From the depths of the popstar doldrums, Justin Bieber has risen once more. After 4 years of controversy, a heated monetary dispute together with his longtime supervisor, quite a few reviews of him “crashing out,” and little or no new music to distract us from this, Bieber lastly silenced critics in July together with his blissed-out comeback file SWAG. It’s his greatest work in a decade, a set of soulful ballads and rap linkups that has the genuine, homespun appeal of a mixtape. Improbably, with lower than 24 hours’ discover, we discovered this week he’d be releasing a follow-up, SWAG II.
Teased yesterday with some memes and billboards, Bieber formally introduced the brand new album on X: “swag II midnight tonight.” It didn’t drop at midnight, and lots of diehard followers (and this author) stayed up for hours, ready till it lastly popped up on streaming providers round 3:30 a.m EST. The sequel’s textures are brighter than the unique, however its ethos stays the identical: That is the music Bieber likes to make. With extra odes to his spouse, left-field collaborations, and stylistic dangers, it’s the splendid second half of one of the crucial stunning popstar transformations in latest reminiscence. Listed here are 5 key takeaways.
Similar SWAG, Completely different Day
This can be a correct sequel, not a closely marketed deluxe. These 23 songs have related textures (phrase to Mk.gee and Michael Jackson) as SWAG and sound like they have been created throughout the identical intense interval of inventive breakthrough for Bieber. I think about there are a whole lot of songs within the vault that would’ve landed on both of those, however the 44 we bought throughout these two data have been thought of the very best. I’m positive followers could have a area day rearranging them to their liking.
It Sounds Pink, Too
The place SWAG felt closely introspective, SWAG II is brighter and usually extra enjoyable. Bieber sticks nearer to standard pop buildings on the sequel, attacking them with a looseness that seems like reduction. Songs like “Dangerous Honey” and “All of the Means” nonetheless lean closely in direction of R&B and gospel, however have a lot much less of another skew. After breaking by way of what felt like inventive purgatory on SWAG, II appears like a victory lap, a celebration of his newfound freedom.
Stunning Options
Very similar to SWAG, Bieber’s visitor checklist right here doesn’t embrace your commonplace copy-paste popstar options. He harmonizes with Tems on “I THINK YOU’RE SPECIAL,” offers a verse to the English singer Bakar on the Michael Jackson-indebted “DON’T WANNA.” and lets his pal Lil B throw some spoken phrase over “SAFE SPACE.” Dijon additionally lends a hand on manufacturing on six songs. However most surprisingly (and successfully!) Shreveport, Louisiana, rapper Hurricane Chris, who had a second nearly 20 years in the past together with his hit “A Bay Bay,” joins Bieber on “POPPIN’ MY S***” for a show-stealing verse. I think about Bieber was deep in a regional rap rabbit gap on YouTube earlier than making the boss name.
Biblical Bieber
In case you haven’t heard, Justin Bieber and his spouse, Hailey, not too long ago had a child. I’ve been instructed childbirth can convey dad and mom nearer to God, and this was touched on in SWAG (“GLORY VOICE MEMO,” “FORGIVENESS”), however taken a step additional on SWAG II. “EVERYTHING HALLELUJAH” is an ode to life—its trials, mundanities, and sweetness alike. “STORY OF GOD,” although, is a sermon from Bieber himself, who sort of sounds just like the nine-year-old in church who’s pressured to learn a protracted piece of scripture on Easter. He speaks concerning the story of Adam and Eve, the tree of information, good and evil, the connective tissue between animals and human beings, and the way the top is merely the start. It’s a protracted however touching passage, and I a lot choose it to the Druski skits we have been force-fed on the final album.
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