Changes
| Justin BieberChanges
Changes is the fifth studio album by Canadian singer Justin Bieber. It was released on February 14, 2020, by Def Jam Recordings and RBMG serving as the follow-up to Purpose (2015). The album contains features from Quavo, Post Malone, Clever, Lil Dicky, Travis Scott, Kehlani, and Summer Walker, with production including Adam Messinger, The Audibles, Boi-1da, Harv, Nasri, Poo Bear, Sasha Sirota, Tainy, and Vinylz, as well as Los Angeles Lakers center and 2x NBA Champion JaVale McGee. It is primarily an R&B album, with influences from electro-R&B, pop and trap.-Wikipedia
Critic Reviews
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Rolling Stone
Changes celebrates the stability he’s finally found: On song after song, Bieber tells us that he’s young, in love, and doing very well, thank you. There’s an endearing newness to the way he sings about his wife, Hailey, a gorgeous model who shares the Christian values he’s been talking about all his life.
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Variety
By the end of its 51 minutes (a surprisingly short running time for 17 tracks), Bieber has drilled home the point: He’s hopelessly in love. Good for him, and for his bride. “Changes” is an album for lovers, for Valentine’s Days, and for all the candlelit evenings between them.
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USA Today
There are plenty of good beats ('Intentions' ft. Quavo is one) and his voice is, as always, so delicate you could sell it in a French patisserie – but in the end 'Changes' lands like love itself: easy to appreciate, but only significant when it’s happening to you.
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The Guardian
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. In fact, it feels exactly like the kind of album that the clearly damaged man at the centre of the Seasons documentary would make.
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Pitchfork
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.
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All Music
Changes bares only a faint indication that it was made under the kind of commercial pressure applied to a "delayed follow-up." In terms of style, song structure, and lyricism, it's easily Bieber's most focused album, all percolating R&B-pop and sparser guitar ballads that articulate the newlywed's feelings of attraction, affection, and devotion.
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Independent
For all Bieber’s talk of change, this album, the way he talks about love – and the fact he feels compelled to make not one, but five jokes about male genitalia at the playback – suggest he hasn’t come all that far since the days of “baby, baby, baby, oh”.
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The Atlantic
It is clear, though, that he still regards the celebrity machine with a sense of fear. The specters of pressure and expectations recur in Bieber’s speech, and the record producer Poo Bear explains that Bieber feels his task is for the album to be “flawless.” There is a way to hear the lovingly textured and coherent Changes as coming close to succeeding at that mission.
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Nylon
Changes, Justin Bieber's first full LP in five years, feels so unremarkable. Instead of looking forward to the direction that pop – in all its guises – has taken in recent years, the album looks back to the early '00s. But it doesn't do so reverentially, nor does it borrow from a sonic palette to make it new again. Instead, across its bloated 17 tracks, Changes emulates, and it does so with uninspired and confused results.
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411 Mania
This might seem like a strange diversion into tabloid gossip for an album review to take, but the principle influence on Changes is without question Hailey Beiber and, more specifically, Justin’s newfound state of marital bliss. Before a single second of new music had been released, Bieber was being gentle mocked for his “wife guy” meme status, but Changes takes this charming affection to a preposterous extreme. His latest album is less a love letter and more an act of adulation and exultation to his own romantic dependence.
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Pitchfork
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.
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All Music
Changes bares only a faint indication that it was made under the kind of commercial pressure applied to a "delayed follow-up." In terms of style, song structure, and lyricism, it's easily Bieber's most focused album, all percolating R&B-pop and sparser guitar ballads that articulate the newlywed's feelings of attraction, affection, and devotion.
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Independent
For all Bieber’s talk of change, this album, the way he talks about love – and the fact he feels compelled to make not one, but five jokes about male genitalia at the playback – suggest he hasn’t come all that far since the days of “baby, baby, baby, oh”.
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The Atlantic
It is clear, though, that he still regards the celebrity machine with a sense of fear. The specters of pressure and expectations recur in Bieber’s speech, and the record producer Poo Bear explains that Bieber feels his task is for the album to be “flawless.” There is a way to hear the lovingly textured and coherent Changes as coming close to succeeding at that mission.
