Album Review: Justin Bieber – My World 2.0

Artist: Justin Bieber
Album: My World 2.0
Release Date: 3.23.10

Puppy love kicks into high gear with the release of My World 2.0, the second half of rising pop star Justin Bieber’s debut album. All things in perspective, this album is very good though the content here is slightly deeper than on his previous release, but only slightly. Expect more poppy love songs seasoned with a bit of R&B flavor, and more of Bieber’s refreshing teenage innocence. Overall, the 10-song-release is feel-good and lighthearted, perfect for the spring and making this his second consecutively solid release.

The album’s lead single Baby pairs Bieber with Ludacris, an unlikely duo that surprisingly works to create a sound reminiscent of the late 90’s boy band era. Young girls everywhere will swoon over the smooth lyrics on Somebody To Love (“For you I’d write a symphony, I’d tell the violins it’s time to sink or swim…”), a dance/love song perfect for springtime with some really fresh vocal harmonies in tow. Bieber takes on a slightly bluesy disposition with U Smile, which I think could be a smash hit if it gets a slower acoustic makeover. Similarly Never Let You Go is an unforgettable favorite and illustrates the playful schoolboy crush. For his first male/female duet, Justin is paired with Jessica Jarrell on Overboard, a carefully crafted power ballad where the duo’s voices mesh almost perfectly. Up is a pretty amazing song that has that lighters-in-the-air feel, which stands out because the vocals are simpler yet just as appealing. That Should Be Me closes the album heartbreak-style with production that delivers a world-ending type of dramatic feel through the strings and we hear more strength in the vocals

Bieber’s album, though solid is not without flaw. Sean Kingston’s feature slot on Eenie Meenie doesn’t quite work for the young star, and Kingston’s presence on the poppy dance record is a bit too dominant for Bieber’s meek tone. There are also moments where the content can be a bit far reaching; it’s not quite believable for an energetic 16-year old to sell songs like Runaway Love, which discusses losing love and Stuck In The Moment, relating historic love affairs to his own teenage experiences.  Like his previous album, the vocals here lack soul and emotion, though they do sound stronger in parts.

Like its predecessor, this isn’t a soul album, its pop music at its best. The focus here is on beats and catchy hooks while the vocals take a back seat to those elements. And for a barely-16-year old newcomer to pop music, that works! The music on My World 2.0 is fun and engaging, it’s dance-heavy and it puts some of his more seasoned pop counterparts (namely Ke$ha and Jason DeRulo) to shame. Usher’s discovery of this young talent was a smart move, it’s only the beginning for Bieber-fever…

Sound-Savvy rates My World 2.0 with 3 out of 5 platinum headphones.