Justin Timberlake Slides Back Into Perfect ('N) Sync

Justin Timberlake may have shed his boy band roots eons ago but "Not a Bad Thing" happens to have qualities hearkening back to those "innocent times". For starters there's that breezy melody top heavy on warm fuzzies. The predominantly G-chord sounds are suitable for listening to in the comfort of one's boudoir, on a sailboat, on the beach, or any other hangout that lends itself to unguarded life moments where love's radiance can penetrate with minimal if any distractions. 'N Sync always has my respect for gifting the world with "I Want You Back". It's impossibly catchy. Everything about it hits at pre 9-11 better days. "Not a Bad Thing" hands us a mature version of the tunes those guys owned the charts with circa 1998-2001. Justin knows his way around soulfulness. Add to that the abundant charm that surely had lots of people suspecting he would for a fact become the huge breakout star of that band. The result is ecstasy. He succeeds in throwing bones to the portion of his audience that hungers for nostalgia while at the same time satisfying the appetites of the portion that wholeheartedly approves of the thirtysomething JT's confident artistic direction. As rooting value goes he casts himself as a figure hard to go against, especially since he pushes the right buttons with the woman he's addressing. For every night they have, he wants to see her smiling face staring back at him. You'd think there was only one right way to begin a day. Who's blaming him? He's gotten past her defenses by assuring him he knows how people promise and then can't conceivably live up to them. The imagery of a heart being cut open with a knife isn't novelty value sentiments but I, nor should the rest of you, hold that against him. Call him courtroom lawyer pleading his case that yes, there's nothing bad about being his woman. Much credit to the musicians buoying both of their spirits. He's willing to be in this love match for the long haul. I bet chemistry between this pair wasn't hard to obtain. "The 20/20 Experience - 2 of 2" promises to show little sign of slowing down commercially thanks to this fourteen-carat sparkler. Not a bad thing indeed. )