Justin Timberlake is a savior amongst the entertainment industry. Ok, that may be dramatic, but did you enjoy
an episode of SNL when he wasn't
hosting? Didn't think so. We've seen him
go from that platinum-frosted, curly-haired kid in the ultimate boy band to a
pillar in the most unlikely genre, hip-hop.
As the music scene moved on, so did JT.
While we loved his movies, well the later ones (remember Alpha Dog?), we missed his music. He brought sexy back (ha!) in 2006 and then
let sexy get ruined by the likes of Justin Beiber. Now, a mere 7 years (which feel like an eternity)
later, JT roared back, in that roaring '20s way, with the ultimate 20/20 Experience.
The album's lead single, "Suit and Tie" is an
R&B romp that echoes a little Prince and a little Marvin Gaye. Complete with a verse by Jay-Z, the song is
"classy" in the sense that it's slick, from production to lyrical
delivery and overall sound. It's by no
means grand, as Timberlake leaves that to other tracks on the record, but its
up-tempo slow burn proves that the Experience
isn't a race, but a marathon.
The record is glued together with brilliant use of horns and
band orchestration, much like the opening credits of an Irving Berlin love
story. Timberlake establishes himself as
the band leader, the Sinatra or Martin of the millennium. As one track melts and forms another, a funk
riff turns into a Moroccan-style drum beat like on "Don't Hold the
Wall." His long-time collaborator
Timbaland lends his strengths in sound manipulation to each track, turning a
soft lullaby into a stomp-along, punctuating beats with narration. "Strawberry Bubblegum" and "Spaceship
Coupe" project the album as a live album, conjuring the black and white
images Timberlake wants into the minds of the listener. A true manifestation of sounds and self, what Timberlake and Timbaland have is
special, if not as innovative as one would like.
The record seems effortless in its intricacy, making no
effort to produce a mainstream club banger, yet that makes all the
difference. "Tunnel Vision"
and "Let the Groove In" (in all its Gloria Estefan-esque, Latin
glory) reflect the passion of the old JT, the dancer, arguably the ultimate
performer of the past decade. But where 20/20 Experience shines is Timberlake's
magnetism and unabashed celebration of love and marriage (kudos, Jessica Biel,
kudos). It's gentle in its encompassing
neo-soul atmosphere, but packs a punch in Timberlake's passionate and
captivating croon.
Yet, not even the return of Justin Timberlake is
perfect. Even at its most diverse
moments, and maybe Timberlake's most artistically reaching moments, it
falls. This is not the record where
eventual hits are going to reach out and grab you. And while this approach may
be new for Timberlake, the sounds itself are not. And as the end nears, Timberlake himself
sounds to get bored with the fading, sounds-like-it-should-be-an-Imogene Heap-lullaby,
"Blue Ocean Floor."
It's a solid return for pop's renaissance man. It's familiar yet refreshing in a time where
dubstep and dance-pop have been ruling the air waves. It's pure and intimate in ways that pop
culture hasn't seen or heard in awhile.
If a funky, soul injection was all we needed, I'm glad it's Justin
Timberlake who's supplying. **8.5/10
