Justin Timberlake is an undeniable pop icon, but the singer’s halo has taken a bruising of late. Viewed from a fresh vantage point, his behaviour during the 00s has brought a wave of criticism – prompting an apology of sorts from the man himself. Fans of Janet Jackson and Britney Spears now view him as Public Enemy No. 1, smothering his reputation as a ground-breaking pop artist in the process.
Of course, the decision to release the rootsy, country-flavoured ‘Man Of The Woods’ in 2018 didn’t help. It’s been a decade since we had a true Justin album – the man who gifted us ‘Rock Your Body’ and ‘SexyBack’ after all – and fans are pining to rediscover the icon who remains intimately familiar to them.
Crafted alongside Timbaland, ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ isn’t quite the answer to their prayers, but it’s certainly an enjoyable pop record – indeed, it’s the most enjoyable Justin Timberlake record in 15 years. Frothy songwriting with a pop openness and R&B appeal, it dials Justin back to iconic 2006 album ‘FutureSex/Love Sounds’ but lacks some of the verve of that record.
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Opener ‘Memphis’ works with confidence, while ‘Fuckin Up The Disco’ is naughty but fun. ‘No Angels’ finds Justin in a mood that pivots between recompense and defiance, with ‘Technicolour’ offering something dulcet and distinctive.
The features find an artist moving between past and present. ‘Liar’ links Justin with Fireboy DML, while Tobe Nwigwe appears on ‘Sanctified’ – both features expand on the central creative universe. To balance this, ‘Paradise’ features his old band mates in *NSYNC – it’s fun, and scratches an itch for fans, but it doesn’t add anything to the broader story.
Indeed, a certain lack of depth is one of the album’s Achille’s heels. While ‘Justified’ and ‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ worked with real panache – often looking to his real-life love travails (controversially, in retrospect) this new record is often only surface deep. ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ can sometimes be forgettable across its 18-track largesse, while thematically it feels bunched around a cluster of feelings.
Perhaps that’s being churlish, however. For those who still want to listen, ‘Everything I Thought It Was’ is a rollercoaster ride from a modern pop great.
6/10
Words: Robin Murray
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