Latest news with #Dijon
Irish Examiner
a day ago
- General
- Irish Examiner
Seafood Made Simple: New potatoes are here — try them in a smoked halibut salad
The first sight of new potatoes immediately dictates what I'll be cooking on my next day off, giddy with excitement to spend an afternoon washing and scrubbing new spuds. Serving them in their skins is non-negotiable, an absolute sin to peel these floury balls of deliciousness. I love it when they're sold loose and you can pick through the soil-coated spuds selecting the perfect size for their intended use. I always find cooking becomes much simpler in the summer months, with gluts of amazing fruits and vegetables emerging every week. With fresh and seasonal produce dishes tend to require a little less labour. A welcome change this time of year, where even for me, it gets a little harder to stand the heat in the kitchen. The coming of the first new potatoes of 2025 joins a table full of lots of other summer accompaniments. Leaves from the garden with a simple mustard dressing, a tin of Cantabrian anchovies, a dish of summer peas and scallions with a little more butter, sliced gherkins and sauerkraut and an industrial-sized bowl of new spuds in their jackets covered in chopped dill and curly parsley, sea salt flakes, butter and the tiniest dusting of white pepper. For this weekend's recipe I'm using a rather special piece of smoked fish to serve with new potatoes that I had stashed in the freezer some months ago. A thick slice of an upper fillet of halibut, treated with salt, smoke and care by my good pal and oceanic sensei Sally Barnes from her Woodcock Smokery in West Cork. This salad would work well too with smoked haddock, pollock, mackerel or trout. The process of bathing the smoked fish in low-temperature butter results in a brilliant transfer of flavour from the fish into the butter, resulting in the most delicious dressing for floury spuds. New potato & smoked fish salad recipe by:Aishling Moore The process of bathing the smoked fish in low-temperature butter results in a brilliant transfer of flavour from the fish into the butter, resulting in the most delicious dressing for floury spuds. Servings 4 Preparation Time 25 mins Cooking Time 22 mins Total Time 47 mins Course Main Ingredients For the salad: 200g smoked fish (halibut, pollock, haddock) 110g unsalted butter 400g new potatoes 2 sprigs of mint Zest of ½ a lemon 4 large eggs 4 little gem lettuces or mixed lettuces 2 sprigs of mint For the dressing: 1tsp Dijon mustard 1tsp apple cider vinegar Juice of 1 lemon 4 tbsp golden rapeseed oil Method Melt the butter in a heavy-based medium pan on medium-low heat before adding the smoked fish skin-side down. Reduce the heat to low and allow the fish to warm through in the butter. Baste the fish with the butter until flaking when pressed, approximately 5 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside. Reserve the now smoky melted butter. Rinse and scrub the new potatoes to remove any dirt. Place in a medium-sized saucepan and fill to cover with cold water. Add the mint sprigs and a generous pinch of salt and lemon zest. Place on a medium-high heat and simmer until tender but still holding their shape, between 10 and 15 minutes depending on the size of the spuds. Drain in a colander and allow to cool slightly before pinching the skin to expose the floury interior. While still warm place in a small bowl and toss with the reserved melted butter to dress and season with sea salt. To cook the boiled eggs, place a small saucepan on the heat and bring to the boil. Gently drop the eggs into the boiling water and cook for 7 minutes. Remove from the heat and plunge into an ice bath to cool immediately. Tap the eggs gently once cooled and peel before quartering. To make the dressing, place all the ingredients in a small clean jar. With the lid on, give the jar a good shake and taste to correct seasoning. Serve on a large serving platter, laying out the potatoes, eggs and lettuce first. Flake over the smoked fish, finish with spoonfuls of dressing and dill. CHEF'S TIPS When warming the smoked fish in butter it's best to keep its skin on. This will help protect the fish from sticking to the base of the pan and make it easier to remove to allow for cooking. If you opt to use an oily fish for the salad, such as smoked mackerel, skip the butter step in the recipe. If you prefer to steam rather than boil your potatoes, include the mint and lemon in the water beneath. They'll subtly flavour the potatoes as they cook. It's important to dress the potatoes when warm to take on the maximum amount of any dressing. Cooled spuds won't take on as much flavour. I like my yolks to be just set and a little fudgy so if you'd prefer a more cooked yolk, go for 10 minutes. Read More Seafood Made Simple: Steamed hake with a fragrant coconut and lemongrass curry
