Justin Timberlake was particularly suspicious when he announced his collaboration with production greats The Neptunes and Timbaland on his solo debut Justified (2002). But seven million copies sold and a number of big hit singles later, the former * NSync member is taken a lot more seriously. Timbaland is called in again, who produced everything except two songs; Rick Rubin and Will.i.am signed for
… the other tracks. Timbaland did a very good job again (the tour de force My Love), and Justin dives into the adventure with him. The first single Sexyback, for example, sounds incredibly weird for a single, with a curious beat and barely recognizable distorted vocals. Most songs are a lot more accessible. Everything sounds very good, although the CD collapses in the second half. The closing track (Another Song) All Over Again, produced by Rick Rubin, is the only real miss, a dragon of a 'soul ballad', which detracts from an otherwise fine album. (IV)more