JT brings timeless soul, a touch of sex to new album

The man who “brought sexy back” is out to introduce a touch of class and romance to the pop scene this time around with The 20/20 Experience.

After a seven-year hiatus, Justin Timberlake has returned to the music scene with his new album, a 10-song follow-up to 2006’s well-received headboard-knocker and outright panty-dropper, FutureSex/LoveSounds. After his extended hiatus, Timberlake returned to music in his slim Tom Ford suit and tie, delivering heartfelt lyrics and beats that are simultaneously timeless and futuristic with the help of longtime producer Timbaland (“Cry Me a River,” “My Love” and “LoveStoned”).

While The 20/20 Experience is wholly satisfying, Timberlake avoided simply recording danceable tracks obviously intended for radio success. Instead, he opted for a more mature sound that takes a bit of time to truly appreciate. The album’s 10 songs get better with each listen.

Timberlake fans may lament the general lack of songs with the same immediacy of past J.T. hits such as “Like I Love You” and “SexyBack” — two songs that forced you to run to the nearest dance floor. The 20/20 Experience aims to make passionate love to your ears as opposed to dance-centric FutureSex/LoveSounds’ one-night stands.

While many of today’s radio-friendly pop confections end around the three-minute mark (I’m looking at you, Bieber), Timberlake takes his time on this album, as the average track is about seven minutes in length. Songs such as “Pusher Love Girl,” “Strawberry Bubblegum” and “Mirrors” seemingly transform at their midpoint, replacing the first half’s soulful melodies as Timbaland’s signature futuristic beats take center stage. Though familiar, Timbaland’s beats sound fresh with the use of more organic instrumentation as opposed to the abundant electronic tones that appeared on FutureSex/LoveSounds.

One of the album’s few weaknesses is Timberlake’s occasional beatboxing, one of his signature sonic elements. What sounded so inventive on early career hits such as “Like I Love You” comes off as a bit dated today.

The 20/20 Experience opens with a true standout in the form of “Pusher Love Girl,” a song that finds Timberlake crooning to his significant other about her drug-like qualities (“So high I’m on the ceiling / Baby, you’re my drug”). Next comes Timberlake’s successful lead single, “Suit & Tie,” an ode to the finer things in life. “Suit & Tie” features the album’s sole guest artist, Jay-Z, who adds a few lines about “truffle season” and wearing “Tom Ford tuxedos for no reason.” The verse seems unnecessary and the rap stands out too much against Timberlake’s soft vocals. It adds little to the track.

The middle part of the album finds “Strawberry Bubblegum,” a sugary-sweet love song with some not-so-subtle sexual references involving candy metaphors such as, “If you’d be my strawberry bubblegum / then I’d be your blueberry lollipop.”

“Tunnel Vision” finds Timberlake singing about a special lady, one that stands out in a room full of beautiful people. Similarly, the song stands out on the album. The production feels less throwback and more modern. It will surely please FutureSex/LoveSounds fans who enjoyed the album’s midtempo smash, “LoveStoned.”

The end of the album serves as the home to The 20/20 Experience’s true stars. Horn-heavy dance track, “Let the Groove Get In,” a number reminiscent of Michael Jackson’s timeless “Don’t Stop ’Til You Get Enough,” is a true standout. Proving that he’s still able to get an audience to its feet, Timberlake commands listeners to “Come on, shake like you know you got something to prove.”

The excitement of the track gradually fades out before Timberlake introduces “Mirrors,” the bombastic penultimate track. Sounding like a modern-day sequel to “Cry Me a River,” Timberlake realizes that his true love has always been close by (“You were right here all along / It’s like you’re my mirror”).

The album ends with “Blue Ocean Floor,” a gorgeous ballad that finds Timberlake singing to his love from deep under the sea. The song features stylish aquatic sounds and a classic violin solo before arriving at the album’s conclusion.

The 20/20 Experience will certainly serve as one of 2013’s most interesting pop albums. Timberlake tasked himself with creating a sound that comes off as both throwback and forward-thinking, an imposing feat at which he has succeeded.

And it appears that he is just getting started. Timberlake confirmed at his album release party that a part two to The 20/20 Experience will follow later this year, though he declined to provide a specific release date. Until then, get lost in Timberlake’s latest gift to the pop industry, preferably in a Tom Ford suit and tie.