On Sunday, Justin Timberlake will take to the Super Bowl Halftime stage for the first time since his controversial performance with Janet Jackson and his new album “Man Of The Woods” released today. I’ve held Justin in high regard as an artist for most of my life. This album, however, is a misguided attempt to reinvent himself.
Justin is from Memphis, which is technically the south. But just because you put on a flannel and are from the south, doesn’t mean that you are a man of the woods. I say this as someone who grew up on a farm in Ohio and deeply loves his flannels.
Famously known for his Suit & Tie persona, he trades that in for song titles like Flannel, Livin’ off the Land, and Montana. Don’t let any of this trick you into thinking he made a folk album. I sure did. I pictured something similar to his Peter, Paul, and Mary cover from the Inside Llewelyn Davis soundtrack. Instead, the album produced by Timberlake, The Neptunes (Pharrell and Chad Hugo), Timbaland, and others, is glaringly inconsistent. I’m all for artists developing themselves over time. The Beatles were great because they changed. Unfortunately, this is not the case with MOTW.
My biggest objection is to the direction of the album or rather the lack of one. It tries to be folk, pop, r&b, and hip-hop. A song about Montana was a club jam. The song Supplies is trap music about a post-apocalyptic scenario where Justin Timberlake has the supplies to survive “The Walking Dead.” An 808 permeated the whole album even in delicate moments that could have been enjoyable (See Flannel).
Say Something is a highlight coming off the performance of Tennessee Whiskey with Chris Stapleton. However, it misses the harmonic complexity we’ve come to expect from JT and therefore ends up sounding like Ed Sheeran.
Justin is a great performer. This album won’t end up casting a shadow on his legacy but in general, this album isn’t radio friendly and to be honest, isn’t listener friendly.
Justin Timberlake – Man Of The Woods
4/10
Highs-
- Say Something ft. Chris Stapleton
- Morning Light ft. Alicia Keys
- Higher, Higher
Lows-
- Wave
- Man of the Woods
- Sauce