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Nylon
Changes, Justin Bieber's first full LP in five years, feels so unremarkable. Instead of looking forward to the direction that pop – in all its guises – has taken in recent years, the album looks back to the early '00s. But it doesn't do so reverentially, nor does it borrow from a sonic palette to make it new again. Instead, across its bloated 17 tracks, Changes emulates, and it does so with uninspired and confused results.
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411 Mania
This might seem like a strange diversion into tabloid gossip for an album review to take, but the principle influence on Changes is without question Hailey Beiber and, more specifically, Justin’s newfound state of marital bliss. Before a single second of new music had been released, Bieber was being gentle mocked for his “wife guy” meme status, but Changes takes this charming affection to a preposterous extreme. His latest album is less a love letter and more an act of adulation and exultation to his own romantic dependence.
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NME
‘Changes’ is a knackering listen. Overly reliant on trendy production and profound(ish) romantic proclamations, it’s a disappointing comeback from an artist who has a track record in creating hits. It may be an album filled with sex jams and lovelorn lyrics, but sadly this is one romp that never reaches climax.
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Daily Titan
"Changes" the album consists of an inspired Justin Bieber channeling his previous catchy, well-written songs with an intimate view of his personal life over the past five years. The album defines Justin Bieber's growth and in-depth creativity.
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Slant
Although the tonal fluidity of Changes errs, from time to time, toward homogeneity, there’s a weightlessness to it that seems to signify the slipping of a long-held burden from Bieber’s shoulders. His most personal offering to date, the album feels like a reflection of actual experience as opposed to a projection of a fantasy. Putting aside the album’s lead single, “Yummy,” a Tik-Tok-baiting affront to both sex and music in equal measure, this is an album that feels very much like the documentation of a very specific moment in time in the singer’s life and an accompanying marked shift in his perspective.
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The Guardian
Changes – created in the midst of health issues and a hasty marriage to model Hailey Baldwin – finds Bieber swapping instant anthems for mid-tempo, trap-adjacent R&B often rendered frictionless by bedroom-centred wedded bliss.
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Uproxx
Changes is a better album than “Yummy” indicated it would be. Taken in context with other, more detailed explorations of his life with his new wife, “Yummy” is actually an enjoyable, light-hearted album track — it just never should’ve been a single. Sweeter, hip-hop leaning songs like “Intentions” (featuring Quavo) and “Second Emotion” (featuring Travis Scott) are full of the kind of specific lyrics that make love songs relatable (“shout to your parents for making you” on “Intentions” makes me smile every time), and Bieber does better vocally when he adopts a sing-song, half-rapped cadence and has a beat behind him. Though he’s long toed the line between pop and hip-hop, the strongest sections of Changes fall into the latter genre, with appearances by Post Malone, Kehlani, along with Quavo and Travis rounding out his features.
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MSN
What’s missing is joy, an uptempo song (or two) that screams, “Yeah!” (to quote the title of the biggest hit by Bieber’s former mentor, Usher Raymond). Bieber has learned to respect the power of love, but he seems too earnest and reverential to sit back and truly enjoy it. Just when you’re thinking, OK, we get it. Now, c’mon, get happy, it’s all over.
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Irish Times
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. In fact, it feels exactly like the kind of album that the clearly damaged man at the centre of the Seasons documentary would make. And, like the Seasons documentary, it makes you wonder what the future holds for Justin Bieber.
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US
While much of the album is chill, Justin does not forget about fans of his upbeat music — and he brings streaming-number giants Post Malone and Travis Scott along for the ride. The carnal “Come Around Me” features a catchy, hip-hop-influenced chorus followed by a soft but strong falsetto, while the Scott-featured “Second Emotion” is bound to become a staple on party pregame soundtracks this summer.
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TFC
Despite undercooking all of his lyrics here, Justin’s voice still sounds crisp and fluid. Dude sings well. But when under the spotlight, it is not enough to distract me from how unimaginative and behind the times these songs are. He continues to play catch-up in a pop landscape that grows more diverse by the season.
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The Red Ledger
Overall, this album was pretty disappointing for Justin. “Purpose” was a very solid album with memorable hit after memorable hit and decent deep tracks, but “Changes” takes everything good about that record and throws it out the window. Bieber has the potential to make a good album, but if his songwriting and production don’t get overhauled, we may not see it in the near future.
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Daily Campus
Overall, Bieber delivers consistency with his loved-up, soulful sound throughout the record. Nonetheless, his overrated comeback is disappointing due to limp lyrics and lackluster beats.
