Justin's rotten role
(4/26/04) Ananova UK

Who would think the original punk, Johnny Rotten, would pick boy band survivor Justin Timberlake to play him in a new film based on his autobiography?

The odd couple have met and Timberlake agreed to play Rotten as long as the former Sex Pistol stays away from the set.

Rotten, now using his real name, John Lydon, said he felt sorry for the former *NSYNC star for being "Britneyised" and had the green light for the Hollywood version of his book, No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs.

Telegraph UK Schizo review
(4/26/04) Joe Muggs Telegraph UK

We can only assume that ex-’NSync man Chasez (pronounced “sha-zay”) intended his album title to suggest musical multiple personalities, rather than paranoia and delusions.

Ex-boyband members will often insist on their musical diversity and integrity, and the pressure on JC is doubly strong as he is following his mega-credible bandmate Justin Timberlake into the “grown-up” pop market.

In places, he succeeds. Large sections are great modern pop – derivative of Timberlake’s producers the Neptunes’ Spanish-guitar-and-handclaps sound, but with great synth sounds and varied tempo.

The Latin-feeling Some Girls, the Basement Jaxx-produced mutant reggae of Shake It and the funky synth-pop of One Night Stand all have a swagger and a wiggle in their step. The ballads drag terribly, though, and the Sting pastiche Everything You Want is frankly horrific.

Chasez’s voice is strong – at least the equal of Timberlake’s little-boy squeaks – but his lyrics are sleazy, sometimes stomach-churningly so. There are some great grooves, and surely a hit single or two, but it’s difficult to see this having Timberlake’s universal appeal.