I never thought I would actually look forward to reviewing a Justin Timberlake album. I still find it hard to push out of my mind that NSYNC was a thing. The boy band era is long over now, and Justin Timberlake has clearly come into his own as an artist since then.
However, the 20/20 Experience is not something completely new or estranged from its roots in early 2000's pop music. Every now and again you do actually hear the same quiet aside "Take em to the bridge" from "Sexyback" on Futuresex/Lovesounds, but it is cohesive and spectacular in its own way. Plus who really get tired of 2000's pop music. Like a finely crafted suit; even after many wears it will still impress.
In many ways, this album rejoices in its predictability. To me, It basically begs the question: if something isn't original, but is still executed with expert precision, is there anything wrong with that? Like when JT takes the love/drug cliche in "Pusher Love" and plays it out for 8 minutes until it basically implodes, or the song "That Girl" with its crisp 70's, soul style, brass. Yes we have heard these themes many times before, but that doesn't make them less true, or less appealing to me. The 20/20 Experience serves as a reminder of why we love these old tropes: they are simple and they are beautiful.
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| Plus we have all had enough surprises from JT in the past. |
A sense of familiarity also manifests itself in the song lengths. Most of them clock in around 7-8 minutes, which is a gutsy move, but he pulls it off with smooth transitions, catchy hooks, and glitzy instrumentation. He is much more comfortable here than on Futuresex/Lovesounds, where I found that most of the songs became stale far before they ended. These tracks are long enough that you could easily memorize the choruses on one listen, which means that if each song didn't have strong, catchy lyrics, this album would have fallen flat on its face...hard. At least it wouldn't have broken its glasses!..hah 20/20 vision.
That being said, its not like the beats can't stand on their own. They are spectacular and grandiose, and they borrow from many different worlds of music. The track "Don't Hold the Wall" has a very salsa inspired drum beat. The muted arpeggio in the song "Tunnel Vision" sounds like something Flying Lotus could have produced. The backwards strings in the song "Blue Ocean Floor" are just sublime, and set against JT's silky voice, the whole effect is otherworldly. However, as I listen to this album more and more, I honestly wonder where the 20/20 Experience will get played. It's not high energy enough for a club, and its consistently too long for the radio. I normally wouldn't ask this question, but since it's a pop album, I feel compelled to. The songs are unquestionably meant for dancing, but their control of energy makes me think that only a trained dancer could handle them in a performance; someone like Justin Timberlake. Which I think really validates the album's name. Is is an experience, like some gargantuan piece of musical theater.
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| And I have always wanted to hear more from The Pusher |
Once Justin Timberlake sticks into a groove he doesn't let go of it. He gives each song its own time to run its course. It is a testament to his self confidence and it also serves as a metaphor for the love and commitment that he praises constantly. Because above all, this album is about love, not the "Hey I just bought you the on-special highball, so let's we go fuck in a dark corner of the club" kind of love that most pop stars relish, rather the "Hey I taped Grey's Anatomy for you so we can watch it while i give you a foot massage" love. That classic stuff.
Discussion!
- Are the lyrics too bogged down in cliche to carry deeper meaning for you?
- Can you dig into the song lengths? or do you find them becoming boring?
- Does Justin Timberlake's past identity as a boy band member make it hard for you to take him seriously as an artist?
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