Bangkok Post
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Bangkok Post
Guru's Weekly Buzz: July 18-24
Guru By Bangkok Post's pick of the most exciting products, activities, food and travel to indulge in. EAT InterContinental Bangkok's Espresso is elevating its Premium Seafood Dinner Buffet with the addition of prime Australian Wagyu beef, available until Aug 31. The limited-time promotion brings together the best of land and sea, offering a rotation of MBS 8-9 wagyu topside beef from Margaret River and the famed Sir Harry Citrus fed MBS 6-7 rump cut. Also on show is red wine-braised brisket, local favourites such as beef massaman curry, crying tiger grilled beef and tom saab beef brisket soup. Diners can savour the seasonal beef dishes alongside premium seafood-on-ice and a variety of made-to-order options, including the signature goong ta kai, roasted river prawn with garlic, lemongrass and turmeric. Ventisi Restaurant at Centara Grand at CentralWorld is turning midweek into a moment worth celebrating with the launch of Midweek Social Club – a new Wednesday evening ritual featuring soulful DJ sets, unlimited bites and free-flow drinks. Every Wednesday, diners can enjoy two hours of unlimited indulgence in the evenings. The experience includes a rotating spread of 19 aperitivo-style snacks like deep fried chicken wings, crispy salmon skin tom yum flavour, grilled pork neck nam jim jaew, deep-fried silver fish with tartare sauce, beef satay peanut sauce, French fries and more. Afternoon tea / The Authors' Lounge / Until Aug 31 The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok invites guests to savour the season with its Summer Afternoon Tea, served in the timeless surroundings of The Authors' Lounge until Aug 31. Presented on a book-shaped stand, the Summer Afternoon Tea set draws inspiration from the brightness and delicacy of the season. Sweet selections include a strawberry tartlet sorbet with lemon ginger crèmeux, a rhubarb and jasmine tea flan, an apricot and curry tartlet with a subtle spiced note, a cherry amaretto Danish and warm traditional scones. The savoury collection offers prawn cocktail with tobiko caviar and orange gel on fennel seed toast; smoked salmon rillette with piment d'Espelette cream and dill on crisp toast; Coronation chicken with apricot gel on yellow curry bread; summer truffle and cream cheese on black toast; and turkey ham with Comté and Dijon mayonnaise on pumpernickel. Seasonal dim sum / Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant / Until Sept 30 Discover the season's finest handcrafted dim sum at Shang Palace Chinese Restaurant at the Shangri-La Bangkok. The dim sum chef has unveiled a curated selection of seasonal creations like deep-fried crab claw rolls topped with wasabi cream sauce, steamed fish stuffed with minced shrimp, shrimp balls stuffed with truffle served in fragrant curry sauce and deep-fried sweet taro coated in almond slices. Available until Sept 30. Spanish buffet / Uno Mas Uno Mas is turning up the flavour with a new weekend lunch buffet, crafted by the restaurant's new chef de cuisine, Borja Terry Borrego. The buffet opens with a selection of cold appetisers, from tuna and crab tartare to seafood and octopus salads, silky salmon belly and a delicately layered smoked salmon mille-feuille. Moving on to the hot dishes, diners can enjoy Galician-style sea bass, grilled Iberian pork loin, pan-seared duck breast, and hearty specialities like black ink baby squid, gambas pil-pil and oxtail bocadillo. Comforting favourites such as beef tartare, mixed croquettes, juicy lamb chops, gnocchi, and pan-seared salmon round out the savoury offerings. End on a sweet note with a range of Spanish desserts such as Basque cheesecake, brazo gitano, Pantxineta, and golden churros with rich chocolate sauce. Thai at home / Benjarong / Until Aug 31 Benjarong at Baan Dusit Thani, is making it easier for you to enjoy its signature royal Thai cuisine with the launch of "Thai Flavours To Go", a curated multi-tiered tiffin carrier filled with Benjarong's all-star dishes made from time-honoured recipes. Choose from two sets. Jatu Ra Ros is a four-tier set for one to two persons, featuring highlights such as deep-cut mangosteen salad), deep-fried seabass with three-flavour sauce, chicken green curry, organic jasmine rice and herbal fruit tea. Benja-Praneet is a five-tier indulgence featuring aromantic slow-cooked duck leg curry, stir-fried melinjo leaves with egg (bai liang phad kai), grilled river prawns with tamarind sauce, taro dumplings in coconut milk, organic jasmine rice and herbal fruit tea. Available