My thoughts on Justin Bieber - Believe Acoustic

Another day, another Bieber-related trend. Thankfully today’s isn’t as bleak as “cut4bieber”, but #BelieveAcoustic. Yep, Bieber’s new album has just been released and, being the fan that I am, I wasted no time and have been listening to it all day.

As you might guess, Believe Acoustic is a follow-up to 2012’s Believe, the album that converted quite a few non-Beliebers and earnt Justin some serious street cred. This unplugged addition looks set to follow in its predecessor’s footsteps (it’s already sitting at number one on iTunes charts around the world) and increase Bieber’s credibility as an artist once again.The album (unsurprisingly) features acoustic covers of several tracks from Believe, including hits like ‘Boyfriend’ and ‘Beauty and a Beat’ as well as a live recording of ‘Fall’ and two previously unreleased songs, ‘Yellow Raincoat’ and ‘I Would’. There’s also a bonus track called ‘Nothing Like Us’ available on iTunes. 

Acoustic covers are often a hit-and-miss game; the good news is that there are more hits than misses here. Tracks like ‘As Long as You Love Me’ and ‘Take You’ sit comfortably in this style, they sound authentic and showcase Bieber’s abilities well. As with Believe, ALAYLM is probably my favourite and I am thankful that Bieber tackled Big Sean’s rap like he did in his performance at the AMAs in 2012. It sounds brilliant, although a part of me is upset that he did not employ the same tactic for ‘Beauty and a Beat’…In all honesty, I know it wouldn’t have worked as well but I’d have loved to hear Justin spitting out lyrics that only Nicki Minaj can make work, like “buns out, weiner”, in an acoustic setting.

However, all the tracks from Believe are reworked excellently, with some impressive and welcome arrangements, including simple piano accompaniments (‘Be Alright’) and thumping, almost clubby, guitar riffs (‘All Around the World’). The great thing about this album is its mix of different styles, something that is often lacking in many acoustic LPs, which makes Believe Acoustic just as diverse and exciting as its predecessor.

As for the new tracks, they’re pretty good. They are not exactly standout songs but they fit well in the collection. I think I prefer ‘Yellow Raincoat’ over ‘I Would’ just because it feels different from the usual Bieber ballad: more moody, more atmospheric. The bonus track is also a decent addition if you can get it.

Believe Acoustic is definitely another step in the right direction for the Biebs and I think it’s safe to say that Justin Bieber is not just for teenage girls anymore.