♫ Album Review: Usher – Here I Stand ♫
After 4 years, Usher finally emerges from the success of Confessions, as well as a new marriage and his first born child, to release a brand new album, titled Here I Stand, which hits stores this Tuesday.
I have to admit, there had been a few tracks to leak, but not to severely peek my interest. My initial thoughts were that Usher and his label were stalling because he was unable to come up with some material that could trump the hugely successful Confessions, which was covered in controversy (he and Chilli had a very public relationship, not to mention break-up) and littered with bunches of wonderful material. Then, a Rich Harrison-produced track, featuring one of Usher’s favorite collaborators, Ludacris surfaced and my confidence was restored, however I was let down when I found out the song would not be the first single, and later that it wouldn’t even appear on the album.
It took me a minute to become acquainted with Usher’s first single choice, the Polow Da Don-produced and Jeezy-featured, “♫ Love In This Club,” but I soon caught on, especially after the remix, featuring Beyonce and fan favorite, Lil’ Wayne. The flame of interest was rekindled and songs started to leak.
Honestly, I wasn’t impressed at first – but the album grew on me as I listened more. Here I Stand is actually a pretty solid effort in its entirety, considering the success and greatness of Confessions, tapping producers Bryan-Michael Cox, Dre & Vidal, Danjahandz, Stargate and Jermaine Dupri to helm most of the project. With cameos from Jay-Z, Young Jeezy and Will.I.Am, to name a few, the new album has its moments where vocally and musically, I’m brought back to Confessions (check out “Trading Places” and the Jay-Z featured “Best Thing”). Stand-out tracks include the afore mentioned, as well as the Danja-produced “Appetite.”
Check out Usher on MySpace and make sure you pick up your copy of his new album, Here I Stand on the 27th of May!
I love the CD!
when usher did confessions i knew that that album would be the best he would ever do. and my prediction was correct. he had all this time off to do this wack song. all of them sound the same to me. i only like love in this club remix and the one with jay-z other than that i’m not wasting my hard working money on a non classic music. sorry usher : (
lol I have read majority of these comments and the defensive comments regarding this album cracked me up. Some say “you gotta be in a relationship to understand the album” and some say”y’all can’t relate to this album because he was single on the rest of his albums”LMAO. That’s bullshit. I was a fan of Usher’s for awhile.
“My Way” Usher was becoming a man and he was single and immature on that album. However he was young then. “8701″ and “Confessions” he was in a relationship with Chilli. So that arugment of us not liking this album because he was single then is not true. Oh yeah people not liking Usher’s album because of his new wife because she is dark skin and she is not hollywood beauty is false. If Tameka was beautiful and had a bad reputation before marrying Usher and having his baby people would’ve still hated her especially if she was a non black. Usher has always been opened and has always used his relationship to garner attention for his albums. Especially witrh “8701″ and “Confessions”. Which both dealth with Chilli. So people need to go on with their bullshit excuses on this terrible album. The production and writing was lazy and Usher was always on point with it. This time he slacked off and he took a 4 year hiatus from “Confessions” and it still was bad lol maybe next time Usher.
Wow… I LOVE this CD… Mature… sounds like where he is in his life right now. Im actually stunned by the negative comments in here… But then again, Im 35… aint trynna spend the night dancing to Yeah in da cluh…
I will say that Im another one of those folx who thought 8701 was better than Confessions. I still dont see what all the hype was over that CD…
It’s over! This CD is the nail in the damn coffin…….
Ok, someone could easily get discouraged by most of these comments, lol but I still checked it out and its pretty good, different yes but I still enjoyed most of the tracks it is really not that bad… My favs so far are Best thing with Jay, Appetite, Trading places, Love you gently and Im lovin Echo (not on the album), His mistakes is also nice…
Really dnt kno what his marriage or the lack of ‘club bangers’ has to do with anything…
This CD is fiyah…i don’t know what yall talking bout i love this CD. Real Music is on it’s way back. This Cd shows how much he has grown the past 4 years. I have this on repeat!!!! I’m telling yall go cop it!!!! it’s fiyah!!!!
