After becoming the first solo success story out of the hordes of fresh faced teen groups in the late 90’s, Justin Timberlake took an awfully long time releasing his second album. Four years after the hit “Justified”, Timberlake decides to push the envelope a bit with his second album, and surprisingly exceeds this reviewer’s middling expectations.

Updating the sound from the Michael Jackson meets Neptunes meets NSync first album, Timberlake veers away from the boy band sound that made him famous, for a more mature and adventurous sound.

On “Future Sex…”, Timberlake dumps the cookie cutter R&B beats for a shot back to the 80’s synth pop sound, modern electronic beats and even 70’s soul for a compelling record. The album’s leadoff single, the catch phrase inducing “SexyBack” has become a monster hit, but the song is just the start of the electronica-fused pop attack. Originally, it was believed that this single was just too weird for pop radio, but obviously, those early opinions were wrong.

“My Love” has a sleek futuristic sound that lets producer Timbaland even show off his production skills, incorporating a techno beat breakdown that sounds vaguely, but refreshing out of place in today’s world of pop. “Love Stoned” is more up tempo, highly infectious, and bouncy.

The highlight of the album is the 70’s soul influenced “Damn Girl”, which would sound right in place on an O’Jays album. It may or may not steal a beat from the 70’s hit “Lady Marmalade”, but it makes for something that most pop artists fail to capture these days.

The album does hit a snag with a few of the tracks. “Chop Me Up” is a highly generic rap/R&B fusion that sounds more reminiscent of his NSync days. “What Goes Around” might as well be called “Cry Me a River 2” because of the similar beat and subject matter.

Even with those shortcomings, “Future Sex/ Love Sounds” is a shockingly well done record. I don’t know if it is Timberlake himself, or producers that think of these ideas, but someone is doing something right. Even though this reviewer pretty much despised NSync, Timberlake is forging a respectful solo career that defies the blandness that pop music has become these days.

GRADE: B