for takeaway until Aug 31. Placing your order one day in advance with Baan Dusit Thani is required. New menu items / Shake Shack Shake Shack is giving burger buffs two doses of delicious news. Early birds and seasoned travellers can now enjoy a breakfast menu at its new Suvarnabhumi Airport branch. At the same time, the fan-favourite BBQ ShackMeister makes its return. Suvarnabhumi Airport's Shake Shack in is on the 4th floor of International Departures Terminal. This 24-hour Shack offers the breakfast menu from 5-11am. They are Egg 'N' cheese (a comfort combo of griddled egg and American cheese), Arugula egg 'n' cheese (griddled egg, Cheddar, crisp arugula and signature breakfast sauce), Bacon egg 'n' cheese (griddled egg, American cheese and jackfruit wood-smoked bacon), Sausage egg 'n' cheese (griddled egg, American cheese and pork sausage), Wake up Shack (griddled egg, jackfruit wood-smoked bacon, American cheese, crispy breakfast tots and Shack breakfast sauce) and Breakfast tots (crispy potatoes with Shack breakfast sauce). The new branch also introduces Shake Shack coffee for the first time. Hot and iced coffee brewed from Lanna First Mist, a 100% Thai Arabica dark roast sourced from the mountains in Chiang Rai, offers dark chocolate and nutty undertones. In celebration of its opening, the airport branch will offer complimentary inhaler and a limited-edition luggage tag, available while supplies last, for customers who meet purchase conditions. BBQ ShackMeister is also available at Central World, EmSphere, One Bangkok and Mega Bangna for a limited time. This return also includes applewood-smoked pork patty, firstly introduced to the Thai market through Shake Shack collaboration with chef Pam of Potong. Until Sept 7, you can enjoy BBQ ShackMeister, BBQ ShackMeister pork, BBQ chicken shack and BBQ bacon cheese fries. Wash them down with a Pistachio shake or Tangerine lemonade. The former drink is available until Sept 30 while the latter is available until Sept 5. STAY Cultural wonders / Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town / Until Sept 28 Courtyard by Marriott Phuket Town has unveiled a new package that lets guests uncover the many wonders of the island's heritage-rich old town, and then unwind in comfort and style after an inspiring day of discovery. Under the 'Phuket Town Retreat' package, travellers can kickstart their morning with a hearty and healthy breakfast at Krua Talad Yai after which they will experience Phuket Town's iconic attractions. Upon return a self-care kit, including a foot massage stick, a foot sock mask and an herbal sachet for a foot bath will be handed to them. There's a lot more on offer like one free drink per person per stay and a 15% discount on food and drinks. Available until Sept 28. Burnout cure / 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok / Until May 31, 2026 137 Pillars Suites & Residences Bangkok's new immersive "Blissful Balance Package" is a three-day, two-night retreat, offerring suites, personal butler service, spa treatments, bath therapy and sleep enhancements. Guests can unwind with daily sundowner drinks, enjoy privileges at the Baan Borneo Club and access the rooftop swimming pool, open 24 hours. They can choose between the Nitra Raya Signature or Nitra Ultimate Glow, or choose from a selection of in-suite bath therapies. There's yoga and meditation sessions, alongwith a selection of wholesome cuisine, paired with a healthy drink and natural mineral water, served once per stay at Bangkok Trading Post. Turn-down amenities include a probiotic drink and a mixed berry selection, signature pillow mist and a Koon calming essential oil. Available till May 31, 2026. JOIN International pop-up / Must Wine Bar x Nep! Wine Bar / July 23 Must Wine Bar will host its first international pop-up featuring a one-night-only collaboration with Nep! Wine Bar from Penang, Malaysia on July 23. The evening will showcase a nine-course tasting menu with an optional five-course natural wine pairing. Seats are limited. Tequila day / The St. Regis Bar / July 20 The St. Regis Bar will celebrate "International Tequila Day" at the July edition of "Cocktails, Tapas, and Friends", a lively Sunday social that returns with a bold Mexican twist on July 20. This festive gathering features exclusive tequila-based cocktails from three bars: Iron Balls — The Parlour, La Copita and The St. Regis Bar. The lineup of cocktails includes Lychee Protocol, The Parlour, and Frozen Margarita. Complementing the cocktails will be Mexican-inspired tapas by chef Diego Zarco and chef Alonso Zarate, and live music by DJ Dennis. Eight-hands dinner / Tambu x Suay x Khaan x Avant / July 24 Top25 Restaurants, the world's first AI-powered dining