<\/p>\n
Justin Bieber\u2019s surprise drop, SWAG<\/em>, had a massive opening. Announced<\/a> on July 10, and released the next day, the album charted<\/a> 163,000 units and started out with about 200 million streams. The project started its life at number two behind Travis Scott\u2019s chart-topping JackBoys 2<\/em>. While some could say SWAG<\/em> was a failure because it\u2019s the first time<\/a> a Bieber album hasn\u2019t started at number one, its impact may outweigh the sales. Bieber has a new sound. And when Bieber releases, people listen.\u00a0<\/p>\n The release was last-minute, with the announcement dropping just one day before the album\u2019s release. Why? No one knows. While there is speculation that the hasty rollout was to take attention away from Clipse\u2019s album release after the duo\u2019s fallout with Universal Music Group<\/a>, it doesn\u2019t make sense that the label would release on the same weekend as Travis Scott and the 15-year reunion of Clipse. The timing didn\u2019t seem right.<\/p>\n The seemingly rushed timing is apparent in the sound \u2014 the album seems unfinished. The first half is strong: \u201cDAISIES,\u201d \u201cYUKON\u201d and \u201cTHINGS YOU DO\u201d were all highlights stemming from the fresh production and catchiness of the tracks, but they were only three of the first five songs of the album. As the project progresses, it just falls apart. The strong production of the early tracks fizzles out, Bieber\u2019s lyricism loses its charm and the tracks\u2019 momentum is frequently killed by Druski skits that don\u2019t contribute to the sound or themes whatsoever.<\/p>\n Later in the album, there were brief moments of light for the project,\u00a0such as Sexyy Red\u2019s verse on \u201cSWEET SPOT,\u201d Dijon and Daniel Caesar\u2019s production on \u201cDEVOTION\u201d and the sample of his viral \u201cSTANDING ON BUSINESS\u201d clip<\/a>, but these are few and far between as the album goes on.<\/p>\n