The new Justin sound is apparent and abundant throughout this new disc. And, if this were strictly a "club" disc, it would be an excellent addition to the collection. Along with SexyBack, tracks like Sexy Ladies and the nearly straight hip-hop track Chop Me Up offer sounds that work in a dance environment. The problem is that much of the disc also is not radio-friendly, yet will become popular because of the name attached to it. This has been the case of SexyBack, which has blown up on mainstream radio without any real talent involved. Synthesized vocals and a backing by producer Timbaland simply should not cut it on radio, yet manage to solely based on the name "Timberlake."
However, some tracks do offer excellent sounds, most notably the interludes I Think She Knows and What Goes Around...Comes Around. Vocally Justin gets to show off a bit, and musically, the tracks fit the lyrics quite well. Summer Love and Until The End Of Time also offer some pretty solid tracks that add to the disc's quality.
The mixing of old and new on this disc does work at some points, specifically when mixing the two on the same track. The lead and title track, FutureSex/LoveSounds molds perfectly a fresh musical styling with some classic Timberlake vocals. Likewise, My Love works well with the addition of T.I. in a guest spot to put together something different but enjoyable.
Overall, FutureSex/LoveSounds is very hit-and-miss. There is no doubt that it will sell well and many people will love every second of it. But the fact of the matter is that only a little more than half of the disc actually merits acclimation. Basically, it's one of those discs that's better off being previewed before purchase. No one can tell you whether you'll love every second and want the entire disc or only want to purchase a couple of songs digitally. Whatever the case, it's certainly no spectacular showcasing. It is, however, at least decent. Timberlake does not completely deliver on this one, but he does manage to completely revamp his sound...for better or worse.