The fact that 'Purpose' features some of the hottest writers and producers in the game right now means there's enough going on to hold your interest throughout.

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GIGsoup

“Purpose” is Justin Bieber’s best album to date. With a new found mature, edgy sound, this album is one to remember.

Bieber’s offering is less of a mainstream crowd pleaser and all the more interesting for it, a quirky, atmospheric electro R’n’B concoction with sci-fi sounds and offbeat vocal samples that focus attention on the star’s soft, supple and seductive singing.

Purpose is high-stakes pop; a defining moment in his already affluent career and declaration of adulthood to a sea of non-believers.

By giving us the best album of his career, and subsequently re-ascending to Top 40’s mountaintop, Bieber’s answered his own question: In pop music, it’s never too late to say you’re sorry.

He lays his soul bare in joyless lyrics stripped naked, requiring very little interpretation, filling the crags with buoyant, sun-drenched productions from Skrillex, Blood, and Diplo.

All the bangers in the world can’t save Purpose from its weak-sauce lows; and, for all the confidence shown in the marketing of this being his reinvention, it’s worth noting he’s still only 21 years old.

Bieber is the comeback kid, with "Sorry" as his theme song. He spends Purpose learning lessons, begging for forgiveness and vowing to be a better Bieber.

As much as this record is part of his long campaign of rehabilitation, he struggles to convey a remotely sympathetic perspective.

It’s not quite redemption – only time will tell if he’ll curb the recklessness – but it’s certainly a start at reinvention.

The musical direction owes much to co-producer Skrillex, whose unexpectedly subtle electronic palette complements Bieber’s affectedly breathy voice. The voice soon palls, but the songs are often interesting.

A bumpy, oddly compelling restart, Purpose should hook open-minded pop fans who previously paid him no mind, and it could even win back some of those who wrote Bieber off years ago.

It’s when Bieber’s honesty feels less-than-honest and the tracks feel less-than-groundbreaking that this album falls short of the heights it should by all means be capable of reaching.

The Canadian pop star's fourth record leans heavily on an overbearingly dull redemption narrative following a (let's face it, more interesting) period of erratic behaviour. You couldn't write a more clichéd child-star trajectory, and yet Purpose is his most cohesive and best-sounding album.

Bieber tends to perform best when he plays to the strengths of his subtle and leisurely singles.

It sounds just great, this late-night, soul-searching session in Bieber’s boudoir. If only the man himself were worth our ear time.

While Purpose is musically sound, it’s lyrics aren’t exactly introspective. In fact, they’re all pretty much the same.

The Sydney Morning Herald

It's pretty good, actually. This will be a surprise, even if you had heard the singles ... and enjoyed them enough to almost forget the prat singing them.

9mo

Although Purpose isn’t quite Bieber’s Off the Wall moment, it is an intriguing album pulsating with life—affirming that this is, in fact, an artist worth paying attention to.

Purpose is certainly successful at demonstrating Bieber’s ability to evolve and dabble in more mature music. But because the album is so hell-bent about pushing forward an agenda of redemption and establishing him as a serious artist, it lacks playfulness.

If Bieber wants to sell us on forgiveness and the self-improvement angle that lyrics like “be a better me” seem to promote, maybe having the conviction to follow through on his intended musical reinvention would've been the best possible good faith gesture.

Purpose is an album obsessed with apology, a cheap redemption narrative that hasn’t even been asked of the most unforgivable pop stars. It’s an arc undermined by the music.

Justin Bieber shoots for a more mature sound on his latest record.

“It’s like they want me to be perfect,” Bieber sings on the mildly petulant “I’ll Show You.” Actually, Justin, there’s where you’re wrong. We don’t expect you to be perfect—we just expect you to make good pop music. And there simply isn’t enough of it on Purpose.

It’s the sound of Bieber excitedly handholding us through a maze of clichés he’s just discovered.

Bieber lacks the showmanship, spunk, comedic timing, or vocal chops of the other Justin to deliver a slam dunk and not just a statement.

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User Reviews

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undermyskin

Justin was inescapable when this album dropped I feel like this is his only album that I can take seriously

8mo

pizzagrande

Sexy man = sexy album. Mans fell off after he grew that mustache

FelipeRothv

Nesse trabalho os empresários de JB investiram numa sonoridade menos ruim que seus álbuns anteriores, mas as músicas continuam genéricas e horríveis, até o som "acústico" e R&B aqui é um troço desagradável e sua voz é nauseante pra mim. Não curto o timbre dele acho que não combina com nenhum gênero musical daqui, ele canta de uma forma convencioal SEMPRE e preguiçosa em todas as ... read more

10mo

exception

when comparing this to justin bieber's older albums, it's incredible. however I was disappointed because I was expecting more of the electronic production that was apparent on his first 2 singles, which were probably the best tracks on the album. some of the songs where Bieber tried to have a very emotional approach came off as shallow and dull, missing the target that they were meant to hit. the features on this LP were weak, I didn't expect much from big Sean, but Travis Scott had a pretty ... read more

TurtwigsTaste

Justin Bieber Discography - 3: Purpose

Last Storytime: This was the last time I remember Bieber. Math class I was bored in 8th grade and went into YouTube and searched the few artist I knew. Justin Bieber Sorry shows up, then I listen to it and instantly fall in love. I loved all singles and became a fan of his again. Casual fan, didn't listen to the album so most of these songs are blind reactions and to save time, yes I still love the singles.

This is peak Justin Bieber, still don't know ... read more

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