Music review: Justin Timberlake – 鈥楳an of the Woods鈥�
Fresh off his Super Bowl halftime performance, Justin Timberlake continues the celebration on his latest release.
For his fifth album, Timberlake is bringing a different kind of sexy back. While 2006鈥檚 鈥淔utureSex/LoveSounds鈥� delivered slick stylings of funk and dance beats, Timberlake reinvents himself as a hip woodsman flashing a hefty amount of flannel and denim.
I know the transformation sounds kind of weird. As a result, there are times when it is hard to remain focused on everything happening on the album as Timberlake blends musical genres to fit his new personality.
Yet, somehow Timberlake manages to convincingly merge elements of soul, funk, country and folk into an intriguing album that requires a few listenings to fully digest and understand.
It starts off just as we would expect a new Timberlake album to sound like with the 37-year-old singer declaring, 鈥淚 guess I got my swagger back鈥� on the spacious and futuristic tone found on 鈥淔ilthy.鈥�
Even though it鈥檚 been five years since 鈥淭he 20/20 Experience,鈥� I never doubted Timberlake鈥檚 musical appeal and pop culture impact.
Tracks like the funky 鈥淢idnight Summer Jam,鈥� Bruno Mars-flavored 鈥淪auce鈥� and chic sophistication of 鈥淗igher Higher鈥� represent the man who gave us smooth numbers like 鈥淩ock Your Body,鈥� 鈥淐ry Me a River鈥� and 鈥淪uit & Tie.鈥�
R&B stylings dominate during a duet with Alicia Keys on 鈥淢orning Light鈥� and pure pop shines through on the title track and 鈥淲ave.鈥�
Chris Stapleton joins Timberlake on the contemporary country-tinged 鈥淪ay Something鈥� as 鈥淔lannel鈥� follows and proves to be a charming and heartfelt ballad of lasting love.
There are times the material falls slightly flat because of awkward lyrics that describe the wind as always being there from 鈥淏reeze Off the Pond鈥� and on 鈥淟ivin鈥� Off the Land鈥� when Timberlake declares,鈥滻鈥檓 just a man doing the best that I can/Saint or a sinner, the loser can be a winner with a plan/When you鈥檙e living off the land.鈥�
Timberlake鈥檚 change in direction and attitude may take some fans a little time to accept. I remember back in 1997 when U2 threw us a major curveball with 鈥淧op.鈥� It took several listens to absorb the fact that artists need to take risks from time to time just to keep a fresh perspective. Things worked out all right for U2 and I鈥檓 sure Timberlake will be just fine.
The party may have moved outdoors, but it鈥檚 still the place to be and be seen as long as Timberlake is in attendance.
Timberlake emerges from the woods for a Pittsburgh appearance at PPG Paints Arena on June 1.
Clint Rhodes is the 缅北禁地 music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.