Man of the Woods
by Justin Timberlake
  • Record Label: RCA
  • Release Date: Feb 2, 2018
User Score
6.1

Generally favorable reviews- based on 765 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 409 out of 765
  2. Mixed: 99 out of 765
  3. Negative: 257 out of 765
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  1. OrenBrown
    Feb 23, 2018
    5
    This isn't great. It's trying to be too many things at once. There are some real highlights on this album; some catchy vocal melodies and some very nice clean production every now and then, but it just fails to be pleasing to my ears for more than 30 seconds at a time. I'd say I was disappointed but the singles did little to hype me up. This album also drags a lot so it was a bit of aThis isn't great. It's trying to be too many things at once. There are some real highlights on this album; some catchy vocal melodies and some very nice clean production every now and then, but it just fails to be pleasing to my ears for more than 30 seconds at a time. I'd say I was disappointed but the singles did little to hype me up. This album also drags a lot so it was a bit of a chore to get through.… Expand
  2. henriquerique13
    Feb 2, 2018
    6
    This album sound like a voyage from Los Angeles to Memphis that never arrives. Had a great concept but it's a forgettable album
  3. nickandall
    Feb 2, 2018
    4
    Un álbum inmaduro, con un gran concepto pero que, a la hora de la verdad se queda corto, sin chiste, Justin se habia caracterizado por renovar su imagen limpiamente como una estrella pop, ahora se estrella.
  4. DavidWasHere
    Feb 2, 2018
    4
    I didn't want to hate this album! I don't think a lot of people wanted to hate this album! But dang it if it didn't live up to what so many people predicted! Justin Timberlake came back after 2013's the 20/20 Experience, a project that has a fantastic first half with a fantastic direction in soul and organic sounds, followed by a weaker second disc that just felt like leftovers fromI didn't want to hate this album! I don't think a lot of people wanted to hate this album! But dang it if it didn't live up to what so many people predicted! Justin Timberlake came back after 2013's the 20/20 Experience, a project that has a fantastic first half with a fantastic direction in soul and organic sounds, followed by a weaker second disc that just felt like leftovers from Futuresex/Lovesounds. And if you were to tell me back in 2013 that his next path would follow up the second half of the 20/20 Experience, I would call you crazy. But no, here we are in 2018. JT is back with arguably his worst album that puts into context a lot of the critical appraisal into check. While Justin was never a deep artist, which is especially true when it comes with his lyrical content, he was one that is forward thinking, taking steps into a new direction. Man of the Woods, which claims to go in a country and roots direction, ends up being yet another tired attempt at trying to make Futuresex/Lovesounds, minus the ambition and scope, and instead replaced by tired sounds and embarrassing lyrics.