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Metro
Sonically, it’s incredibly laidback with R&B pretty much the thread of the album, with splashes of hip hop and pop.
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Music OMH
Those that have heard lead single Yummy will essentially be able to form their view on Changes without listening to it: if they find it icky and monotonous then that will be how they perceive the whole album, whereas those that think it’s catchy and well-produced are well and truly in luck.
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Baller Status
Overall there are a few things about “Changes.” It acts a complete sweet serenade to Bieber’s wife. He spends majority of the album ranting over her body, her beauty, making love to her, and being with her. Changes takes the pain heard in the sensational Journals project and showcases a more reformed being. However, the album does have it’s flaws.
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Vinyl Chapters
The sonic palette throughout Changes is warm and paddy: bouncy like basketball courts, benign like ringtones. What’s notable on Changes is the clear vision and consistency.
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Daily Mail
Throughout the record relies on the same production of pounding bass and icy synths; this gets tiresome quickly,' the outlet says. 'Lyrically, it’s filled with pseudo-intelligent babble.'
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Ratings Game Music
Honestly, I think every single track on Changes is at least good. Will any of the tracks get major burn at clubs? Probably not, mainly because Justin opted to hit us with styles of music that took on more of a relaxing tone. What I do think will happen is that the songs on this album will be covered by aspiring artists on YouTube, will be played during television shows that need some heartwarming vibes, and will be hugged on tightly by people in relationships that need good feels in their lives.
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Sputnik
For the most part, it’s a pretty enjoyable record and one that clearly sees Justin trying to break some old habits.
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YP
Vocally, the 25-year-old Canadian sounds as clear as ever – his voice velvety throughout, and his falsetto passages swooping elegantly on tracks like Forever.
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Daily Mail
Throughout the record relies on the same production of pounding bass and icy synths; this gets tiresome quickly,' the outlet says. 'Lyrically, it’s filled with pseudo-intelligent babble.'
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Ratings Game Music
Honestly, I think every single track on Changes is at least good. Will any of the tracks get major burn at clubs? Probably not, mainly because Justin opted to hit us with styles of music that took on more of a relaxing tone. What I do think will happen is that the songs on this album will be covered by aspiring artists on YouTube, will be played during television shows that need some heartwarming vibes, and will be hugged on tightly by people in relationships that need good feels in their lives.
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Sputnik
For the most part, it’s a pretty enjoyable record and one that clearly sees Justin trying to break some old habits.
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YP
Vocally, the 25-year-old Canadian sounds as clear as ever – his voice velvety throughout, and his falsetto passages swooping elegantly on tracks like Forever.
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Meaww
'Changes' manages to give fans more than enough recognizable styles co-operating with a whole new paradigm of musical elements in a playground of R&B, trap, soul and a sort of bubblegum rap intertwined between select songs that open doorways for new potential fans to get entranced.
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The Young Folks
Changes does not actually change a great deal in terms of the lyrical depth and sound. Opening with a mellow and somewhat tropical feel, the songs have a standard construction where the tone is built around a simple beat. Flat at times, it is not the type of music played with intention, rather in the background. And yet, not a single track is long enough for it to become too much.
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The Communicator
Almost every track seems rushed, and they all have a very similar beat. All while each song has a near exact meaning, it’s just boring to listen to and overall just bad music.
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The Bantwist
All in all, having the past behind us, and giving Justin a chance to escape the circus he was in, he finally was able to unwind, releasing docu-series ‘Seasons’ for an inside look of his new life with his wife Hailey that guides him through thick and thin, while also showing the process of creating ‘Changes’. The album already debuted at the top of the album charts and made him the youngest solo artist in Billboard history to earn seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
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The Young Folks
Changes does not actually change a great deal in terms of the lyrical depth and sound. Opening with a mellow and somewhat tropical feel, the songs have a standard construction where the tone is built around a simple beat. Flat at times, it is not the type of music played with intention, rather in the background. And yet, not a single track is long enough for it to become too much.
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The Communicator
Almost every track seems rushed, and they all have a very similar beat. All while each song has a near exact meaning, it’s just boring to listen to and overall just bad music.
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The Bantwist
All in all, having the past behind us, and giving Justin a chance to escape the circus he was in, he finally was able to unwind, releasing docu-series ‘Seasons’ for an inside look of his new life with his wife Hailey that guides him through thick and thin, while also showing the process of creating ‘Changes’. The album already debuted at the top of the album charts and made him the youngest solo artist in Billboard history to earn seven No. 1 albums on the Billboard 200.