guide, has joined forces with Tambu, for the "City & Island: 8-Hands Dinner" on July 24. The dinner unites Bangkok restaurants with Phuket's rising stars. Set beneath the canopy of Tambu's Mughal-inspired rooftop tented palace, the line-up includes chef Saurabh Sachdeva of Tambu, chef Tammasak "Noi" Chootong of Suay, chef Sujira "Aom" Pongmorn of Khaan and chef Haikal Johari of Avant. Mediterranean flavour / Viu / July 29 A curated Chardonnay dinner will be held at Viu on July 29, with five courses of fresh, summer-inspired Mediterranean cuisine. Each course will be paired with Chardonnay from France, Austria and Spain from Must Wine Bar. Pairing takeover / Nothing Sacred x F*nkytown / July 18-19 Sacred Funk is a two-night sensory collaboration between Nothing Sacred and F*nkytown on July 18-19. Expect a playful collision of ferments, funk and flavour as Nothing Sacred brings their signature seafood-forward 10-course menu rooted in Thai ingredients and Japanese techniques, while F*nkytown pairs each dish with funky, fermentation-driven cocktails. Set in Nothing Sacred's intimate chef's counter and sound lab, the dinner party will have a custom soundtrack. Sake harmony / Kisara / July 31 KiSara at the Conrad Bangkok will host a "Sake Pairing Dinner" on July 31. Diners can enjoy a six-course culinary journey, where each dish is paired with premium sake selections. Solo exhibition / Iconsiam / Until Aug 3 The first-ever full-scale solo exhibition by Udom Taephanich aka Note Udom is on display at Iconsiam. "Lost In Domland" takes over 3,500m² at The Pinnacle and features more than 1,000 multidisciplinary works from paintings and sculptures to installations and multimedia art. There are 16 zones, showcasing a diverse array of artistic disciplines born from the vivid imagination of Thailand's beloved storyteller and artist. Highlights include Udom's earliest works to iconic pieces from his 13th stand-up comedy show. The exhibition is until Aug 3. Stone serenity / Chi, The Spa Elevate your self-care ritual with the 60-minute Thermotherapy Massage with Golden Mask. Warmed stones gently release deep-seated tension. While a radiant golden mask delivers intense hydration and a luminous finish to your skin. Available to Sept 30 and enjoy a complimentary 15-minute back massage extension. First summer party / Zuma / July 25 Zuma is about to launch its first-ever summer party on July 25 from 10pm-2am. Set against the vibrant backdrop of Zuma Bangkok's terrace, this inaugural event promises an unforgettable evening filled with dance performances, a mesmerising fire performance by Revolution, and electrifying live music by its resident DJ, violinist and percussionist. General admission ticket includes three signature cocktails. The dress code for the evening is blue and white so show up accordingly. New spa / Slowcombo Jeevazen Spa has opened in Slowcombo. Discover a new standard of sustainable self-care with the signature Balinese massage, blending the wisdom of Indian ayurveda, Chinese acupressure, and traditional Southeast Asian techniques. The opening promotion is an Office Syndrome Massage that comes with a free 30-minute foot massage. New designs / Alexander Lamont British designer Alexander Lamont has launched the Tor side table in natural speckle shagreen, a Malham cocktail table in Egyptian blue, Malham Spot Tables, Tor side tables in umber verdigree with Galea lantern in rock crystal and an Ondas side table in burnished metals straw. The XXV Spring collection offers pieces that are precise in detail, tone and craft, each one appearing to be hewn from shagreen, parchment, richly pigmented straw like architectural remnants or modern blocks that flower into cabinets and credenzas, side tables and lounge chairs, lamps and wall sconces. Artistic collab / Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc x Fred Allard The Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc has announced an artistic partnership with contemporary French artist Fred Allard. Blending timeless elegance with modern creative expression, the collab unveils a unique capsule collection inspired by the soul of the legendary Riviera destination and Allard's distinctive artistic vision. The Signature Collection, features Allard's iconic Paper Bags. A line of Collectibles, artistic objects designed to be taken home as keepsakes. Each piece is infused with the hotel's unique identity, drawing inspiration from its colour palette and graphic universe. The hotel has also launched their third collaborative capsule collection with Sporty & Rich, reinterpreting the hotel's luxury wardrobe. The collection is designed for sunny days by the pool, time on the tennis court and relaxed moments around the hotel. From soft