September 26, 2006 @ 11:46 am
Justin - FutureSex/LoveSounds (Jive)
And so, after shooting a few indie films, Timberlake returns to music with new purpose: Rather than being seen as a boy of hormones, Justin wants to be a Man of Ideas.
right While his 2002 debut, Justified (Jive), was Justin’s naked play for mass appeal, FutureSex is his art project, a schizoid set more interested in flexing range than focus. He’s still got a lithe, lovely vocal instrument and a falsetto that evokes El DeBarge. But Timberlake and Timbaland—they cowrote all but two here—write frustratingly awkward songs. Throughout this clumsy album, Timberlake seeks solace in genres that have been undervalued or, in some cases, outright maligned: early ’80s new wave with wafts of industrial rock (“FutureSex/LoveSound”), quiet storm (“Until the End of Time”), and Minneapolis funk (“Sexy Ladies”). But it never coheres—less a project of creative resuscitation than the ham-fisted fumbling of inexperience.
Accordingly, FutureSex’s best moments are its least adventurous, closest to Justin’s comfort zone. Album highlight “My Love” is a bruiser of a club track, deliriously unsubtle, and “What Goes Around” uses the same structure and vocal patterns as his 2002 heartbreak anthem “Cry Me a River.” On the devastating album-closing ballad “(Another Song) All Over Again,” produced by Rick Rubin, Timberlake is utterly at ease, his James Taylor–style vocals cut with a dash of Marvin Gaye angst. Though it’s light soul, it’s anything but slight. And given how eager Justin seems to prove himself capable of complexity, it’s even more of a gem that he can pull off something so small.
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Article tags: Justin Timberlake, Rick Rubin, Timbaland FutureSex/LoveSounds
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Previous: Statik Selektah: Stick 2 The ScriptPage printed from:
http://www.vibe.com/music/revolutions/2006/09/justin_future_sex_love_sounds_jive/
Comments
1.
N Griffin says:
Justin's voice lacks soul! The right artist singing R&B music can give you the shivers. Justin's a pop artist. Artists like Mary J Blige, Usher, Tyrese, Fantasia sing from the soul. He still has a lot to learn. Nice beats can only take you so far....
September 7, 2007 at 8:49 pm
2.
j says:
Justin Timberlakes album appeals to many people; i for one do not like the pop sound nor do i like rap or hip hop but even i have bought the album and enjoyed listening to it. Timberland has done a great job on the album as well; he is the only person from that genre of music i can tolerate to listen too; yet from ANON's comments i don't agree that the album futuresex would be a hit if given to any other singer. Furthermore Timberland is a success but only when combining his talents with others in the music scene. He's not a one man show and never will b
February 19, 2007 at 12:52 pm
3.
ANON2 says:
I thought this was a great CD. Timbaland should be commended. I would've figured this would've been a Ginuwine album, but its JT. Oh well. I don't think he has the lyrical range that many other R&B artists have, but w/Tim producing, he'll be around for a while. I'd like to hear what his sound would be without Timbaland. He (Timbaland) does pretty much make me a fan of JT's.
February 14, 2007 at 4:24 pm
4.
ANON says:
WITHOUT TIMBERLAND JUSTIN WOULD BE NOTHING RIGHT NOW....SORRY U COULD GIVE THOSE TRACKS TO ANY OTHER MALE RNB ARTIST AND THEY'D WORK IT. HE'S BLESSED TO HAVE TIMB ON HIS TEAM. NOT HATING BUT I JUSTIN ISNT ALL THAT, I LIKE HIM BUT I KNOW HE'S GETTING TOO MUCH CREDIT FOR STUFF NOWADAYS ESP IN EUROPE.
February 4, 2007 at 9:10 pm
5.
Ashley S says:
I love JT he is so hot ive even seen him in concert twice!!!
December 18, 2006 at 9:37 am
6.
oh says:
hehe
December 5, 2006 at 4:39 pm