Monday Review: Believe by Justin Bieber

Justin Bieber’s latest release Believe is nothing short of what would be expected from an international pop icon with polished songwriting appropriate for a pop-hungry audience. He even contributed writing talent to most of the tracks. The album is really good and plays well as a next step in Bieber's career journey. The production sound is at par with the pop-perfect songwriting, containing every electronic fizzle and beep popular in modern dance-pop. Entertainment Weekly stated, "It's the rare album that tries to be everything to everyone and largely succeeds." What can you expect when the album’s producer and songwriter list includes enough names to run a Wal-Mart? There’s enough insight to go around to cover all bases. This also explains why the album is so polished.

Bieber’s vocals have deepened and matured, as well as his beautiful R&B flavoring (this may dismay every guy who enjoys making Bieber puberty jokes; the lad’s growing up). The eighteen-year-old still sounds like a teenager but has shed his tweenie voice. All comparisons he’s getting to Justin Timberlake are understandable, even if Bieber isn’t taking kindly to what’s said. It doesn’t seem he’s tried to sound like Timberlake, but rather, in his exploration of his voice, he has happened upon a product that is strongly akin. Still, he comes across as a definitive pop star.

Standout tracks include opener and promo single "All Around The World," a club-ready dance track that sounds cousin to Britney Spears' "Till the World Ends" and welcomes another collaboration with Ludacris; the gorgeous, acoustic-guitar-featuring "Catching Feelings;" Nicki Minaj collaboration "Beauty And A Beat;" and "Thought of You."

A downfall of the album, though, is that Bieber sounds bored in a few tracks, especially near the end of album.

If you question his talent, check out this album to give Bieber Fever at least some legitimacy.

I give Believe 4 out of 5 stars.