Justin Timberlake. Not exactly a name that inspires much confidence in the music world. Except, of course, in bubble gum land. His first solo album proved only that he had musical talent beyond that of *NSync, but did little more than that. Now, with his latest cd, “FutureSex/LoveSound” he allows the listener to see that his musical prowess extends much, much farther than the world of pop.

Timberlake’s new album FutureSex/LoveSound. Courtesy of cdnow.com

His latest album is chockfull of surprisingly good dance hits. Timberlake took the core of his previous cd, a mix of pop and R&B that has permeated the airwaves, and added spice to it. He infuses this core with an edgy techno beat, which not only provides the listener with a fantastically fun time, but also pushes the boundaries of music. That’s right people. Timberlake is creating music that is innovative and advanced for our time.

“SexyBack,” the first single off of the album, is quite possibly the best example of this. Timberlake uses a voice modulator to create a sound that is completely unique. Though this technique does manipulate his voice into something it is not, it is not used in the same way pop wannabes do to create a desirable singing voice. Unlike many others in the industry, Timberlake has a strong musical voice; he just wants to do something different with it. In fact, it is difficult in vocal terms to create his final product– a singer must have supreme control over his vocals.

There are plenty of other gems on the cd as well. The title track, “Future Sex/Love Sound” is a dance party for the hippest of cats. “LoveStoned” is another choice track with electric and creative beats. One of the most interesting cuts off the album is “Damn Girl” which features Will.I.Am, who co-produced the song. “Damn Girl” blends a 60’s R&B vibe with Timberlake’s edgy techno.

Timberlake aims to please the audience with more than just catchy dance tunes. His sophomore album also contains some of those slow songs which adds a bit of sentimentality to the album. “Losing My Way” is about those who have succumbed to some of the dangers of life (i.e.: drugs) with a slow and simple beat. Meanwhile “(Another Song) All Over Again” is more of the traditional remorse song that can be found on a traditional R&B album.

Though the album is full of fun wonders, that is not to say that it is without flaws. Many of the songs go on for far too long, and then include interludes on top of that. There is little variation in the songs to keep them fresh, and so they wind up feeling tired by the end. There is also little to be said for the lyrics, except for weak. “See all I want you to do is to be my love. My love. So don’t give away my love,” drones on as the chorus through out most of “My Love.” Timberlake utilizes the same phrases over and over in the same songs, and they are not incredibly interesting or intelligent. But then again, it is a dance album, where there is rarely stress put on lyrics.

Another peculiarity about the album is how much it sounds alike to Nelly Furtado’s latest album. This is due to Timbaland being the main producer on both albums. Timberlake’s new album almost seems like the male counterpart to Furtado’s. There are certainly differences, such as how part of Furtado’s album is in Spanish and how her lyrics are more literally creative but the similarities are striking. Both of their albums have a similar dirty pop sound, and provide songs that make their listener dance along with sentimental songs.

If Justin Timberlake’s mission was to create an edgy dance album then he has achieved his goal. Not only is his new album fun, but it also creates an edgy infusion of dance, techno, pop, and R&B. He gives the world more than enough reason to believe in his talent.