Album review: Justin Timberlake – ‘The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2’

Words by:
Sophie Bowman, Hypeglo
Follow @hypeglo

Stream/preorder ‘The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2’ here:

January’s announcement of Justin Timberlake’s return to recording sent the music world into a spin; with a heavy-oiled PR machine supporting him (along with some finely-tuned performances already prepared), Timberlake’s unveiling of his first album in 6 years, The 20/20 Experience, brought back realisation that the musician really was an all-round entertainer.

In July, Timberlake confirmed that a follow-up was to be released on 30th September, aptly titled The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2. In one word, the album is ‘edgier’. If 2012 book success 50 Shades Of Grey is ‘mummy porn’, than The 20/20 Experience, 2 of 2 is ‘mummy satanism’. JT’s music has evolved with him into a completely new chapter in his life; it would be fantastic to match consistency in his song writing ability to evolve with this great new experimental chapter.

This is musical diversity; you’re tempted to rewind as soon as the album closes, primarily because you’re left wondering “what the fuck just happened?” There are so many different and conflicting influences that you can’t help but be drawn in; maybe it shouldn’t work, but it does!

Gimme What I Don’t Know (I Want) opens the album with an almost gospel approach. Fusing synthy vocals with a dirty drop into an animalistic deep beat, this is the type of symphony Pharrell would beat his chest over. One can’t help but wiggle in your seat to this; a definite for the top 10!

Drake denounces a sudden hip-hop breath of life over in Cabaret, whilst TKO delivers yet another impeccable Timbaland beat. We’ve all heard the jazzy Take Back The Night – definitely one of those tracks that becomes more significant with age, thanks no doubt to the heavy use of horns and strings.

Murder brings JT together with friend and multi-collaborator Jay Z. Unfortunately, Jay Z highlights the importance of still making a lyrical effort even if you are featuring the heavyweight of hip hop himself. From this moment forth I am not commenting on his dull song writing skills anymore; I will simply say that someone needs to send him a dictionary so he can rhyme with words other than ‘fly’.

Timberlake strips back his vocals on Drink You Away, supported by some strong guitar riffs. The addictive track harks toward Nickleback; a finished product that even the likes of Aerosmith would approve of.

Beautiful vocals and lyrics are (finally) evident on You Got It On. A real old school RnB vibe with so much soul you’d be forgiven for questioning whether JT even wrote it. If he did, the f**ing bravo! If he didn’t, he needs to work more with the person who did!

Not A Bad Thing is un-offensively boyband and sure to be another high chart climber; a seductive hook with pop projectile-vomited all over guitar. It’s easy-listening and works; this will definitely stick in your head without making you lose the will to live…

JT follows his ‘extended track’ them from FutureSex/LoveSounds with the whole 20/20 Experience collection. His 6 years away from music has enabled him to hone his craft fully, in essence creating a fully immersive ‘project’, away from other modern RnB/pop music that often bores the user after 3 minutes. Timberlake, fortunately, hasn’t bowed down to the EDM crossover that seems to be taking hold of R&B, instead focusing on more soul and funk.

This is a modern day Aladdin’s cave with hidden depths to nearly every song; many of the songs stop and re-start assuming a new identity, or boast so many instrumental changes and/or additions you can’t help but keep clicking ‘replay’.

This album truly is an experience. Refrain from skipping; there’s so much going on that just as you’re about to skip the song flips around on you and suddenly you love it! JT, we applaud you!