Most everyone has had a chance to listen to the album…and I personally won’t be wasting any money on it. Everyone says that his personal life should be left out of the equation, but apparently it has had a negetive effect on the quality of his music. This is not the music we expect from a vet in the game.
Man i love the album. i jus got it this morning and i cant stop listening to it.
Well, it’s cool to me. I too, am lost in the negative comments from the same folks who supported Letoya Luckett (and then didn’t even buy the record.) I am also one of the ones shaking my head over the reverence for “Confessions.” Great CD, but not a classic joint for all time. I’d give R.Kelly more credit for that, if we’re talking R&B albums in the last ten years. Usher sounds like what he is – grown. Can’t he change it up? But given the source, I’d say it’s just like what Beyonce experienced on “B’Day.” CL folks hated the uptempo change-up and wanted her to make “DIL2.” But she still sold. I expect Usher will probably do the same. As with “B’Day” the album has also been well received by critics. But Soundscan will tell the tale!
I don’t know about this review Brian. If anyone is interested Donkey Sip did a review of each song.
http://donkeysip.com/
Oh my this cd is soooo good I love it. People keep talking about Confessions and if the cd had sound any thing like Confessions yall would be complaining.
It is truly a move forward. Go Usher!
sounding goood usher!
I’m very disappointed in this cd and I was hoping that it would pick-up were Confessions left off. I only really like a couple of songs.
Just the other day I was listenting more like jamm’in to “Confessions”, eager to here the new album. Sad to say I was not that impressed. I guess Usher is in a different point in his life and that’s cool, so I’ll give it another before I give it away.
P.S. It’s all the Man’s (Tameka) fault ! LMAO
I am a HUGE HUGE USHER fan and I have to say that this cd is just ok. There are a few songs that I like, for example Here I Stand is a really nice song, very heartwrenching and emotional. I will have to continue to listen to it to make it grow on me but it hasn’t just got me wrapped like Confessions did and I know artist try to do different thigs but really the cd is just ok. He’ll get hits off of it because he’s Usher and people love him. There is a lot of growth and maturity and you can tell that Tameka has really changed him. I’m glad he has someone to love but I just didn’t want to hear about it on just about every damn ballad on the cd. BUT, I still love me some Usher!
This album sucks, don’t waste your dollars like I did. I want my money back.
What a waste of 12 bucks.
I GUESS I’LL HAVE TO LISTEN TO THE CD FOR MYSELF CAUSE MOST OF YALL ARE COMPARING THIS TO HIS PAST CD’S AND AS A ARTIST NONE OF THEM ARE NOT GOING TO SOUND THE SAME. HE CAME OUT WITH CONFESSIONS 4YEARS AGO. HE IS NOT IN THE SAME PLACE HE’S MARRIED AND HAS A SON.PEOPLE SAY SAY THE SAME ABOUT JAY-Z. THAT MAN IS 37 YEARS OLD HE’S NOT GOING TO RAPPING YOUNG DUMB$HIT ANYMORE. HE HAS MATURED AND YOU CAN HEAR THAT IN HIS LYRICS. BUT THAT GOES FOR ANY ARTIST. .
overall the cd is ok , it’s a mixed bag..the first half is like a timbaland pop record and the 2nd half is confessions allover again…. i would think the fans would eat this up
I LOVED,LOVED,LOVED confessions and its only natural to compare albums just like we compare sequals-its the same person so why not compare their music. its a natural human thing to do.
while i do read the gossip about artists it has nothing to do with whether or not i like their music-i too bumped amy whinehouse and bumped some of britneys tracks (even though the beats were better than the voice). the fact is that none of these songs do it for me. im going to take a listen to some of the other songs and see if they hit me differently but this album just isnt it.
people were talking like the game was gonna be up for all the other artists that rose while ush was outa the game. thats just not so.
he talked about artists “trying to be like him” *as if he is an original* but id much rather listen to their work.
when youre on point, youre on point. when youre not-YOURE NOT.
nothing personal, its business *or in this case, music*
ok,ok,ok. . .
its on my itunes and im going to take another (honest) listen to it.
usually, i know if im into a song after its played for a minute or less, hence my dissappointment with the songs ive heard thus far. sometimes you have to hear an album a couple times before you love it.
we will see what happens.
