Justin Bieber - Journals (Expanded Edition) (2023)

Review by Andy Kellman
Not the true follow-up to 2012's Purpose, the transitional Journals instead compiles the 2013 singles Justin Bieber released on a weekly basis from October through December. It presents the songs in order of release and adds a handful of previously unissued tracks. Nine of the singles hit the Canadian Top 40, including the stormy ballad "Heartbreaker," the late-'90s neo-Timbaland throwback "All That Matters," and a playful collaboration with Chance the Rapper on "Confident." By design, it's a patchwork, and as such, the quality of the material is more variable than that of Bieber's proper albums. The digital-only release of Journals was somewhat lost in the midst of Bieber's retirement announcement (which would be retracted) and the theatrical release of Justin Bieber's Believe.