Album Battle: Purpose vs. Made In The A.M.

Justin Bieber
Purpose
Def Jam
www.justinbiebermusic.com

One Direction
Made in the A.M.
Columbia
www.onedirectionmusic.com

It was an exciting week for pop music, as Justin Bieber and One Direction both released their much anticipated albums on Nov. 13. Here, we take a look at both Purpose and Made in the A.M. and decide which heartthrob(s) made the better album for blessing the charts.

Justin Bieber

After his very long hiatus Bieber is back with an interesting medley of songs. They range from traditional pop to EDM, R&B and emotional ballads with just his dulcet voice and a piano. We see Bieber reaching across genres and experimenting to find where he fits in the scape of artists such as Ed Sheeran, The Weeknd and Drake.

Lyrically, Bieber sings about redemption, apologies, lost love, and hope. “I’ll Show You”  feels like an apology and an explanation to fans as he sings about the pressure he’s felt and his new outlook on life. “Life Is Worth Living” and “Purpose” are both emotional ballads as a piano accompanies Bieber vocals with lyrics about what gives him inspiration and direction. The title track feels like a sweet thank you to either a former lover or to God for ‘giving him purpose.’ He begins speaking at the end of the song about how mistakes are bound to happen but that it is important to make the best of what you have been given.

Despite feeling like many of his songs are an apology, which “Sorry” is the perfect example, there are  many lyrics about redemption and forgiveness. “All In It,” where he sings about seizing the moment and giving it your all, is a departure from the Bieber who typically sang about his relationships with women.
Don’t fret, the classic Bieber is still evident in songs like “Company,” “Been You,” and “Get Used To It” which all have very pop sounds as he sings about girls just as he always has. However, this new album shows a new side to Bieber that feels like a step in the right direction.

One Direction

One Direction may be one member down but they are stronger than ever. With a more mature sound, Made In The A.M. manages to keep the band’s boyish charm while proving that even though this is their fifth album, they are not wearing down.
What is most striking about this album is how relatable it is. “A.M” will make anyone think of simple times with family and friends making memories in the early hours of the morning, and having deep conversations that stick with you.

Refreshingly, One Direction has written such positive and caring songs about the women they admire. With so much smutty music that objectifies women, it is nice to hear the boys’ songs like “Hey Angel,” “I Want To Write You A Song,” and “What A Feeling,” that talk about hopeful romance and adoration in a positive, clean way.

The album hits every boyband trope, from classic goodbye songs to upbeat tunes that make you hope Harry Styles will jump out and take you by the hand. “Never Enough” is one of these quirky songs on the albums that starts with an a acapella rhythm and has an adorably cheesy upbeat feel. However, the album also has powerful ballads like “If I Could Fly” and “Love You Goodbye,” which has a gorgeous arrangement of piano and strings.
Each song has strong lyrics that are so sincere that this album has proven to be another great accomplishment for One Direction.

Verdict

While Bieber has created a great album with many different styles, there may be too many genres on the tracklist. He is very talented and from the sounds of Purpose he is passionate about moving forward with his career and the world will see where he goes with it. However, despite losing Zayn Malik, the boys of One Direction have made an incredible album that may be their best yet. They have most definitely found their niche and more than excel at what they do. Made In The A.M. will steal anyone’s heart with their relatable songs and comforting sounds.