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20 Y.O. - Janet Jackson
Metascore
52 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 14 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 2 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 14
  3. Negative: 1 out of 14
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  1. All Music Guide
    80
    What really differentiates the album from its predecessors is that there's almost no trace of tension to be heard. It's all about fooling around and being in love.
  2. Los Angeles Times
    63
    Dupri exits the album halfway through, leaving the final five songs almost entirely to Jam-Lewis-Jackson. She seems hopelessly drawn to their old-school settings of strings, real pianos and quiet-storm drama.
  3. NOW Magazine
    60
    There's a little too much consistency across the album -- too few moments stand out, and too many of the hooks just blend together.
  4. The New York Times
    60
    Janet is as crafty and poised as ever. Her flirtations are still a pleasure, but an overly familiar one.
  5. Entertainment Weekly
    58
    Sharp production can't mask the absence of any standouts likely to be remembered 20 months from now.
  6. E! Online
    58
    Dated songs like "So Excited" and "Do It 2 Me" end up sounding like they're, well, 20 years old.
  7. Stylus Magazine
    58
    There's precious little to get, well, excited about here.
  8. Blender
    50
    It's hard to catch much buzz off fun that sounds so much like work. [Dec 2006, p.170]
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  9. Slant Magazine
    50
    The saddest thing about 20 Y.O. is that Janet's decision to hedge her bets on an album whose backbone is made up of terrible R&B instead of great dance music.
  10. Dot Music
    40
    A record that surgically removes all trace of sensuality and replaces it with calculated, mechanical, by-numbers bump'n'grind action.
  11. Uncut
    40
    20 Y.O. is a lazy timewarp, not a retro treat. [Dec 2006, p.114]
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  12. Rolling Stone
    40
    Almost all of the tunes here (particularly "So Excited") try to replicate Jackson's early work, with diminishing returns.
  13. Village Voice
    40
    Sexuality doesn't sink 20 Y.O. as much as the beats do.
  14. Hartford Courant
    30
    It's a bland album that rarely shifts tempo and shows almost none of the personality Jackson used to have.
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User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
7.9 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 39 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 25 out of 31
  2. Mixed: 3 out of 31
  3. Negative: 3 out of 31
  1. shanl
    10
    i love the cd it has sooooooooooooo many good songs that make me smile when i have bad days how in the world does she hit the high notes?
  2. JosephV
    8
    This is not Janet's best effort by a long shot, but it is also not her worst (Damito Jo.) The one thing that is lacking is that it feels less like a Janet Jackson record and more like a compilation of new songs that Janet just happened to like. There is very little continuity. However, many of the songs are wonderful -- it's a great collection of new Janet songs that I am really happy to listen to!… Full Review »
  3. MartiquT
    9
    it good di to me the **** so excited i hot come on so get get it
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