Those that have heard lead single Yummy will essentially be able to form their view on Changes without listening to it.
While Bieber's voice still sounds like that of a mid- to late-teen, singing seems to come more naturally to him, and his falsetto pleas are neither bitter nor entitled, strictly genuine and adult.
Changes is successful in its low-key relaxation – despite the unfortunate lack of penetrating hooks to compensate for the subtle instrumental work – and overall, if you enjoyed Purpose or Justin Bieber’s work in general, it’s going to deliver for the most part.
Where Bieber’s previous albums have often felt engineered almost exclusively for the purpose of stimulating audience response, Changes seems focused instead on the tenderness and comfort of his newlywed bubble.
It just feels subdued and unassuming, which are curious things for mainstream pop to be. It’s a tentative, rather than all-guns-blazing, return, with a by-any-means-necessary bubblegum single dutifully tacked on to throw his record label a bone.
An album that feels like a purely selfish endeavour on Bieber’s part. After years of people-pleasing, perhaps that’s its biggest success.
Bieber hardly reveals anything about his tastes, his real mistakes or his personality.
Changes ... is ultimately a transitional record that finds Bieber navigating how to reconcile adulthood with pop stardom—and discovering that, at least in his case, this merger is a tricky one.
The moments of marital romance throughout Changes are washed out by this strange concatenation of thirst and codependency, coupled with a strange dispassion in Bieber’s tone and words.
The main problem with ‘Changes’ is that it isn’t exciting or dynamic and suffers from dragging in places.
Changes does not actually change a great deal in terms of the lyrical depth and sound.
The pop star returns with a grown-man, R&B album about domestic love that has all the glow and eroticism of an airport terminal.
Bieber's limp comeback results in a collection of loved-up songs lacking innovation or substance.
As pop itself becomes more genre-blurred and undefinable with every passing year, though, this long-undefinable pop star sounds more like he’s floating aimlessly through shallow waters.
This isn’t so much an album that would rile you to the point of turning it off. Rather, it washes over you, with its mostly average beats and seemingly random cluster of guest features.
And when I say hot, I mean it! Justin is a hottie lamottie with a summer’s body. Let me tell you about the time we first met...
It was a mild spring morning, about 9:30 AM, as I walked down the Santa Monica sidewalk. The cracks in the pavement gave me determination for my one goal for the morning. A trip to Whole Foods, ingredients for low-fat, vegan, gluten free avocado toast. Each step felt like I had been birthed into a new life of pure wonder, the rejuvenation wrestling through my ... read more
Ah, the review that I've been holding back to make for a whole year. Now that it's a new year, I can now rip into the album that I dislike greatly. Arguably the worst mainstream release of 2020. Justin Bieber's "Changes".
There are so many problems with this album it's crazy. Let's just get started, shall we?
Despite all the things the kid has done, I never really WANTED to hate him. I feel like he has been overhated all of his life. Sure, he makes pretty mediocre music, and also ... read more
Oh, ok.
Why the fuck did he do that. Why did this dumb ass just pick up the album right at the end? AT THE FUCKING END. Starting this album you are greeted with an actual good intro track. I feel like it was a nice start to the record. The first half of this record is pretty boring with the exception of three songs. Those three songs being 'All Around Me', 'Available', and 'Forever'. Those were pretty damn solid tracks. What was that Travis feature though? What the fuck was that shit ass ... read more
It's crazy how he went from the best album of his career to one of the worst albums of the 2010s. I have no words.
1. All Around Me - 1
2. Habitual - 5
3. Come Around Me - 3
4. Intentions - 4
5. Yummy - 0
6. Available - 1
7. Forever - 3
8. Running Over - 2
9. Take It Out On Me - 0
10. Second Emotion - 2
11. Get Me - 1
12. E.T.A. - 1
13. Changes - 0
14. Confirmation - 0
15. That’s What Love Is - 4
16. At Least For Now - 0
Best track: “That’s What Love Is”
1 | All Around Me 2:16 | 38 |
2 | Habitual 2:48 | 34 |
3 | Come Around Me 3:20 | 29 |
4 | Intentions 3:32 feat. Quavo | 41 |
5 | Yummy 3:28 | 14 |
6 | Available 3:15 | 29 |
7 | Forever 3:39 feat. Post Malone, CLEVER | 33 |
8 | Running Over 2:59 feat. Lil Dicky | 20 |
9 | Take It Out On Me 2:58 | 27 |
10 | Second Emotion 3:22 feat. Travis Scott | 29 |
11 | Get Me 3:05 feat. Kehlani | 35 |
12 | E.T.A. 2:56 | 36 |
13 | Changes 2:15 | 36 |
14 | Confirmation 2:50 | 38 |
15 | That's What Love Is 2:45 | 32 |
16 | At Least For Now 2:29 | 32 |
#10 | / | The New York Times: Jon Caramanica |