It might be time to coronate a new King of Pop. And with Jacko out of the country, it seems as if Justin Timberlake just might be the man to step in and take the crown. With his sophomore release, FutureSex/LoveSounds, JT is out to prove that it is now his time to shine at the top of the pop charts for years to come.

Timberlake seems bent on recording an album chock full of danceable songs. Virtually every cut on the album sounds like it would be at home in the club. This comes as no surprise, as JT’s days with the boy band *NSYNC will prove, the man can dance. Hip hop producer extraordinaire Timbaland handled most of the production on this album, and as such it has a decidedly hip hop feel to it. The beats themselves are very hip hop, only instead of rapping there is Timberlake’s sultry smooth voice.

Although there are several strong songs on the album, such as the hot dance club single “SexyBack,” which ruled the airwaves this past summer, several songs seem to lack in character and emotional feel—they’re just there for their danceability. Also there are several unnecessary interludes which just serve as transitional vehicles in between several songs—filler, if you will.

Timberlake is clearly over the breakup of Britney Spears which is a common theme on his previous effort, Justified, so here he seems to be having more fun with himself. There is a slight modicum of seriousness in the second single “My Love.” This song shows Timberlake toying with the idea that matrimony is what needs to be the next step in his life. According to some of the tabloids, this song may not be that far from the truth as JT wants to take that next step with his current girlfriend, Cameron Diaz, but she seems reluctant to the idea. The song is funky and at-once catchy—one of the top songs from 2006 for sure.

Justin Timberlake’s reign as the King of Pop seems inevitable. It is clear that he has emerged from the bubblegum shadow of his previous group with two strong solo albums that showcase his chops as a lyricist and singer. With as anti-boy band as I have always been, I have no problem admitting that JT’s solo work is a guilty pleasure of mine because it is catchy and fun to listen to, but it actually possesses some depth, unlike about 98% of pop music today. FutureSex/LoveSounds may not be as strong as its predecessor, but it certainly shows that Timberlake is a creative enough artist to avoid the sophomore slump that plagues so many of his peers.