Justin Timberlake is always selling. It's probably what he does best.
He's slick, stylish, bringing-back sexy and he knows how to give the people what they want. He has a gift for packaging - from his well-choreographed dance moves to his well-timed genre hopping, he has a strong sense of what will work and what won't. And his new album, "FutureSex/LoveSounds" (Jive), reflects that.
"FutureSex/LoveSounds" is well crafted with producer Timbaland - who provides Timberlake with the same sexed-up guidance and envelope-pushing dance beats that brought Nelly Furtado back to the top of the charts with "Promiscuous" - and like nearly all of Timberlake's work with 'N Sync and on his debut "Justified," it is remarkably likable.
The dizzying "SexyBack" is Timberlake at his best, mainstreaming a combination of the wild, edgy dance-pop style of Basement Jaxx with Missy Elliott's more experimental hip-hop to create a boldly inventive sound that still pleases the masses. [More...]
Listen to "FutureSex/LoveSounds" here
DROPS: Justin sets sale
PHOTO: Jive Records
It's a mix he mines for much of "FutureSex/LoveSounds," taking an older sound and twisting it to make it sound fresh. Timberlake's salesmanlike talents give him the confidence to pull off sounding like the Mary Jane Girls on the title track or filling the hook girl, er, person, role on "Chop Me Up," as Timbaland and Three Six Mafia take the song over. He even reprises himself on "What Goes Around ...," which is essentially "Cry Me a River II (The Sequel)," from the handclaps and skittering beat to the tempo.
And he clearly has a thing for royalty on this album, whether it's the numerous stylistic references to Prince (from the elimination of spaces between words in song titles to "Sexy Ladies" and especially "Until the End of Time," which even uses the same palette of synthesizer sounds from Prince's "Purple Rain" album) or his love of "King of Pop"-era Michael Jackson, which livens up the otherwise plodding and plain "Summer Love."
All this will undoubtedly sell well. However, "FutureSex/LoveSounds" is also the first sign that Timberlake may want something more. On "Losing My Way," he offers a tale of crack addiction over a spare, poignant beat that blossoms into an all-out gospel choir intervention as he sings, "There's gotta be a heaven somewhere/Can you save me from this hell? Can anybody out there feel me 'cause I can't seem to feel myself?"
But it's "(Another Song) All Over Again," a stripped-down soul ballad in the moving, understated style of Donny Hathaway, that makes you wonder why Timberlake has been holding out on us. Produced by Rick Rubin, "All Over Again" allows Timberlake's soulful voice to soar without overreaching, showing those "American Idol" kids how to walk that line between genuine and staged.
Timberlake has clearly been looking for a way to be taken seriously as an artist, the way his former Mouseketeer pal Christina Aguilera is, the way his 20-something peer Alicia Keys is. In "All Over Again," he has found it: Stop selling. When songs are this good, you don't need flashy new dance moves, a clever marketing concept and another round of fresh remixes to make them work. When songs are this good, they sell themselves.
("FutureSex/LoveSounds," in stores today; Grade: B+)
Comments (3)
HI I THINK JT IS THE NUMBER 1 ARTIST IN THE WORLD I BOUGHT EVERY CD HE EVER MADE INCLUDING NSYNC CDS ID LOVE TO WIN BACKSTAGE PASSES FOR JT .HE IS MY IDOL PLEASE!!
I have loved Justin Timberlake since he started in NSYNC. I was five at the time and he was always my favorite. I went to see a NSYNC conert with my older sister, and she met him backstage. He was always my favorite singer since i was 5. Then, after NSYNC broke up, i was crushed. Then When i heard Justin's song "cry me a River" i was satisfied again that he was going solo. Ever since that song came out, he was my favorite singer again. I was at the HSBC in Buffalo on February 18th 2007 for the "future sex love show" and was right in the front. I listen to his songs all the time. That was the best concert of my life. I don't think there is one song of his i can not stand. They are all so awesome. I own every NSYNC cd, the "justified" cd and "future sex love sounds". I've always wanted to meet him. I would do absoltuly anything for these tickets. I could never be happy. He is the best singer i know. He has so much talent. Please provide the backstage passes. I will do anything! I will most likey be attending his concert in Boston, Mass on August 10th 2007. Pleaseeee !!!!
JUSTIN IS THE BEST I LOVE HIM!!!I WANT TO MEET HIM!!!!!!!! JUSTIN IS THE BEST SINGERING THE WORLD!!I HAVE EVERY MOVIE HE IS IN AND C.D!! YOU ROCK JUSTIN!!!!!!!!