Of all the albums I thought I might review next; lord knows I never thought it would be the new release from ex-boy-band gloryboy Justin Timberlake. With "Justified," he forged a moderately (if conservatively so) different...
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Of all the albums I thought I might review next; lord knows I never thought it would be the new release from ex-boy-band gloryboy Justin Timberlake. With "Justified," he forged a moderately (if conservatively so) different personality than the clean-cut good boy image he had cultivated with his work with `NSYNC. The songs were personal, if overwrought, and overproduced. The singles were monumental, but the album overall lacked a true personality. On "Futuresex/LoveSounds", Timberlake leaves `NSYNC so far behind that its hard to view him as the same person. Much of this is most likely to Timbaland's credit, who produced almost every track on this fine record. This album had one of two directions to go from "Justified," either an attempt at the same thing, or a grandiose, hubristic, self-promoting, self-aggrandizing beast of a record. And to everyone's benefit (most prominently his own), Timberlake chose the latter. The lyrics are an intriguing amalgamation, ranging from shameless hubris to pathetic desperation, and its in walking that line that Timberlake finds his real charm. He's likeable because he reacts to his situation like a real person. He knows the power he has (through his fame), but at the core he is still hopelessly insecure. On second single "My Love," his flights of masochism and confidence on other tracks dissolve into ruminations of marriage, as if his confident ruse is nothing more than a hopeless romantic simply looking for the one on which to spend it. The backing beats, mainly by Timbaland, showcase the master back on top of his game. Ranging from pseudo-funk, to post Purple-Rain Prince, to Timba's very own take on pop; the tracks flow seamlessly, effortlessly, and hypnotically. Interestingly, it is not the beats that immediately grab the attention, but the judicious application of soaring synths and strings that propel the spaces in between and throughout Mr. Timberlake's staccato vocals. Even the string harmonies and fills (most notably on "Lovestoned/I Think That She Knows") have marvelous hooks, and leave the listener desperate for a fuller fleshing out of their themes. I had no intention of really liking this album, but that proved all but impossible. Timberlake and Timbaland have created a pop/hip-hop/funk collage that is immediately accessible, likeable, and just plain fun. Highly Recommended. Comment (1) | Was this review helpful to you? (Report this)
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