It’s been six and a half years since Justin Timberlake dropped the instant classic Future Sex/Love Sounds on an unsuspecting public. In the meantime the Red Sox won the World Series (again), America elected its first African-American president (twice), and Adam Sandler hasn’t done a movie worse than Click yet. “Suit and Tie” is a new look for Timberlake, these are some of the key takeaways from the latest offering from Planet Earth’s premier purveyor of pop:
- Timberlake is serious about his stake in MySpace. Since investing in the moribund social networking website, the brand has attempted to rediscover its roots as a place to connect musicians with an audience. By launching “Suit and Tie” via MySpace, the former teen star showcases the new website’s design and focus on moving users towards purchases via Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play.
- Timbaland breathes. At least enough to drop the ad lib “Wait a minute. You ready, JT?” The man behind classics like “Cry Me a River” and “My Love” is back in the saddle and ready to dress up that million dollar voice in the silkiest sonic textures.
- The Honeymoon is still on. Long past denim tuxedos and dating fellow mouseketeers, JTimbs just got tuxedo’d up to get hitched. “Suit and Tie” is the world’s introduction to Mr. Jessica Biel and he sounds like he couldn’t be happier; the second verse is pretty much dedicated to his wife’s ass, let’s hope she doesn’t mind that he calls it a fatty.
- Jay-Z and JT could cut an entire wedding album. Who better to drop the featured rap than the music businesses other happiest newlywed, Jay-Z. Brooklyn’s mascot closes his fashion label laden verse with some advice on how young’uns can get on his nuptial level, “Tell your mother that I love her cause I love you/Tell your father we go farther as a couple/They ain’t lose a daughter, got a son.”
- Jay-Z uses a vaporizer. In the past, HOVA has blamed weed for softening rappers, making it less likely that a group as fiery as Public Enemy will capture the nation’s attention again. These days Jay leaves the paraphernalia at home , rapping “No Papers, Catch Vapors” while detailing his pregame ritual.
Max Lockie