Justin Timberlake is finally back with his highly anticipated third solo album, The 20/20 Experience ! The album follows his previous solo albums, 2003's Justified and 2006's Future Sex/Love Sounds. But does his new album live up to all the hype? There's only 10 songs on the album, but many of the songs are over 7 minutes long, which JT previously defended saying: "When we were making the record I said, 'If Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin can do 10-minute songs and Queen can do 10-minute songs then why can't we?'" Here's Hit Zone's track-by-track review of standard version of JT's new album! |
1.) Pusher Love Girl
This song is a great way to kick off the album. It shows off exactly what JT seems to be hoping to accomplish with this album, which is a more mature sound, a far distance from the music he sang back in his N'SYNC days. Unlike a lot of songs that are over 5 minutes (which is like all of this album), this one actually kept my attention all the way through.
This song is a great way to kick off the album. It shows off exactly what JT seems to be hoping to accomplish with this album, which is a more mature sound, a far distance from the music he sang back in his N'SYNC days. Unlike a lot of songs that are over 5 minutes (which is like all of this album), this one actually kept my attention all the way through.
2.) Suit & Tie (feat. Jay-Z)
It was the song that marked JT's return to music and the song that left many people with mixed emotions, some people love it, other's aren't a fan. The song is the only collaboration on the album, but it's with as big as they come...Jay-Z! And at 5:26 - it's one of the shorter songs on the album, combine that with the starpower collaboration, it's no wonder why this was the debut single.
It was the song that marked JT's return to music and the song that left many people with mixed emotions, some people love it, other's aren't a fan. The song is the only collaboration on the album, but it's with as big as they come...Jay-Z! And at 5:26 - it's one of the shorter songs on the album, combine that with the starpower collaboration, it's no wonder why this was the debut single.
3.) Don't Hold The Wall
There's so much going on this song that it's hard to process all at once. It starts out with tribal chant sounds and vocal samples before transitioning into the vocal part of the song. Timbaland's production is the star in this song though.
There's so much going on this song that it's hard to process all at once. It starts out with tribal chant sounds and vocal samples before transitioning into the vocal part of the song. Timbaland's production is the star in this song though.
4.) Strawberry Bubblegum
It's a few different things that make up song number 4 on The 20/20 Experience. The first half of the song he remembers when she said "Hey hey hey, smacking that Strawberry Bubblegum," and doesn't want her to change. But the second half is oh so different as it becomes a more flirty R&B slowjam with lyrics like "You're delicious on your own" and "I'll love you 'til I make you pop!"
It's a few different things that make up song number 4 on The 20/20 Experience. The first half of the song he remembers when she said "Hey hey hey, smacking that Strawberry Bubblegum," and doesn't want her to change. But the second half is oh so different as it becomes a more flirty R&B slowjam with lyrics like "You're delicious on your own" and "I'll love you 'til I make you pop!"
5.) Tunnel Vision
Pushing aside the flirtatious-type lyrics from track 4, "Tunnel Vision" takes a more direct approach with lyrics like: "A million people in a crowded room, but my camera lens is only set to zoom and it all becomes so clear." JT and Timbaland go back to the Future Sex/Love Sounds days on this track. Look out for the beat-boxing skills though.
Pushing aside the flirtatious-type lyrics from track 4, "Tunnel Vision" takes a more direct approach with lyrics like: "A million people in a crowded room, but my camera lens is only set to zoom and it all becomes so clear." JT and Timbaland go back to the Future Sex/Love Sounds days on this track. Look out for the beat-boxing skills though.
6.) Spaceship Coupe
Not exactly sure what this song is all about, but obviously it's about taking a girl to space in your "spaceship coupe," or car I suppose, and making love. Lyrics like "And with the top down we'll cruise around land and make love on the moon" make that point clear. But much like "Tunnel Vision" it seems like this song takes forever to complete.
Not exactly sure what this song is all about, but obviously it's about taking a girl to space in your "spaceship coupe," or car I suppose, and making love. Lyrics like "And with the top down we'll cruise around land and make love on the moon" make that point clear. But much like "Tunnel Vision" it seems like this song takes forever to complete.
7.) That Girl
JT and the Tennessee Kids get a proper introduction in "That Girl." The song rhymes "baby" and "lady" throughout the song and JT also seems to take a little stab at the media and over-opinionated individuals who love commenting on relationships. "Don't it seem like these days, that everybody's got something to say. But I don't pay attention to the talk baby." It's the shortest song on the album and one of my personal favorites.
JT and the Tennessee Kids get a proper introduction in "That Girl." The song rhymes "baby" and "lady" throughout the song and JT also seems to take a little stab at the media and over-opinionated individuals who love commenting on relationships. "Don't it seem like these days, that everybody's got something to say. But I don't pay attention to the talk baby." It's the shortest song on the album and one of my personal favorites.
8.) Let The Groove Get In
Latino beats make this song clearly stand out from the rest of the album and again is one of my personal favorites. If the performance of this song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is any indication, this song will be pretty awesome in concert.
Latino beats make this song clearly stand out from the rest of the album and again is one of my personal favorites. If the performance of this song on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon is any indication, this song will be pretty awesome in concert.
9.) Mirrors
Coming in at a whooping 8 minutes and 5 seconds, "Mirrors" takes the cake for the longest song on the album - but it gets the gold medal as the best song on the album, in my opinion. The song was also JT's first #1 in the UK since "Sexy Back" in 2006 and has been compared to his hit song "Cry Me A River." "Mirrors" is believed to be inspired by his wife Jessica Biel. The breakdown into "You are, you are, the love, of my life," would only strengthen those beliefs. When shortened, this one is a hit!
Coming in at a whooping 8 minutes and 5 seconds, "Mirrors" takes the cake for the longest song on the album - but it gets the gold medal as the best song on the album, in my opinion. The song was also JT's first #1 in the UK since "Sexy Back" in 2006 and has been compared to his hit song "Cry Me A River." "Mirrors" is believed to be inspired by his wife Jessica Biel. The breakdown into "You are, you are, the love, of my life," would only strengthen those beliefs. When shortened, this one is a hit!
10.) Blue Ocean Floor
It's a somber tone to close out one of the most anticipated albums of the year. This song truly shows why Justin is and was always meant to be a star. It effectively silences the critics who wondered if he could still sing and if he still loved music. The songs really shows how far he has come as an artist.
It's a somber tone to close out one of the most anticipated albums of the year. This song truly shows why Justin is and was always meant to be a star. It effectively silences the critics who wondered if he could still sing and if he still loved music. The songs really shows how far he has come as an artist.
Final Verdict: 8.5/10 - As a big Justin Timberlake fan, this is difficult for me. I'm not a major fan of songs that go beyond 4-5 minutes because I tend to get bored and distracted and over half this album is songs that are 7+ minutes long. Only time will tell if he will have many hit singles from the album, but there's a few on here that have potential, such as "Mirrors," which, as mentioned, as already went to #1 in the UK. It's a great album and it's really well done and awesomely produced. I'm happy JT has returned to music - let's hope he doesn't take another 7 years to return again.
The 20/20 Experience comes out March 19 with a special 1-hour release party and music video premiere airing on The CW that night. There's no doubt that the album will be #1 worldwide!
Posted By: Joe
The 20/20 Experience comes out March 19 with a special 1-hour release party and music video premiere airing on The CW that night. There's no doubt that the album will be #1 worldwide!
Posted By: Joe