Pop star released 1st CD in 7 years Tuesday
He’s smooth. He’s sexy. He’s soulful. And, to top it all off, he can sing.
Open your eyes, world. Look into the most famous former ‘NSYNC member’s beautiful blue/green peepers and you’ll see that his vision is perfect.
Justin Timberlake is back in the game and all over America’s radar with the release of his third solo album, “The 20/20 Experience.” It’s been a long wait for fans who gobbled up 2006’s “FutureSex/LoveSounds” and a little over a decade since 2002’s “Justified,” his post-boy band debut, dropped.
But JT didn’t disappear during his spacious “breaks” between albums. He made movies, both noteworthy (“The Social Network”) and forgettable (“The Love Guru” and “Black Snake Moan,” anyone?). He launched William Rast, a clothing line he co-founded with his longtime friend and business partner, Trace Ayala, in 2005. He cracked us up with five hosting gigs on “Saturday Night Live,” starring in some of the most quotable skits in recent “SNL” history. And he found love, saying “I do” to longtime partner Jessica Biel in October.
While we had to wait six years to hear new original material from the triple threat showman, it was worth the wait.
Lead single “Suit & Tie,” featuring Jay-Z, met tepid reviews on its initial release, but it’s blown up thanks to its placement in advertising for Bud Light Platinum, for which Timberlake is the creative director, and a handful of high-energy live performances on the Grammy Awards, “SNL” and topping off his week-long appearance on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon.”
JT dishes up are even hotter jams than that one on his latest 10-song masterpiece. His influences are varied, and the songs far exceed a radio-friendly 2 1/2 minute running time, but factors that could easily have been a turn off for fans instead work in Timberlake’s favor.
Justin may be a solo act, but “The 20/20 Experience” is a team effort. His band, the Tennessee Kids, is a tight ensemble who make watching Timberlake’s television appearances even more exciting.
The album kicks off with “Pusher Love Girl,” a horn-heavy soul throwback that would make any girl swoon. “Strawberry Bubblegum” has some boy band-ish harmonies but is decidedly more mature and musically complex. At eight minutes long, it’s not over quickly but the song packs three different musical ideas into one track. “Tunnel Vision” has a funky vibe with a dash of EDM sound effects blended with orchestral string instruments.
But he takes it slow, too. When Timberlake croons, “Hey, I wrote this song for you,” in the opening bars of “Spaceship Coupe,” you want to believe he meant only you. He’s got a buttery smooth flow, and that falsetto is the real deal — He can hit those notes just as easily live as he can on his records. “That Girl” is equally sexy, with strong backup from a handful of talented male and female singers. As you see the singer sway behind his microphone with that gold ring on his finger, don’t you wish you were his wife?
“Let the Groove Get In” brings the party back with Latin and African inspired rhythms and a catchy chorus that makes dancing a must. “Mirrors” gives listeners a bit of New Wave with their Timbaland beats and sounds the most like a quintessential JT jam. The singer closes the disc with “Blue Ocean Floor,” an indie rock track marked by nature noises, strings and crystal clear vocals that are more Coldplay or even borderline Bon Iver than boy band. It’s absolutely beautiful, sweet and sad enough to bring you to tears.
Timberlake has grown up in the spotlight, and “The 20/20 Experience” is proof that fame can inspire you to keep creating to your fullest potential. The only question this album will leave listeners with is, “How long will we have to wait to hear more?”