Welcome back to
my album reviews because its been a while!!! And welcome back to Justin
Timberlake!!!! Enjoy my track-by-track review of Justin's new album The
20/20 Experience!
"Pusher Love Girl"
Opening with a beautiful strong arrangement sets up a grand entrance for someone we've been waiting a long time to hear from. With drug references aside (which most times are very clever) this song is nostalgia at best, bringing a classic funk element that transitions into yet another sick hip-hop breakdown by Timbaland in the middle.
"I'm just a ju-ju-ju-ju-junkie for your love..." 10/10
"Suit & Tie" (featuring Jay-Z)
On this first single, Justin pulls out all the stops to bring not just sexy back, but style and class as well. From the chopped & screwed style intro, to the lovely chiming in the background, and my oh my that classic falsetto, JT knows how to get the party started!
"Let me show you a few things..." 8/10
"Don't Hold The Wall"
Easily one of my favorites that the album has to offer, the real winner hear though is more so super producer Timbaland than it is JT. Timbaland has been in the dark for a little bit. The singles he's come out with haven't really made as big of a splash that "SexyBack", "Promiscuous", or "Get Ur Freak On" did back in the day. But this song is where he gets back into that classic Timbo groove, giving us a good 3 1/2 minute sexy attitude before going into a sped up break for the remainder of the song when it's back to the days of "Give It To Me", "Release", and "Carry Out".
"Take it to right, start in the back..." 9/10
"Strawberry Bubblegum"
This is a sweet song filled with a lot of smooth-talking and cool rhythms. What's amazing is how it starts out as a groovy tune that segues into a Robin Thicke/Remy Shand breakdown for its interlude. And does anyone else here a similarity between how he says "pop" at the end of this song and how he says it in *NSYNC's "Pop" song? Just me? Alright!
"I'll be your blueberry lollipop..." 8/10
"Tunnel Vision"
Another personal favorite, it's got all the classic Timbaland elements from the drum rhythm, the little voice repeating in the background, and Timbaland's "uh-huh" after every other word or so from Justin. The string arrangement reminds me of "LoveStoned" a little bit and this has an awesome Hip-Hop/R&B ride that is reminiscent of "My Love". I love that it builds to the beatbox bridge and that very smooth outro.
"I know you like..." 10/10
"Spaceship Coupe"
A galactic sex trip that has JT playing with a little Usher element, this jam is a real bump & grind piece. It fits right along with songs like Ciara's "Promise" or Robin Thicke's "Sex Therapy" with it's high pitched "ooo-ooo-ooo-ooo"s and sexy bump. I also love that it sounds like the baby from Aaliyah's "Are You That Somebody" is all grown up and still crying in the background for this one!
"We'll make love on the moon..." 9/10
"That Girl"
With a pretty awesome skit to introduce the song, we then get a sweet horn section and a bass-line that could go for days! It's a Timbaland slow song mixed with a little doo-wop, a little R&B, and a little Maxwell vocal. Justin really knows how to pull out all the stops when it comes to slow songs, and this one is no exception. He really does a great job mixing old-school flavor and modern-day grooves together.
"I don't care what people say 'cause I'm in love with that girl..." 9/10
"Let the Groove Get In"
Justin said himself that the inspiration for this song was imagining the Jackson 5 going to Brazil, and now that's all I can think about whenever I listen to this song. It's a funky, upbeat song where Justin makes it pretty easy to get us shaking. Again, he knows how to get a party started and this song wastes no time. And for a solid 7 minutes, the party never stops or slows down in the least bit.
"Are you comfortable right there, right there?" 10/10
"Mirrors"
I have to confess that I appreciated this song at first, but I wasn't crazy about it. It's sweet, obviously inspired by his new wife Jessica Biel, but the whole thing just sounded way too safe and familiar. That was until this week when the video premiered and I was blown away. The video changed the song in a lot of ways for me, but for one thing it's a beautiful depiction of true love inspired by Justin's own grandparents. Going through years and years together and then losing the one you love is hard, but what makes the whole thing so beautiful is seeing that even after death, the old woman in the video never lost sight of their past and always had him with her. I'm already holding back tears just thinking about!
"You are, you are the love of my life..." 8/10
"Blue Ocean Floor"
Poetic, beautiful, and so relaxing to listen to, Justin sounds pitch perfect from those low bass notes all the way up to that high falsetto. This sounds like such a trip, very galactic and slow, but so mellow and beautiful all the same.
"Under the water you scream so loud, but the silence surrounds you..." 10/10
"Dress On"
The first of the bonus tracks, it's short and sweet, but it has a nice riding beat with his sexy swagger and all.
"I can't wait 'cause girl as soon as I look at your face, I see a world where our heart never breaks..." 7/10
"Body Count"
It's a funky song that sounds a little like "Like I Love You" Part 2, but produced by Timbaland instead of The Neptunes. It's funky and filled with swag. Definitely another party starter, but this time filled with a lot more cockiness and confidence to last for days!
"Sign up, put your name down..." 8/10
ALL IN ALL
Justin is back sexier, mature, and more loving than ever. Bringing back the golden production quality we know Timbaland is capable of, it's a fine mix of slow songs, upbeat party jams, bump-and-grind, funk, and swagger all mixed into one. In a time now when everyone is so concerned with the success of just one single, it's nice to hear along with albums like ADELE's 21, Beyoncé's 4, or Mumford & Sons' Babel that some artists haven't forgotten about creating MUSIC for a full-length album beginning to end. I'm interested to hear the other half of this 20/20 experience supposedly due in November, but for now I'll be just fine listening to this whole thing on repeat all day errrday!
REPEAT-WORTHY
"Pusher Love Girl"
"Tunnel Vision"
"Let the Groove Get In"
"Blue Ocean Floor"
SKIP-WORTHY
If I had to choose one: "Dress On"
But honestly I love the entire album!
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