Never Say Never: The Remixes

Recording information: Casa Mafia, Los Angeles, CA (08/31/2010); Electric Lady Studios, New York, NY (08/31/2010); Germano Studios, New York, NY (08/31/2010); Icon Studios, Atlanta, GA (08/31/2010); Jan Smith Studios, Atlanta, GA (08/31/2010); Madison Square Garden, New York, NY (08/31/2010); NH Studios, North Hollywood, CA (08/31/2010); Short Bus Studios, North Hollywood, CA (08/31/2010); Soundsquare, Prague (08/31/2010); Triangle Sound Studios, Atlanta, GA (08/31/2010).
Photographers: Pamela Littky; Carin Morris.
Never Say Never: The Remixes was released a few days after the documentary Justin Bieber: Never Say Never hit movie screens. It's less an album of remixes and much more like a brief collection of alternate versions designed to maximize Bieber's appeal across genres, with appearances from major R&B, rap, country, and pop artists. The title song was originally featured in the 2010 remake of The Karate Kid and features guest MC'ing from the movie's star, Jaden Smith (nearly a dead ringer for Kriss Kross' Mack Daddy, as some parents might notice). The ballad "That Should Be Me" gets an unsurprisingly natural-sounding country overhaul with Rascal Flatts. Chris Brown is added as a background vocalist to "Up"; otherwise, the song is identical to the original version on My World 2.0. A "live" version of "Overboard" is a duet with Miley Cyrus. There's one new song, a lukewarm inspirational ballad. Overall, the release won't add much to a Bieber fan's collection, unless it develops into a gateway to the rich discography of Raekwon, who appears with Kanye West on "Runaway Love." ~ Andy Kellman