Justin Timberlake – “Suit & Tie” (Feat. Jay-Z)
After teasing it out, in various different forms, for the better part of a week, Justin Timberlake has just announced his first new album since 2006’s ridiculously good FutureSex/LoveSounds. In an open letter on his website, Timblerlake writes that he started work on the new LP last summer, that it’s called The 20/20 Experience, and that it’ll be out later this year. He’s also dropped the first single from the LP, “Suit & Tie.” It’s a lush party song with production from JT’s old collaborator Timbaland and a guest verse from Jay-Z. But it’s not the warped sci-fi synth-funk of his last album. Instead, it’s slick and aspirational dancefloor R&B that sounds like Timberlake’s nod toward the godawful-boring mid-2000s grown-and-sexy moment. The dead of winter is a weird time to be hearing a song like this for the first time, and that could be warping my perception, but I have to say: Not great! Hear the song and read the open letter at justintimberlake.com.
The “Suit & Tie” single is out now at iTunes.