Justin Timberlake Will Never Stop

Justin Timberlake released his second album of 2013 last month and it's one of his best. The 20/20 Experience – 2 of 2 is far better than it's predecessor. While his last album had a more neo-soul sound this new record, Timberlake's fourth, has a more hip hop and R&B influenced sound like his last album combined with Justified and FutureSex/LoveSounds.
The album, like all of Timberlake's are predominantly produced by Timbaland. This is evident in album highlights "Gimime What I Don't Know (I Want)" and the second single "TKO."
Other highlights include "Cabaret" which features Drake, "Murder" which features Jay-Z and the acoustic rock inspired "Drink You Away." 
While most of the songs are great there are some that aren't up to par with the others. "True Blood" is about four minutes too long with a runtime of 9:31 minutes. While Timberlake's last three albums are known for having long songs, this one just isn't necessary for it to be that long. The song is good but after a while it's just too much to handle. Also the first single "Take Back the Night" could have been better.
Those songs aside the album really does shine. "You Got it On" is a soulful track that is a throwback to Part 1. " "Amnesia" is a classic Timberlake song that deals with a breakup.
"Only When I Walk Away" is a thumper that has a guitar-laced beat about the end of a relationship, a topic that despite being happily married Timberlake covers a lot on this new album.
The album ends with "Not a Bad Thing." This song is a love song that features more acouscit guitars. This song goes to show that even after the heartbreak that is dealt with on the disc, love can come. The album keeps up with the acoustic sound on the bonus track "Pair of Wings" This song features just Timberlake and an acoustic guitar. This song is a love song that is simply adorable.
All in all this album is a great record and it goes to show that Timberlake is not going anywhere.

Jay-Z Finds "Holy Grail" On Twelfth Album

Jay-Z announced his twelfth album a few weeks ago and with no single released it in an exclusive deal with Samsung to release the album a few days before the actual release.
While his last album The Blueprint 3 was his best album, Magna Carta... Holy Grail isn't anywhere near as great.
The album doesn't have any bad songs, but some songs are better than others. The best songs on the album are "Holy Grail" which features Justin Timberlake, "Ocean" which features Frank Ocean and "FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt" which features Rick Ross.
Jay-Z's wife Beyoncé is featured on several songs including "Tom Ford," "BBC" and "Part II (On The Run)" which is meant to be a continuation of the song that started their love "'03 Bonnie & Clyde."
The album could use more guest appearances as Jay's solo songs tend to blend together. "Picasso Baby," "Somewhere in America" and "Heaven" are all great tracks and could very well be singles.
"BBC" and "Holy Grail." "BBC" features vocals by Nas, Swizz Beatz, Beyoncé, Justin Timberlake and Timbaland and a funky beat. "Holy Grail" is an epic rap song. Timberlake's verse and choruses are about a backstabbing lover while Jay's verses are usual hip hop fare. The song, which features a sample of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" by Nirvana.
"Can't even take my daughter for a walk/ See em by the corner store, I feel like I'm cornered off/ Enough is enough,, I'm calling this off," Jay raps during the second verse. He's talking about the paparazzi and the stresses of fame. It's moments like this where we are let into the personal life of Jay-Z that work on this album.
The strange Mommie Dearest sample in "Jay Z Blue," a song about his daughter. While the sample at first seems weird and creepy, upon further listens it's clear that the sample is about irony. He won't let his daughter go down the route of abuse. He would never hurt her and he wants to be a good father. It's all about his insecurities as a new father.
All in all, Magna Carta... Holy Grail is a great album. It isn't the most groundbreaking album or the best rap album, but it shows that Jay-Z is a legend and isn't going anywhere.

