roheblius's Full Review: Justified by Justin Timberlake
Justin Timberlake's rookie solo album doesn't have much of a chance for critical success, but commercially it will probably be a bonanza. The album is a look at NSync's main player without the rest of the group. While he tries to fit in to the R&B audience too much, he does a good job of creating a retro, young Michael Jackson sound, amidst today's production styles.
I'll admit that initially I hated the album. On an Epinions Message Board I said that the album wasn't good at all. However, after giving it a second try, and being able to effectively hear Justin through the busy production, I can say that it's not bad at all. In fact, there are a couple really good songs. When I first put the CD in the player, I was disgusted with the first song Senorita because it sounded like a reused Mystikal beat. However, I got used to the Neptunes busy Louisiana style production and was able to listen simply to Justin. While the song is extremely corny, especially at the end where he tries to call out to a phantom audience asking the guys to sing one thing and the girls to sing another, I now think it's kind of slick (the song, not the call out). Justin's strongest vocals aren't on this song, but if not for the corny ending, the song would be a strong opener.
The one pet peeve that I have throughout the album is that Justin tries too hard to fit in with what he thinks the "black" audience wants to hear. He tries to be cool because he thinks it's how he's supposed to be. At the end of Senorita, he pretends to ad lib as he tells the fellas "goodnight", and the ladies "good morning" and then starts giggling away. I wish he would have just stuck to the singing. Leave the written down, fake ad libs to rappers.
Like I Love You is one of my favorite singles of the year. The production is slick and simple, and it has a great beat. You hear simple guitar play and with the classic Neptunes' touch. And it's the first time you hear touches of a Michael Jackson influence in his screaming falsetto. What really does it for me in this song is that it's hip, but at the same time, he's not overdoing it. It's a simple song that does just about everything right. The beat isn't overbearing. The rap by The Clipse works and even though it's not a Rakim like verse, it's fun. Great song.
For me, the jewels are in the ballads. Call me a wussy romantic or whatever, but ballads just do it for me. That's where I really rate R&B albums. And even with it's heavy pop formula influences, I'd classify this as R&B. Here, JT (as Timbaland wants to call him) is slightly hit, with only one real miss. He hits with Still On The Brain which is the most mature song on the album. It's very smooth. And it's one of only two songs on the album that isn't produced by Timbaland or The Neptunes. The Underdogs give it a real You Are the Sunshine of My Life feel. He sings, "Baby I just wouldn't be the same, girl your love is still on my brain." And he sounds very much like MJ on certain parts of the song. He also hits on Cry Me A River which I'm convinced is about Britney Spears. The song, produced by Timbaland is very reminiscent of Aaliyah's Are You That Somebody. The body of the production sounds like a slowed down version of that song. This song is going to be released as a single for sure. It has hit written all over it. And I bet we'll hear the Britney "diss" reply on her next album. Let's just hope she stays above the belt. The one other song not produced by Timbo or The Neptunes is the Brian McKnight produced Never Again. Most of McKnight's stuff sounds the same, and if you're a McKnight fan, that's not necessarily a bad thing. And this is the one song on the album that sounds like an NSync song. It's nice, but it's been done many times.
The one miss as far as ballads is Take It From Here. The song is only bad because of the writing. It's one of those songs that compares love to a bunch of cliched metaphors. For instance, Justin sings, "I want to be your broadway show on the view, so I can act out how God was when he made you." Remeber R. Kelly's You Remind Me where his girl reminded him of his jeep? Well this isn't that bad, but almost all the metaphors are silly and the song clocks in at over six minutes.
Most of the other songs are club songs. There are smart ones such as Rock Your Body where Justin's goal is to get his girl naked by the end of this song. And with all the ill nana dude is gettin' lately, he probably succeeded. It's that fun dance song that's been done by Usher and a bunch of other young dudes lately. What You Got has way too much of the Timberland sound that ruins it. Should've been saved for Jay-Z for Big Pimpin' part two. At least Carletta would like it. Let's Take A Ride is another fun song with some vocal enhancements that bear nice effects.
The album will probably sell a lot of records. I can see a few singles off this album that will be number one on TRL, which is still his core audience. I have no problem with him marketing there either. His attempts at finding the R&B audience is the only thing that really hinders the record. As he grows up and his sound is more mature, more him, and less Neptunes and Timbo, he'll be fine. Actually, he probably doesn't need the rest of them NSync boys.
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