FutureSex / LoveSounds [PA] (CD - 2006)

Personnel: Justin Timberlake (vocals, guitar, piano, keyboards, background vocals); Justin Timberlake; Timbaland (vocals, rap vocals, various instruments, drums, programming, background vocals); T.I., Three 6 Mafia (vocals, rap vocals); will.i.am (rap vocals); Bill Pettaway, Paul Blake, Smokey Hormel (guitar); John Wittenberg, Brian Benning, Gloria Justin, Mari Tsumura, Richard Adkins, Jennifer Levin, Pamela Gates, Yvette Devereaux, Natalie Leggett, Igor Szwec, Emma Kummrow, Josephina Vergara, Michele Richards, Susan Chatman, Mark Cargill, Charlie Bisharat, Mario Diaz de Leon, Tereza Stanislav (violin); Matt Funes, Cameron Patrick, Patrick Morgan, Jimbo Ross, Davis A. Barnett, Darrin McCann, Andrew Duckles (viola); Timothy Landauer, Jenny DLorenzo, Suzie Katayama (cello); Jeff Clayton , Valarie King (flute); James Ford (trumpet); Clarence McDonald (organ); James Gadson (drums); Lenny Castro (percussion).

Audio Mixers: Timbaland; Jimmy Douglass; Andrew Scheps; Serban Ghenea.

Recording information: Akademi Mathematique Of Philisophical Sound Research, L; Arch Angel Studios, Los Angeles, CA; Chung King Studios, New York, NY; Conwaystudios, Hollywood, CA; Encore Studios, Burbank, CA; The Document Room, Malibu, CA; The Studio, Philadelphia, PA; Thomas Crown Studio, Virginia Beach, VA.

Photographer: Terry Richardson.

Music critics and highbrow listeners may look down their nose at Justin Timberlake, doubting that the celebrated former N'Sync leader is good for more than light, frothy dance-pop. Timberlakes's sophomore effort, FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS, should make both camps rethink that stance. While the album certainly sets out to entertain, it's also full of ambitious, well-constructed grooves that prove the superstar is serious about getting down and dirty. The album steps up the Michael Jackson-influenced sound of JUSTIFIED by delving deeper into club music, hip-hop, and funk, creating a bumping, writhing soundtrack for a set of songs unabashedly about sex.

Timberlake spared no expense recruiting some of the best producers on the scene. Beatmaker extraordinaire Timbaland is a primary collaborator, and his experimental stutter-funk landscapes make for the album's best moments (the title track, for example, or the spare, driving lead-off single "Sexyback"). Early Prince is a major touchstone for much of the disc, but Timberlake also draws on rolling, Dirty South jams ("Chop Me Up") and smooth, urban-contemporary loverman R&B ("My Love"). Its obsession with the bedroom notwithstanding, FUTURESEX/LOVESOUNDS shows Timberlake moving toward an exciting musical maturity. minimize