kristinafh's Full Review: Justified by Justin Timberlake
Preamble
So here we are. It's Fall and Justin has released his solo effort, Justified. Is it good? Is it bad? Is it the same as something that NSYNC would put out? I'm here to answer all of your questions :).
The Past
Like I even need to tell you about Justin, but just in case you were sleeping.
Justin started out in this world as one of those famous mousekateers along with Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, and fellow bandmate - JC Chasez. The blonde, curly headed little tyke then transformed into the boy band that became NSYNC. Since 1998, the band has released numerous cd's across the world including NSYNC, Home For Christmas, No Strings Attached, and Celebrity. With each release, Justin seemed to take more of a lead in the writing and producing of NSYNC's music.
In his spare time, Justin collaborated outside of NSYNC with the likes of Brian McKnight, Nelly, and Britney Spears.
Justin's musical career sometimes is overshadowed by his personal relationships. There was his long-term thing with Britney Spears and then is reported flings with Janet Jackson, Alyssa Milano, Beyonce Knowles, and Jenna Dewan.
Justified - The Overall Thought
I like Justin, I really do. But see, I like Justin much better when he's singing with JC and Chris and Joey and Lance. Why? Because. Just as this cd proves, he sounds way too much like Michael Jackson and while that isn't horrible, I just get tired of it sometimes, ya know?!
The material here is good. Some of it is much better than I expected. Some of it isn't what I wanted it to be.
After listening to this cd for three weeks, I struggled back and forth between how to recommend this to my buds. If you like NSYNC, Joe, Brian McKnight, Nelly, and Michael Jackson, you'll like this. If you're expecting some major difference in Justin's writing and delivery from his previous transitions, you're just not gonna like this.
Tracks
Senorita
Like I Love You
(Oh No) What You Got
Take It From Here
Cry Me a River
Rock Your Body
Nothin' Else
Last Night
Still in My Brain
(And She Said) Take Me Now
Right for Me
Lets Take a Ride
Never Again
The Details
I like Senorita. It's one of the few tracks where Justin's personality seems to come through on this cd and may I mention that it's one of the few where I don't hear so much of Michael Jackson's voice. The beat on Senorita is a mixture of Latin and hip-hop influences. Don't be thinking though that it sounds anything like a J-Lo or Nelly track. A small rant - I really wish that when Justin had put this cd together that he addressed all of the tracks in the manner in which he did here. I'm not talking about the musical flavor of the track. I'm talking about making it sound like his own.
Like I Love You, which is in high rotation on all of those video networks (including VH1 - what's up with that), is perhaps the closest to an NSYNC clone of a song that you're going to get on this cd. Written supposedly about his relationship with back-up dancer Jenna Dewan, it has the fingerprints of The Neptunes all over it. Although in interviews, Justin talks about how "different" this song is, it's really just a variation on a theme compliments of his producers. That's not a bad thing, just the truth. Alright, I do like this track even if Justin pulls a couple of Michael Jackson squeals.
Want to know why Britney and Justin broke up? Just listen to Cry Me A River. The scoop? Britney was doin' lots of guys. Now, from a practical standpoint, why would that girl do that? And from a logical standpoint, she can get someone better than Justin? No, I don't think so :). Anyway, this song is very tongue-in-cheek. The music starts out with the sounds of an organ, a falsetto/opera voice and a waterfall. Justin jumps in with you were my sun, you were my earth, you didn't know of all of the ways I loved you. He's really sincere with his pain but as he jumps into the chorus, he switches from his vulnerable side to his f*uck off side - Now it's your turn, cry me a river. Obviously, Britney didn't think screwing around with other men would lead to the end of their relationship. By the way, this is scheduled to be his second release. Wonder how Brit-Brit will react to it?
In case you're wondering about the vocal appearances - Janet Jackson (Take Me Now) and Vanessa Marquis (Rock Your Body) - know that neither are stellar, break-outs. They both sound very Michael Jacksonish. Take Me Now has more of a possibility of being released than the latter because of Janet's name and because it's beat has more of a hook.
In the tradition of many of the really good NSYNC ballads, Justin belts out two familiar feeling ones - Still On My Brain and Never Again. And speaking of "again", the lyrics sure do sound like a personal-sound out to Britney.
Possibly one of the worst songs I've heard Justin sing is Last Night. The vocal arrangement when mixed with the musical arrangement causes too much cognitive dissonance. It's like he was trying to mix too much synthesizer with too much old-NSYNC music (think Here We Go).
Great Music To Play While: Wondering When JC Will Put Out His Solo Cd :).
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