    The album has a hard time trying to mix acoustic and organic sounds with JT's usual dance-pop stomping ground, and it is very apparent how awful the final product sounds. From the awful bleeping electronic clicks, Caribbean steel drums, and acoustic guitars on Waves, to the atrocious mix of country and 808 drums on the title cut, it's two sounds that clash horribly. Dare I say it's even more horrendous than anything that Florida Georgia Line or Sam Hunt would make! And the embarrassment doesn't stop there when it comes with the other bad production and composition decisions here. Filthy has a good groove but is kneecapped by the horrible use of the wobbly electro sound that dominates the mix. Sauce has a decent funk rock sound but is too choppy to get down with it. And when the album isn't an audio nightmare, it is tepid and bland that it is a real shame coming from Justin, like on the sloggy gospel-like ballad with Alicia Keys, Morning Light, the middle of the road acoustic dance number Higher and Higher, and the sloggish campfire jam (or as I like to call it the Avett Brothers lite) on Flannel. it makes the album shift from infuriating to listen to, to just being a slog, which is not good for an album that is over an hour long! Justin pared down the song length from his last album, arguably the biggest issue with the 20/20 Experience, but the inconsistency with the album's style and mood makes it a chore. And then there's the lyrics. Justin TImberlake is not a great lyricist, and he certainly does not have much range. He's good at writing songs about how awesome he is and how much sex he is having. But much like the raunchy lyrics on his last album, they are here and it just feels tired. Outside of a ridiculous color metaphor on Sauce and the awful sexual Americana imagery on the title cut and Flannel, the rest of the sex jams feel tired lyrically and puts into context how stagnant Justin is right now. There are a few songs here that try to have a meaning to it, but they usually range from generic love songs to being lyrically underwritten, like on the Chris Stapleton number Say Something that really ruins the good instrumentation and composition on the track. There are a few highlight here and there on the album. Midnight Summer Jam is a tasteful dance song with a rare good blend of acoustic instrumentation with disco and dance-pop. Supplies is basically a trap banger that JT pulls off pretty good, and it does have a great beat to it. Montana is like a remastered disco song from the late 70s that sounds breathtaking. Breeze Off the Pond is yet an atypical JT song but he does it well as usual, and just makes you want to listen to his classic albums.    … Expand
  5. hepnotik
    Feb 2, 2018
    4
    Hay muchos fanáticos latinos publicando reseñas aquí. Parecen adorar a las personas caucásicas. Un cantante pop brasileño de gran talento podría vender 2.000 entradas a un concierto en su propio país, pero una mediocre cantante pop caucásica como Avril Lavigne venderá estadios de 50.000 asientos. Esto se debe a que nuestro país, los Estados Unidos y Hollywood, dominan los medios de todo elHay muchos fanáticos latinos publicando reseñas aquí. Parecen adorar a las personas caucásicas. Un cantante pop brasileño de gran talento podría vender 2.000 entradas a un concierto en su propio país, pero una mediocre cantante pop caucásica como Avril Lavigne venderá estadios de 50.000 asientos. Esto se debe a que nuestro país, los Estados Unidos y Hollywood, dominan los medios de todo el mundo, y reforzamos estos ideales raciales mediante la forma en que elegimos a las personas para los papeles en las películas y la televisión. Los latinos deberían poner a su propia gente talentosa primero, en lugar de adorar a las personas caucásicas y poner otra raza antes que la suya.… Expand
  6. thedaywalker
    Feb 2, 2018
    5
    I'm really on a 50/50 on this one... for me the album starts in "Man of the woods", great song, it kinda changes the style of the album, and it continues doing so and it continues to be good, Say something is an amazing record, i get chills listening to it, but after the interlude, it all shifts again, its a little messy and becomes less about "nature" even though he tries to emphasize it.I'm really on a 50/50 on this one... for me the album starts in "Man of the woods", great song, it kinda changes the style of the album, and it continues doing so and it continues to be good, Say something is an amazing record, i get chills listening to it, but after the interlude, it all shifts again, its a little messy and becomes less about "nature" even though he tries to emphasize it. So it is really an average album, where the highs (Man from the woods, Say something, Wave, Supplies,Morning Light ) are really high, but the lows (almost everything else) are really low.… Expand
  7. PPPPPPPPVVVVVVV
    Feb 2, 2018
    6
    Filthy - 7/10
    Midnight Summer Jam - 7/10
    Sauce - 7/10
    Man of the Woods - 3/10
    Higher Higher - 4/10
    Wave - 4/10
    Supplies - 6/10
    Morning Light - 6/10
    Say Something - 6/10
    Flannel - 7/10
    Montana - 7/10
    Breeze Off The Pond - 7/10
    Livin' Off the Land - 6/10
    The Hard Stuff - 7/10
    Young Man - 6/10