OMG, will ppl stop comparing this album to Confessions. Like someone said previously, He is a grown a** man. The album is good. I am so glad he hasn’t stooped to a Chris Brown, Omarion level. When he was their age the matrerial they sing about currently was appropriate. He’s married w/ kids now it’s time to grow the hell up!
In a way Im thinking ” How can one top Confessions” is it really possible?
FYI: if it is more than like 4 or 5 good songs on a cd, it”s worth buying!!
why usher why..is like 5 or 6 songs that are good here. painter and his mistakes and you was a big disepinment. but love in the club ans the remix, and apettite trading places, thia aint sex is the best songs
I would call myself Usher’s BIGGEST fan! I’ve been riding with him since he came out when he was 14 years old! I love this album. Although I admit, I had to listen to it a few times for me to really vibe with it! Of course Confessions was a huge hit, the world loves to hear about your problems!!!! Now he’s in love and it’s proven all through out this album! This album to me is just as great as all the rest!
I AM USHER’S BIGGEST FAN!!!! GREAT WORK AGAIN MY BABY!
I agree with # 22….TOTALLY!
I don’t like Tameka either, but I would NEVER deny Usher’s great work because of who he choses to live his life with! Ya’ll HATERS need to stop! THAT’S A WEAK EMOTION!
I watched Usher on 106 yesterday and he has really matured and so will his music. So what it’s not 8701 or confessions it’s not supposed to be people that’s called growth. Who wants to keep making the same thing over and over. He has got a good business head as well. Some people are just harsh and negative. I believe some of the feed back is beacuse he’s married to a woman that some people don’t like, like they know her personally. he’s married to the mother of his child and she isn’t your typical lightskinned or interracial girl. He loves her and hell with what negative people say. It’s just sad that most of this comes from black women. Grow up and be postive people.
Everybody really needs to gauge how far Usher’s life has progressed since “Confessions.” If we pay any attention to these life occurences, (i.e.-Tameka, Cinco, Marriage), we’d realize that this boy has finally grown into manhood; not manhood in the sense of having sex with as many women as possible, but manhood as in putting away childish things.
If you young people favor Chris Brown, go ahead and buy a “boy’s” CD. However, for those rated R people out there, (Mature Audiences), that want to hear a GROWING Usher, a real man…not a confessing, cheating, single, rolling stone, buy this album.
He’s not Robin Thicke, Justin Timberlake, Chris Brown, Ne-Yo, or Trey Songz, he’s Usher, an almost 30 year old GROWN ASS man!
The STRENGTH of this album lies in his desire to seperate himself from what everybody has known him for. I honestly don’t think an album becomes a classic until true musical ambition is incorporated into an album, something Usher really strived to have in this album.
Standout records include: Trading Places, Love You Gently, Best Thing, His Mistakes, Appetite, and Appetite. There are really no BAD songs on the album, maybe some he could’ve done without, but not BAD. Trust me, it’ll grow on you guys if you are anywhere near a fan of music or Usher for that matter.
So I’ve listened to the album 2 times through now and its just not that great.
I’ve been an Usher fan forever and like others couldn’t care less about his
personal life. I’m all about black love. But if that’s what you want to sing about,
then at least make some hot songs about being in love. I love grown people’s music since I am grown my damn self. But hot songs are hot songs regardless of the content.
