As a general rule, I try to not veer too far from the Third Man in my posts here. However, there is a recent album release that I
have to talk about because it is just TOO AWESOME to ignore-
Justin Timberlake's The 20/20 Experience. Yes, I said Justin Timberlake. Now, before you tune out/ start to hate/ bring up N-Sync, just listen to this sick beat and tell me this shit ain't tight.
I'll admit, I was getting kind of anxious for JT to release a new album. Sure I enjoy his humorous portrayls on SNL, 'In Time' and 'Friends With Benefits' were relatively decent movies. But deep down, I was ready for Justin to bring Sexy Back. Deep down I wondered if he still could.
The 20/20 Experience is a project Timberlake managed to keep under wraps until the release of the first 10 songs in March 2013. The remaining 10 songs will be released in Fall 2013. If you've heard the debut single 'Suit & Tie', rest assured that it is the
worst song on the album.
CAN I SAY AGAIN HOW TIGHT THIS ALBUM IS?????? There are no throw-aways! Every song has it's own vibe. Every song is so well thought out and produced. In fact, this entire album is
so fantastic, you won't care that each song averages a 7-minute play time. In fact, it will only leave you wanting more. If you think I'm crazy to expound on how
AWESOME JT's new album is, you better just keep your radio off for the next 18 months.
Upon first listen, you can tell that this Timberlake has evolved from his initial boy band persona- but that that boy is still part of the man. Many of the songs are based on, one can assume, his relationship with lady love Jessica Biehl. The album opens with 'Pusher Love Girl', a snappy blue-toned tune about a girl whose love is so good it's like a drug. What I appreciate most about this song is the extended break down near what you might expect to be the end of the song. The funk has been brought.
Segue to the first single from the album 'Suit & Tie', featuring the incomparable Jay Z. You might remember their performance of this at the 2013 Grammy's. Right before Jack White blew the audience away and then lost in his 3 categories. Yeah, I'm not bitter. Anyhoo, Timberlake goes full bore on this in a jazzy, almost-Buble-esque singing style, while Jay Z keeps it real by delivering rhymes worthy of his name.
'Suit & Tie' is followed by perhaps my favorite track off the album, 'Don't Hold the Wall'. Although Timbaland's influence on this album is evident throughout, it shines through most on this hot dance number, one that is sure to be a summer hit. This is the first song on the album where you start to pick out some recurrent tribal theme beats.
'Strawberry Bublegum' took me a few listens to truly appreciate. Initially it made me think of an Arby's roast beef sandwich. Getting past the intro it's got a really sweet beat, there are several tempo changes and like many of the songs on the album, it's a super-extended jam. When Timberlake breaks it down at the end, you'll love it 'til it makes you pop.
The A-side of the album wraps up with my top two pick, 'Tunnel Vision'. What can I say about this except that, yet again, it is
SUPER TIGHT! Timbaland's influence contributes such an elemental beat, you can't help but groove along. The lyrics help make sense of the albums title 'A crowded room anywhere, a million people around all I see is you and then everything just disappears, disappears, disappears, disappears... Yeah, a million people in a crowded room but my camera lenses only get set to zoom and it all becomes so clear, comes so clear, becomes so clear... I got that tunnel vision for you'. I know you'll like it.
The B-side starts off on a smooth, slower note with 'Spaceship Coupe'. Again, this one took me a few listens to appreciate as I generally have a hard time getting into 'space' themed things. Upon first listen what really struck me is how much the intro reminds me of Usher featuring Ludacris' 'Lovers and Friends'. Overall I got a real Prince vibe from this (space) jam, that was confirmed once the extended guitar solo appears.... So Prince!!!! Timbaland's influence is once again evident with sound bites reminiscent of Aliyah's 'Are You That Somebody'.
'That Girl', the 7th track on The 20/20 Experience, is a jazzy, (simulated) high-hat heavy tune detailing why he's in love with 'that girl'... 'so what you're from the other side of the tracks, so what the world don't think we match, I'll put it down like my loves on wax'. The ladies are gonna go cray cray for this one, it's a real panty-dropper.
'Let The Groove In' is my top 3 pick from this album. Repeating on those tribal beats that appear earlier on the album, it immediately brought to mind being a little kid at the end of the disco era, watching Solid Gold on a Sunday evening... there is such a Donna Summer/ early-era Michael Jackson vibe, I love it! Mama-se-mama-sa-mama-coo-saa indeed! 'right there right there, let the groove get in, there there right there- are you comfortable?'
'Mirrors' appears to be a definite ode to his new wife. A beautiful tune detailing how she's a mirror reflecting what he'd like to see in himself, what he wants to see from now on. 'It's like your my mirror, my mirror staring back at me, I couldn't get any bigger with anyone else beside of me'. Definitely the most 'boy band' track from the album (yes!), it's sure to be a feature of summer radio play. 'Baby, you're the inspiration for this precious song, and I just wanna see your face light up since you put me on. So now I say goodbye to the old me, it's already gone, and I can't wait wait wait wait wait to get you home just to let you know, you are you are, you are the love of my life'.
Timberlake saved the best for last. 'Blue Ocean Floor' is one of the most beautiful songs I've heard in a really long time. Like achingly beautiful. Like I need to go lay on a beach and listen to this while the sun is setting kind of good. Like, I can't even quantify how much I like this song. The haunting repeat of the tape player/projector sound...it's just one of those little weird sounds I would totally appreciate and adds so much in solidifying the dreaminess of this finale number.
So thank you Justin Timberlake for bringing some new grooves into my life! I can not get enough of this amazing LP! Can't wait for the next 10 songs to drop in the fall. Until then, I will 'let the groove get in' and I promise not to 'hold the wall'.
