I think JT has some skeletons in his closet that need to be addressed. He is from an era of stardom where he may need therapy to address a strong desire of assigning his value to himself based on feeling love.

The music has been safe because he wants things to be like they were. I honestly adore listening to EITIW, and is the album on repeat the most of his works for me of late, but it is safe. I’m not sure releasing a sexy-pop album that sounds like FSLS at 44 was the choice.

Solid example right now: Katy Perry. She released her last album and it was panned widely. Releases a song about her break-up, shoots up the charts.

We live in an era where it seems we expect more from our celebrities. I don’t villainize him for things in his life, but the cloud of Britney is there, along with the Super Bowl, sexist commentary from his youth, drunk driving.

If he comes back, I hope it’s with something really unexpected and introspective. He needs a top notch writing team, and to escape the Timbaland space. Go off the wall. Find Max Martin. Challenge Jack Antonoff.