Album Review: Justin Timberlake - The 20/20 Experience

By request, I'm reviewing the nearly platinum selling new album from one Mr. Justin Timberlake.  It been a long time since we've heard any music from the man, he took a break from music to star in number of mediocre to okay movies.  Personally, I kind of dug Timberlake's two prior albums.  Solid production from Timberland and The Neptunes helped him churn out solid tracks that pleased pretty much everyone.  She might not have done it when you were around, but I bet your own mom knew SexyBack.

I'm coming in to this review totally fresh.  I haven't even heard Suit & Tie, aside from a snippet on a Bud Light Platinum commercial.

We start out with track 1 "Pusher Love Girl," continuing the "love is like a drug" theme from the last album (ex LoveStoned).  Unimpressive lyrics and a chorus sung in Timberlake's falsetto, leading to a snooze of a bridge.  This is an unimpressive start to the album.  The production is nice, but it's kind of dull.  It also clocks in at a self indulgent eight minutes long.  That's approaching Mars Volta song length.  Around five minutes it switches up and sounds a bit more... fun, but it's still nothing special.  This is the loop that the live band plays as they're being introduced near the end of the concert before they break into their little solos.

On to track 2, "Suit & Tie."  I could do without the first 45 seconds of the track.  Slowed down vocal samples are tired.  Getting past that, I can see why it was picked as the first single.  This is an enjoyable track.  Very Robin Thicke, which is ok by me, since Mr. Thicke has been carrying on the mantle of blue eyed soul since Timberlake disappeared.  Jay-Z's verse isn't great, he sounds kind of bored and the lyrics sounds recycled from other verses he's dropped.  I guess an appearance by a rapper is a requirement these days, since Justin has to show he's still "down," especially after the whole Janet Jackson Super Bowl debacle.

"Don't Hold The Wall" is the first track that has hallmarks of the classic Timberland sound in the beat (in this case, his voice appearing as part of the beat).  This track is a style departure from the prior two tracks, with a cool drum and Indian female singing sample that give it a nice feel.  Right until around 4:45.  The song should have ended before the "How do you like it" voice samples cuts in.  I think I'm going to see a trend of these songs just going on for too long.  These tracks average out to around 7 minutes apiece.  I'm not against longer songs, but on an R&B/pop album, I'm looking for concise tunes that don't wear out their welcome.  These track so far have made me want to hit next around minute 5.

Track four is "Strawberry Bubblegum."  Starts off wasting 45 seconds with a pointless intro, before heading into a track that threatened to put me to sleep.  There's nothing interesting here.  It's a great track to catch a nap to.  Like I predicted, at minute 5 it breaks into an organ jam that sounds like it belongs to another song.  Wikipedia says this album was put together in 20 days, and it sounds like it.  Maybe shave some time off of these tracks, turning the extra 3 minutes tacked on to the ends of these songs into other songs so it looks a little more substantial time wise.

"Tunnel Vision" sounds like an update on the Timberland/Timberlake team ups that shot Justin to solo stardom.  Why isn't THIS a single?  This is the first track I actually like, though it too could stand to be cut off around the 4:30 mark.  These extended length songs don't show off any singing or songwriting prowess.  They seem like the producers screwing around and trying to show off.

The track "Spaceship Coupe" has a smooth synth line underneath the tired space metaphor.  Timberlake isn't screwing aliens like Katy Perry, but he's playing with this trope.  If any track was crying out for a rap guest first, I think it is this one.  Trite lines seem to be a comfortable lane for most popular rappers today.  I can see this being a single after "Mirrors."  Like every other track though, it needs around 2 minutes chopped off at the end.

Now we come to the shortest track on the album "That Girl."  Now this truly sounds like it could have an extra two minutes granted to the rest of the tracks and it would have been welcome.  A joyous, old school horn section blows over a jangly guitar riff.  This track sounds like summer.  A definite stand out.

We're finally approaching the end of the album with "Let The Groove Get In."  While I'm a fan of the beat, the opening minute and it's repetition kill the buzz it creates.  Timberlake is polite enough to ask if I'm comfortable, but doesn't seem like he really wants to hear my answer.  For the record, the answer is no. I'm not comfortable with the faux shouts on your chorus.   This far in, I want to rename this album to "The 2 Minute/ Too Long Experience."

"Mirrors" is the second single off of the album, and I don't see why this was picked over "Tunnel Vision."  It sounds like a leftover from Justified.  It's not bad per say, it just sounds... dated.  I can see a shortened version being popular at weddings.  Again with the self-indulgent, padded tracks that don't need to be as long as they are.  Too many of these tracks overstay their welcome.

"Blue Ocean Floor" closes things out with a spacey, rambling track that, minus Timberlake's vocals, wouldn't be out of place in a trendy indie game.  It sounds like an overextended interlude, not the ending track on a disc that is supposed to be a long awaited return to music after a hiatus.

There are a few good tracks here so I wouldn't say the album is bad, I'd just say it's skippable.  There's nothing exciting or great here.  It's a collection of mostly too long tracks, and Timberlake isn't exactly the greatest vocalist or lyricist.  Enjoy the singles on the radio, but save your money.  I think after week one sales, this one is going to fall pretty hard sales wise.

Like the album?  Buy it from Amazon!
The 20/20 Experience [+digital booklet]