"Unplugged" albums work like dares: Can you strip away all the echo, overdubs, sound effects, and auto-tuners and still create something catchy and robust? Not only do the best ones achieve that, they go one step further, taking us closer to the core of the singer and the song.
Bieber has based almost as much of his career on the auto-tuned hooks of his voice as he has on his floppy hair. Lambert shot to fame specifically on his love for volume and overkill.
As it turns out, Bieber's ostensibly stripped album is about as acoustic as a Slayer CD. There's nearly as glossy a treatment of his voice here as in the studio. Also, the disc includes an electric bass, a full drum kit, and synths galore. They just shoved a crinkly acoustic guitar in front for show.
Bieber has been understandably defensive about the manipulation of his voice. On his last tour he performed several solo acoustic songs to argue his chops. Unfortunately, only one of those made it here ("Favorite Girl"), and it's terrific. It seems Bieber's voice has more character, and flexibility, without all the vocal helper. Too bad his peeps didn't trust that would be enough.
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