FutureSex/LoveSounds Review
Justin Timberlake spoke in-depth about the inspiration and purpose of his tortuously awaited sophomore LP, “FutureSex/LoveSounds,” and on the cover of said disc, Timberlake’s giant clodhopper through poor disco balls with the velocity and intensity of a bullet through a brick wall. In his not-so-subtle cover art and countless interviews, he says that he wants to revolutionize music and “get the asses off the wall.” A psychotically ambitious task for a twenty-five year old, right?
Maybe not. After all, Timberlake has been working in the biz since he was knee high to Tennessee grasshopper and has yet to rack up DUIs, drug arrests or a made-pubic sextape-is already on top. With a gaggle of awards, including two Grammys, he’s probably the man for the job.
“FutureSex/LoveSounds” is definitely a compilation from a musician testing the boundaries of his muse. It’s thirteen tracks of lushly layered of “ear candy” and Timbaland’s famed production work all working to craft a musical odyssey of sex, love, sex, and drug use and sex (Timberlake’s a rock star, what else is there?). But unlike like his first LP, “FL/LS” is Timberlake unhindered and unrestricted and unbridled. Four years older, in a solid relationship, the former NSYNCer is bad as hell and knows it because finally embraces the beauty, soul and grit in his velvety voice, especially in the poignant “Losing My Way,” “Until the End of Time.”
Sexy Ladies: This song is obvious filler, but filler over a pimptastic neon basslines and a beat that compels you to move. Timberlake wants his sexy lady to strut, and it sounds like it’s a perfect theme song for America’s Next Top Model.
Let Me Talk To You/My Love: This song is the closest thing to rapping Timberlake has ever done, and not-surprisingly, he could probably to that too and snatch a moon-man or two. It’s frenetic with crazed cadences and playful lyrics. The prelude conjures up images of Timberlake and Timbaland working a two man band, using their whole bodies to shake maracas and African rain pipes. It bleeds into “My Love”, which is a catchy, albeit clichéd, hip hop Valentine delivered in Timberlake’s golden falsetto. It is surprisingly endearing and sweet, but T.I’s rap can be a bit distracting.
Lovestoned: As the first lyrics are sung in Timberlake’s melodious voice, it’s easy to realize that after four lengthy tracks, he is finally singing, un-filtered. This is a brilliant song, with tight vocal percussion and decadent strings. Lovestoned is a Grammy-golden display of Mr. JT’s gift of his voice and genius in creating a concept or catch-phrase. He warbles about a girl in a club and being captivated about the way she looks beneath flashing lights. The beatboxing melds into the “I Think She Know” Interlude, and peels back to reveal something deeper for the club-hopping vixen, something closer to love and distant from lust. The song and its interlude is a colorful, brilliant gem that at over seven minutes, is entirely too short. This song must be a single.
What Goes Around: Another idiom-turned-song, it’s an obvious stab at the worldwide success of “Cry Me A River,” just with more heartache and less rage…until the “Comes Around” interlude. The softness of Timbelrake’s voice is soothing as he tells the story of infidelity. In “Gangsta’s Paradise” fashion, Timberlake and Timbaland are viciously seething: “You spend your nights alone/and he never comes home/And every time you call him all you get’s a busy tone…”, which conjures images of Timberlake blowin’ out smoke with Coolio-style cornrows, and Timbaland watching monitors of said-hussy as she’s miserable and cryin’ rivers. Undoubtedly, the last minutes are slicker and more fiery than the track itself.
Chop Me Up: This little disco ball survives on this joint that is as close to mainstream hip hop as Timberake should ever go. Of course, there is a spin, because over the voices of Three Six Mafia and Timbaland’s verses, Timberlake reveals…insecurity, and fear that a girl will stand him up or turn him down (has that ever happened to him?). However, the song is so cluttered with guest stars that all you want to hear is Timberlake’s southern drawl over the entire song. It is fun and creative in its production.
Damn Girl: This song is funkified freedom. He screams. He curses. He wails. He condemns cosmetics. We like.
Losing My Way: It is a sad and soulful song about a man (not Timberlake) addicted to meth. The production is genius. A pallet of sounds paints a picture of a an ill, shaking man stumbling through an alley with percussion that sounds like it was tapped out on a garbage can and vocal rhythms. The climax of the song is a crescendo of a gospel choir behind Justin’s voice that’s stronger than ever and achingly emotional. It is a tear-jerker, but shows that Timberlake, even from his perch of talent, money and fame understands that he is blessed and that anyone can fall.
Until the End of Time: Despite the album’s title, this song is classic, and shouldn’t be called anything, but babymakin’ music. Timberlake lets himself go in a beautiful, candid ballad boasting “that if your love was all I had in this life/then that would be enough until the end of the time.” If any woman (or man) can listen to this song without falling in love with Timberlake, then they are either dead or soulless. This track makes you want to climb inside it and wear it as a second skin.
Another Song: The intended closer is seemingly what FS/LS was building up to: Justin sans syntherizers and demonic squirrels, sans hot beats and guest stars. The song is just about a man that messed up and wants to start over again. It is as beautiful as it is viscerally honest.
The album, with all its charisma and magic, is an official introduction. You dance and grind and love your way through the beginning tracks with production acting as bravado and charm, and then the flash is stripped away to reveal Justin Timberlake: The Person, the twenty-five year old from Memphis who can be insecure and scared and in love and happy and vulnerable. While “Justified” dove into the throes of heartache, “FS/LS” reveals more about the man behind the mic and armor of charm. It’s nice to finally meet you.