Justin Bieber: Swag II review – more filler with an occasional pop killer

<p><strong>(Def Jam)<br></strong>Part two of Bieber’s seventh album adds very little: it’s largely bland pop with glimpses of quality thanks to a buzzy supporting cast including Dijon and Bakar</p><p>J<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/justin-bieber">ustin Bieber</a>’s Swag II adds 23 tracks to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jul/11/justin-bieber-swag-review-surprise-album">his already over-stuffed Swag project</a>, and it’s not just the title that lacks imagination. Like its predecessor, released just two months ago, Swag II unites a buzzy team of producers and writers known for freshening up R’n’B and hands them a precisely curated Pinterest board: Dangerous-era Michael Jackson, D’Angelo’s lush arrangements, Jai Paul’s glitchy, retro-futurist sonics and the sun-bleached textures of current collaborators Mk.gee and Dijon. But with unadventurous songwriting, the result is (another) album that’s all vibe and voguish production, and very little substance.</p><p>Opener Speed Demon reheats Bieber’s “is it clocking to you” meme for the second time across both albums, albeit with a bright, funky bravado and a memorably bonkers chorus about “checking these chickens”, AKA leaving his critics in the dust. But for a song bragging about ambition, it lacks adrenaline – like many of Swag II’s safe, repetitive tracks.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/sep/08/justin-bieber-swag-ii-review-more-filler-with-an-occasional-pop-killer">Continue reading...</a>