Justin Timberlake‘s “back to my roots” album ‘Man Of The Woods’ seems set for a big first week bow – thanks to his media machine and the colossal Super Bowl platform.
However, response to the music housed on the LP has been far from endorsing.
Early signs suggested as much based on the lukewarm response to much of the pre-release singles serviced in the weeks preceding.
Yet, it’s the critics reviews that have perhaps been most scathing.
See what we mean after the jump…
Pitchfork delivered the most damning verdict on the set – rating it only 3.8 out of 10. And the review itself stuck the proverbial fork in big time:
“Too much of Man of the Woods is musically and thematically shallow; at 66 minutes, it’s a mile wide and an inch deep. There’s a point midway through the album—right around the threadbare-shirt hymnal “Flannel”—where you realize “modern Americana with 808s” wasn’t just a cute tagline: That’s really the whole idea, and it quickly wears thin. Timberlake may have yanked back the reins on the interminable song lengths of The 20/20 Experience, but many of these tracks still manage to overstay their welcome by a minute or two. They don’t have the hooks or the dynamism to justify their continued existence: phrases get recycled, breakdowns feel like intrusions from completely different songs, grooves are sought but remain undiscovered. “Midnight Summer Jam” is a sub-Robin Thicke boogie with a sub-John Popper harmonica solo; “Sauce” is Beyoncé’s “Don’t Hurt Yourself” cut with a jug full of pond water.
[Timberlake] played a pivotal role in one of this century’s defining TV controversies and was happily invited back to the scene of the crime little more than a decade later. He rush-recorded and released a massive two-part album to fulfill contractual obligations and was welcomed back into the music industry with arms wide open. He wore a full denim suit and cowboy hat on the red carpet; he played a crucial role in The Love Guru. None of it mattered. When you skate through your life unscathed, you accumulate hubris. And it takes a lot of hubris to make an album like Man of the Woods.
And the lashings continued from others:
“Justin Timberlake sounds bored on Man of the Woods” – Vulture
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“Man of the Woods, while certainly not 2018’s worst album, is further evidence that Timberlake is far from the pop music innovator he once was. The album’s highlights, from the nimble disco of ‘Midnight Summer’s Jam’ and ‘Breeze’ to the drawling Alicia Keys collab ‘Morning Light’, all fall within the singer’s vintage-soul comfort zone.” – USA Today
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“Throughout Man of the Woods, Timberlake’s high, breathy vocals stab out a message of ‘escape to the country’ with all the conviction of a Michael Jackson impersonator jamming with the Drive-By Truckers in an Alabama roadhouse bar. It is a nice idea, but you know it is not going to end well.”- The Telegraph, 3/5
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“Timbaland and the Neptunes handle the vast majority of the production, and most of it looks backward, not forward. The Neptunes, especially, thrive with this approach, especially on ‘Higher Higher,’ a gleaming 1970s soundtrack homage. There are outliers — the throbbing pulse of ‘Filthy’ has reverberations of acid house, and ‘Supplies’ suggests someone has been listening to Migos — but for much of this album, Mr. Timberlake is content to live in the past.
We are now approaching the 10th year of the national delusion that Justin Timberlake remains an essential pop star.” – The New York Times
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Ouch.
It’s safe to say that JT will premiere with impressive numbers – on the merit of his name and the enormity of the audience that’ll watch his Halftime Show.
What happens thereafter will perhaps be the most interesting aspect of all.
Will ‘Man Of The Woods’ end up front-loaded (ala Taylor Swift’s ‘Reputation’) and fizzle quickly? Or will a consistent push and/or an eventual hit help turn the tide?
Let us know…
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*Eats Cool Ranch Doritos* *SMACKS* ?
YASS Bish!!!
I almost laughed out loud in class, Fancy BISH. Thank you and good morning from Los Angeles…
His new album is trash and he is a garbage human being.
I hope he trips and falls and a spot light falls on his head at the Superbowl.
#Justice4Janet
Im with you….lol
Amen!?
Every SWINE has its day.
?
Future S** Love Sounds still reigns supreme. But at-least he’s trying to evolve.
That last line from New York Times..let me just butter this toast, because the tea is too hot!
I LOVED IT…Poetic Justice!!! LMAO
IKR.?
We are now approaching the 10th year of the national delusion that Justin Timberlake remains an essential pop star.” – The New York Times
Cutting!!!
I have a feeling that by next week all his other work is going to outsell this album before he is flushed away totally.
Lol!
Wow ouch. His last album was already quite panned by critics anyway (the second part of 20/20).
Shut up Uncle Tom B|tch! I read what you wrote to me on that Rihanna post b|tch!
I always liked his music and some of his other albums were good but I do not think man of the woods is a good album I can see why it get’s low ratings and plus I don’t like how he had disrespected prince in a song call give it to me by Timbaland featuring Justin Timberlake and Nelly Furtado Justin disses prince on verse one and two and what he says about prince is very hurtful and he even called him the n word which is wrong also he had made fun of his height at the Golden globes awards when he had accepted an award on his behalf Justin does not have any respect for him and now he is going to pay tribute to prince at the super bowl half time show? That’s just wrong and stupid on his part he does not even like prince it makes no sense he should respect prince for paving the way for him and all other artists who came before him if it wasn’t for prince Justin Timberlake would not be here in the music industry his records would not be played
I agree 100%
I like it a lot. Everyone has their own opinion though. I think a lot of the trash talk has nothing to do with the album but more about him performing at the super bowl and Janet’s not. I’m a fan of them both. I LOVE me some Janet and got the opportunity to see her SOTW show. At the end of the day it is what it is. Two amazing talents. I think the album is really good.
I agree and endorse Thisbe comment. Lol
“We are now approaching the 10th year of the national delusion that Justin Timberlake remains an essential pop star.”
WTF is wrong with you New York Times and all of you haters on this blog? This guy is a f****** legend. He’s smart, humble, funny and seriously talented! Have you seen the videoes of him in the studio, cooking up melodies, dancing and respecting his idols? He’s dancing style is SO unique, and refreshing when he started doing it. No, it’s not Bruno, that’s another style, which is also cool!
You must be 11. Have you missed this guys peak with FSLS and fall from grace since – and everything in between? The guy is having a serious crisis of artistic integrity. He is not a legend – he is 2 dimensional and got where he is riding in other people’s coat tails – now it’s become clear with this album we were duped and his artistic expiry date has come and gone. Time for the trash can. ?
Justine is that YOU?!???
Well…I guess they felt like calling a spade a spade…:-D….It’s trash
???
Well I like it.
I never heard it..
WHAT KIND OF EPIC READ ARE CRITICS BESTOWING ON THIS MESS OF AN ALBUM THIS WEEK THO ???☕️☕️☕️??
IKR! Ooooh…that tea is pipin’ hot!!!??? Especially that read from the New York Times, honey!?
Sorry everyone for being such racist trash. I wish I was black and that is why I am so hateful towards black people.