Reviews, Interviews, News, Commentaries, Glimpses of God, Best-Of ListsJustin Bieber: Believe
Style: Beats pop; compare to Usher, Selena Gomez, Justin Timberlake
Top tracks: "All Around the World" (ft. Ludacris), "Boyfriend," "Die in Your Arms"
The international pop sensation, now 18, skillfully initiates the transition from fresh-faced teen idol to adult pop staple on his third studio release. Feeding pop's dance-synth craze, club beats infiltrate the set with nominal success. But Bieber is best when pandering to his R&B core on the funky Motown "Die in Your Arms" (perfected by a sample of MJ's "We've Got a Good Thing Going") and the acoustic soul of "Be Alright"—exposing the talented singer's affective maturing vocals. Bieber has been open about his Christian faith, but this album includes zero God shout-outs—ironic, considering its title. But lyrics remain chaste, avoiding the bawdy growing pains of boys-to-men pop peers like Joe Jonas.
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Star Trek Into Darkness
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Vivin John
Its pop, with the artist's zero creative control over his/her own album, he sings words written by someone else and plays it on music written by someone else. So, him having no Godly shoutouts on the album is justified. Eventually, when he reaches his fifth album or so, he might have a chance to have a track for God. I just hope the fame, glitz and glory doesn't overshadow his faith. Shalom! Nice review.