I am not going to lie: my first impression of the fact that Justin Bieber planned to release a new album was a mixture of annoyance but also excitement for his return. I’ve been a distant follower of Bieber ever since he hit the music scene in 2009: never a true Belieber, but able to appreciate his distinct voice and melodies that always had a twist from the current trend.
Bieber’s newest studio album, “Purpose”, has lived up to all of the expectations most people had for it. The smooth and fierce distinctions in his voice remain and make any teen girl swoon. Sometimes his lyrics are lost underneath the varying parts of the song because his voice is such a work of art that it creates a distraction. While not the biggest of problems due to the lack of substance in most of his lyrics, the catchy flow that fills well with the accompanying melodies is enjoyable and enough to keep the listener’s ears glued to the speaker.

“Purpose” shows a new side of Bieber: the vulnerable and hurt emotion he shares gives him the ethos for his lyrics. In the album’s title track, the piano ballad immediately slows down the album’s pace and allows the listener to reflect on how far Bieber has come after the mistakes he has made. It even includes a voice recording at the end of the song letting listeners understand how he feels to go about the struggles life brings.

In contrast, “Sorry” incorporates an upbeat tempo while still including his smooth voice. This is somewhat expected Bieber song with the strong pop interludes that repeat throughout the song and can be a distraction at points. Overall, it makes a conscience effort towards taking a somber subject and lightening the situation. It is something that Bieber has been able to accomplish with ease on this album.

Throughout the rest of the album, Bieber reveals how much he has grown up with his new sounds. His multi-faceted voice paired with the slow rhythms only makes Bieber appear more mature and made me forget about his child star past for a few minutes.

While some songs tend to be a bit shallow with their meanings, Bieber reclaims himself with the truth he shares with his fans and the vocalizations that drive home the emotions he has possessed for the past three album-less years. Bieber has made a comeback into the music world and I will gladly accept his presence.
4 /5 paws