FutureSex/LoveSounds Review

With this new album Justin manages to establish himself as a proper rockstar and well and truly brings sexy back. The album oozes sex appeal, charms and sometimes works so hard that it sweats.

Now, it's a common theme in many songs and many albums but I've interpreted that FutureSex/LoveSounds is actually a concept album about the thing JT holds dearest; sex! More precisely, an one night stand... the first glances, the playful whispers, the flirting, the foreplay, the act itself right up to the consequences. Follow me as I try to explain Justin's little rock opera...

FutureSex/LoveSounds - The opening title track is about Justin preparing for the night out. Maybe sinking a few drinks in a bar before he hits the club. Checking out his comeptition and auditioning his horizontal dance partner for the night in his head.
Sexy/Back - Now JT hits the club and turns it on, eyeing up his prey and going in for the kill. "Go your sexy on" chants Timbaland as JT promises a night of S&M and good loving.
Sexy Ladies/Let Me Talk To You - JT now hits the floor and dances in order to lure his prey in. And of course, looking like Justin Timberlake means the floor is filled with sexy ladies for him to take his pick of. Then in 'Let Me Talk To You' we get a prelude to 'My Love' and Timbaland and more of JT's chums take over the narrative of this lad's night out. I assume this means JT is busy saying naughty things we're not supposed to hear or is kissing the ladies.
My Love - This is by far my favourite song on the album, and one the nearest times the album gets to a proper melody. Here Justin turns on the liquid charm and talks the girl into bed. JT isn't just graced with goodlooks - he has a gift of the gab too! Annoying rapper T.I. interrupts this song and almost sabotages it. There is a non-rap version which is lush.
LoveStoned/I Think She Knows... - In 'LoveStoned' JT manages to get his woman, well, stoned, or drunk, let's say high on both the contents of a yellow bottle and his charms. She falls into JT's 'trap'. 'I Think She Knows' is rather instrumental, a slowed down, reversed version of 'LoveStoned' in which Justin admits he's falling for the girl that's falling for him. The tone is less romantic and sexual and sounds more sombre, as if monogamy kills poor JT. JT and his girl leave the nightclub without saying a world.
What Goes Around.../...Comes Around - This is the fifth slash in six songs. Clearly JT likes a slash or two when making an album (guffaw!). This is the song which fits the concept the least, it's placing is definitely questionable. We either assume JT tells of being cheated on by his ex-girlfriend and learns that this lady has a boyfriend of her own. Or! He's singing to his ex-girlfriend, via the phone or some such. Or! This girl is his ex-girlfriend who cheated on him. I'm clutching at straws a bit, you have work with me.
Chop Me Up - Lesson of the day: Three 6 Mafia are rubbish. In this song JT has now got the girl home and is trying to seduce her, trying to make her go all the way. The music is once again slightly sombre, as if JT will die if he doesn't get any sex. Maybe of embarrassment. Timbaland's a man after our own heart. He wants a bit of sex, but first he wants to watch Desperate Housewives episode which he's taped.
Damn Girl - The obligatory Wil.I.Am song. Here, the girl obliges to the proposition put forth in 'Chop Me Up', and things get a bit wild. Spluttering "damn girl" JT is clearly a bit flustered. he can't believe his luck - this girl is going to break his hips. He's "got to put it down tonight" and step up his game. Weirdly, Wil.I.Am is present. Maybe he's filming it? This, much like 'My Love' is one of the few songs on the album that even closely resembles an actual song.
Summerlove/Set The Mood - At the close of 'Damn Girl' they do it. We join them a few weeks down the line, and they are still doing it (I think they stopped in between to eat and that). Despite the reserved feelings in 'LoveStoned', JT and his lady aren't sure if it is true love, but know it's something more than just the dirty ("I can't wait to fall in love with you...This just can't be Summerlove"). But they keep doing the dirty to prove that they love each other ("Do what I gotta do, Just gotta show you that I'm the one"). The whole of the Smmer is in the present tense, so we imagine moths passing as this song goes on. Then in 'Set The Mood', JT erm... sets the mood and gets all deep and profound. There will be sex, but it will be deep, profound sex. Why the sudden depth of charcater I wonder?
Until The End Of Time - JT promises to the girl until, well, the end of time... This is the song people still immature enough to have 'our songs' will have as 'their song'. Kids may well be concieved to this. We just don't know...
Losing My Way - Fast forward 5/10 years. The magic of the relationship is gone. JT is working a lousy job and has kids he never sees ("I'll probably never see the colour of my daughter's eyes"). And JT makes a plea to be saved from his life, as he fails at everything. This acts as a warning to the life of excessive youth and promiscuity.
(Another Song) All Over Again - JT has moaned and groaned, and had his vocals churned and looped throughout the album. So here he sings. Just sings. Showing off his amazing vocals. Showing that for all his conquests, it's his voice that's put him where he is, and will keep him there. This is a song of regret, "let me write another song... start all over again". I can imagine what he's done to ask for forgiveness for. I'm not sure where it fits in in context to the concept to be honest but maybe he wants to go back to 'Until The End Of Time' after boobing up, righting the wrongs that led him to 'Losing My Way'.

No, there isn't really a definite melody to the album, many of the songs are without one. But then, a lot of the songs are not intended to exist outside the album. Like all concept albums, there are songs that can be singles and stand up on their own and songs intended to move the whole thing along. And though the presence of Three 6 Mafia and T.I. do damage the album, it's only minimal scrapes rather than major internal bruising.
Admittedley, the concept doesn't fit perfectly on every track. But that's OK, as no concept album works beginning to end. I'm aware it's not actually a concept album, but it does read like a story.

The album is adventurous and bold. Proverbially, they say the proof of the pudding is in the eating. This pudding is rich, thick, creamy and indulgent. It's full of calories, it's good but it's 'bad'. But in it's indulgent there's a risk it could prove a bit sickly for some. Personally, I'm going for second portions.


Best Songs: 'Sexy/Back', 'My Love', 'LoveStoned/I Think She Knows', '(Another Song) All Over Again'