Robin Thicke invites listeners in for a little 'Sex Therapy'

Robin Thicke laughs when asked about the overt sexiness going on throughout his new album, "Sex Therapy" (Interscope).

After all, it wasn't that long ago that the 32-year-old singer-songwriter was cooing "Lost Without You" and wearing sweaters and ties when he performed, which reminded folks of his father Alan Thicke's wardrobe on "Growing Pains."

But Thicke came to "Sex Therapy" with a whole new attitude.

"I think if you put all three of my other albums together, it's all been there before - your Pharrells, your Lil Waynes, some bossa nova," Thicke says, calling from his Los Angeles home. "This time, it's just all a little more amped up."

One listen to the in-your-face club vibe of the first single, "Shakin' It 4 Daddy," produced by Polow Da Don, makes that pretty clear.

"You're just trying to find something that makes you feel good," Thicke says. "Music and art for me is about creating something so that I have an overwhelming feeling - either I feel sexy or I feel strong. You want to create feelings."

That's what sets Thicke apart from the bulk of the R&B singer pack - the feelings. Thicke's new pack of songs, culled mostly from the 40 to 50 songs he's written in the past year, may feature a lot of adult activities, but those situations include relationships as well. Think Justin Timberlake for grown folks.

"I always try to make songs that reflect my lifestyle and how I'm feeling and what I'm listening to," Thicke explains. "And listening to hip-hop as much as I do, I felt like I wanted to represent that on this album."

There certainly is a much stronger hip-hop vibe on "Sex Therapy" than on last year's underappreciated "Something Else" album, which featured more of a throwback-soul vibe. And this time out, Thicke pulls in Jay-Z, The Game and Snoop Dogg to help, along with touring pals Estelle and Jazmine Sullivan and newcomer Kid Cudi.

However, he still puts his own particular spin on the music. The opening track, "Ms. Sexy," sets the stage for the album, both in subject matter and in its eclectic influences, paying homage to Billy Joel and hip-hop legend Rakim, while name-dropping Jay-Z, in the same song. In the title track from "Sex Therapy," he drops a bit of Leslie Gore's "It's My Party" into his slow jam, complete with a Prince-ly falsetto.

Thicke says the fact that "Something Else" didn't build on the platinum-selling "The Evolution of Robin Thicke" didn't change the way he approached the music on "Sex Therapy," but it has changed how much he has been involved in its marketing plan.

"It came out the week of the stock market crash and sales haven't been the same since," Thicke says. "I try not to have too many expectations. I try to just be happy with what I made. But I did realize that I wanted to try to maximize the number of people who heard that music. I used to be one of those guys who wanted to just make the music. Now I realize you want to get all the eyes and ears you can for what you do."

Part of that plan means selling two different versions of "Sex Therapy" - "Sex Therapy: The Experience" has five more songs, mostly ballads, than "Sex Therapy: The Session," which is packed with all the up-tempo songs.

"I try to make each song kind of individual and I try to make each album an exhibition of what I'm going through in my life at the time," says Thicke, adding that the simple soul ballad "2 Luv Birds" is his current favorite. "That's about the realest thing in my life, the woman I love. That song embodies romance at its peak level."

It's no coincidence that Thicke's romance, with his high school sweetheart, actress Paula Patton, is reaching a new level as "Sex Therapy" comes out. Not only is Patton enjoying the best reviews and biggest attention of her career with her Oscar-buzzing star turn in "Precious," but the couple recently announced that they are expecting their first child next year.

"We're just very, very blessed," Thicke says. "I think she has always done quality work. Sometimes the planets just align and you get more eyes on your work."

Thicke says there is one down side to his wife's increased fame.

"I'd try to put her in every video I do," Thicke jokes. "But now she's too expensive."

WHO Robin Thicke

WHEN|WHERE 8 p.m. Monday, Nokia Theatre Times Square, 1515 Broadway, Manhattan

INFO $36.50; 631-888-9000, ticketmaster.com

WHEN|WHERE 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, J&R Music World, 23 Park Row, Manhattan

INFO Free; 212-238-9000, jr.com

HIS NEW ALBUM "Sex Therapy," is in stores Tuesday.