Ranking the Best Justin Timberlake Albums
Is it safe to talk about Justin Timberlake again or are y’all still throwing tomatoes?
Janet said chill, so Imma chill! Not that y’all ever follow my lead anyway.
Poor JT has been a PR nightmare for the past 10 years but let’s face facts – for the better part of a decade, he lead the pack in both R&B and pop, making him an unstoppable force critically and commercially. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of his NSYNC days, he absolutely won me over in the early 2000s, thanks in large part to his instant chemistry with Timbaland.
Today, let’s put the headlines aside and revisit JT’s run as a solo artist. He’s a divisive artist for sure, but his impact – and hits – are undeniable.
5. Man of the Woods (2018)
Soul in Stereo rating: 3.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Yup, no surprise that this one is bringing up the rear. But let me assure you – despite being home to some of the dirt worst JT singles, Man of the Woods is a better project than its reputation proclaims. Justin’s attempts to embrace new sounds and adopt a more mature outlook works … sometimes. The rest of the time it’s crippled by forgettable tracks and MY GOD THOSE HORRID SINGLES. Although the “bad” here is excruciatingly so, most of the rest is at least solid. It’s more uneven than a disaster.
Forgotten favorites: “Midnight Summer Jam,” “Montana,” “Breeze Off the Pond”
4. The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 (2013)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: Some of y’all gave me a lot of grief for rating this one so highly in 2013 and I’m too petty to forget the slander. Therefore, I came into 20/20 Part 2 with 2022 eyes, expecting it to have aged poorly. But that’s not the case – I think it’s still a pretty good album. See, I’m always right! While lacking the consistency of its predecessor, 20/20 2 succeeds where Man of the Woods fails – blending several musical sounds into a (mostly) consistent package. Part 2’s biggest issue is the lack of a standout track (“TKO” probably comes closest), so it fails to escape Part 1’s massive shadow. Does it feel like a collection of loosies from the previous release? Absolutely. But even JT’s scraps make for a good meal.
Forgotten favorites: “Take Back the Night,” “You Got It On,” “TKO”
3. The 20/20 Experience (2013)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4 stars out of 5
Edd said: The LONG awaited follow-up to the monstrous FutureSex/LoveSounds came with insanely high expectations. Justin met the challenge. 20/20 Experience feels like FSLS’s wiser, smoother older brother yet still boasting the top-notch production that made its predecessor such a fulfilling experience. Timbo and JT’s chemistry is undeniable as they crank an endless array of danceable grooves. I could nitpick and say that the song’s long runtimes aren’t always for their benefit but who cares, y’all are too busy dancing to pay attention to my gripes. And I can’t blame you.
Forgotten favorites: “Strawberry Bubblegum,” “Tunnel Vision,” “Let the Groove Get In”
2. Justified (2002)
Soul in Stereo rating: 4.5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Y’all know I’m honest to a fault, so I have no problem admitting that I had no faith in this project in 2002. Sure, I knew pairing a boy band star with titans like Timbaland and the Neptunes would produce chart-topping hits but, as I’m quick to remind all, charts don’t always reflect quality. How wrong I was. Justified proved to be more than cash-in, standing as one of the best R&B outings of its era. Stellar production from laid the groundwork for JT’s soulful vocals and even ramp up the tempo when the time is right. At times, Justified feels like a direct descendant of the Off the Wall-era MJ, able to blur genres but keep soul in the forefront. Justified was just the beginning of Timberlake’s dominance of the 2000s.
Forgotten favorites: “Take It From Here,” “(Oh No) What you Got,” “Still On My Brain”
1. FutureSex/LoveSounds (2006)
Soul in Stereo rating: 5 stars out of 5
Edd said: Twitter loves to toss around words like “game changer” and “cultural shift” like Doja Cat changing wigs but in 2006, Justin Timberlake did just that – not the wig thing, the cultural shift part. Alongside Timbaland, JT created a marriage of soul and electronic pop that revolutionized music’s landscape. Of course, that innovation led way to mainstream electronic sound that QUICKLY wore out its welcome thanks to countless imitators in the early 2010s, but in 2006 it was fresh and exciting. When I ranked the best R&B albums of the 2000s, many wondered why I left FSLS off that list. It’s simple – at its core this is much more of a pop album than a true R&B release. Not just that, it’s one of the greatest and most influential pop albums of the past 20 years – an accomplishment that still hasn’t been matched.
Forgotten favorites: “Chop Me Up,” “Summer Love,” “(Another Song) All Over Again”
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