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The Interns
Changes is obviously going to draw comparisons to Journals because of its R&B influence and that’s fair. The difference is Journals felt like a mainstream rebellion by one of the biggest popstars on the planet and that energy shone through. Now, R&B and trap beats are all over the mainstream. That coupled with the fact Bieber is in a very comfortable relationship and working with his most trusted collaborators means that Changes often sounds complacent.
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Zu Media
This album is a great listen for those who are transitioning into adulthood. Bieber does a great job of showing that love gets more complicated as we get older because it requires sacrifice, dedication and forgiveness.
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Canoe
By the end of its 51 minutes (a surprisingly short running time for 17 tracks), Bieber has drilled home the point: He’s hopelessly in love. Good for him, and for his bride. “Changes” is an album for lovers, for Valentine’s Days, and for all the candlelit evenings between them.
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Zu Media
This album is a great listen for those who are transitioning into adulthood. Bieber does a great job of showing that love gets more complicated as we get older because it requires sacrifice, dedication and forgiveness.
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Canoe
By the end of its 51 minutes (a surprisingly short running time for 17 tracks), Bieber has drilled home the point: He’s hopelessly in love. Good for him, and for his bride. “Changes” is an album for lovers, for Valentine’s Days, and for all the candlelit evenings between them.
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Uninterview
It has 16 tracks and marks a change from what the Canadian pop-star has previously produced. It’s more R&B than pop and many of the songs focus on Bieber’s refuge from celebrity life with wife Hailey Baldwin after a documentary based on Bieber’s creative and personal life, “Seasons,” showed him struggling with fame. The album contains features from Post Malone, Travis Scott, Kehlani, Summer Walker, Lil Dicky, Clever and Quavo.
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Cross Rhythms
'Changes', his first album since 2015's 'Purpose', is no doubt being scrutinised by many churchgoers. They'll probably be disappointed by 'Changes'' lack of specifically Christian songs (maybe we'll have to wait another couple of years before we get a worship set from the superstar), but what Rolling Stone magazine called "a one-note toast to marital happiness" is pretty good for all that, even though some Christians have expressed concern about the lyrics of the album's first single, "Yummy", which is clearly a song about sex.
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Daily Nebraskan
This long, 17-track album is a gorgeous tribute to Bieber’s relationship with his wife, showcasing both the trials and tribulations of their love. This record also gives proof of Bieber’s growing maturity as both a person and an artist.
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The Tribe
In contrast, Bieber’s fourth album, Purpose, is upbeat and fun. This was another reason my disappointment in Changes was so extensive. Bieber is typically an artist who releases fun radio hits every few years, this was always his appeal to me anyway. His carefree musical style is completely lost in Changes. Listeners will be neither entertained nor upset by Changes. The album is perfectly mediocre, especially after so many months of promotion.
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Montreal Gazette
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface. His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place — but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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Channel 24
The vocals, at times overwhelmed by heavy deployment of auto-tune, mark a departure from the bubblegum, EDM-laced pop that fans will remember from Justin's teenage years.
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INews
On his latest, Changes, he sings, “I’m going through changes, but that doesn’t mean I’ve changed”. The refrain perfectly describes the record, which is a side-step rather than a progression in musicality. The biggest change in the star’s life has been his marriage to model Hailey Bieber née Baldwin in September 2018, and this album is almost entirely dedicated to his new wife. Every song is about falling in love, being in love or (this is Bieber after all) sex.
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Gold Derby
Some critics say “his R&B tendencies are natural and unforced.” He’s “honing a vocal approach that’s soothing, tender.” It’s “an effective album,” “subdued and unassuming,” and “he’s never sounded better.” But “Changes” has also been described as “tentative,” “uninspired,” and “strangely characterless” with “mostly average beats” and “seemingly random” guest artists including Post Malone, Travis Scott and Lil Dicky.
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Black Boy Bulletin
Changes is sweet, but Justin is not really saying anything of substance. After a whirlwind few years, Changes‘ existence is a triumph in and of itself, Justin hasn’t lost it; there is clear potential here, and solid foundation for his next record to be even stronger.