terry polos and crisp shirts to lightweight cotton fleeces and refined accessories, each piece carries the timeless elegance of the French Riviera into every generation. Four brands / Minor Hotels Minor Hotels has announced the strategic expansion of its brand portfolio with the addition of four new hotel brands, including the group's first soft brands. The new brands include, The Wolseley Hotels is a luxury brand that blends British elegance with European flair and global influence; the Minor Reserve Collection is for travellers who seek stays that celebrate personal expression and refined distinction; the Colbert Collection is a soft brand in the premium segment, will encompass a global collection of independent hotels; and iStay Hotels, a select segment brand that offers stays that are fun and affordable. The brands join the existing portfolio of hotel brands, which are Anantara, Elewana Collection, Tivoli, NH Collection, Avani, nhow, NH and Oaks. New hotels / Hyatt Hyatt Hotels recently announced plans to expand Hyatt's luxury and lifestyle brand portfolios across Asia Pacific, with some 90 properties expected to open over the next five years. This includes the debut of the Thompson Hotels brand alongside expansion for Andaz, The Standard and Park Hyatt brands in Thailand, Malaysia and Australia in 2025 and 2026. Andaz One Bangkok is scheduled to open end of the year. The Standard, Pattaya Na Jomtien is set to open in Q3 this year, featuring a playful, 60s-inspired beach club aesthetic that is equal parts chill and charged. The Park Hyatt brand will make its Malaysian debut with Park Hyatt Kuala Lumpur in August, set atop The Merdeka 118, the tallest skyscraper in Asia Pacific. Its unique Cacao bar, the highest in town, will be the first chocolate-themed bar in the city. Park Hyatt Phu Quoc, the first Park Hyatt resort in Vietnam, is expected to open in Q1 next year. New features / Apple Watch and AirPods Pro 2 Apple Watch delivers new sleep apnea notifications and the AirPods Pro 2 provide a hearing health experience, including a clinical-grade, over-the-counter Hearing Aid feature to users in Thailand. Breathing Disturbances is a new Apple Watch metric that uses the accelerometer to detect small movements at the wrist associated with interruptions to normal respiratory patterns during sleep. Every 30 days, Apple Watch will analyse breathing disturbance data and notify users. Apple is also introducing a clinical-grade hearing test based on the standard clinical approach called pure-tone audiometry that users can take in five minutes with their AirPods Pro 2 and a compatible iPhone or iPad. Once the test is completed, users will see an easy-to-understand summary of their results. The AirPods Pro 2 has also added an over-the-counter Hearing Aid capability for users with mild to moderate hearing loss.
Express Tribune
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
How Hailey Bieber shaped Justin Bieber's ‘Swag' album amid split rumors
Justin Bieber shocked fans with the surprise release of his seventh studio album, Swag, on July 11, 2025—his first since 2021. The album arrives amid swirling rumors about his marriage to Hailey Bieber, their new baby, and his split from longtime manager Scooter Braun. According to sources close to the couple, Hailey had a major role behind the scenes of Swag, helping shape what insiders are calling Justin's 'most creatively free' album yet. While many headlines in the past year focused on tension in their marriage, a source told People that Hailey was deeply involved during the album's creation. 'Everyone knows Justin as a performer. They now get to know the artist Hailey has always known,' the insider said. The couple recently welcomed their son, Jack Blues, making Swag a milestone in both their personal and professional lives. Hailey reportedly encouraged Justin to trust his instincts and speak his truth. The emotional track 'WALKING AWAY,' which directly addresses marital struggles with lyrics about 'growing pains' and promises not to leave, has sparked speculation about their relationship status. Yet sources emphasize Hailey's unwavering support. Beyond personal lyrics, the album also features Justin sampling viral moments like his 'standing on business' paparazzi quote, giving Swag both cultural weight and emotional depth. With features from Sexyy Red, Druski, and Dijon, and praise from critics like Rolling Stone, Swag is a bold new chapter—both musically and personally—for Justin Bieber.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Justin Bieber Proves He's More Than OK on the Genuinely Pretty Great ‘Swag'
