By Nikki Bordokas
Staff Writer
Justin Timberlake has come a long way since his days as a member of the boy band ‘NSync. For over a decade, the American public (especially “tween” girls) has seen Timberlake grow from a boy band sensation to a solo pop heart-throb and an A-list actor.
With his new album “The 20/20 Experience” comes a new, more mature Timberlake, drawing from his R&B and pop background while attempting to add a new sophistication to his career.
“The 20/20 Experience” may only be Justin Timberlake’s third solo album, but it comes with quite a large amount of publicity and anticipation as Timberlake’s return to music. The album was announced in early January, and the first single, “Suit & Tie,” was released just a few weeks later to much acclaim.
Anticipation for the album continued to grow with Timberlake performing at the Grammys, as well as “Saturday Night Live.”
As expected from Timberlake, the album is catchy, combining Timberlake’s mastery of pop from earlier in his career with newly found R&B roots.
However, the album at points seems very contrived and forced. Timberlake is clearly making sure his audience understands that he is classier now, and just as he has had a respected acting career, he should have a sophisticated music career as well.
The single “Suit & Tie” encapsulates the idea of sophistication Timberlake is striving for. The song features a slow build up, leading to a bubbly chorus (similar to something on a Bruno Mars song). The song is the perfect single: it shows the new rebirth of Timberlake while also demonstrating that he still kept his original sound.
The track also features rapping from Jay-Z, a nice relief from Timberlake’s use of Timbaland on his previous album, “Future/Sex Love Songs.” Though Jay-Z’s verse isn’t anything spectacular, his contribution as a whole is. Featuring such an esteemed rapper shows that Timberlake can hang in there, even after such a hiatus. Though Timberlake’s presence in the music sphere has never been questioned, Jay-Z brings even more validation to Timberlake’s merit and helps his goal of reaching higher level of maturity.
Another interesting aspect of the album is the overall length the songs; many reach the seven-minute mark. Although some songs seem too long (most notably “Don’t Hold the Wall”), most are able to use the time to become more dynamic and interesting. With parts of the album bordering on ambient spaciness, the length and complexity of each track displays Timberlake’s significant growth as a musician.
The highlights of the album come in the latter half. “The Girl,” “Tunnel Vision” and “Spaceship Coupe” reintroduce Timberlake as the classy gentleman he has become. When so much of pop is compiled of heartbreak songs, it is refreshing to hear a positive, more innocent look on love.
Ultimately, the album is a fantastic listen and reinstitutes Timberlake as a master of pop. For being in a genre that has changed tremendously with the introduction of beat-heavy and dubstep- influenced songs (just look at Taylor Swift’s musical progression), Timberlake successfully retains his sound and identity, something rare these days.
Timberlake announced that “The 20/20 Experience” is only the first part, and that the “second half” of the album will be released in November.
“The 20/20 Experience” is available at most music retail stores as well as a digital download for $9.99.
Leave a Reply