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Justin Timberlake rolls through L.A. in new ‘Suit & Tie’ video

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Los Angeles Times Pop Music Critic

Justin Timberlake rolls through Los Angeles in his new video for “Suit & Tie,” the first single off of his forthcoming studio album. It’s been a while since Timberlake, who earlier this month released the track as his first new solo material since 2006, made a video, and much has changed in the interim. Budgets have been slashed and camera technology has transformed the intimacy of shoots.

Perhaps most interesting, the new trend of so-called “lyric videos” -- simple clips that scroll through a song’s lyrics as the music plays -- has transformed the business. For “Suit & Tie,” Timberlake marries a lyric clip with the more standard music video format.

The result: Sing along as super-slick J.T. cruises through the hills and boulevards of L.A. in a vintage convertible GTO, running down Mulholland and Sunset and landing in some fancy hidden locale, where he parks. Watch as he carefully, in exquisite slow motion, dolls himself up in a dressing room, putting on smart, well-tailored duds, name-checking Tom Ford and doing his best J.T. poses like he’s in the middle of a GQ photo shoot.

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SINGLE REVIEW: Justin Timberlake’s ‘Suit & Tie’

Timberlake ends up at a piano, where a lighted cigarette awaits him. Yes, Mr. Timberlake is smoking a cigarette. (A Newport, one hopes.) Later he grabs another, which his wife/enabler Jessica Biel lights for him. He swaps the cigarette for a cigar, drinks what we assume is an expensive single-malt Scotch, and animated fireworks explode, no doubt due to the booze and tobacco dancing in his head.

The voice of fellow pop royalty Jay-Z sneaks into the track for a cameo, though not physically. The king of Brooklyn doesn’t have time in his schedule to show up for a lyric video (be real), so he offers his similarly sophisticated vocal run from whichever castle he’s holed-up in.

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Timberlake sits down for a quick rest, then decides to go gambling -- alone. (He is, it should be noted, wearing his wedding band.) Now drinking a martini, Timberlake seems to pile chips high at the roulette table -- of course -- before deciding to retire for the night.

Heading toward his car, Timberlake does a little step-dance before getting in. What a nice night. Our hero then heads back into the L.A. darkness. Alone and driving, but none the worse for wear.

The last shots are of Timberlake in a tuxedo in front of a plate of glass. On it is written, “The 20/20 Experience coming soon,” referencing the name of his forthcoming album. No release date has been set, but rest assured when the news arrives it will be suavely delivered.

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Because the song contains scattered cuss words, we can’t embed the clip. But you can watch it here.

ALSO:Single review: Justin Timberlake’s “Suit & Tie”

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Justin Timberlake releases new single, announces new album

Follow Randall Roberts on Twitter: @liledit

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