The 20/20 Experience is the third studio album by American recording artist Justin Timberlake. It was released on March 15, 2013 by RCA Records. It is his first album released since his musical hiatus in 2006 and change in labels in 2011. Its music incorporates neo soul styles with elements of older soul music; its lyrics discuss themes of romance and sex. As executive producer, Timberlake enlisted previous collaborator Timbaland to work alongside Jerome "J-Roc" Harmon and Rob Knox. Upon its release, The 20/20 Experience received generally favorable reviews from music critics, who complimented its musical diversity from his previous Read more on Last.fm.
Jazzy, catchy, surprising. Timberlake doesn’t retread on Sexy Back territory, and adds another notch in his talent belt.
Pop music has few mainstays, the select artists that manage, despite all odds, to stick around decade after decade and make surprisingly fresh music. Timberlake is this millenium’s first real contender, a business savvy, technologically inclined white lothario with a knack for staying a step ahead of the game. His sense of what works seems based on foreknowledge of what WILL be popular.
To that end, he’s made a record that ebbs and flows with the structural finesse of Pink Floyd and trips elliptical balls in the vein of early 90’s Prince. Yeah, the whole endeavor has a pompous air about it, sounding at times almost overtly pretentious in its sheer scale and length, but there is an undeniable grasp, an articulation of vibe and presence that help make you forget about it. The songs are just plain good, some of them more condensed for air play, while others are almost jam sessions, impressive sketches with multiple key changes and odd horn parts. It’s self congratulatory, but that’s also kind of the point.