Music review: Justin Timberlake – 无毛视频楳an of the Woods无毛视频�
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无毛视频檚 无毛视频淔utureSex/LoveSounds无毛视频� 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, 无毛视频淚 guess I got my swagger back无毛视频� on the spacious and futuristic tone found on 无毛视频淔ilthy.无毛视频�
Even though it无毛视频檚 been five years since 无毛视频淭he 20/20 Experience,无毛视频� I never doubted Timberlake无毛视频檚 musical appeal and pop culture impact.
Tracks like the funky 无毛视频淢idnight Summer Jam,无毛视频� Bruno Mars-flavored 无毛视频淪auce无毛视频� and chic sophistication of 无毛视频淗igher Higher无毛视频� represent the man who gave us smooth numbers like 无毛视频淩ock Your Body,无毛视频� 无毛视频淐ry Me a River无毛视频� and 无毛视频淪uit & Tie.无毛视频�
R&B stylings dominate during a duet with Alicia Keys on 无毛视频淢orning Light无毛视频� and pure pop shines through on the title track and 无毛视频淲ave.无毛视频�
Chris Stapleton joins Timberlake on the contemporary country-tinged 无毛视频淪ay Something无毛视频� as 无毛视频淔lannel无毛视频� 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 无毛视频淏reeze Off the Pond无毛视频� and on 无毛视频淟ivin无毛视频� Off the Land无毛视频� when Timberlake declares,无毛视频滻无毛视频檓 just a man doing the best that I can/Saint or a sinner, the loser can be a winner with a plan/When you无毛视频檙e living off the land.无毛视频�
Timberlake无毛视频檚 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 无毛视频淧op.无毛视频� 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无毛视频檓 sure Timberlake will be just fine.
The party may have moved outdoors, but it无毛视频檚 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 无毛视频-Standard music reviewer. He can be reached at clinton43@me.com.