Where to start? Who would have guessed that a former boys-band member, that started his career as a child, presenting the Mickey Mouse Club TV show, and was famous for being Britney Spears boyfriend, would deliver something like this? Four years ago, things started to change and so did our perception of him. Justified, his first solo album, was full of funky and addictive gems, courtesy of the Neptunes producing touch, with some people even calling him the new King Of Pop. Four years, 3 movies, a new famous girlfriend (Cameron Diaz) and one uncovered Janet Jackson breast later, he's ready to actually take the throne. FutureSex/LoveSounds is an ambitious project having an epic sonority and it totally lives up to its own expectations. With the help of Timbaland and citing Prince and David Bowie as his new influences, this album is full of electro funky sounds, addictive melodies, minimalistic and innovative beats, and, above all, a lascivious atmosphere, with the word "sexy" written all over it, as its own title suggests. Even the lyrics reflect his new persona: "Slide a little bit closer to me, little girl / Daddy’s on a mission to please" or "Dirty babe / You see these shackles baby I’m your slave / I’ll let you whip me if I misbehave". All this with a surprising charisma and disarming sincerity that makes him a first-league star even further and on his own. Take out a couple of the last songs and you would have a perfect masterpiece. Like this, it's simply one of the best albums of the year.
