Yahoo! Music Album Review

Released on 04/07/05
Label: Atlantic

In her nine year career, Missy Elliott's barely put a foot wrong. And she's not about to start with album number six. So called because it reflects all the different 'flavours' that make-up the one-woman rap juggernaut, "The Cook Book" throws out a staggering array of dishes to savour; a rich and varied selection of bitter, sweet, subtle and Day-Glo. At points it's the bravest thing she's done, but not for the reasons you'd expect. At others, it's standard issue Missy: innovative, head-spinning and like nothing else out there. But it's far from a regular Missy Elliott album.

The most obvious difference is the infrequent mention in the credits of the man who co-authored her re-writing the hip hop handbook, Tim 'Timbaland' Mosley. Their near mutually exclusive relationship of demonic cyber beats and off-kilter raps may have been responsible for some of rap's most inventive moments, but here his skittering contributions are scaled back to just two appearances: the minimalist bounce of "Joy" and the hyperactive "Party Time". While both are suitably exceptional, the fact that there aren't more like them is actually "The Cookbook"'s greatest strength.

On previous albums, Elliott and Timbaland have consistently wowed with their constant stream of genius. On the downside, their unrelenting barrage of dank stutters has on occasion led to a monotonal blur; one staggering idea being hard to distinguish from the next. Clearly not short of her own ideas, and being in possession of a rampant imagination, the decision to enlist other producers and collaborators to change things up is the best she's made.

The net result is her most eclectic set to date. The Neptunes wade in with the floor-shaking stomp, "On & On", a shout-out thud complete with sci-fi sound effects. Mary J Blige lends her world worn soul to "My Struggles"'s '60s ghetto strut, "Can't Stop" thunders in like a deck spinning party anthem and "We Run This" samples The Sugarhill Gang's version of "Apache" for a furious bongo bashing, cartoon anthem.

While other albums may have been more groundbreaking, none have been as excitable or infectious. Nor indeed more adventurous. And nowhere is that more evident than on the clutch of pure R&B tracks, where she abandons her turbo charged rap in favour of simple, but supremely effective singing. Previously she's added harmonies to soften her blow. On old-skool duet with Slick Rick, "Irresistible Delicious" and the loved-up "Remember When", she develops it into blissfully warble smooching. For "Teary Eyed", she goes one further and delivers bruised soul to wrench at the heart strings.

With a reputation as rap's leading lady to protect, it's a brave move to step out on her own and try some many different things. But then if there's one thing Missy knows, it's how not to disappoint.

    by Mark Daniels