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Stack
Changes finds Bieber a changed, more mature adult, and while Purpose wrestled with sticky breakup feelings, Changes is unapologetic about showing Bieber as lovestruck. It comes out in the production too: instead of glacial melodies and frenetic structures, Changes radiates warmth and contentment. It makes for a smooth ride, marking this era of Bieber as settled and self-confident.
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Stereoboard
‘Changes’ platforms Bieber serenading one woman, rather than crowds of women. He frequently sings about the satisfaction and pleasure that a life lived with integrity allows.
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HS Insider
One thing I do admire about this album and Bieber though was that even though he headed towards the generic rap type of direction, he didn’t use heavy autotune like some rappers nowadays, and I was able to hear his angelic voice that I love so much. Give it a listen for yourself. “Changes” is available on all streaming platforms.
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The Post
After undergoing a life-altering past couple years, which included his marriage to Hailey Baldwin and being diagnosed with Lyme disease, Justin Bieber surprised no one by titling his latest album Changes. It’s also no surprise the teenage heartthrob’s first album in half a decade makes listeners forget why they ever fell in love with him in the first place.
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Star Tribune
He makes a cocoon for himself on "Changes," a low-key set of gentle electro-R&B jams that depicts his relationship with wife Hailey Baldwin as a refuge from the unkind world he's still not quite ready to re-enter. Long on clean-toned guitars and drowsy soul grooves — and words about the love of a good woman — it represents a shift from the throbbing EDM of Bieber's last album, 2015's "Purpose." Yet R&B has always been where he goes for comfort and redemption.
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Commedia
Justin Bieber could have had a chance to change up the course of his music career with this comeback album, but instead it reflects a teen pop god that used to be. He is a mature adult artist who has talent pouring out of his ears, but is wasting it on basic sounding R&B songs that all in all left fans re-listening to “Purpose” and “My World 2.0” to relive that Justin Bieber magic.
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Calgary Herald
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface.
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SHS
In contrast, Bieber’s fourth album, Purpose, is upbeat and fun. This was another reason my disappointment in Changes was so extensive. Bieber is typically an artist who releases fun radio hits every few years, this was always his appeal to me anyway. His carefree musical style is completely lost in Changes. Listeners will be neither entertained nor upset by Changes. The album is perfectly mediocre, especially after so many months of promotion.
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Metro
But frankly, it makes for an endearing album and one many can probably relate to on Valentine’s Day.
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Western Herald
“Changes” is a solid attempt at maturity from Bieber. Despite this, many of the tracks sound misguided, shallow and borderline creepy rather than loving. It’s clear that Bieber isn’t entirely connected to the lyrics or intent behind them.
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Capital Fm
One of the main things that fans commented on is the quality of Justin's vocals on his new album.
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Reflector
In summation, this 17-track album, including the remix of the album’s lead single “Yummy,” is cheap, boring and meaningless. All together, it sounds like it was made by a group of men following a tutorial on how to make music they found on the back of a cereal box.
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Montreal Gazette
His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place – but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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Star Tribune
He makes a cocoon for himself on "Changes," a low-key set of gentle electro-R&B jams that depicts his relationship with wife Hailey Baldwin as a refuge from the unkind world he's still not quite ready to re-enter. Long on clean-toned guitars and drowsy soul grooves — and words about the love of a good woman — it represents a shift from the throbbing EDM of Bieber's last album, 2015's "Purpose." Yet R&B has always been where he goes for comfort and redemption.
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Commedia
Justin Bieber could have had a chance to change up the course of his music career with this comeback album, but instead it reflects a teen pop god that used to be. He is a mature adult artist who has talent pouring out of his ears, but is wasting it on basic sounding R&B songs that all in all left fans re-listening to “Purpose” and “My World 2.0” to relive that Justin Bieber magic.
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Calgary Herald
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface.
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SHS
In contrast, Bieber’s fourth album, Purpose, is upbeat and fun. This was another reason my disappointment in Changes was so extensive. Bieber is typically an artist who releases fun radio hits every few years, this was always his appeal to me anyway. His carefree musical style is completely lost in Changes. Listeners will be neither entertained nor upset by Changes. The album is perfectly mediocre, especially after so many months of promotion.
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Metro
But frankly, it makes for an endearing album and one many can probably relate to on Valentine’s Day.
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Western Herald
“Changes” is a solid attempt at maturity from Bieber. Despite this, many of the tracks sound misguided, shallow and borderline creepy rather than loving. It’s clear that Bieber isn’t entirely connected to the lyrics or intent behind them.
