Justin Timberlake has never been as compelling an actor as he is as a recording artist—and, with vivid musical strokes, he proves this once again in the pop extravaganza, “The 20/20 Experience,” his eagerly anticipated third solo album. If the quality of a singer’s recording is directly proportional to how happy he is at home, then Timberlake must be in a blissfully sunny chapter in his life these days, because the celebratory tone of “20/20” is simply too catchy for any pop aficionado to think otherwise. “Blame” it on the heartthrob’s marriage to Jessica Biel last October. If the peppy lyrics aren’t sophisticated enough to articulate Timberlake’s current state of mind, the headily exultant swagger and harmony-rich rhythms of his quirky pop-soul concoctions—from the slinky “Don’t Hold The Wall” and the propulsive popping of “Let The Groove Get In” to the hook-heavy punches of the bonus track, “Body Count”—are guaranteed to keep dance-music lovers grooving. Stylish hybrids While it’s true that JT’s album is radio-accessible, its songs are nevertheless far from predictable (the eerie “Blue Ocean Floor”), a unique repertoire characterized by diverse elements that beautifully coalesce into stylish musical hybrids—some of them mutating into different genres. In “Tunnel Vision” and “Mirrors,” the album’s second hit single, you’ll be entertained by the organized “clutter” that results from Timbaland’s throbbing arrangements—but, Timberlake’s bold declarations of love are key to their hit-making appeal. “The 20/20 Experience” wouldn’t be complete without the 32-year-old pop star’s luscious collaboration with Jay-Z, “Suit & Tie”—a ravishing blend of hip-hop and sinuous R&B that is guaranteed to put their followers “in the swing of love”!