WHAT! Are you people talking about this is a great album it might not be as fast as the other ones but it has some solid beats, hooks and vocals. I will have to admit, I had to listen to it a couple of times to really start filling it, but unlike most I wait to do that before I made a bogus and premature review. I will name a few songs that go hard Trading Places, Love in the Club, Moving Mountains, Whats your Name, Appetite, Love in the Club remix, Love You Gently, and Before I met You. Now I just named 8 bangers all I am saying is open your mind and listen to the album again this please rewrite your review, also think he getting a little older and has made a little more mature album that anyone one is good taste in music will enjoy!
I’ma stick with my Confessions CD. Got it in the car now! Sorry boo!
Ahhh! Usher’s new cd is okay. I rushed to download it off a website and I was not impressed at all. I know, I know everyone including myself, we are comparing it it to “Confessions” and that may be true but I’ve listened to this whole album, to each song at least 3 times so far and the first time I only like two songs “Love in the Club” and its remix. Now I like “Moving Mountains”, “Trading Places,” This Ain’t Sex” and a couple of more that I can’t name right now.
For those who are looking for a real review–the sound of the album is supposedly grown-up. At least he’s trying to get there, I just feel he hasn’t succeeded just yet. Right now I feel Usher is still in his single phase and now he wants to play grown-up, he is moving too fast for his audience and not giving us a chance to grow with him. I agree with another poster the songs on “Here I Stand” sounds an awful like Justin Timberlake’s style. Not saying that Justin Timberlake’s is better, I’m just seeing some similarities right now. On some songs I’m hearing these great tracks, I’m hearing the bass and I’m nodding my head to it and then the words to the song are all wrong and I’m disappointed because I’m expecting more from Usher’s work. On “Confession” though not overly thought provoking, you were still able to grasp and reflect on what he was singing about. “Here I Stand” is all over the place and like another poster said too many songs about his wife. USHER THE FASTEST WAY TO TURN FEMALE FANS OFF IS BY MENTIONING YOUR MARRIAGE IN ALMOST EVERY SONG.
For those who are diehard Usher fans like myself, I loved “My Way” and “8701″, but of course my absolute favorite is “Confessions.” “Here I Stand” has some good songs. Although first listens don’t leave a good impressions, try listening a couple of more times, you’re guaranteed to like something.
comparisons aside, i agree with another person that talked about the passion–or lack of-on the album. its really not about his personal life that everyone is talking about on almost every entry. regardless of where his previous music came from, the passion was in his voice. his ballads lack the passion and just dont do it for me. like someone else said, its not about him being grown. hell, there are plenty “grown” artists out there making HOT music. this album isnt one of them.
however, it appears to be doing well and i think that has to do with his personal life being so up for debate. if i have to listen to his album 5 times to start feeling it then its really not worth the money.
actually, it reminds me of some stuff that he was working on that got leaked. or, better yet, an album an artist works on and then decides to scrap to start over and make something better.
*artists have done that before and it worked for them*. i smell a rerelease. . .
AND WHY IS IT ‘HATE’ WHEN A PERSON TELLS HOW THEY REALLY FEEL ABOUT SOMETHING. GET A NEW WORD!!!
Lifetime, Appetite, Before I met you .. need I go on? Granted, i don’t like ALL the songs on this cd, I still bought it and I still love it. I don’t really give a damn about Usher’s personal life with his family. I love his music. That’s all that really matters.
I was expecting a little more this time around. The first few listens i didnt care to much for any of the songs, but as i played it over and over, and listened more, it grew on me!! Its blatant he wanted to experiment with new sounds, and it was unique, and somewhat refreshing:) Go USHER:)
Here I Stand shows growth and maturity. I have been a Usher fan since I was 12 years old so my opinion may be a bit biased. But I know music and love good music. I love almost all the songs on the album. “Trading Places” “Love you gently” “Lifetime” “Whats a man to do” “His Mistakes” Man, yall are tripping with these bad reviews cuz Im feeling this shit.
Im all for Usher trying to grow and go to other levels but hot is hot and this albums not!Try different things, but just don’t go too far to the left and lose the fans in the process!
