2012 was undoubtedly a great year for music and I think the most recent Grammys (not our most recent blog post about Grammys, however...sorry about that...) attest to that. The Alabama Shakes! Mumford and Sons! fun.! This indie rock girl was stoked that some of these indie-ish bands are infiltrating the music scene and getting well deserved recognition.
But we all know I'm a pop girl at heart, right? Right. My most recent posts on this blog were about Lady Gaga and Justin Timberlake and I'm ecstatic that the latter has just released his first album in about seven years. Seven years! I have been in three different houses and two different hair colors in seven years. JT's been through a few different girlfriends and is now MARRIED. AND NOT TO ME. Sigh.
JT actually performed on this year's Grammys and it was this highly anticipated performance, much like his new album, The 20/20 Experience. When I first heard the first single off the album, "Suit and Tie", I was driving home from work and was pretty sure I recognized my beloved's tender tenor, but it also sounded like my OTHER boyish tenor boyfriend, Robin Thicke, so I had to wait for the DJ's postlude announcement to be sure. He sounded so different! "Suit and Tie" is a little different from what is on the radio right now and a little different than what my boy band boyfriend has done in the past. But I was excited for him. I thought it was and is a good musical direction for him to go in. (Sniff! Jay-Z on the track too! He's come so far...I'm so proud!)
The album was released this week and I downloaded it on itunes (different than my purchase of his album before this, FutureSex, LovesSounds which I had to buy on cd at Best Buy!) I had seen a tweet from one of my friends about the first track off the album, "Pusher Love Girl." I'm pretty sure she simply tweeted: OMG PUSHER LOVE GIRL. So I knew it had to be good.
When I heard the winding strings of "Pusher Love Girl" for the first time, I was like, "Oh, I like!" but I was also a little sad, too. This retro, big band, Rat Pack throw back stuff has been on the scene for a while now...was my JT just giving into something that Bruno Mars and some hipsters have been bringing back instead of the sexy that he brought back all on his own? (see also this review from one of my favorite music news sources, Paste magazine, for similar sentiments) As soon as I heard the dulcet tones of his sweet vocals, however, I didn't care. It was still sexy. He's still bringing it back.
"Pusher Love Girl" has this sweet, swing groove, much like many of the tracks on the album. The Paste article I mention above also draws attention to the fact that JT's lyrics aren't that great, but hey, are they supposed to be? It's about the music and vocals for this guy. I remember back in 2002 when JT's first solo album, Justified, was released and CRINGING at the track "Nothin' Else" because my boyfriend literally sang the lyrics: "You're out of this world except you're not green." WHAT? No. (He apparently hasn't got this alien stuff out of his system, though. "Spaceship Coupe" is also an alein metaphor. Oh, Justin. Didn't you learn from JC's "Space Cowboy" on No Strings Attached?! Or Lance Bass' failed space trip?? What's with Nsync members and the space fascination?!)
Anyways, Pusher Love Girl's lyrics are about, well, drugs, as you can imagine. But the lyrics seem to be somewhat appropriate in this case because this song has quickly become like a drug for me. Let's just say I've had an incredible trying past two weeks, okay? I've been STRESSED. And as I texted to one of my roommates yesterday: "Pusher Love Girl is the only thing getting me through." It lulls me, it relaxes me...much like I can only *imagine* a drug might be like ;)
I was thinking of breaking down this album track by track like I did Lady Gaga's Born This Way but something I really like about The 20/20 Experience and one of the hallmarks, I think, of a really good album is that the album really flows together. "Pusher Love Girl", like I said, has this throw back, Sinatra-esque feel mixed with some smooth jazz (the break down towards the end of the song, though, for me is reminiscent of "Chop Me Up" of off FS/LS in my mind...just the way in which JT sings "hop" maybe, but still...) "Strawberry Bubblegum" is similar in the smooth category with a touch of Barry White in the intro, as well as "That Girl" which begins with a retro big band moment (JT and The Tennessee Kids is apparently his throwback band leader persona).
The dance-ier tracks are perhaps "Don't Hold the Wall" (which incorporates some Eastern instrumental influence as well as a smooth, acapella intro), "Let the Groove Get In", "Tunnel Vision", and of course, "Suit and Tie." "Suit and Tie" is much different in its dance appeal as it gives nods to the big band moments on this album and the other three have Timabland produced feels.
The last track, "Blue Ocean Floor" is actually why I wanted to write this blog post in the first place. When I first heard it, my little indie rock girl beating heart stopped. "Blue Ocean Floor" kinda sounds like Bon Iver meets Grizzly Bear meets my latest indie experimental band obsession, Beach House. "Blue Ocean Floor" is definitely different from anything JT has done and yet it seems to fit into this overall very chill, smooth 20/20 Experience.
My very favorite song on The 20/20 Experience that has been on repeat on my ipod is the single "Mirrors." It is rock-y, pop-y, triumphant, and sentimental all at the same time. And while the rest of JT's lyrics may fail, the lyrics on "Mirrors" are not lost on me. The beautiful image of your significant other "reflecting" your own image is what every hopeless romantic waits for and apparently he wrote this about his GRANDPARENTS. I mean, COME ON. How adorable is that??? Here is the beautifully made video.
In conclusion, Justin's three solo albums: Justified, FutureSex/LoveSounds, and The 20/20 Experience are similar in that they have R&B, hip hop, and jazz influences. They are not lyrically perfect nor entirely groundbreaking but I think they are all solid albums and are all cohesive with the next. Each album has a track or two or three that you can tell Timbaland and JT and whomever else were being experimental while being true to JT's pop aesthetic. I know I am incredibly biased, but I have never been disappointed with a JT album, and am always happy to see his progression (but grounded-ness) as an artist. The 20/20 Experience is no exception of this and I think falls right in line with his freshmen and sophomore albums.
And, I mean...just look at that face! Jessica Biel is a lucky lady...
Peace,
Julia
