Sketchy debut hardly justified
(8/30/04) Sunday Mail Australia August 29, 2004 (thanks ozgirl for the transcription!)

Schizophrenic
JC Chasez
(Jive/Zomba)
3 stars

In short: Sorry JC, Justin Timberlake is still No.1

From the Mickey Mouse Club to super-stardom in boy band 'NSync and now to a debut solo album, it is inevitable that JC Chasez will draw many comparisons with his ubiquitous bandmate, Justin Timberlake.

Eager to prove his musical worth, Chasez has written most and produced all tracks, with a little help from guest producers such as Dallas Austin and Basement Jaxx.
Titled Schizophrenic, the album is, well, a little scattered, to say the least.

Chasez switches from reggae on Everything You Want to Prince impersonations on 100 Ways, then unleashes a little soul and funk on the single Blowin' Me Up (With Her Love). The annoying, melody-free All Day Long I Dream About Sex, with '80s disco beats, is the latest single from the album.

Chasez tries to capitalise on his boy band image and touch base with 'NSync fans on ballads, Dear Goodbye and Build My World.

Steamy and sexually charged lyrics aside, the release is simply too varied, with Chasez in different minds and struggling to find his musical indivuduality.

Trying to top Timberlake, who has the chart-topping release Justified, a high-profile girlfriend and "Nipplegate" under his belt, may just be beyond Chasez's grasp after all.

 

2004 VMAs Bland and Boring
(8/30/04) Curlio.com

...Then Dave Chappelle came onstage and made some lame joke about Justin Timberlake and Janet Jackson. Maybe we were better off without a host if that was all he could come up with?...

 

Usher wins Best Male Video
(8/30/04) Jennifer Schaeffer Clear Channel News WTEV 47

...Usher won his first VMA, taking his time to bring home the Best Male Video for the song “Yeah.” He beat out Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, and Prince...

 

Miami revels in MTV’s first video awards outside N.Y. or L.A.
(8/30/04) Sean Piccoli South Florida Sun Sentinel

...There was no attempt to one-up Janet Jackson's breast-baring at the Super Bowl, although comedian Dave Chappelle jokingly chided Jackson's accomplice that day, pop singer Justin Timberlake, for apologizing over the incident and for not disrobing Jackson with more gusto -- "like you mean it!"...

 

MTV settles for sizzling, not shocking
(8/30/04) NEKESA MUMBI MOODY Associated Press Baltimore Sun

MIAMI - Holding its festivities for the first time in the city of skin, yesterday's MTV Video Music Awards show was sizzling, energetic and colorful - yet tame, by MTV standards.

...Usher won his first moonman as he took best male video for "Yeah!"

"This is my first time coming up here - let me take my time with this," a beaming Usher said. "I'm so damned happy right now I don't wanna leave."

Later, he took a dig at Justin Timberlake, who has been promoted as his rival.

"I guess there ain't really any competition between me and Justin no more, right?" he said as he picked up his second award of the night for best dance video...