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- Critic score
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- By date
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Oct 1, 2013Timberlake reined in his musical vision just enough to make this album more focused and engaging--but didn’t lose sight of his desire to take chances.
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Sep 30, 2013Sure, there may be a shorter classic buried somewhere within the project’s 145+ minutes. Alas, this mythical album merely exists in my mind. 2 of 2, however, comes tantalizingly close to that ideal on its own.
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Oct 1, 2013Timberlake throws every influence he’s ever touched at the canvas here, and he somehow gets away with it.
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Oct 1, 2013In a world of quicker, faster, harder, it’s intriguing when songs spread out, taking their time to get to the point or create landscapes beyond the hook.
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Sep 30, 2013A 12-song sequel that comes on stronger than its ingratiating predecessor.
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Sep 26, 2013Apparently the producer saved his haymakers for round 2, because he's in full classic-Timba mode here.
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Oct 10, 2013While the second release may not live up to the first, it’s hard not to hope for a third.
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Oct 1, 2013Although he still goes on a bit long in places, with help from producer buddies like Timbaland, Timberlake--channeling his usual suspects from Michael Jackson to Prince--nails a more cohesive vibe on this follow-up.
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Sep 30, 2013Surprisingly enough, however, The 20/20 Experience (2 of 2) is quite the step up from the first part. Even when it plunges into excess—which it does quite often—the basic pop structures underneath remain far more compelling than anything off of Part One.
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Sep 30, 2013Even if this stuff is willful, it's dazzling, too.
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Sep 30, 2013Artistic ambition is a wonderful attribute, but so is the ability to self-edit, and it’s in short supply. There’s a snappy single album of sharp pop music tucked inside the two 20/20 Experience bookends, but it’ll take listeners some work to find it.
Awards & Rankings
User score distribution:
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Positive: 274 out of 348
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Mixed: 43 out of 348
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Negative: 31 out of 348
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Oct 1, 2013
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Feb 9, 2015
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Sep 30, 2013