FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS - JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE
On “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” Justin Timberlake claims to be bringing “sexy” back to pop music, and indeed he is. You can almost feel beads of sweat rolling off the title track and “SexyBack” featuring Timbaland, which is No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for a second week. With Timbaland at the production helm and guest appearances by T.I. and Three 6 Mafia, Timberlake is seriously courting hip-hop fans. But he has not lost sight of his pop audience. The playful “Damn Girl” featuring Will.i.am and sultry “(Another Song) All Over Again” are reminiscent of Prince’s signature style. Although the mix of dance beats, pounding basslines and palatable vocals is occasionally marred by mundane R&B tracks like “Until the End of Time,” there are far more pop gems than slow jams. The sound may be a bit different for Timberlake, but the music’s sex appeal remains a force to be reckoned with. Billboard