Justin Timberlake Comes Back With A Bang

It's hard to believe that Justin Timberlake went from boy bander to solo star. 'N Sync, the singer's former band broke up in 2002 and then later that year Timberlake released his solo debut Justified. The album featured a new R&B/hip hop sound that was nothing short of sexy. Timberlake went from cute boy band singer to sexy solo singer in a matter of months and while the album wasn't perfect, it was a great record. It featured his best song and one of his biggest hits "Cry Me A River." The breakup jam was aimed at his ex Britney Spears and showed a new side of the singer. The album featured production by Timbaland and The Neptunes and showcased the singer's falsetto voice.
In 2006 Timberlake released his sophomore album FutureSex/LoveSounds. The album stayed with the same style but Timbaland played a bigger part in the production. The album featured huge hits like "SexyBack," "What Goes Around...Comes Around" and one of his best songs "LoveStoned." The single featured an R&B beat and then went into an experimental rock outro. The album was more experimental and showed Timberlake could be a real artist.
Then the singer took a break from his music to focus on acting. Until January 2012 when Timberlake released his first new single since 2007. "Suit & Tie," which is simply ridiculous is produced by Timbaland and features Jay-Z. Yet those three together came up with a terrible first single. So terrible that it seemed as though Timberlake's new album was to be a mistake.
Then in February Timberlake released the second single and album highlight "Mirrors." The song redeemed Timberlake and does the rest of the album. The 20/20 Experience has a more neo-soul style and contains lyrics about wooing a lover. The triumphant return of Timberlake is risky. The songs are mostly over seven minutes long, yet they work. Songs like "Pusher Love Girl" and "Don't Hold the Wall" showcase classic Timbaland beats and Timberlake showing us that he isn't done yet.
The album's songs are sexy and experimental, not as experimental as his last record, but still experimental. Some highlights include "Tunnel Vision" and "Don't Hold the Wall." These songs are all about his marriage to Jessica Biel. There are no bad songs with the exception of "Suit & Tie."
The album closes with the two best songs, "Mirrors" and "Blue Ocean Floor." The latter is a gorgeous ballad that is experimental and soulful.
This album, while not perfect, shows that Timberlake is back and he's here to stay and with another album due out in November, he is showing no signs of slowing down.

Nelly Furtado gets back to business on new album

Nelly Furtado's hip hop/dance/R&B masterpiece Loose was released six years ago and in that time she recorded a Spanish album and released a greatest hits album with two lame new songs. Furtado is back with her new album The Spirit Indestructible. While Loose was produced almost entirely by Timbaland, Timbo doesn't make a single appearance on this record. Spirit was produced by Darkchild and Salaam Remi.
While the album does have some weak points, altogether it's still an amazing record. Songs like "Circles" and "The Most Beautiful Thing" which features Sara Tavares, a Portuguese singer, are simply weird and "Miracles" is pretty boring but the other songs on the album more than make up for these shortcomings.
Songs like "Big Hoops (Bigger the Better)," "Waiting For The Night" and the title track are all great. "Bucket List" is an adorable song about wanting to fall in love. Another amazing song is the third single "Parking Lot." The song is a banger and recalls Furtado's teenage years hanging out in parkings lots. "High Life" which features Ace Primo is a hip hop song about living the high life. Another great song is "Something" which features Nas.
The best song on this album would have to be "Believers (Arab Spring)." The pop-rock anthem about trying to spread love to the world sounds like Alanis Morrisette covering Lacuna Coil. The song is different from anything Furtado has done and should definitely be a single. It would expose Furtado to a whole new audience.
All in all this album is a huge step forward for Furtado, hopefully it doesn't take her a few more missteps before her next amazing album.

Madonna's new album doesn't get the credit that it deserves

Madonna released her twelfth studio album, MDNA at the end of last month and it has been getting bad press ever since. The album has gotten decent reviews but the album hasn't been selling that well. Despite the two singles not getting any radio airplay and there being very little promotion. Her album debuted at the number one spot and it is now still sitting pretty at the number eight spot on the Billboard album chart. The album dropped 86.7% in it's second week. The album beat out the record previously set by Lady Gaga with her second album Born This Way which dropped 84.28% just last year.
MDNA may not be Madonna's greatest album but it's fucking fantastic, especially when looking back at her last album Hard Candy. The album featured Timbaland production and wasn't too memorable. While MDNA is not Ray of Light, it still is her best album since 2006's Confessions on a Dancefloor.
MDNA is however an enjoyable release. From the in your face attitude of "I Don't Give A..." which features Nicki Minaj to the soaring ballad "Falling Free" the album doesn't have a truly horrible song. Some highlights include "Gang Bang" which is a dark dance song about shoot her lover in the head, complete with lots of crazy whispering and a dubstep breakdown, this song is like an old school Madonna song mixed with new pop music. Other highlights include the "Beautiful Stranger" flashback of "I'm A Sinner" to the catchy dance breakdowns of "I"m Addicted," to the Golden Globe winning song "Masterpiece." This album is by far one of the best albums of the year and should be getting more attention. While the airwaves are taken over by musicians that can't hold a candle to the legend that is Madonna. This album needs to get the credit that is due to it.