"Strawberry Bubblegum" recalls a time when groups like the S.O.S. Opener "Pusher Love Girl" sets the tone for the program the first three of its eight minutes would make for an elegant sweet-soul introduction, but Timberlake's extended drug-metaphor testimonial over a flat, faintly shifting beat dulls the mind rather than hypnotizes it. Seventy minutes in duration, it's only four minutes longer but contains two fewer songs and maybe half as many ideas. Along with co-producer Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and fellow songwriter James Fauntleroy, the Tims have made a refined and distended follow-up to FutureSex/LoveSounds. Aligning with the Neptunes in 2002 and with Timbaland in 2006 were not bold creative risks either, but working with Timbaland once more makes it plain that Timberlake wanted to remain within his comfort zone. The few appearances from 2007 through 2012 - through collaborations with Madonna, Duran Duran, 50 Cent, Ciara, and new jack ballad mode Lonely Island, often in partnership with Timbaland - confirmed that the cutting edge was not his concern. Even if you fall asleep, you’ll have a whimsical, sexy, and cinematic dream that has one incredible soundtrack.Once Justin Timberlake finished touring in support of FutureSex/LoveSounds, music making slid to the side as acting, endorsing, investing, and talent grooming took precedence. Close your eyes for a few hours and indulge in the 20/20 Experience. These albums were not just made for radio they were made for record books. It is clear that JT and Timbaland made these masterpieces for the long haul. And maybe I’ll change my mind in a few years, but right now, I really think that history is in the making. The 20/20 Experience could very much be the best pop album of the year – if not of the past decade. The placement of songs on these albums are noteworthy as well each album ends with their respective closers, “Blue Ocean Floor” and “Pair of Wings”, which both provide perfect conclusions to the ultimate feel of each album. Another good sign of a great producer is that he can make a 7+ minute song – or in this case, twelve 7+ songs – not boring or dragged out, but smooth and anthemic probably the best example of this is the very-successful “Mirrors”, which in its first half contains the familiar radio hit, then blends into the gorgeous postlude which is home to some of JT’s best melodies. With the wide variety of sounds comes a wide variety of genres on these albums JT is backed by heavy hip-hop beats on one track, then soulful brass and a live backing band for another (“That Girl”). Incorporating a combination of vocal, live, and programmed instrumentation is a difficult thing to do, but the final result on these albums is a breathtaking canvas for JT to freely use his gift. Perhaps the biggest reason that these albums are worthy of such praise is Timbaland’s stellar production. However, his voice is so flawless and soulful that, even when he sings what can at times be really lackluster lyrics, he makes it work. The monogamous love-making journal lyrics that make Jessica Biel blush and Marvin Gaye’s grave sparkle make up the large majority of these albums, such as in Part 2 opener, “Gimme What I Don’t Know I Want.” Sometime the lyrics can be a bit cheesy, especially when it seems that he just picked any metaphor he could for love: drugs, bubblegum, murder, alcohol, and reflective glass to name a few. What JT brought so boldly in each release is all here. There is no doubt about it each half of the album contains the elements that make the 20/20 Experience so special. The two albums conjoin together into a cohesive movement that is truly “music you can see”. In order to give each individual album an authentic and honest listen, it must be clear that these albums were made with each other, and for each other. For those who didn’t know, the songs that make up both albums were recorded at the same time, and out of a total of 30-40 songs, the songs were cut it in half to make these two albums, which are now an official compilation. What is unfathomable is how JT and Timbaland recorded this many great songs in one year. Review Summary: These albums were not just made for radio they were made for record books.
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