    Média: 60
  8. Deivide
    Feb 2, 2018
    5
    The album sounds confusing, jumps from genres. Printing is that JT was lost during the production of this album. It's the pio album of his career.
  9. Tom_Bombadil
    Feb 2, 2018
    6
    It's not as bad as I was expecting, and there are indeed many acoustic elements as Justin promised. The beats are solid and the music is generally enjoyable as long as you ignore the lyrics. I'm not fully convinced by Justin's attempts to make the album seem like it's carrying an important message for the world -it is embarrassing more than anything- and as an album this is obviously aIt's not as bad as I was expecting, and there are indeed many acoustic elements as Justin promised. The beats are solid and the music is generally enjoyable as long as you ignore the lyrics. I'm not fully convinced by Justin's attempts to make the album seem like it's carrying an important message for the world -it is embarrassing more than anything- and as an album this is obviously a flawed package that starts falling flat past the fifth song. So yeah, it's not a new The 20/20 Experience or anywhere close, but you shouldn't be expecting much anyway. Just enjoy the bits that are there to be enjoyed and leave it there.… Expand
  10. Alex_Nevermind
    May 28, 2018
    6
    This is not Timberlake's strongest effort. NOT a horrible project, just fairly mediocre. Mediocrity is NOT acceptable from an artist of Timberlake's caliber.
  11. sarahseans12
    Feb 4, 2018
    6
    Justin Timberlake... he definitely delivered on the vocals, as he always does. I appreciate how he was influenced by his Nashville surroundings like the country and woods. You can tell he was definitely influenced by Americana music. To be honest, some tracks on this album worked. The combination of Americana and funk worked. And there were definitely some awesome, groovy tracks (Filthy,Justin Timberlake... he definitely delivered on the vocals, as he always does. I appreciate how he was influenced by his Nashville surroundings like the country and woods. You can tell he was definitely influenced by Americana music. To be honest, some tracks on this album worked. The combination of Americana and funk worked. And there were definitely some awesome, groovy tracks (Filthy, Higher Higher, Montana). However, some of the tracks just did not work with this body of work (maybe on another album). I just kept thinking, "What is the point of this song when the sound is nothing like the others?"

    Don't get me wrong, I do not mind if an album is not sonically cohesive. But with this album, some tracks were just in their own world separate from the other tracks, not having any similarities to the others.

    However, I did enjoy the majority of this album. Good job Justin Timberlake on attempting to combine Americana and funk/pop/r&b.    … Expand
  12. Wael
    Feb 17, 2018
    4
    After the "The 20/20 Experience" era (which is a record I still blast full-on to this day), I never expected Justin Timberlake to make a mediocre record, but I was proven wrong. The modern pop spin on country/rock-inspired songs JT opted for works for some songs (I particularly like 'Sauce'), but feels kinda forced, and out-of-place on a lot of the other tracks of the album. The writingAfter the "The 20/20 Experience" era (which is a record I still blast full-on to this day), I never expected Justin Timberlake to make a mediocre record, but I was proven wrong. The modern pop spin on country/rock-inspired songs JT opted for works for some songs (I particularly like 'Sauce'), but feels kinda forced, and out-of-place on a lot of the other tracks of the album. The writing is basic, even a little cheap-ish here and there. Some songs are just straight-on awful (I can't stand 'Montana', the title track isn't exactly my idea of a good song, and the closer 'Young Man', intended as an ode to his son, turns out to be extremely annoying), while others start off really well but degrade as they progress ('Wave' is amazing and all, until the chorus comes in.. WHAT HAPPENED?). The collaborations are decent, but they don't, in any way, match the expectations I had about them (I honestly expected 'Say Something' with Chris Stapleton to be a much harder-hitting song). The good songs on there, for me, are 'Filthy' (which, by the way, doesn't fit the mood nor the sound of the whole thing.. strange thing for a lead single, right?), 'Sauce', 'Supplies', 'Flannel', 'Livin' Off the Land', and 'The Hard Stuff' (even though some lines in that last one still made me cringe).

