 AllMusic senior editor Stephen Thomas Erlewine commended Timberlake's "clear musical vision" and stated, "Graceless he may be, [he] is nevertheless kind of fascinating on "FutureSex/LoveSounds"".Kelefa Sanneh of "The New York Times" stated, "How well do Mr. Timberlake and Timbaland work together?So well that they can make even the world's most irritating percussion instrument, the human beatbox, sound pretty good."