The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2

Did You Know?

• The album debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 with first-week sales of 350,000 copies.
• It was certified platinum by the RIAA in November 2013 for sales of over 1,000,000 units in the US.
• The compilation The 20/20 Experience – The Complete Experience was nominated for Best Pop Vocal Album at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.

Background

After releasing his second album FutureSex/LoveSounds in September 2006, Timberlake took a break from music to focus on acting and behind-the-scenes work with his label Tennman Records and production team The Y's. In 2010, his manager Johnny Wright began discussions about new music, proposing ideas such as an app-based promotion or monthly song releases, but Timberlake was not interested. Around late May or early June 2012, Timberlake told Wright he had spent recent nights in the studio with Timbaland working on new material. Wright, surprised, immediately began marketing plans with Timberlake. They decided on a short promotional window, releasing a single and then the album seven or eight weeks later to make a big impact.

Release

On March 16, 2013, Questlove announced Timberlake planned a follow-up record for November, referencing a 10-song track listing. Co-producer J-Roc confirmed it would include outtakes and new material. Timberlake announced the album's September release on May 5. It was available for pre-order on iTunes from July 12, with eleven tracks and a surprise. Track listings were revealed via Instagram videos starting August 14, and on August 27, Timberlake confirmed Jay-Z on "Murder" and Drake on "Cabaret". The album streamed free on iTunes from September 24.

Promotion

The lead single "Take Back the Night" was released July 12, 2013, with a music video directed by Jeff Nicholas, Jonathan Craven, and Darren Craig, shot in New York City on July 18 and released July 30. It reached number 29 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and number 22 on the UK Singles Chart. "TKO" was released as the second single on September 20, with a video directed by Ryan Reichenfeld featuring Riley Keough; it peaked at number 37 on the Hot 100. "Not a Bad Thing" was the third single, released to radio on February 25, 2014, reaching number 8 on the Hot 100 and topping the Mainstream Top 40. "Drink You Away" was sent to country radio on November 23, 2015, after a positive reception at the 2015 Country Music Association Awards with Chris Stapleton. Timberlake announced The 20/20 Experience World Tour on May 5, 2013, starting October 31 in Montreal, with additional dates in Europe, South America, and Australia.

Critical reception

The album received mixed reviews from music critics. On Metacritic, it scored 60 out of 100 based on 27 reviews, indicating mixed or average reviews. AnyDecentMusic? gave a weighted average of 5.8 out of 10 from 22 critic scores. Greg Kot of the Chicago Tribune wrote it could have been a neat album of clever pop music if edited down. Kyle Anderson of Entertainment Weekly felt songs were too long and unfocused, especially "Only When I Walk Away". Stephen Carlick of Exclaim! said it was less consistent than its predecessor. Pitchfork's Ryan Dombal found Timberlake's pick-up lines unpleasant and production recycled. Spin's Jason King called it disappointing for lacking immediacy. Andy Gill of The Independent attributed its inferiority to using outtakes. Al Horner of NME described overlong songs as pieces from the cutting-room floor. Positive reviews came from Brice Ezell of PopMatters, who viewed it as an improvement with more compelling pop structures. Annie Zaleski of The A.V. Club said Timberlake reined in his vision to make it more focused. Eric Henderson of Slant Magazine found it more believable for exploring obsession with celebrity. Holly Gleason of Paste called it sexually frank and noted deeper grooves. Jim Farber of the New York Daily News said songs had merits but fell in the shadow of the first album. Sarah Rodman of The Boston Globe noted a more cohesive vibe despite some length.