Does any white man have more soul than Justin Timberlake?

It’s been seven years since Justin Timberlake released FuturesSex/LoveSounds and over a decade since he dropped Justified. The music industry has had a dynamic shift since then and today, Timberlake isn’t the only Justin on the scene.  But interestingly enough, as soon as Justin announced he was ‘ready‘ to grace us with his effortless charm, style, and showmanship we paused whatever we may have been listening to and put “Suit & Tie” into heavy rotation.  That’s a true superstar.

Just three months ago JT announced his long-awaited return to music after a movie-making, SNL-appearing, wedding hiatus – with an album, a Grammy performance, Bud Light and Target commerical campaigns, and a national tour with Jay-Z.  I guess when he said he was ready he meant all the way ready.

The 20/20 Experience is unlike any other Justin Timberlake & Timbaland co-production.  It is an epic album containing all the elements of a classic: Pop, R&B, and Soul with sounds that requires your undivided attention.  It is a 57 minute journey with Timberlake and his melodies as he professes his love, devotion, and obsession with his woman and fondness for her affection.

There are ten tracks on the album, averaging about seven minutes long.  Each song has its own presence, story, and although lyrics are scarce, it is evident that your attention is demanded by the unexpected change in keys, beats, and the stacking of harmonies and rhythm.  The tracks on The 20/20 Experience are not as catchy or infectious as his previous albums, which may irritate some of his hardcore fan base, but as much as this album is his return to music, it is also his descent into a more matured sound.

Stand out tracks include: “Pusher Love Girl“, “Spaceship Coupe“, and “Blue Ocean Floor“.  All of which are adorned with Timberlake’s passionate lyrics and smooth crooning over Timbaland’s echos and psychedelic sounds.  However, if  there is one track that is completely misplaced it is “Let the Groove Get In” which is essentially a seven minute botched version of Michael Jackson’s “Wanna Be Startin’ Something” (I also assume it’s in Timbaland’s contract that he gets an unnecessary solo on the album). But every other track completely delivers, often times starting with one song and developing into another – the perfect format for looping the music again and again and again.

All in all, – in the time JT has been absent from the music industry he did a few prominent things: he fell in love, he got married, he bought a blow dryer,  put on Tom Ford suit, and proceeded to create an entire album proclaiming his happiness with his woman. It very well could have been titled, I Wifed Jessica Biel & Bang Her Daily, but that’s beside the point. And although that wedding ring kills me and I miss his ramen hair, let this man work!

The 20/20 Experience: Part II  (10 songs on Part I + 10 songs on Part II = 20/20 Experience) is scheduled to drop this November, so get used to seeing more and more and more of Mr. Timberlake.

Purchase The 20/20 Experience on iTunes here & Click here to buy tickets to his ‘Legends of the Summer’ tour with Jay-Z.