emotional intensity.



Even when Missy Elliott decides to position herself as a victim of love, the results oddly work - the sensuously raunchy ballad "P****cat", Missy desperately tries to improve her sex life so her man's eyes and/or affection don't wander elsewhere; and on "Play That Beat", another minimalist, old-school-inflected jam, Missy uses her sweet vocals and promising come-ons to display her dedication and love for her man. Then there's the stellar album closer "Can Your Hear Me", a beautiful ballad where Missy & T.L.C. pay tribute to Aaliyah, Left Eye and, to less extensive degrees, other past artists like Big Daddy Kane.



Unfortunately, there is a few small tads of filler. The romantic ballad "Nothing Out There For Me", a surprising Beyonce/Missy Elliott duet about the former artist choosing her man over the latter artist's pleas to join her in the club, finds Beyonce occupying more time on the track than Missy herself, but the song itself is a bit of a drag musically ; "Slide" is nothing more than Missy's celebration of materialism and self-aggrandizement over a heavy, slinky beat ; the synth-heavy/drum-driven album opener "Go To The Floor" (excluding the introductory skit) lacks the fire of the album's other club tracks ; and the tacked-on remix of "Work It" is no different to the original, except for the fact that an obligatorily misogynistic verse from 50 Cent shows that not even he can outdo Missy on her own track.



Nonetheless, this is a very solid album which, despite inflections of Funk, R&B, Pop & Electro, remains firmly grounded in Hip-Hop and is well worth the investment. 4 stars!



5 Best Tracks:

"Work It"

"Gossip Folks (feat. Ludacris)"

"Back In The Day (feat. Jay-Z)

"Funky Fresh Dressed (feat. Ms. Jade)"

"Bring The Pain (feat. Method Man)"

"

4.5 stars

W. E. Phillips | USA | 12/07/2006

(4 out of 5 stars)

"In my eyes, this is Missy's second best album. (Her first best being the near flawless, Da Real World, even though it's hard to compare the two because they have two completely different sounds.)



The production on here is top-notch as expected, and her rhymes have improved immensely. Every single song on here is excellent, especially tracks like "Back In The Day" and "Gossip Folks." There are alos quite a few R&B cuts that are very nice and balance the album out.



This album has a lot of inspiration from the starting days of hip hop, and it can be seen. I think this is essential to everyone's collection who loves hip hop."

Very solid in spots although a few songs make it a spotty al

Adrian the Complex Lonely | USA | 02/03/2008

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Missy has been around since the mid-nineties and she's NOT going anywhere. I don't know how well the Cookbook sold but it had some solid songs too (Teary-Eyed, Meltdown & Lose Control). My Struggles was also a standout although it was mainly saved from being mediocre by an appearance from Mary and sampled from one of her songs).



But this album is a throwback in a way: Work It, Gossip Folks and Funky Fresh Dressed (3rd and final single) were all old-school based, as far as the videos.



All which made solid songs. Adding to the mix was Nothin' Out There For Me, Pussycat (my FAVORITE song here, and favorite EVER by her), Back In The Day, Ain't It Funny, Bring The Pain Feat. Method Man!, Play That Beat and Work It (Remix). The only missteps were Slide and the average Can You Hear Me, which has meaning but falls flat.



If you love Missy Elliot, PLEASE add this to YOUR collection. (:



Cover Art: B- (was the FIRST time I saw her with excess weight OFF!)

Inside Art: B (nice to see her the way she's always wanted to be; comfortable with herself)

Songwriting: C+ (spotty but good sometimes)

Vocals: C- (love when she sings)

Vocal Emotion: F+

Vocal Acrobatics: D-

Production: B-

Length: A+



4.25 stars."