Just in case it's not clocking to you, Justin Bieber is so standing on business right now. The pop superstar is back with his excellent new surprise album Swag, a comeback he announced only hours before it dropped. It's been four years since we've gotten new music from Bieber, and he's got a lot to say, since he's been through it in recent years. It's got slick R&B, raw voice-memo rock-guitar sketches, experimental collabos with and Dijon. He throws down with Cash Cobain, Gunna, and Sexyy Red. Yet it's all him, as he chronicles the day-to-day struggles of Bieberhood. Bieber's last album was his 2021 Justice, a star-studded breakthrough spawning the hit 'Peaches,' the most sensual tribute to the erotics of fruit since Harry Styles' 'Watermelon Sugar' and 'Cherry.' But at 31, he's taking stock of his adult life. He spends Swag addressing his tribulations, whether personal or business. As you may have heard, this guy's had some issues lately — becoming a dad, cancelling a massive tour to attend to mental health concerns, well-publicized altercations with the paparazzi, chaotic smoke-and-post social media rants, gossip about his marriage, de-Scootifying his business life. More from Rolling Stone Justin Bieber Finally Had '100% Creative Freedom' on 'Swag' After Scooter Braun Split: Source Justin Bieber, Blackpink, Tyla, and All the Songs You Need to Know This Week Justin Bieber Addresses Rumors of Marriage Struggles on New Album 'Swag': 'I Ain't Walking Away' There is so much healing going on in this album, it's no surprise Bieber includes three different 'therapy sessions' with the comedian Druski, getting up close and personal about his life. 'That's been a tough thing for me recently, is feeling like I have had to go through a lot of my struggles as a human, as all of us do, really publicly,' he confides. 'And so people are always asking if I'm OK, and that starts to really weigh on me.' That takes a toll. 'It starts to make me feel like I'm the one with issues and everyone else is perfect.' But if he's looking to answer all the 'what the hell's happening to this guy?' headlines, he couldn't do much better than Swag, because the musical energy and imagination here is Bieber at his most confident. Serious question: Has he ever done as a song as appealing as 'Butterflies'? A song this open-hearted, this melodic, this effusive, with a bittersweet R&B tune and pop uplift, plus a quivering guitar hook that comes straight from (of all people) the Smashing Pumpkins? Swag isn't just Bieber out to prove he's doing OK — he's out to top himself. He covers so much ground here musically, with the R&B-pop glitz of 'All I Can Take' and 'Go Baby,' but also lo-fi acoustic demos. He works with ace producers like Carter Lang, Eddie Benjamin, and Tobias Jesso Jr., with a woozy Eighties R&B vibe. (Bieber, like the rest of us, has clearly been dangerously obsessed with SZA's SOS.) Some of the 'therapy sessions' might hit the cringe button, but then, so do yours, probably. Druski shouldn't even bother applying for his therapist license, since his approach to counseling is to keep offering the patient a hit on some dubious cigar while cracking jokes. He assures Bieber, 'Your skin white, but your soul Black, Justin. I promise you, man.' But he also clowns him about the infamous clip where he yells 'I'm standing on business' at the paparrazzi. ('You can't pronunciate every word when you doing that!') 'Sweet Spot' is a slightly different kind of therapy session, where Bieber informs Sexyy Red, 'I like it sticky between the sheets.' These two explore a little sexual healing for a freaky slow jam. 'At first I was shy, but I'm a dog when I be in them sheets,' she raps. (Wait, when exactly was Sexyy Red's shy era? Did we just miss that?) 'That's my G-spot, he make my coochie pop/I'm a changed woman, used to be a thot-thot/That's my boyfriend, I love him a lot.' Bieber spends a lot of time here singing about hanging onto his wife Hailey, with the pensive 'Walking Away.' 'Girl, we better stop before we say some shit,' he sings, in a genuinely wise lightbulb moment. 'We've been testing our patience/I think we're better off if we just take a break and remember what grace is.' He's making sure nobody doubts his commitment to being a husband and dad. 'Go Baby' gives Hailey a pep talk, especially impressed by the fact that she built a lucrative beauty brand around a phone case. He sings, 'That's my baby, she's iconic/iPhone case, lipgloss on it.' He celebrates fatherhood with 'Dadz Love,' teaming up with the most based of gods, Lil B. They turn it into a universal we-are-family anthem, as Lil B urges, 'We need more people to get together.' 'Devotion' is a Dijon collaboration that goes even beyond what you'd hope: even warmer, more uplifting, more understatedly gorgeous, with discreet echoes of pedal-steel guitar over the country-soul harmonies. Along with 'Butterflies,' it's the most immediately embraceable track on Swag. 