For You | Selena Gomez

★★★☆☆

At only twenty-two years old and only one solo album under her name, Selena Gomez seems a tad too young to already be producing a greatest hits compilation, but that is exactly what the "Come & Get It" singer has done. Containing songs from both her fresh solo career and material made in collaboration with Selena Gomez & The Scene, For You is a fifteen-track set that marks the end of the road for Gomez's contract with Hollywood Records. It is rumored that this album was purposely rushed for release in order for a new contract to be penned between Gomez and Universal Music Group's Interscope Records. If true, this was a very wise choice for the behind-the-scenes workings of Gomez's musical career while remaining a seemingly foolish situation to general listeners.

The news of the album's release came out of left field, paired with the release of the single "The Heart Wants What It Wants." The single, which targets Gomez's rocky relationship with Canadian artist Justin Bieber, debuted early this month alongside an emotional video that is still no competition to the misty-eyed Gomez performing the song in an intimate setting at this year's American Music Awards. Besides "Heart Wants," listeners get a few other tracks that are new to the album, which is otherwise filled with hits like "Who Says" and "Love You Like a Love Song." Included on For You is a remastered edit of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez's tropical "Bidi Bidi Bom Bom" with newly-recorded duet vocals from Selena Gomez, who was named after the late Latin singer. The track was previously recorded for inclusion on Quintanilla-Pérez's posthumous album, Enamorada de Ti. Also on lighthearted notes, "Do It" channels Fifth Harmony and Cher Lloyd with a heavy pop instrumental and bratty, auto-tuned vocals and "My Dilemma 2.0" is a small re-work of the track of the same name from When the Sun Goes Down. 

The new tracks on this album are sufficient and "The Heart Wants What It Wants" is arguably one of the most heartfelt and impressive tracks from Gomez to date. Elsewhere, the 'greatest hits' line-up is on-par with what should be on the album, from the mega-hit "Come & Get It" from Gomez's solo debut to songs like "Naturally" and "Round & Round" that helped her build a career with the Scene. While it still seems too early for a compilation package from Selena Gomez, the reasoning behind the release is undeniably wise. To place importance on this album's timing and meaning, a quote from writer T.S. Eliot has been printed in the album's acknowledgements: "For last year's words belong to last year's language. And next year's words await another voice. And to make an end is to make a new beginning. What we call the beginning is often the end." Could she be referring to a new voice next year or will this new beginning actually be the end of her musical career for now? We'll soon see.

For You is out now under Hollywood Records.