Here I stand is a wonderful album. People have to understand that he is married, and after that when you write about what yo go through, your music speaks for itself. Moving Mountains is a crazy album and some people just can’t relate to the album because they ain’t married and they ain’t in no relationship. Stop comparing Confessions to this album. Confessions was a club banger and usher was in all out playboy. This is what he said and yasl need to take note.
” When I was a child, I spake as a child
I understood as a child, I thought as a child,
But when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
And so do we, grow up like Usher. You have to change, you cannot stay the same all your life. Trade places. Everybody will love to be in his position.
This is my last comment on Usher cd but after listening to it since last Sat I can honestly say there are only two songs I don’t like and that is What’s Your Name and What’s a Man To Do. The cd is very hoooooot. I am not in a relationship and I like it. Usher put together a excellent cd based on what is happening right now in his life his voice is strong and the songs are hot.
Here I stand is a wonderful album. People have to understand that he is married, and after that when you write about what yo go through, your music speaks for itself. Moving Mountains is a crazy album and some people just can’t relate to the album because they ain’t married and they ain’t in no relationship. Stop comparing Confessions to this album. Confessions was a club banger and usher was in all out playboy. This is what he said and yasl need to take note.
” When I was a child, I spake as a child
I understood as a child, I thought as a child,
But when I became a man, I put away childish things.”
And so do we, grow up like Usher. You have to change, you cannot stay the same all your life. Trade places. Everybody will love to be in his position.
^^
DITTO. Nobody can touch him. Whoever said Chris Brown’s gonna sneak up on him, shut that can shut that mess up. Anybody who’s listened to any of Usher’s albums know that they have to grow on you. Confessions had to grow on me. 8701 got me with Can U Help Me but still…I love 8701, love Confessions…and I love Here I Stand. He already made his confessions a long time ago. This is the same Usher that we know. But yes, expect a re-release with the songs that were leaked out and not released. Here I Stand really hit home after the title song Here I Stand…when that bonus track started. After the CD ended, I wanted more. And now I know I’m gonna get more. Stop the hate on Tameka because she aint that bad. Look at Usher for Usher. This is the grown man. Yes, I purchased the album.
i am a big usher fan and i still bought the cd to show support even after listening to it on the leak and not being amazed …overall, this isnt a cd that i feel compelled to listen to over and over like all of his previous cds…and like alot of ppl said already, i still listen to confessions all the time. to me, appetite is the closest song to what im used to from usher, it grabs ur attention quickly. these are ok: his mistakes, l.i.t.c. (part2), trading places, before i met u, ,….but for an artist like usher, i just expect SO MUCH MORE. the bar is raised. i think thats the problem….are our expections too high? i too was disappointed in janet, mariah, alicia’s latest cds…i just know that ALL of these artists can do better thats all…….and i dont care bout his personal life. to each is own. i think that the only reason ppl are bringing it up is because him marrying tameka is the most significant change that has occurred since his last cd. not because they hating….lol, yall gotta admit, he DID make GREAT music when he was with chilli/right after chilli though…im out, peace (Y)
my badd……expections=expectations
This album is WRETCHED. it does a few tracks that are ok, but overall i hate it. this album is not for his fans. when i hear the tracks, all i can think of is that hard face wife of his. i’m NOT living for this joint. i expected so much out of Usher, especially since he has been gone for so long. not to mention his live performances that he cant hold a note on! his dance moves are great, but he need to start lip sync if he is gonna sound like that live. miss thing thing need to get it together!
