No backwoods step for Justin
Justin Timberlake live is amazing. He possesses an unrivalled ability to sing, dance and engage a crowd. Justin Timberlake on CD is somewhat less impressive. In fact, it can be a bit redundant. In fact, it can be a bit redundant. (See what I did there?) JT’s new album, Man of the Woods , is his first in five years, and it really does have some fine moments. Morning Light is one of those moments. It shows off his vocal range without hiding behind the heavy beats that permeate the record.
Produced by Pharrell Williams and featuring performances by Alicia Keys, Chris Stapleton and writing credits for Toby Keith, Timbaland, Timberlake and more, there were rumours that this was Memphis-born Timberlake’s ‘‘gone-country moment’’.
Really, this is a record from a 36-year-old man – one of the most gifted in all phases that the entertainment industry has seen in decades – who has discovered he likes the outdoors and loves his wife (and really, is there a man or woman who wouldn’t like Jessica Biel as his wife?) and child. Silas, who’s still a few years away from preschool, makes an appearance on Young Man, even.
Come on. Did you expect him to remain a Mousketeer forever – even if Morning Light does seem reminiscent of the serene forest music from Bambi or Snow White?
Most of the album is like Waves, in which the lyrics are just coincidental, mere accoutrements to garnish the beat. A beat that in that particular song, by the way, is driven by whistling and wood blocks. And not to be outdone is Supplies, where tongue trills and Gregorian chants share equal billing
Now JT fans don’t need to come down on me for saying that. It’s not a criticism, because it really does work. Don’t expect Puccini from him, but truth be told, I don’t have any doubt that he could Do Puccini or Tosca as easily as he could deliver on Hank Williams Sr or George Gershwin. He just chooses – wisely – to do Justin Timberlake.