'Daisies' teams up with for a Phil Collins-style mid-Eighties synth-pop bop with distorted beats and Mr. Mister-style guitar, the kind of retro shopping-mall trip that makes you picture Toto listening to wild dogs cry out in the night. But some of the best moments on Swag come when he leaves the pop production behind and goes lo-fi. 'Zuma House' is a stripped-down acoustic-guitar ballad in the mode of Neil Young's Hitchhiker, 83 seconds of raw beauty, while 'Glory Voice Memo' is a bluesy micro-jam; both tracks sound like they got recorded on a phone and just uploaded straight to the album. 'Yukon' is a slightly glossier version, with chipmunked vocals aiming for the Prince effect of Camille-era classics like 'If I Was Your Girlfriend.' For the big finale, he gets his praise on for Jesus in 'Forgiveness,' with gospel star and pastor Marvin Wayans. Swag definitely makes it clear that Bieber's got issues — his issues have issues. But he channels it all into some of the most genuinely creative and wide-ranging music of his life. 'You can't spread your wings in a bird cage,' as he sings in 'First Place.' But all over Swag, he's taking flight. Best of Rolling Stone Sly and the Family Stone: 20 Essential Songs The 50 Greatest Eminem Songs All 274 of Taylor Swift's Songs, Ranked
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First Post
7 days ago
- Entertainment
- First Post
Justin Bieber releases 'Swag,' his long-awaited seventh album: Hear the best songs
'Inspired by his devotion as a husband and father, this new era of music has fueled a deeper perspective and more reflective sound, resulting in some of his most personal music yet,' Def Jam Recordings said of the 21-track album read more Never say never! Justin Bieber surprised fans Friday by releasing 'Swag,' his seventh studio album, hours after he teased it on billboards and social media posts. It is his first album since 2021's 'Justice' and his first since becoming a father last year. 'Inspired by his devotion as a husband and father, this new era of music has fueled a deeper perspective and more reflective sound, resulting in some of his most personal music yet,' Def Jam Recordings said of the 21-track album. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD Billboards depicting Bieber were found by fans Thursday in Reykjavik, Iceland, and Los Angeles. The singer also shared images of billboards on his official Instagram account along with a tracklist that included song names like 'All I Can Take,' 'Walking Away,' 'Dadz Love' and 'Forgiveness.' Recommendations for an intimate new album There's a lot to love across the 21-tracks of the intimate 'Swag.' Here are a few choice cuts. 1. 'Daises' — The second track on the album may very well be its strongest; an exemplar in Bieber's slow-burn brand of alternative R&B-pop, now anchored with lo-fi guitar. Here, his sweet voice is pronounced — exactly what his most dedicated fans want to hear. 2. 'Devotion' ft. Dijon — Dijon is a rising R&B voice; some fans might be familiar with his 2021 debut album 'Absolutely' or his contribution to Bon Iver's'SABLE, fABLE' from earlier this year. He makes for a standout collaboration on 'Swag,' a sweet song about deepening affection. 3. 'Go Baby' - Bieber married the model Hailey Bieber (nee Baldwin) in 2018; she's long been source material for his most loving tracks. 'Go Baby' is a standout for that reason. 'That's my baby, she's iconic,' he opens the track, 'iPhone case, lip gloss on it,' referencing her Rhode skincare and beauty brand, which sold to Elf Beauty in a $1 billion deal. STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD 4. 'Walking Away' - Marriage isn't easy; that's clear on 'Walking Away,' a slightly-more-uptempo track where Bieber makes his dedication evident. It's the perfect song for dancing in the kitchen with your partner. Bieber before 'Swag' Bieber, the two-time Grammy Award winning singer and Canadian pop idol who revolutionized teen pop and social media fame, is best known for his silky R&B pop lyric tenor, demonstrated on the diamond-selling 'Baby,' 'Sorry,' and 'Stay' with the Kid Laroi. At the beginning of his career, and as a tween, Bieber began working with Usher and the influential music manager Scooter Braun. In 2023, Bieber sold the rights to his music — all six of his albums, including hits like 'Sorry' and 'Baby' — to Hipgnosis, a U.K-based music investment company. The deal's financial details were not disclosed, but Billboard Magazine reports that the sale was worth an estimated $200 million. In August 2024, Justin and Hailey Bieber announced the birth of their first child, Jack Blues Bieber.
