OPINION — Justin Bieber’s “Justice” album brings me back to the “Purpose” era Bieber. They both contain songs with deep meaning about faith, hope and love. That being said, “Justice” is an overall slower-paced, matured version of “Purpose”, but this time with many songs dedicated to his relationship with his wife.
When Bieber first announced his album, he talked about its meaning on Twitter. “I know that I cannot simply solve injustice by making music but I do know that if we all do our part by using our gifts to serve this planet and each other that we are that much closer to being united,” Bieber wrote. So even after seeing that and the release of three successful singles, I was not expecting the kinds of songs I heard.
I expected songs that were made to address some of these injustices in the world. And aside from a strangely placed MLK interlude in the middle of the album, I didn’t get that vibe at all. Nevertheless, there are several songs that I thoroughly enjoyed. Bieber has an amazing voice and as he matures, he’s been getting better at showcasing it.
The first of those songs is “Deserve You.” The song includes Bieber harmonizing with himself in the way only he can. Its upbeat keyboard and drums backing his vocals are magic enough for it to be my favorite track on the album. I’d give it a solid 8.5/10.
My next favorite track is a collaboration with Khalid called “As I Am.” It starts off slow until the chorus and Khalid’s verse comes in. Soon after, they both start singing together and it’s honestly the collab we didn’t know we needed. There are a few collaborations on the album, but this is arguably the best as it compliments both artists. My rating would be an 8/10.
“Die For You” is an ‘80s pop hit that I think would have done well as one of Bieber’s singles. The song is one of the catchier on the album and Dominic Fike comes in on the track to add some more flavor. Even with its morbid title, it’s a feel-good song that anyone could vibe to. I feel good enough after my first listen to give it a 7.5/10 ranking.
“Peaches” is entirely different from any of the other songs on the albums. It’s the only explicit song on the album and one of the few that doesn’t scream Pop. Daniel Caesar and Giveon aid their r&b vocals to the track. “Peaches” deserves a 7/10 rank.
Next up is “Somebody.” It’s another track that screams ‘80s pop, but it works well. Bieber adds a lot of verses that echo back with softer tones. This song is probably the most dance club acceptable on the album and my personal ranking is a 6/10.
This isn’t my favorite Bieber album, but it does have quite a few gems that make you appreciate his artistry and evolution. Bieber has some of the best male vocals in the industry and even though this album’s theme isn’t really about justice at all, it does have feel-good songs for the soul and that’s exactly what Bieber intended.