Justin Timberlake’s “Take Back The Night”: Review Revue

Bianca Gracie | July 12, 2013 1:18 pm

Justin Timberlake‘s new single “Take Back The Night” premiered today after the singer teased the tune as part of his The 20/20 Experience — 2 Of 2 release earlier this week. The track is reminiscent of Michael Jackson‘s Off The Wall sonic influences, mixed with JT’s love for classic, big brass production. Our own Carl Williott said, “This new cut exhibits that same quality, but with a slight return of his Futuresex/Lovesounds dancefloor swagger, in spirit if not sonics.”

It’s pretty clear that we enjoy Timberlake’s new song — but don’t just take our word for it! We’ve gathered all the notes from across the blogosphere about the track below. Keep reading to see what other critics had to say about “Take Back The Night.”

:: Jezebel notes the disco influence: “Fits right in with ‘Get Lucky’ and ‘Treasure’ and all the other retro-soul-disco we’ve been hearing lately. I mean, it’s no ‘Bring it on in to Omeletteville,’ but you can’t have it all.”

:: Another “Get Lucky” reference is made by our friends at Stereogum: “It’s a lush, effervescent disco-pop track with serious Off The Wall overtones, and DJs all over the world will be blending it with “Get Lucky” this weekend.”

:: Our friends at SPIN add: “Featuring hand-claps and ambient room chatter, the song taps right into its subject matter, as our host makes a welcome return to singing about moving and grooving. Smooth synths. Bright horns. Playful percussion. It’s a keeper.”

:: MTV get specific: “A sumptuous slice of Off The Wall-indebted disco that seems custom-made for roller rinks everywhere (or at least the five that are still open for business in 2013).”

:: MuuMuse matches it against one of JT’s older tunes: “The shimmering, feel-good dance floor stomper plays like a grown-up version of JT’s classic “Rock Your Body,” full of Michael Jackson-esque falsetto crooning, dirty disco basslines, funky stomps and jubilant blasts of brass.”

:: Pop On And On isn’t feeling it: “It’s cute but it’s not for me, I’m expecting some big things from Part 2 and this isn’t one of them…”

:: Vulture says: “Really the only quibble here is that Justin Timberlake still refuses to make a song under six minutes, which is fine; a radio edit should be out soon enough.”

:: Slant quips: “There are specific ingredients that don’t simmer properly in Timberlake’s reverberating mastercut bouillabaisse, but the jam still gives off the impression that he invited Rod Temperton into his house the same way Daft Punk recruited Nile Rodgers.”

:: Buzzfeed wraps it up with one word: “Fantastic.”

What are your own thoughts on Justin Timberlake’s “Take Back The Night”? Let us know below, or hit us up on Facebook and Twitter!