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Capital Fm
One of the main things that fans commented on is the quality of Justin's vocals on his new album.
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Reflector
In summation, this 17-track album, including the remix of the album’s lead single “Yummy,” is cheap, boring and meaningless. All together, it sounds like it was made by a group of men following a tutorial on how to make music they found on the back of a cereal box.
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Montreal Gazette
His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place – but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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Head Stuff
Justin Bieber returns with Changes, his first album in five years. Much has indeed changed in his life since then, so too for the music industry. The boys ponder how Biebs might – or might not – fit in nowadays.
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Wopular
Justin Bieber tiptoes out of love cocoon with new album 'Changes' Stuffed with schmoopy valentines to his wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber, the album's through-line is tenderly ... EDM-laced pop that fans will remember from Bieber's teenage years.
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Love London Love Culture
His fifth studio album is pitched as an invitation to bask in Bieber’s newfound domestic bliss, but while his contentment might be heaven for him and his managers, the resulting album has all the glow and eroticism of an airport terminal.
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Wopular
Justin Bieber tiptoes out of love cocoon with new album 'Changes' Stuffed with schmoopy valentines to his wife Hailey Baldwin Bieber, the album's through-line is tenderly ... EDM-laced pop that fans will remember from Bieber's teenage years.
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Love London Love Culture
His fifth studio album is pitched as an invitation to bask in Bieber’s newfound domestic bliss, but while his contentment might be heaven for him and his managers, the resulting album has all the glow and eroticism of an airport terminal.
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Oh No They Didn't
A knackering, loved-up slog lacking substance.
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The Verge
Justin Bieber recently dropped his latest album, Changes, and it took less than 24 hours before the pop star was accused of stealing the melody used in one of its songs. Artist Asher Monroe pointed out that the soft and plucky hook in his 2019 song “Synergy” is the same as the one in Bieber’s “Running Over.” However, it turned out no one stole anything because the melody isn’t by either artist.
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Fox News
With the release of his latest album, "Changes," Bieber became the youngest person to ever achieve seven albums debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 charts, beating Elvis Presley, who achieved it at 26 years old.
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Cosmopolitan
It’s already been established that the whole album is a testament to Justin’s faith and his relationship with Hailey Baldwin, but we absolutely must discuss his collab with Travis Scott. The 10th track on the album is called “Second Emotion,” and after the first line, you can immediately tell they’re talking about their respective love lives with Hailey and Kylie Jenner.
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Just Jared
The album includes lead single “Yummy,” as well as “Intentions” with Quavo and “Forever” with Post Malone and Clever. The album also features Lil Dicky, Travis Scott and Kehlani.
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Aura
Justin Bieber’s take on modern R&B/Pop fusion is lost in the midst of bland production and some of the lowest output of his entire career. Distinguishing this album would be impossible, as every song on Changes is amidst an identity crisis.
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DBK
But although Changes is endearingly romantic, it is far too subdued to be Bieber’s re-entrance into the music world.
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Soundbit
Lyrically this album is also awful, and as an example I’ll start with a song I think is one of the worst on the album.
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Fashion Model Secret
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface. His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place — but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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My Style
His R&B tendencies are natural and unforced and, most importantly, never gratuitously flashy. And he’s never sounded better than he does on “Changes,” his fifth studio album.
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Lake Central
Changes includes 17 tracks, including singles “Yummy” and “Intentions.” The album features artists Quavo, Post Malone, Clever, Lil Dicky, Travis Scott, Kehlani and Summer Walker. The album received mixed reviews online. A lot of Bieber’s fans thought that the album was a mix of pop anthems and love songs. This album has a lot of romantic proclamations in songs like “Come Around Me” and “Intentions.” Bieber dedicated this album to his wife Hailey, and some of the tracks are obviously written to give insight into their love life.
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Fashion Model Secret
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface. His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place — but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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My Style
His R&B tendencies are natural and unforced and, most importantly, never gratuitously flashy. And he’s never sounded better than he does on “Changes,” his fifth studio album.
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Lake Central
Changes includes 17 tracks, including singles “Yummy” and “Intentions.” The album features artists Quavo, Post Malone, Clever, Lil Dicky, Travis Scott, Kehlani and Summer Walker. The album received mixed reviews online. A lot of Bieber’s fans thought that the album was a mix of pop anthems and love songs. This album has a lot of romantic proclamations in songs like “Come Around Me” and “Intentions.” Bieber dedicated this album to his wife Hailey, and some of the tracks are obviously written to give insight into their love life.