Give usher a break – this cd is what he does best and for those trippin about there being no club joints, get yourself a decent set of speakers with some bass, and turn up ‘best thing’ ft jay-z up real high, and post right here if you werent dancing bout the room
I GOT USHER CD THE OTHER DAY I WAS VERY UPSET I ONLY LIKED 3 SONG’S I THINK HE COULD OF DONE BETTER IT’S O.K SINGING ABOUT YOUR WIFE BUT NOT THE WHOLE DAMN ALBUM .I BEEN MARRIED FOR 6 YEARS SO I DON’T NEED TO TALK ABOUT MY LIFE OR TELL ABOUT BECAUSE WE KNOW WHAT WE HAVE,I LOVE USHER TO DEATH I DON’T THINK YOU NEEDED TO GET MARRIED JUST BECAUSE YOU HAD A CHILD.TAMIKA FOSTER I DON’T KNOW YOU BUT I CAN SAY THIS WHAT GOES AROUND COMES AROUND YOU WAS CREEPING WITH HIM WHEN HE WAS WITH CHILLI ,ONE THING ABOUT SOME WOMEN IF YOU TELL THEM WHAT YOUR GOING THREW WITH YOUR PARTNER THEY WILL LISTEN BUT AT THE SAME TIME SLIDE THERE WAY IN.AND THAT’S WHAT TAMIKA FOSTER DID SO I WISH YOU THE BEST BECAUSE THE SNAKE IS GOING TO BITE YOU SOON AS FOR USHER WE OUR BOTH LIBRA’S YOU KNOW WILL DO ANYTHING FOR A PERSON BUT ONCE WE FIND OUT DIRT ON YOU WE MOVE ON BUT I WISH YOU THE BEST IN LIFE I HOPE YOU MAKE A BETTER CD NEXT TIME……..
I love the CD and i keep it in my radio and put it on repeat i love all the songs and he couldnt have done a better job on this CD I love me some Usher and some of his CD to !!!!!! FUCK the haters the album is BOMB !!
I agree, Confessions is his best album to date. “Here I Stand,” isn’t so great. There are some tracks thats’s good like “Trading Places.” The album is more mature, just didn’t get me moving as I thought it would. I think they were concentrating on toping “Confessions” rather making great music that we all can relate too. He should of jus went into the studio and just let it flow he been through alot in the last four years.
I was reading through a variety of the comments posted and the vast majority of you guys feel as if this album is not worthy of any sort of acclaim. Ok, first I must agree this album is not like the previous Usher albums, in fact it shows an evolution, hence the title “Here I stand”. The album exemplifies a man that is trying to leave behind his lifestyle of promiscuity and transition into becoming a suitable husband and most importantly a good father. I enjoy the album, is it filled with club bangers?, NO! But it is filled with songs that you can play for a variety of occasions; love making, wedding, club( In da Club), sad times, etc. It is a versatile album and I am satisfied with it. If I played the album and felt the same Usher I felt from back in the day then I would think that he is just trying to keep the same image for the sake of selling records. But when I played this album, I thought of a man that is giving the world his life story, and we can either take it or leave it, ya dig.
DAMN USH WHAT HAPPEN? THE RECORD GREW ON ME BUT DAMN U COULD’VE CAME ALOT BETTER….. AND 1 MORE THING YOUNG JEEZY!!! WHAT THE HELL WAS YOU THINKING ABOUT? I KNEW WHY HE WAS ON THE RECORD BUT THE WRONG RECORD THOUGH….. YOU REALLY NEED YOUR MOTHER BACK IN YOUR CORNER HOMIE YOU ONLY HAVE 1 AND WE SHES GONE SHES GONE TRUST ME I KNOW!!!!!! YOU REALLY NEED TO PRAY AND REALLY LOOK AT YOUR SITUATION NOW!!! LOW RECORD SALES, BAD SITUATION WITH YOUR MARRIAGE…. HMMMMMM!!!! THIS RECORD DIDN’T REALLY PROVE ANYTHING DID IT? MAYBE IN YOUR HEAD BUT IT DIDN’T!!!! I’VE BEEN A FAN SINCE YOU WAS 15YRS OF AGE (THE MACK) BRO I HAVE EVERY RECORD AND EXTRA RECORDS AND VIDEOS U EVER RELEASED AND THIS WAS THE WORST!!!! I GUESS EITHER RETIRE OR A BETTER RECORD NEXT GO AROUND AND I WILL GET IT TOO!!!!