Justified
by Justin Timberlake
  • Record Label: Jive
  • Release Date: Nov 5, 2002
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Mixed: 6 out of 14
  3. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Stylus Magazine
    84
    Few songs on the album are as perfect as [the opening] two, but many of them are nonetheless excellent.
  2. E! Online
    83
    Michael Jackson's probably thinking, "Man, this is the album I should've made last year!"
  3. Uncut
    80
    Much of the album is like 1980 revisited and updated. [Jan 2003, p.115]
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  5. Playlouder
    80
    This is Justin Timberlake squealing like Michael Jackson's pet monkey, a recipe for joy if ever there was one.
  6. Rolling Stone
    80
    The Neptunes' brilliant, impertinent, full-body funk is, for the most part, what stays with you from Justified; their songs, spacious and shot through with ecstatic aaahs, outshine their neighbors on the album.
  7. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    A cohesive and fairly lean work, especially compared with 'N Sync's last two albums.
  8. CDNow
    70
    A fun, contemporary pop record that's uber-cool without ever seeming forced.
  9. CultureDose.net
    70
    Justin Timberlake's solo debut is good.... Was this the same Justin Timberlake from that boy band *NSYNC? Could it be? Better asked, how could this be?
  10. New Musical Express (NME)
    60
    Timberlake, having failed to imprint his personality on 'Justified', simply stands or falls on the strength of the songs. Luckily for him, half a dozen of them - mainly Timbaland's - are brilliant.
  11. Blender
    60
    Unlike some other singers, Timberlake never seems a puppet of his hot producers. [#12, p.154]
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  12. AllMusic
    60
    Justified is just sound and posturing, with no core.
  13. New York Magazine (Vulture)
    60
    Timberlake and the Neptunes work hard at creating memorable songs, an admirable undertaking given the pathetic state of songwriting in pop music. But little more is expressed in songs like "Señorita" and "Take It From Here" than flowery notions of romance or brusque come-ons.
  14. Dot Music
    40
    There's so little substance here, it's difficult to engage with the record or its creator.
  15. Q Magazine
    40
    He's an even limper pastiche of [Michael] Jackson than Jackson himself. [Jan 2003, p.123]
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Awards & Rankings

27
#27 Most Discussed Album of 2002
10
#10 Most Shared Album of 2002

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.6

Universal acclaim- based on 303 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 268 out of 303
  2. Mixed: 13 out of 303
  3. Negative: 22 out of 303
  1. GabrielVictor
    May 15, 2016
    7
    " Justified " tem seus altos e baixos, mas no geral, Justin Timberlake sempre possui uma carta na manga. (B-)
  2. kyle20ellis
    Mar 17, 2022
    10
    Sounds amazing! Clean flat pressing. Dynamic and nice soundstage. This one was done right!
  3. Ari_po
    Nov 25, 2020
    10
    Justin Timberlake is a genius composing these days, but Timbaland guided him quite well in his solo debut after his departure from NSYNC.Justin Timberlake is a genius composing these days, but Timbaland guided him quite well in his solo debut after his departure from NSYNC. Definitely the best of his generation.… Full Review »
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