Justin Bieber SWAG II

Critic's Take

Justin Bieber returns with SWAG II, and the reviewer's impatience is palpable - the best tracks, like “Petting Zoo” and “Open Up Your Heart”, register because they at least show bite or a melodic hook amid the tedium. The critic repeatedly calls the sequel redundant and flattened, praising moments of courage in “Petting Zoo” and noting that “Open Up Your Heart” fits so snugly with a soft-focus adult-contemporary that it exposes the album's sameness. Overall, the reviewer implies that the best songs are those that break the album's pleasant blandness rather than those that reinforce it.

Key Points

• The best song, "Petting Zoo", stands out because its raw anger and solo-electric arrangement give the album rare emotional bite.
• SWAG II's core strengths are its alt-R&B production touches and occasional moments of edge, but they are undermined by redundancy and weak lyrics.

Themes

Critic's Take

Justin Bieber returns with SWAG II, a sprawling sequel whose best songs—like “I THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL” and “MOVING FAST”—capture the album's gentler charms. The reviewer praises the tenderness of “I THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL” and the evocative programmed folk of “MOVING FAST”, while noting rare sparks such as “SAFE SPACE” that flip the script. Yet the overall tone registers frustration: moments of insight are eclipsed by a bloated, anonymous runtime that feels more chart strategy than artistic refinement.

Key Points

• The best song, “I THINK YOU'RE SPECIAL”, is best for its tender harmonies and delicate production.
• The album's core strengths are its moments of genuine tenderness and evocative production, but these are diluted by a bloated runtime and perceived strategic ubiquity.

Themes

Critic's Take

Justin Bieber's SWAG II feels like another indulgent overflow - the best tracks are where he actually leans into pop or real emotion, notably “Don’t Wanna” and “Moving Fast” which show playfulness and pathos respectively. The review keeps returning to how songs such as “Bad Honey” fizz with personality while many others stall, repeating motifs or never going anywhere. If you want the best songs on SWAG II, look for the pop-forward “Don’t Wanna” and the quietly affecting “Moving Fast” - they are the clearest statements amid an album of stylish but shallow production.

Key Points

• The best song is “Don’t Wanna” for its playful MJ influence and strong guest turn, making it the clearest pop statement.
• The album’s core strengths are talented collaborators and stylish, retro-tinged production, but songwriting and editing leave it shallow.

Themes

Critic's Take

In a measured, conversational voice El Hunt notes that Justin Bieber’s SWAG II finds its best moments in smaller, softer songs - notably “Mother In You” and “Love Song”. The reviewer praises how “Mother In You” opens with intimate fatherhood detail and how “Love Song” leaves room for jazzy piano, arguing these are the best tracks on SWAG II. At the same time El Hunt retains scepticism about the project’s scale, suggesting the record’s pleasures would land stronger in a tighter running order.

Key Points

• The best song is “Mother In You” because its intimate fatherhood detail and acoustic lead make it emotionally resonant.
• The album’s core strengths are tender, small-scale moments and strong collaborations, but excess length and repetitive themes undermine cohesion.

Critic's Take

Rob Sheffield writes that Justin Bieber's follow-up SWAG II mostly plays it safe, yet a few tracks still stand out as the best songs on SWAG II. He pins “Love Song” as the clear peak, praising its distorted piano loop and Mk.gee's moment, and singles out “Witchya” and “Moving Fast” as other top tracks. The reviewer savages filler like “Need It”, “Speed Demon”, and “I Think You’re Special” while admiring the audacity of “Story of God”, making these the best tracks to seek on the album.

Key Points

• The best song is "Love Song" because it has a distorted piano loop, Mk.gee's standout moment, and genuine charm.
• The album's core strengths are occasional adventurous production and bold moments like "Story of God", set against an otherwise safe, generic sequel.

Themes