Pop teen idol Justin Bieber highly – anticipated new album brings a whole new material of lyrical content. Three years since his last album Believe, the pop sensation returns with his fourth and most personal album yet, Purpose. The album finds a mature Bieber, now 21, taking risks as he embarks on a new chapter in his career, as he sings about the ups and downs of fame, relationships, and persecution by the media.

Bieber fans can rejoice for the album is targeted to all his fans especially teen girls. Bieber’s teary outburst at last year’s Video Music Awards where he sang his heart out on Sorry, gave you the impression that he has changed over. Very true, for his songs are packed with loads of truthfulness and meaning. The 13 tracks have an agenda to keep and rightly so you can go with the flow. Purpose is an album that finds Bieber incorporating elements of dance, R&B, electronica, and hip-hop into his songs.

Bieber has taken a lot of help from his friends to create a new groove this time. He is joined by collaborators Big Sean, Travis Scott, and Halsey, plus production from Skrillex, Diplo. ‘Purpose’ takes some risks, but still doesn’t stray too far from the sound from what Bieber came with, and it could likely earn him some new fans while not abandoning the old ones.

The albums strongest moments would be either with a collaborator or a few done on his own. One of them is Mark my words is low on instrumentation, with Bieber’s vocals the prime focus. I’ll show you falls in the same category though it has a good buildup and a heavy baseline with lyrics that pleads for clemency. “Don’t forget that I’m human, don’t forget that I’m real,” Clock chiming seems to hit on the bouncy What do you mean? through its flip flops sound. Its punchy effect gives it a great vibe for a dance hit for sure, which it has already become. Mid – tempo R & B groove gets a welcome spin from EDM master Skrillex on Where are you now? A swashbuckling of a track that would pull you to the dance floor. Bieber sets out with a giant apology to his ex, Selena Gomez, with his super sassy great beats in Sorry, likeable at the very first listen. All three pieces that would pull you to the dance floor.

On Love Yourself, an Ed Sheeran co-write, Bieber sings "If you like the way you look that much/ Baby, you should go and love yourself." Lyrically satisfying, the song tells you how to look at yourself. The track is similar to the Sheeran style of songs. The song strips everything back very effectively to a guitar line and a vocal, in which Bieber dismisses an ex girlfriend in song.

The second half of the album is monochromatic and a bit depressing, you have Company and No Sense which is a bit of a letdown, without any catchy hook, even though we have Travis Scott popping up towards the end of the piece on the latter track. No Pressure, featuring Big Sean is a slow jam which you could probably give a skip.

Life Is Worth Living, a piano ballad has a few good moments to make it a replay. On the title track Purpose, Bieber sings, "Look at all the promises I've kept," as though he is showing it to you. Well worth a second audition if you missed his message the first time.

Bieber is transitioning into manhood with some timely help from producers drawn from the world of pop and electronica. The album repositions the once troubled child star as an R&B lover boy. For whatever wrong he has done in the past, one listen to this album and you would want to forget everything and love him again.

Rating: ****

Reviewed By Verus Ferreira