MUSIC REVIEWS
Justin Timberlake - Future Sex/Love Sounds
David Allun Jones
Justified was the waking of a superstar-to-be struggling to separate his influences from his own distinctive style, but on the overly confident Future Sex/ Love Sounds, Justin Timberlake throws all caution to the wind for a forward-thinking album that subtly indulges in his ‘70’s and ‘80’s idols (everyone from MJ, Prince and Stevie to George Michael and Donny Hathaway) while excitingly shifting the paradigm of modern pop.
The same way Timbaland helped exaggerate Nelly Furtado’s B-girl shtick on Loose, the imaginative knob-twister embellishes on shards of Timberlake’s character, with an inkling for the tireless entertainer and arrogant sexual being. The latter persona came into play on “Rock Your Body” to which he promised he would “have you naked by the end of this song” and “Senorita”, which featured the boast “Gentleman goodnight/ Ladies good morning” and it dominates all throughout the horny-minded Future Sex. Radiating a near-spoof like ray of confidence, Timberlake announces his presence with much-conceited bravado, but it’s less of a play off him believing his own fame, as it is a clever attempt to boost the self-esteem of others. He doesn’t think he’s actually bringing “SexyBack”, but it invites the listener to think he/ she is, it’s pulsating poly-rhythms coaxing you into your own individualized strut, carefully planning your entrance into the party. Much time is spent commenting on the score of women flocking to his feet (“I know a little betty from downtown/ That’ll do anything that I please”), dabbling in S&M imagery (“You see these shackles baby I’m your slave/ I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave”) and trying to coo the panties off any female who attracts him. Little of it is at all convincing, but it’s performed well enough that any socially inept nerd would believe he was the catch of the day through repeated listening.
f hearing Justin falsetto croon about his sexual prowess isn’t your cup of tea, though, Future Sex should be copped if only for Timbaland’s stand-out productions. No longer bitter over the blatant beat-biting that would lead to threats of early retirement, Timb seems to be relishing being the number one beatmaker around once again. The album compiles his usual bag ‘o’ tricks (from the beat-boxing percussion to the off-kilter sound effects) but he feels more involved here than he has with any album in years. Dense, insulated club grooves thump and pound away with epic choruses that open up the track to add in even more ridiculous layers of synthesized aural magic. “My Love” and “What Goes Around Comes Around” ranks among his best work even with Justin chipping off some of the impact with a questionable revert to his boy band background thanks to banal R&B concepts that paint him as more of a sappy wimp than certified player.
On the final two tracks, Future Sex decides to deviate from it’s promiscuous content to hint at Justin’s next musical direction as world weary soul man. “Losing My Way” puts him in the shoes of a crackhead trying to figure out where his life went so wrong. The concept is too mature for Timberlake’s pen, though, as he belittles the seriousness of it all with amateur songwriting and predictable flair. ”(Another Song) All Over Again” fares much better. Produced by Rick Rubin, it’s a dead-on mimicking of Donny Hathaway’s stirring soul ballads of the late ‘70’s. Rubin brings in live musicians to recreate the sound of the era, creating a steady gospel-tinged backdrop for which Justin’s agile performance captures some of his most moving vocals.
If Timberlake had opted on doing a “Justified II” and continued his aping of Michael Jackson’s heyday, few would’ve balked because he probably would have managed to make it another multi-platinum guilty pleasure. The fact that Future Sex/ Love Sounds not only challenges himself but the contemporary sounds of today is an added bonus and a risky move that ultimately puts sophomore jinx jitters to rest. With his right hand man Timbaland by his side, the one-time Mousketeer and Cameron Diaz bed buddy grows up before our ears, embracing his sexual and creative identity for a sonically pleasing effort sure to influence an army of followers.