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Buzz
Sonically, it’s incredibly laidback with R&B pretty much the thread of the album, with splashes of hip hop and pop.
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The Roar
I wasn’t too excited or even knew about his new album release until I looked it up. When the song first started playing, I was intrigued. It has a really catchy beat and seems to be an upbeat song. The only thing that I do not like about it is that it is actually really repetitive.
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The Polypost
“Changes” is a very personal experience. The album exposes his journey into maturity and handling the pressures of fame and infamy through his lyrics. His style of music has changed from a pop version of electronic dance music to the complete opposite – soulful R&B.
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Best Life
While much of the album is chill, Justin does not forget about fans of his upbeat music — and he brings streaming-number giants Post Malone and Travis Scott along for the ride. The carnal “Come Around Me” features a catchy, hip-hop-influenced chorus followed by a soft but strong falsetto, while the Scott-featured “Second Emotion” is bound to become a staple on party pregame soundtracks this summer.
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Fog
’Changes’ does sound and feel like a polished and cohesive continuation of ‘Journals’ without all the experimental parts, like that song where he finds an alien in his backpack and it turns out to be Lil Wayne. There are plenty of good beats (‘Intentions’ ft. Quavo is one) and his voice is, as always, so delicate you could sell it in a French patisserie – but in the end ‘Changes’ lands like love itself: easy to appreciate, but only significant when it’s happening to you.”
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Tech
If Yummy seemed cynical – bolstered by instructions to fans on how to game the streaming services and get it to No 1 – then at least that’s not an accusation you can level at the rest of Changes.
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The Roar
I wasn’t too excited or even knew about his new album release until I looked it up. When the song first started playing, I was intrigued. It has a really catchy beat and seems to be an upbeat song. The only thing that I do not like about it is that it is actually really repetitive.
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The Polypost
“Changes” is a very personal experience. The album exposes his journey into maturity and handling the pressures of fame and infamy through his lyrics. His style of music has changed from a pop version of electronic dance music to the complete opposite – soulful R&B.
-
Best Life
While much of the album is chill, Justin does not forget about fans of his upbeat music — and he brings streaming-number giants Post Malone and Travis Scott along for the ride. The carnal “Come Around Me” features a catchy, hip-hop-influenced chorus followed by a soft but strong falsetto, while the Scott-featured “Second Emotion” is bound to become a staple on party pregame soundtracks this summer.
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Fog
’Changes’ does sound and feel like a polished and cohesive continuation of ‘Journals’ without all the experimental parts, like that song where he finds an alien in his backpack and it turns out to be Lil Wayne. There are plenty of good beats (‘Intentions’ ft. Quavo is one) and his voice is, as always, so delicate you could sell it in a French patisserie – but in the end ‘Changes’ lands like love itself: easy to appreciate, but only significant when it’s happening to you.”
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Tech
If Yummy seemed cynical – bolstered by instructions to fans on how to game the streaming services and get it to No 1 – then at least that’s not an accusation you can level at the rest of Changes.
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Interrobang
Overall with this album we see how much happier as an artist Bieber is and how he stripped back a little. In Changes, he stepped back from the autotune and I am able to respect him more as an artist for that.
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Head Topics
He’s still one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but this subdued, fitfully lovely album suggests Bieber no longer wants to dominate the charts.
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Curious Minds
Bieber’s intentions are past reproach, however the music is tiresome, tedious and frustratingly false. He ought to have learnt from John Lennon. Love and stability is its personal reward. In case you are decided to specific it: neglect about being cool and quit chasing tendencies. Preserve it easy, honest and unfashionably straight-laced.
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Mobilsocial
On his new album, Changes, Justin Bieber depicts his marriage as a refuge from the unkind world hes not quite ready to reenter.
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The Day
For all the personal stability it seems to reflect, though, the question this very chill — and often very pretty — album poses for Bieber is how dedicated he is to reclaiming his spot at the center of pop. Sure, there are on-trend trap drums sprinkled here and there; sure, Post Malone and Travis Scott put in streaming-bait guest spots. But “Changes” mostly feels like a willful retreat from a scene that demands instant engagement.
