Justin Bieber's new album is excellent PR damage control. It's also his best music in years.

Justin Bieber with his son, Jack Blues Bieber, in a press photo for "Swag."

Renell Medrano

• Justin Bieber released a surprise new album, "Swag," amid recent public scrutiny.
• Via spoken-word interludes, Bieber addresses his social media posts and run-ins with paparazzi.
• The album succeeds in shifting focus away from Bieber's antics and back toward his artistry.

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