Popcast: Is Justin Timberlake Still a Pop Star

John Shearer/Invision/Associated Press Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z performing at the 55th annual Grammy Awards in February.

This week: Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience.” Jon Caramanica joins host Ben Ratliff to talk about the new album by the actor/television producer/golfer/former boy-band light-tenor, only his third in eleven years.

Do the long songs â€" most of the album’s tracks run more than seven minutes â€" earn their length Is the songwriting good enough to carry the sprawl, even with Timbaland’s hectic and layered productions Is it the strong aesthetic move it looks like from a distance Is it as good, as an album and as a gesture, as “Justified❠(Or is that the wrong question, since that record was made in 2002, when singing was a suitable way for a singer to spend his time)

Listen above, download the MP3 here, or subscribe in iTunes.

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Jon Caramanica on Justin Timberlake’s “The 20/20 Experience.”

SPOTIFY PLAYLIST
Tracks by artists discussed this week. (Spotify users can also find it here.)