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Feedimo
He’s still one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but this subdued, fitfully lovely album suggests Bieber no longer wants chart domination.
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Head Topics
He’s still one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but this subdued, fitfully lovely album suggests Bieber no longer wants to dominate the charts.
-
Curious Minds
Bieber’s intentions are past reproach, however the music is tiresome, tedious and frustratingly false. He ought to have learnt from John Lennon. Love and stability is its personal reward. In case you are decided to specific it: neglect about being cool and quit chasing tendencies. Preserve it easy, honest and unfashionably straight-laced.
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Mobilsocial
On his new album, Changes, Justin Bieber depicts his marriage as a refuge from the unkind world hes not quite ready to reenter.
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The Day
For all the personal stability it seems to reflect, though, the question this very chill — and often very pretty — album poses for Bieber is how dedicated he is to reclaiming his spot at the center of pop. Sure, there are on-trend trap drums sprinkled here and there; sure, Post Malone and Travis Scott put in streaming-bait guest spots. But “Changes” mostly feels like a willful retreat from a scene that demands instant engagement.
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Feedimo
He’s still one of the world’s biggest pop stars, but this subdued, fitfully lovely album suggests Bieber no longer wants chart domination.
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Marocsport
“Changes” mostly feels like a willful retreat from a scene that demands instant engagement.
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The Confidential
For all the personal stability it seems to reflect, though, the question this very chill — and often very pretty — album poses for Bieber is how dedicated he is to reclaiming his spot at the center of pop. Sure, there are on-trend trap drums sprinkled here and there; sure, Post Malone and Travis Scott put in streaming-bait guest spots. But mostly “Changes” feels like a willful retreat from a scene that demands instant engagement.
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Arca Max
For all the personal stability it seems to reflect, though, the question this very chill -- and often very pretty -- album poses for Bieber is how dedicated he is to reclaiming his spot at the center of pop. Sure, there are on-trend trap drums sprinkled here and there; sure, Post Malone and Travis Scott put in streaming-bait guest spots. But "Changes" mostly feels like a willful retreat from a scene that demands instant engagement.
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News Locker
Changes – created in the midst of health issues and a hasty marriage to model Hailey Baldwin – finds Bieber swapping instant anthems for mid-tempo, trap-adjacent R&B often render.
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O Canada
“Changes” is the sound of a reformed romantic closing the blinds to shut out the world, then spending a long weekend in bed with the object of his affection, coming up with different ways to say “You complete me.” And therein lie its limitations: For as many ways as there are to say “You complete me,” Bieber keeps skimming their surface. His voice and the production are flawless, and his soul is in the right place — but there’s something airless about the album, too, like he could have left the window open a crack to let some sunshine in. For a Valentine’s Day album about love in bloom, it sounds surprisingly serious and dark, with a one-track-mind.
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Showbiz
Justin Bieber is a man in love and, if you didn't know that before, you most definitely will after consuming his new album Changes.
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This Is Money
By the end of its 51 minutes (a surprisingly short running time for 17 tracks), Bieber has drilled home the point: He's hopelessly in love. Good for him, and for his bride. "Changes" is an album for lovers, for Valentine's Days, and for all the candlelit evenings between them.
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Bandmine
Justin Bieber’s voice has always suited R&B, so Changes sounds gorgeous — thanks in large part to the production of Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd. But the joy of R&B is the pain, the joy and the balance between the two, which is something, according to critics, that this album seriously lacks.
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Showbiz
Justin Bieber is a man in love and, if you didn't know that before, you most definitely will after consuming his new album Changes.
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This Is Money
By the end of its 51 minutes (a surprisingly short running time for 17 tracks), Bieber has drilled home the point: He's hopelessly in love. Good for him, and for his bride. "Changes" is an album for lovers, for Valentine's Days, and for all the candlelit evenings between them.
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Bandmine
Justin Bieber’s voice has always suited R&B, so Changes sounds gorgeous — thanks in large part to the production of Jason “Poo Bear” Boyd. But the joy of R&B is the pain, the joy and the balance between the two, which is something, according to critics, that this album seriously lacks.
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Movies With Butter
Justin Bieber still doesn’t really get the credit he’s earned. The string of celebrity relationships, the bad-boy behavior, the tattoos and ever-evolving hair styles and hues — all these things have had a tendency to distract from the obvious, which is: That boy can sing.
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