The 20/20 Experience - Justin Timberlake

The day has finally arrived; Justin Timberlake's first album in 7 years is here. My expectations were high, thanks to "Suit & Tie" and "Mirrors", and they were most definitely not disappointed. The album is a pop dream, something that the music scene has been missing since the release of FutureSex/LoveSounds with songs like "Sexyback" and "My Love". JT has slowly been expanding his sound since his days in 'N Sync, from simply pop to incorporating multiple genres like R&B and Electronic. He is also not afraid to push boundaries and norms, like his tendency to have outros and intros on all of his tracks that seamlessly flow with awesome transitions and constant use of beat boxing percussion. For The 20/20 Experience, he also wanted to challenge the restrictions put on the time length of pop songs today, with the shortest song on the album clocking in at 4:48. He clearly did this album because he wants to, and not to meet any demands of anyone. He simply did it because of his love for music, which is something I really appreciate, and I believe is something that should be more widespread in the music industry today.

Anyways, the album; it's awesome. It deserves to be blasted on loud speakers and listened through all the way. It flows, with the songs feeding each other through every transition. It kicks off with "Pusher Love Girl", which is probably my favorite from the album. The strings in the beginning bring to mind a different era, with a classical feel. This soon changes, however, when the bass kicks in and the synth line floats through. From there, JT starts you on a musical journey that tastes so many types of flavors. "Suit & Tie" brings the 70's to mind, with an R&B feel that's melded with some Hip-Hop led by Jay-Z. This is another fantastic track on the album; one picks up the tempo and leads into the jungle/tribal-sounding "Don't Hold The Wall". Timbaland can be heard in the background, reinforcing that we should "dance, don't hold the wall", a subtle reminder of the partnership that has spawned so many hits.  This is another one of my favorites from the record, with the drums giving the song a unique twist not heard too often nowadays in pop music. This leads into the somewhat odd intro of "Strawberry Bubblegum", although when the songs really kicks off, it has JT written all over it. I really love the vocals in this song, especially during the chorus where he sings faster and in a lower tone. He really does have a sexy voice, (which I think is a perfectly acceptable way to describe his voice), and this is one of the songs where that description fits well. "Tunnel Vision" begins with a Kanye West vibe, and is driven by a tight drum beat. JT's vocals on this song are spot on, especially when he is doing climbs and harmonizing with himself; it's a really fresh sound. While it begins with a small sound, "Spaceship Coupe" erupts with an electronic bass line and echoing drums. This definitely sounds like a song that could have appeared on FutureSex/LoveSounds. He brings it back down during the second half of the song, keeping elements of the song and removing the big drum sounds to be replaced by subtle cymbal sounds that he croons over. Then, it transitions into "That Girl", which features the Tennessee Kids, a big band who has been supporting JT on his many TV appearances lately. This is another song with some 70's sounds incorporated  revealing JT's desire to appeal to a wide variety of crowds, weither they're younger or older. The vibe of the album picks up yet again with the introduction of "Let The Groove Get In", a piece with Latin written all over it. It'll be a popular dancing tune for sure. The chorus is incredibly catchy, and you can't help but nodding along and shifting side to side with the beat. If I knew how to salsa dance, I believe this song would be perfect for dancing to. It has a party vibe, especially with the extended outro that keeps the groove going. "Mirrors" is another favorite of mine, heavily featuring the beat boxing JT loves to utilize and with a great guitar line (which is something else I believe pop music has forgotten and should bring back). The outro is much more mellow and laid back, leading into the final song of the album "Blue Ocean Floor". It begins with a interesting reversed line and the use of some sound effects, like a typewriter and a seagull. This song is much more emotionally driven than the rest of the album, with a melancholy tone fueled by JT singing so sweetly about his loss. This is definitely one of the best songs from the record, being so distinctly different than the rest. It maintains a mellow vibe, never building up heavily, but that's okay. I think JT did this purposely because it defies what current expectations exist for pop music. The CD ends in the same way it began, with a beautiful string sections signing out for JT. 

Overall, this is an astounding album. I'm very pleased to have purchased it, and excited to be able to write about it. It will definitely be a wake up call to the pop music world, and set some higher standards for what can be done. It's more mature lyrically and musically than any of his previous work. Go buy it! It's fantastic. 5/5

Track-list:
Pusher Love Girl - 8:02 (5/5)

Suit & Tie (feat. Jay-Z) - 5:28 (4/5)

Don't Hold The Wall - 7:11 (5/5)

Strawberry Bubblegum - 8:00 (4/5)

Tunnel Vision - 6:47 (5/5)

Spaceship Coupe - 7:17 (4/5)

That Girl - 4:48 (4/5)

Let The Groove Get In - 7:12 (5/5)

Mirrors - 8:04 (5/5)

Blue Ocean Floor - 7:23 (5/5)