For seven years I have been waiting for Justin Timberlake’s third solo album to surface and hoping that I would not be left disappointed. I loved his top singles “My Love” and “SexyBack,” so the bar was definitely set with his much anticipated album, “The 20/20 Experience.” What is my first reaction to the new album? Well, first of all, I am speechless and second, I am awe struck. Timberlake is a musical genius and this is no comeback; “The 20/20 Experience” leaves Timberlake no longer having to prove himself. I feel like this “old timey” album will just be the first of many to come from the pop guru Justin Timberlake.
The genre is surprisingly classic R&B despite the expectation that it would be another futuristic album. It is a good surprise, though; it shows that Timberlake is all grown up. The first hit single from the album, “Suit and Tie,” features an effortlessly cool cinematic vibe put on by Timberlake and Jay-Z.
With a new Timberlake album, you cannot forget about his partner in crime, Timbaland (really, he is the producer). This dynamic duo adds a “palette of musical shades” according to “Billboard.” In “Don’t Hold the Wall” you have a heavy influence from Timbaland with various catchy tribal beats met with a repetitive chorus, making this single irresistible.
The popular single “Mirrors” has romantic lyrics that reflect how whole Timberlake has become since his hit single “Cry Me a River” from the 2002 album “Justified.” Perhaps it may be from his marriage to actress Jessica Biel in late 2012, but Timberlake exudes a relaxed album filled with love tunes. You have “That Girl” with lyrics like “because they see my number one, my number one girl, I told you I’m in love with that girl,” that I am sure will leave any girl’s heart melting.
Overall, the 10 singles featured in “The 20/20 Experience” blend beautifully. According to Pitchfork.com, Timberlake is “seamlessly conflating the last 40 years of pop, soul, and R&B into a series of warping seven-minute songs that shamelessly extol the joys of music and marriage.”
“The 20/20 Experience” is a chart topper and I would recommend this album to anyone. After all, this will not be the last we hear of Timberlake. This album will definitely have you seeing clearly while listening to the dreamy voice of Timberlake who sings nothing but sweet tunes.
