Justin Bieber is undoubtedly a pop icon but Justice sounds like every other pop album and there aren’t many outstanding songs.
His newest album Justice has a mix of upbeat tracks like ‘Deserve You’ and slower tunes such as ‘Lonely’. Justin Bieber’s song ‘Peaches’ is too repetitive, especially when it comes to the chorus and the only unique parts are the features of Daniel Caesar and Giveon. Bieber doesn’t show a range of vocals and he sounds bland with weighing the track down. The lyrics “ I get my peaches out in Georgia, I get my weed from California, I took my chick up to the North, I get my light straight from the source” are all over the place and there is no memorable meaning to the hook. Although Justice has a few collabs, they don’t add much spice.
The Biebs is known for his lovey dovey songs and bad boy era but ‘Lonely’ brings a new vibe. Bieber sings about his struggles with himself and reflecting on his past with “What if you had it all, but nobody to call? Maybe then you’d know me.” In this song he brings loneliness in his voice, complimented by a slow pian. “Everybody saw me sick and it felt like no one gave a shit, they criticized the things I did as an idiot kid.” Bieber sings with as much depth and emotion in ‘Lonely’ as he does in ‘Unstable’.
Bieber expresses a lot of his mental struggles in Justice and it shows his personal growth. His aesthetic has changed from his romantic and swaggy phase to a raw, and passionate vibe. ‘Ghost’ is heartfelt and describes “missing your touch” and “settling for the ghost of you” with an uplifting guitar that brings passion to the track. Bieber also shows this same soulful vibe in ‘Somebody’ but these tracks still sound like any other pop record on the radio.
‘As I Am’ shows some of Bieber’s range with the moments of no backing track and only his vocals. The beginning of the song is calm with a piano tune and as soon as the chorus comes, the mood is lifted with guitar and drums giving it a whole new appeal. The electronic beat drop and booming tones make the rhythm better as well.
Justin Bieber depicts strength and hope in Justice but it isn’t one of his best works. The melodies and beats to each track could be improved – boring beats means a boring album. When all songs sound the same, it ruins the vibe and nothing stood out with Justice as its just another pop record.
