J.C. Chasez at Roseland
(5/9/04) New York Post

Living in the shadow of Justin Timberlake is surely a kind of hell. But ex-*NSYNCer Chasez has been making an attempt, mainly by following the Timberlake business model: Shed all trappings of your boy-band past. Convince the cool kids to work on your solo record (Chasez scored genius Brit duo Basement Jaxx for "Schizophrenic). Then happily turn your back on highly choreographed arena shows in favor of small venues with liquor licenses, such as Roseland, where he plays this Wednesday.

Daily Record Schizo review
(5/9/04) Daily Record UK (thanks Eva!)

FACING the unenviable task of following in the footsteps of ex-NSYNC bandmate Justin Timberlake, JC Chasez has a mountain to climb with his debut solo album, Schizophrenic. JC has risen to the challenge of crafting a credible niche within the music market far away from the music form which first made him. Gone are the pop tunes of his past, replaced by a plethora of music sounds some funky, others rocky but all worthy of acclaim. Schizophrenic doesn't limit itself to one genre, but where JC excels is within the boundaries of ballads such as Build My World, Dear Goodbye and Lose Myself all worthy contenders for single status. More upbeat moments come in the form of Something Special, 100 Ways and Some Girls (Dance With Women). His recent collaboration with electro whizz-kids Basement Jaxx on Plug It In has given JC credibility and this album furthers his standing as an artist with potential.

The Independent Schizo review
(5/9/04) Andy Gill The Independent (UK) (thanks Eva!)

Album: JC Chasez - Schizophrenic, Jive - 4 stars out of 5
JC Chasez's old chum Justin Timberlake advised his former N'Sync bandmate to be true to himself, not to his manager or label, when he began his solo career. Being a millionaire several times over, this was no problem: JC locked himself away until he'd completed Schizophrenic, an album that showcases his impressive vocal technique and diversity of musical styles. Working mostly with the producer Robb Boldt or the team of Riprock'n'Alex G, Chasez slips smoothly between the slick pop-funk of "100 Ways", the staccato soul of "Something Special", the dancehall twitch of "Everything You Want" and the retro-futurist electropop of "All Day Long I Dream about Sex" and "Come to Me". Along the way he manages to sound like Prince fronting the Chili Peppers, Stevie Wonder produced by George Michael, Sting in Jamaica, Earth Wind & Fire on a Spanish holiday, and The Human League locked in a room full of antique synthesisers - good going for a boy-band pin-up, and even better when Basement Jaxx tool him up in "Shake It". Apart from one or two morning-after ballads like "Build My World" ("Skip the breakfast tea for two/ We made no plans to rendezvous"), Schizophrenic deals with the night before - most effectively on the frothy single "Some Girls". A surprisingly impressive solo debut.

Heartthrob's fans line up early
(5/9/04) SVEN GUSTAFSON The Daily Oakland Press (thanks Eva!)

PONTIAC - It's tough being a devoted fan of a boy band.

"Vocal quintet," insisted Marissa DeYoung, 18, of Comstock Park.

Although the doors of downtown's Clutch Cargo'sdidn't open until 6 p.m. Saturday, the appearance of 'NSYNC vocalist and current solo heartthrob JC Chasez drew a round-the-corner line of die-hard fans early on.

"All four of us stayed in a tent this morning while it rained," said Lisa Gilman, 18, of Grand Rapids, who arrived shortly after 8 a.m.

"We listened to JC and played Monopoly and sat out in the rain."

Fans, most of them female and in their teens or early 20s, kept local pizza deliverers busy as they waited in line for a good spot at the general-admission concert.

Heather Olsen, 20, joined a group of fans and previous strangers seated on blankets and towels, thumbing through copies of Cosmopolitan and Star magazines and snapping photos with each others' camera cell phones. She drove 10 hours from her home in Menominee, in the Upper Peninsula.

"My mom is really mad because it's Mother's Day and we're driving back (Sunday)," she said. "She's all like, 'I see where your priorities are.' "

Although sales of Chasez's debut solo album, "Schizophrenic," have been disappointing, his fans rave about the album's blend of jazz, techno and even '80's stylings.

"JC's really eclectic," said Whitney Wilyard of Detroit.

The former Mickey Mouse Club member even holds appeal outside the screaming-girl demographic.

"My son started listening to 'NSYNC, and I started listening to him to know what my kids listen to," said Sunnie Kishi, 48, who flew all the way from Denver. "And I try to stay young."

Although fans say they catch a lot of flack for being fans of "boy bands," DeYoung said she doesn't necessarily bristle at the term.

