My, how the world has changed since 2006. Back in ’06 there was no such thing as apps. Christ, seven years ago we didn’t even have iPhones and Justin Beiber was 12-years-old – admittedly the age most of us still believe he is now. Surprisingly though 2006 was also the last time we got a new record from Justin Timberlake. That’s right, it’s been seven long years since the world first heard ‘My Love’ and ‘SexyBack’ so to say JT’s new record has been highly anticipated feels like a bit of an understatement.
So after what feels like an eternity between drinks for the boy band graduate, JT has finally given us The 20/20 Experience, an absolutely epic album – clocking in at well over an hour – full of sprawling soulful tracks that see him make the move from mere pop star to fully fledged pop royalty. While 20/20 sees JT reunite with long-term collaborator Timbaland, who shares the writing and production seats with Timberlake on all but two tracks, there’s still plenty that’s new on this record. Most notably the soul influences that smack you in the face (or perhaps more appropriately gently caress your face) from the opening track ‘Pusher Love Girl’ – beginning with strings that would wouldn’t seem out of place in the opening credits of a Golden Era Hollywood film before breaking into a silky smooth neo-soul track complete with rich harmonies and slick jazzy organ and an insatiable rhythm you can’t help but bop along with. The soulful vibes continue onto tracks like the lead single ‘Suit and Tie’ and ‘That Girl’ performed by JT and the Tennessee Kids.
While the more soulful tracks showcase the mature side of the former Mouseketeer, Timberlake hasn’t completely abandoned his danceable pop roots. With lyrics like “Little girl if you’d be my strawberry bubblegum / Then I’d be your blueberry lollipop / And then I’d love you ‘til I make you pop”, ‘Strawberry Bubblegum’ couldn’t be more pop, while as the name would suggest, ‘Let the Groove Get In’ instantly gets you moving with its South American inspired beats.
There are also signs that Timberlake is happier now than back in the Justified or FutureSex/LoveSounds days. Darker breakup tracks from the past like ‘Cry Me A River’ and ‘What Goes Around…Comes Around’ stand in stark contrast to this album brimming with love songs, the centrepiece of which being ‘Dress On’, a sexy ode presumably to his new bride Jessica Biel.
While the more soulful tracks on The 20/20 Experience are stand outs for me personally, the real magic of this record lies in JT’s astounding ability to perfectly combine elements of soul, hip-hop, and pop into a coherent and frankly friggin’ fantastic record. Let’s just hope we don’t have to wait another seven years to hear more from JT.
Sony
9/10
Reviewer: Amelia Parrott
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF9aysQ78w4