Justin Timberlake - FutureSex/LoveSounds
(2006)

Review by Sean Lynch

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He came to fame as the frontman of pop boy band 'N Sync. In 2002, he released his debut solo album, "Justified", which went on to sell over seven million copies worldwide. And after almost four years in the wilderness (well, not really - there's never been an artist to have so much media saturation since MJ's child molestation case) JT is back with one of the most anticipated albums of the year - and not surprisingly - one of the best.

Timberlake just seems to have the knack of directing the trajectory of modern pop music (much like, as much as it is already over stated - but it's true - Michael Jackson did in the '80s). It's a rare thing in music today to see an artist, especially of Timberlakes stature, take more than a year to release a follow up album. 

Take a look at The Black Eyed Peas, they seemed to release an album a week there for a while in order to cash in on their new-found success. But it's quite clear that Mr. Timberlake has put every ounce of energy from those last four years into creating an album which will set a benchmark and new trends in music for the next four years.

I think everyone knew what they were in for when SexyBackwas released. It's pop, that much we can agree upon, but there's something new to it, an edge that cannot be easily described. It possesses the catchy elements of chorus, yet has a sinister dance club edge. It wasn't the traditional JT voice we all know and loved - it was darker, it was (without sounding silly) sexier and you just knew that at clubs all around the world, at least someone was going to get laid while dancing to it.

There's some brilliant tracks on this latest album. Not all of them sound like immediate commercial hits, but much like SexyBack, the melodies seem to sneak up on you. And before you know it, you'll be humming it in the lunch line or walking with a bit of a groove in your step.

One of the immediate stand outs has to be Love Stoned. I actually first heard it on the radio in a surf shop a few weeks prior to the album release, not even knowing it was Timberlake - and I loved it. It's a bit cheeky and so very smooth. It also features one of the best of the "Preludes" and "Interludes" which feature before and after most of the tracks on the album, a tasty bonus if you will.

Timberlake and producer Timbaland apparently included these in order to give the audience the song remixes straight away - as opposed to having them made poorly down the track or having to buy them separately. What a nice gesture.

There are stages where some of the songs already sound dated (like listening to HIT MACHINE VOL 13 five years after it's release), but perhaps that's the charm JT was looking for.

Summer Love also works a treat with the most excitable boppy track since Senorita. Until The End of Time is destined to be played at end of year school graduations, while Losing My Way stands to be one of the album's best highlights.

It's exactly what the world has been waiting for - it's exactly what a dwindling radio pop world needed - and it's set to make little Justin Timberlake and his friends at the record company a great deal of cash. 

RATING: 4.5 out of 5

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