Timberlake brings sexy to Tacoma

In his head, Justin Timberlake chants it like a mantra:

Sell the sexy. Must sell the sexy.

He breaks rules in these download days and sells millions of albums; on TV, in movies and on stage, Timberlake professionally embodies "sexy" and sells it like a miracle cure. He even upgraded "sexy" from an adjective to a noun for his hit song "Sexyback" ("get your sexy on"), and, however temporarily, changed the way people speak.

Remember, this is Justin Timberlake, cast member of the All New Mickey Mouse Club, lead singer for 'N Sync. He's a born actor, a role player.

But every actor needs a director, and every player needs a coach.

Virginia beat-wizard Tim "Timbaland" Mosley is Timberlake's most important collaborator, a maverick music producer and bonafide hip-hop genius.

"Justified," JT's solo debut, was full of heat from hip-hop production squad the Neptunes, killed his "teen idol" image, and solidified Timberlake as a solo star. But last year with Timbaland, JT's star turned supernova when he put a Parental Advisory sticker on his international smash "FutureSex/LoveSounds," an album about sex and the future of pop music.

With Timbaland, Timberlake not only makes "serious" pop music (read: about sex), but gleans the cutting-edge cool that comes when your producer also does tracks for Bjork. The Neptunes made JT sound sexy, but Timbaland makes him sound sexy and smart: "FutureSex" has moments of grandiose brilliance on par with anything in Timbaland's storied discography.

Timbaland's classic R&B and hip-hop collaborations with Missy Elliot and Aaliyah introduced the world to his visionary sonic palette: spaced-out, icy beats; chopped-up turns of slick Middle Eastern melody; and weird, syncopated samples (baby gurgling, eagle screaming, etc.). Add it up, and it's a calling card: When Timbaland produces a vocalist's entire album, he leaves a mark such that it's hard to tell who's the star of the show. "FutureSex/LoveSounds" is no exception.

Live and on album, Timberlake sings capably with a legitimate falsetto, but Timbaland is mostly handling the speakers on the current JT tour. The stage, on the other hand, is all Timberlake.

Advanced choreography, sexual thrusting, modern/retro fitted three-piece suits, and an hours-long running-time make the FutureSex/LoveShow the total Justin Timberlake experience.

Everybody knows what that experience is, and everybody wants it. That's why he sold out the Tacoma Dome. People can't wait to see JT sell the sexy.

Lucky for them, that's what Timberlake is currently doing better than anybody else on the planet.

Andrew Matson: matson.andrew@gmail.com