Wonder

Y'all really don't like this?

Look, if Shawn Mendes can keep me actively listening for 40 minutes, he deserves all the praise in the world. So, let's praise him. He doesn't just keep me listening, he keeps me captivated for a majority of Wonder's runtime. A common complaint people have for this album is the lyrics, which aren't great, I can wholeheartedly admit, but has anyone ever listened to Mendes for his lyrical content? No, of course not. People listen to him for his catchy instrumentals and great vocal performances, which are in abundance on Wonder. Tracks like "Dream" and "Piece of You" soar despite being pretty typical pop songs, as their phenomenal vocals from Mendes make them some of the strongest tracks on the album. "Monster" is also great, as it features Wonder's best lyrics and Justin Bieber's best musical contribution of 2020, something that the pop-star desperately needed. Where Wonder falters is the slower tracks, where the Mendes' lyrics just can't be ignored. "24 Hours" and "Can't Imagine" are exceptionally boring, and are missing something, whether that be a kick drum or feature. Regardless of the few tracks on Wonder that don't connect, this is easily one of my favorite pop projects of the year, and I'm as surprised as you are that Shawn Mendes' name is written all over it.

One word to summarize this album: Bursting

PERSONAL FAVS: Intro, Wonder, Higher, Teach Me How To Love, Dream, Monster, 305, Piece of You, Look Up At The Stars
LEAST FAV: Can't Imagine