By shelz.

Justin Bieber has one interesting story.  Discovered on Youtube doing Usher covers, the fresh-faced teenager went on to actually audition for Usher.  In a matter of a few years, he managed to sign on LA Reid’s dotted line and now he’s standing shoulder to shoulder with Drake as the hottest Canadian import since round slices of bacon. 

Adding to the never-ending whimsy of the 16-year-old’s meteoric rise are platinum plaques, super-star features and a half-and-half album release plan that has extended his debut LP into a multi-year event. My World the EP was released in November of last year to grand reviews and lots of lil girl screaming adoration.  Four months later, Bieber is back with the second half of the release, My World 2.0.  Don’t get it twisted. This isn’t some Eminem addendum that forces the fans with more than lint in their pockets to purchase some of the same songs twice.  This is completely new cotton candy for the tweeners to eat up. 

Given the fan demographic, it would be silly to look for anything other than disposable puppy love and teen club dance tunes, and there is a lot of that here.  However, in between the standard issue thump, synth, and digitally assisted whine is some decent song construction and a young man with a better than average voice.  He doesn’t push the musical envelope (at all) and there is nothing remotely close to ground breaking here, but Bieber plays the role of young heart throb well and the album will suit the tastes of the intended listeners to a tee.

The lead single, “Baby,” is a mid-tempo song about that first heartbreak with a progression that will remind you of 60’s soul. Ludacris provides the feature as he rhymes down memory lane about the first young lady who stole his heart.  Cute.  The LP moves onto “Somebody to Love.”  It’s faster paced with a generic club track playing foundation to Bieber’s sonic search for that special lil lady to share his world with. Its Studio 54 material with a modern twist, but what isn’t these days?

The album then moves onto tracks that are closer to ballads.  “Stuck in the Moment” is again a syrupy-sweet 16-year-old interpretation of infatuation while “U Smile” is honestly a really good song, even if you’re older than 18.  A real piano is being tinkled as Bieber explains in a rather soulful fashion why he loves his girl’s grin.  It’s definitely the head nodding gem of the album.  “Runaway Love” is another well-constructed track.  It’s pure R&B with graceful arrangement and is probably Bieber’s best vocal performance of the LP.   

Buried, midway through the album, are the meh tracks. “Never Let You Go” lacks energy and reminds me of every other young singer guy track that I skip when turning the radio dial.   The duet with Jessica Jarrell “Overboard” suffers from the same lethargy. By the time the listener gets to “Eenie Meenie” with Sean Kingston, the album appears to have run out of gas.

However, the penultimate and closing songs save the day.  “Up” is smooth and dreamy; a tale of changing cloudy skies to sun soaked better days through the strength of love.  Hey when you’re young, that’s deep. The finale strangely is the heartbreak epic “That Should Be Me,” a tear jerker of the highest order.  She left Justin for another guy? Unfathomable.

My World 2.0 is exactly what it should be.  Bieber and company tap the right audience with the right songs and do it with clean production and decent arrangement. Some of the songs are built solely for the young audience, but a few of the cuts could survive outside of the mall environment. So scrape up your pennies young ladies, the talented Mr. Bieber has a hit on his hands.

Justin Bieber Feat. Ludacris-“Baby”

Justin Bieber – Baby ft. Ludacris

  out of 5

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