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All Music Guide

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.

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Los Angeles Times

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.

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The New York Times

Janet is as crafty and poised as ever. Her flirtations are still a pleasure, but an overly familiar one.

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NOW Magazine

There's a little too much consistency across the album -- too few moments stand out, and too many of the hooks just blend together.

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Entertainment Weekly

Sharp production can't mask the absence of any standouts likely to be remembered 20 months from now.

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E! Online

Dated songs like "So Excited" and "Do It 2 Me" end up sounding like they're, well, 20 years old.

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Stylus Magazine

There’s precious little to get, well, excited about here.

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Blender

It's hard to catch much buzz off fun that sounds so much like work. [Dec 2006, p.170]

Slant Magazine

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.

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Dot Music

A record that surgically removes all trace of sensuality and replaces it with calculated, mechanical, by-numbers bump'n'grind action.

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Rolling Stone

Almost all of the tunes here (particularly "So Excited") try to replicate Jackson's early work, with diminishing returns.

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Village Voice

Sexuality doesn't sink 20 Y.O. as much as the beats do.

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Uncut

20 Y.O. is a lazy timewarp, not a retro treat. [Dec 2006, p.114]

Hartford Courant

It's a bland album that rarely shifts tempo and shows almost none of the personality Jackson used to have.

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What Our Users Said

The average user rating for this album is 7.8 (out of 10) based on 39 User Votes

Note: User votes are NOT included in the Metascore calculation.

shan l gave it a10:
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?

Joseph V gave it an8:
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!

Martiqu T gave it a9:
it good di to me the shit so excited i hot come on so get get it

jamie g gave it a10:
I love you janet wow!!!!!

Eric L gave it a4:
What ever happened to the originality that she had on her previous albums ? It's all gone, especially since Damita Jo. It's like she lost all of her inspiration that made her early music sound so much better than the rest. I think she should keep M.Dupri in the bedroom and out of the studio. What success has he had lately ?

[Anonymous] gave it a10:
Janet is fabulous... U still got it Ms. Jackson! Who cares what the critics think!! It's all about the fans!

tyrell n gave it a10:
Janet i love the cd is the biznezz!!!!!!!! Love You

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20 Y.O.

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