    In conclusion, "Man of the Woods" is, without any doubt, a disappointment: overly-long, lacking lots of depth, and flying all over the place. Maybe JT should drop The Neptunes, and get back in the studio with Timbaland to bring sexy back?    … Expand
  13. chidime
    Feb 7, 2018
    5
    A terrible bore. He gets points for a cohesive album, and a few interesting sounds here and there, but overall, this was a very disappointing record. Sounds that go nowhere, and lyrics/songs that just drag on and on without any purpose/destination. Timberlake can certainly do better.
  14. RobbyP
    May 2, 2018
    4
    Not a very enjoyable album. I've listened to it all the way through a few times, trying to give it a fair chance, but nothing sticks. The energy of his previous efforts just doesn't seem to be there, nor are any of the usual catchy hooks or dance-ability. We're left with a limp album that doesn't even make much effort to be topical.
  15. spongeswift
    Feb 5, 2018
    5
    Justin Timberlake's biggest mess yet. It's not a BAD album but the bag is so mixed that I don't even know why songs like Filthy were even included on the album. Say Something and Sauce were Good. But Filthy and Supplies were the WORST of the WORST. Personally you should just stream this album once then ditch it. Americana/Pop did not work here. Yet again there has not been one Blank/PopJustin Timberlake's biggest mess yet. It's not a BAD album but the bag is so mixed that I don't even know why songs like Filthy were even included on the album. Say Something and Sauce were Good. But Filthy and Supplies were the WORST of the WORST. Personally you should just stream this album once then ditch it. Americana/Pop did not work here. Yet again there has not been one Blank/Pop crossover since Taylor Swift's Red.… Expand
  16. LetsKeepItReal
    Feb 4, 2018
    4
    Nothing special to be heard here honestly: JT seems to have left behind the trademark sound him and Timbaland developed and refined on his past projects, instead he tries to merge trap influenced pop music with a lot of country. The problem however is not him trying something new, its simply that it sounds.. mostly boring: The beats are mostly very straight forward and get repetitive overNothing special to be heard here honestly: JT seems to have left behind the trademark sound him and Timbaland developed and refined on his past projects, instead he tries to merge trap influenced pop music with a lot of country. The problem however is not him trying something new, its simply that it sounds.. mostly boring: The beats are mostly very straight forward and get repetitive over time, and JT's voice sounds too clean to make most of the country cuts interesting enough for a revisit. Even the melodies do not stick out nearly as much as on past projects. JT occasionally does tripplet flows and throws in some adlibs on this one, which I don't think fit well with the musical direction he is taking (e.g. Midnight Summer Jam.. literally could put Future in the beginning part). Overall super underwhelming, there's almost nothing to keep me hooked here.… Expand
  17. oflo84
    Feb 10, 2018
    4
    Justin Timberlake's comeback is really disappointing. Doesn't have a real hit and have a lot of lazy songs. Not really interesting his "country side". Please, come back with something good, like Sexyback, Mirrors, Cry Me A River...
  18. benaminoooooooo
    Feb 3, 2018
    5
    Errrrrr de fato é o álbum mais confuso do Justin, muitas vezes parecia que eu estava ouvindo um disco arranhado, o que aconteceu Justin?
  19. PauliAlexander
    Sep 23, 2018
    4
    Maybe it's me, but I feel that Justin Timberlake is beginning to run out of ideas. Unfortunately, it's the reality for the person heralded as the pop prince.
  20. ExhibitAtrocity
    Oct 30, 2019
    4
    This album was a disappointment. Probably only two or three good songs which weren't that memorable.
  21. Mobina1
    Nov 30, 2020
    4
    His worst album, and it was so week to be considered as a Comeback after 5 years, he better release his next album sooner and work on it! And I hope he work with Timbaland more
  22. tiagodante
    Jan 3, 2021
    5
    Isso não é country JT, tente não piorar suas músicas com Pharrell e Timbaland, se inova cara

Awards & Rankings

12
#12 Most Discussed Album of 2018
10
#10 Most Shared Album of 2018

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
55

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 21 out of 29
  3. Negative: 3 out of 29
  1. Variety
    Mar 30, 2018
    60
    Although he’s not really mixing musical genres as originally promised, he’s mixing up some music and lyrics that shouldn’t really go together, which makes this one crazy peanut butter cup of an album.
    Read full review
  2. Drowned In Sound
    Feb 14, 2018
    40
    Man of the Woods is not an outright disaster but it is a significant disappointment--a record too preoccupied with image, volte face and forced “REAL” to fully engage as a coherent piece of craftsmanship.
    Read full review
  3. Q Magazine
    Feb 13, 2018
    80
    Throughout, Man Of The Woods seesaws brilliantly between pop and country. [Apr 2018, p.116]
See all critic reviews »