"They just say 'vocal quintet' so I say 'vocal quintet,' " she said. "They're not boys, they're men talented, sexy men."

Chicago Quill Schizo review
(5/9/04) Andrew Hickner Chicago Quill (thanks Eva!)

JC Chasez is, like Justin Timberlake, a former member of 'Nsync. Although I will admit to singing along drunkenly to 'Nsync on more than one occasion, I was never a huge fan. 'Nsync was definitely not what the cool kids listened to when I was in high school. Thus I was impressed when JT released a pretty cool, adult, urban hip-hop CD-- I still haven't tired of "Senorita" or "Cry Me a River," which is more than i can say for the latest Outkast singles. JC was never as popular with the girls as Justin was; he didn't date Britney, he isn't especially good-looking (at least in my estimation), and to be perfectly frank, the general public couldn't distinguish his voice from any of the other members of the 'Nsync-2nd string.

So what drew me to his solo debut, Schizophrenic? I bought it in part because of a 4-star review from Rolling Stone (admittedly not much of a distinction these days) and partly because it was co-produced by the fabulous duo of Basement Jaxx. The jacket is full of typically silly glam shots of JC, wearing ridiculous outfits and a somewhat sleazy long haircut. On the cover he is straitjacketed. so far, not too auspicious.

The first track immediately compensates. "Some Girls (Dance With Women)" is delightful and hypnotic from the opening beats; the chorus is irresistably singable; and the entire song, in fact, manages to be flawless, sophisticated, and easygoing throughout.

"She Got Me" has a little hint of Jamiroquai, and even channels Michael Jackson a little bit toward the end. "100 Ways" actually has some pretty decent lyrics, and he turns out to have a nice Prince falsetto impersonation as well. He really shows off his phrasing, a priceless skill which is all too rare in current Top 40 vocalists. Never does JC sacrifices a phrase or the melodic line to melisma or a breath; each part of his range is solid, from his powerful, sassy middle register to the pristine soul of his falsetto.

He channels Michael Jackson and George Michael again in the catchy "If You Were My Girl," up through the series of escalating shrieks toward the end of the song. "Shake It" is delightfully funky, featuring a nice growly vocal. "Everything you want" has a great reggae-flavored background, although marred by the cliched lyrics at the chorus.

There are few clunkers out of the eighteen. "All Day Long I Dream About Sex" is just stupid, with a synth line and chanted verse horribly remniscent of "Bad Touch." "One Nght Stand" has some fun scatting and a playful verse, but it's ruined by an irritating melody on the chorus an d some silly dialogue. "Blowin' Me Up" suffers from absurd lyrics and deserves better production. "Everything you want" has a great reggae-flavored background. However, the ballads, the true test of any kind of mainstream pop album, are uniformly stunning. Chasez wisely chooses the Boyz II Men route of low-key, lovelorn wistfulness rather than Jessica Simpson oversinging. They begin with "Build My World," melodically and lyrically sublime, beginning the true center of the album. "Dear Goodbye" has a lovely acoustic guitar line, and JC climbs effortlessly up the scale on the gorgeous chorus; the bridge is pure old-school Stevie Wonder. "Lose Myself" is almost orgasmically pretty in every aspect.

Best tracks include the frisky, acoustic-guitar-driven "Something Special"(with clap track and a whistle section at the bridge! How George Michael is this guy gonna get?). The song is screaming to become a single. "Come to Me" is slinky, propulsive New Wave, with some of the best (and explicit) lyrics on the CD: "cause when i'm all alone/i imagine i am face to face/inhaling every breath you take/i'm waiting out the storm... when I'm all alone/I lie awake and masturbate... Baby, here I come." The vocals are articularly good, almost sotto voce, backed by nicely restrained harmonies. "Right Here" has yet another catchy acoustic guitar riff (and a little homage to UB40's "Red Red Wine").

Even including the few missteps, "Schizophrenic" is one of the most amazing debut CDs I've ever heard. JC's singing and songwriting style is far more sophisticated than his former teeny-bopper peers, and the production on this CD is equally impressive: Rockwilder, Alex Griggs, and Robb Boldt in particular are responsible for the best tracks. The varied virtues-- whether they be the ballads, the dance tracks, the vocals-- should ensure JC a wide and solid following, and I'm eagerly awaiting his follow-up already.

New 'Some Girls' remix available for download
(5/8/04) RiprocknAlexG.com

RiprocknAlexG.com has a new UK remix of "Some Girls". They just finished the mix this morning. JC sang all new vocals on it. You will love this one.

The ADIDAS video will premiere on TRL next week. Not sure exactly what day yet.