cletta1201's Full Review: Schizophrenic by JC Chasez
One of the inevitable perils of being a member of a boy band is that people will without doubt use that as a meter to judge your strength as an artist. While the easy thing for JC Chasez to do would have been use the Justin Timberlake method for success and go team up with the hottest producers and go the R&B route, but for the most part Chasez’ first foray into the solo field Schizophrenic is nothing like the debut album that Timberlake crafted.
Schizophrenic is a mix of synth-pop, Prince-like innuendo (some discreet some very overt) and electronic dance goodness. This is NOT NSYNC and Chasez is not going to let you think for a minute that it is. ”Some Girls (Dance With Women)” is choppy and funky and its punctuated style is slick and despite ultimately being a dance song, there are several opportunities to see what Chasez is capable of doing as a singer. On ”She Got Me” Chasez channels the spirit of Jamiroquai and shockingly enough – it works quite well. While during the glory days of NSYNC, he might have played second fiddle to the more approachable Timberlake, “Schizophrenic” makes sure JC is the star.
There are a few hits and misses though. 𤊄 Ways” conjures up images of Billy Idol circa 1983, sneer, leather jacket, tight pants and all and it feels so wrong. ”All Day Long I Dream About Sex” is so completely bad, you have to question whose idea it was to even make the track. Chasez tries real hard to pull of a British garage sound and he sounds just plain stupid. The just behind the beat of ”Mercy” sounds like a song, sung just behind the beat which doesn’t even seem credible nor does it sound good.
But despite a few fumbles, the album is solidly pleasing. ”Build My World” is a pretty song that could have been at home on Michael Jackson’s Thriller. It’s slinky and sexy and Chasez owns this track. ”One Night Stand” dangles precariously on the edge of being cheesy, but the production is so well done that you fall into the groove and get stuck. ”Come To Me” is Studio 54 in it’s heyday, coming down off of whatever binge one would have been on in those times and moments like these are why “Schizophrenic” is so good. Even the bad songs set a certain mood and very decisively at that. There is so much going on throughout the album and despite it’s missteps it still manages to sound (mostly) cohesive.
”Dear Goodbye” is the most stripped down offering from Chasez and if only for an opportunity to see that he can hold his ground against most contemporary singers – it’s a job well done. ”Everything You Want” is tropical-flavored, gritty and finds Chasez sounding quite a bit like Sting. And while it might not be common knowledge from any NSYNC project – Chasez’ vocals are diverse and he has a beautiful voice. ”Right Here (By Your Side)” could be voted song most likely to be on an NSYNC album. It is soft, pretty and absolutely perfect for Chasez. It’s sweet calypso-tinged melody is like a warm breeze and every part of it is lovely and amazing. And just in case you thought Chasez couldn’t get funky like good old JT (Justin Timberlake), there’s ”Blowin Me Up (With Her Love)”, originally appearing on the soundtrack for the movie Drumline, Chasez’ got a little bit of soul and he’s not afraid to use it.
Part of what doesn’t work for ”Schizophrenic” is that it’s 17 tracks long and just seems to go on and on. And while the overwhelming majority of the songs are really good – some of them are like the B-Side to a tape you probably wouldn’t mind if they weren’t there. But make no qualms, ”Schizophrenic” is a very solid album and good in a way that you wouldn’t expect from a member of a larger than life boy band. Chasez has without doubt distanced himself from the JC of NSYNC, he has stepped up to bat and hit a homerun.
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