I’m glad this isn’t a country song, or a rap song, or a country rap song; I’m glad it doesn’t sound like Joanne, or Forever Young; I’m glad Juicy J, Dave Berman, or Al Gore aren’t rapping on this thing; I’m glad this doesn’t sound like “Can’t Stop the Feeling,” The 20/20 Experience, Future Sex / Love Sounds, or Justified. These are all things to be thankful for.
I’m not glad that Justin’s having his Yeezus moment. It didn’t suit Taylor Swift’s Reputation, as was evidenced by that album’s awkward sounds and playfully muddled production, and it doesn’t suit “Filthy,” which takes Justin’s falsetto and puts it over top of a distended, grand ‘70s rock sample and a screwy, unrelated wobbly bass thing. ‘Hater’s gon’ say it’s fake,’ spits Justin, rolling up the sleeves on his suit jacket and informing us that this ‘ain’t the clean version,’ in case there was any confusion. It’s not as terribly stilted or as unsexy as “Look What You Made Me Do,” this song’s closest recent compatriot, but it’s also overreaching for something entirely weird and unnecessary. Honestly, did Justin not leave N*SYNC a few decades ago? Aren’t we all use to him being sexy? Did he not write a song about bringing sexy back? Did he not release an album whose title alluded to his ability to court, fuck, and marry you? Why must he insist that this particular song is real, or a moment wherein he ‘gets [his] swagger back?’ Has the stasis of marriage to Jessica Biel and goofy alliance with goof Jimmy Fallon really changed the general consensus that Justin has sex appeal and charismatic songwriting chops?
Maybe I’m mistaken. Maybe Justin needs to make Man of the Woods and songs like “Filthy” in order to prove his image and songwriting techniques. I don’t know why, though. Justin can still write great pop songs; “Can’t Stop the Feeling” was ingenious despite other drawbacks. “Filthy” just seems needlessly desperate about demonstrating something that needs little to no demonstration.
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I like JT a lot but I've never seen him as some impeccable artist who can't do any wrong and I wasn't expecting another album as classy as 20/20
I'm just glad he's still around and he's still doing music that challenges the mainstream a little bit, even if it's just because it sounds like it's off an album that he released a decade ago
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Even though those will probably be a bit more interesting
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^exactly how I felt. I still like it, but I was hoping for something more earthy, substantial, and real.
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I think I like it?
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thanks
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jt done lost his mind
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lol