What if I told you he's all of that and more? Across his six-album discography, Timberlake has been a pop bad boy, a would-be country crooner, a neo-soul impresario and so much more still. Results vary between projects, but there's no denying that Timberlake has forged a compelling and robust career that tells the story of a complex man and performer.
So, in honor of his Forget Tomorrow World Tour spot at Footprint Center this week (Jan. 23), we've ranked and graded Timberlake's recorded works. As his career demonstrates, some had bigger hits than others, and some resonated more from a cultural standpoint. One thing's genuinely undeniable: Timberlake is a weaver of deeply interesting pop music.
‘Justified’ (2002): The man of the future
Nobody expected Mr. Blonde Perm from NSYNC to roar out of the gates with the finest pop album of the early 2000s. Backed by those baby blues (but mostly the inventive production of The Neptunes and Timbaland), Timberlake was this fully-formed pop deity from note one. Whether he was crooning to the ladies ("Senorita," "Still On My Brain"), holding his own with Clipse ("Like I Love You") and Janet Jackson ("(And She Said) Take Me Now") or dropping the ultimate revenge anthem ("Cry Me A River"), Timberlake shone brightly. Dreamy pop singers were a dime a dozen back then, but Timberlake did it with a grace and flair that made him undeniable to audiences beyond the mainstream. The man knew his skill and power, and he declared it with every high note and hip thrust. They don't make 'em like this anymore, and few acts resonated so effortlessly with pure pop potential. Rating: 8.9/10. The pop wunderkind commands the scene with unrivaled chutzpah.
‘FutureSex/LoveSounds’ (2006): The man of the world
As great as "Justified" proved to be, it had a central flaw. Namely, given Timberlake's still-warm association to NSYNC back then, it was easy to dismiss the pure pop feats across that debut. But "FutureSex/LoveSounds" made any such denials all but impossible as Timberlake gave us not only more sexy gold but matured and transcended in key ways. Maybe it was the added charisma and confidence of a then-burgeoning acting career. Or, that Timbaland took more of a leading role, guiding Timberlake into the realm of sleeky, steel Euro-dance music. Either way, Timberlake managed to talk about serious subject matter (like drug addiction on "Losing My Way") while still killing it with chart-busters like "My Love" and "SexyBack." In 2006, Timberlake was a god amongst men, and few could touch his truly soulful ways.Rating: 7.8/10. The boy grows up into a true pop powerhouse with layers galore.
‘The 20/20 Experience’ Pt. 1 (2013): The man of many returns
Following two killer albums in four years, it could've been career suicide to wait seven years for new music. But Hollywood had been calling for our golden boy, and when he finally came back to music, he did so with a potentially risky double album. But there's no denying that the "20/20 Experience" was a massive success: it felt like not only had Timberlake continued to develop as a showman and singer (see the catchy "Suit & Tie" but also the more intricate "Mirrors"), but there was something else still. This sense that Timberlake had transformed into a leading man with little to prove but nonetheless this desire to show us all why we had waited in the first place. Sure, this "version" of JT feels a little more put on, but that's just what happens when you become a massive supernova in spite of everyone's doubts and uncertainty.Rating: 7.2/10. Turns out, wearing a tux can do wonders for your immersion as an R&B bad boy.
‘The 20/20 Experience’ Pt. 2 (2013): The man with the deepest cuts
Yes, part one of "The 20/20 Experience" was a big hit, but that wasn't necessarily the case for its follow-up/sibling record. Sales of the record were strong, but certain reviews pegged it as being somehow lesser compared to part one, or that it lacked a certain substance and focus. Part one may be clearly where it's at musically, but that denies the prowess of this second record. A song like "Drink You Away" shows how Timberlake can balance pop gems with folksy insight. Meanwhile, "Only When I Walk Away" has a funk-soul force that feels all-consuming. Even the album's undisputed hit, "Take Back the Night," has layers and this Michael Jackson-level charm. The point is, this record proved that Timberlake could deliver the neo-soul goods in a way that maintains the foundation of a lasting, truly significant career. Rating: 6.9/10. Not as much sizzle, but this record still delivers where it matters.
‘Man of the Woods’ (2018): The man of true grit
Dipping away for another five years, Timberlake returned suddenly with a different approach for his fifth record. It was clear from the album's lead single, the robo-honky-tonk jam "Filthy," that Timberlake had gone country. (Or, my own interpretation, that he had somehow channeled Bon Iver circa "For Emma, Forever Ago.") While the album's sonic patchwork of funk and country felt gimmicky (it was described as "Americana with 808s"), you couldn't deny the earnestness that informed this LP. While Timberlake had always stood on his own, opting for a funkified folk rock was a move to carve out a niche away from the likes of Timbaland and The Neptunes. Maybe it's not the biggest statement of his career, but it felt organic, wonderfully-flawed and full of deep personal insights. Now get up and dance, ya little doggies.Rating: 6.6/10. A country-fried Timberlake is nearly as cool and slick as other eras.
‘Everything I Thought It Was’ (2024): The man of peace and balance
For some folks, the last year of Timberlake's career was clouded by personal issues (including a September 2024 arrest for driving while impaired). But earlier that year, and some six years after his last record, Timberlake returned with "Everything I Thought It Was," a title that works on a few key levels. Songs like "Drown" and "No Angel" see Timberlake lean into his past "personas," finding a sense of purpose in bridging the divide between pop crooner, leading man and, yes, even country star. At the same time, the title also touches on ideas of growing up and nostalgia, and a Timberlake in his mid-40s is trying to find peace, manage new ideas and expectations and still be this daring pop dynamo. Time will tell how he'll grow into middle age proper, but this record proves that an older Timberlake is just as brilliant as ever. Rating: 6.4/10. Growing older doesn't mean a less boring or dynamic Timberlake.
Justin Timberlake. 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 23. Footprint Center, 201 E. Jefferson St. Tickets are $55 to $110. Visit livenation.com.
