:: Usher - Here I Stand

Usher

You could be forgiven for starting to believe that an R&B album simply can’t be made these days without Timbaland being in the control seat as producer. But the forgotten man of R&B, Usher is back with his new album ‘Here I Stand’. Any true fans of Usher will know what to expect from this album straight away. Usher is like the modern-day version of Barry White, he produces smooth, sexy love ballads with the occasional radio-friendly R&B hit; it’s a formula he has been working to for years, and nothing changes on ‘Here I Stand’. The danger of flooding an album with ballads is that a lot of modern-day ballads are cheesy rubbish. Usher takes the middle road here with some songs working brilliantly while others fail spectacularly. The first thing you will notice about Usher, is that unlike so many male R&B artists of today is that he has a magnificent voice and that he actually sings and doesn’t just scream out the lyrics. His voice is the smoothest of the smooth. Usher has produced this album himself instead of relying on known hitmakers like Jay-Z or Timbaland, and he isn’t afrad to take risks as a producer. Risks that are pulled off nicely. ‘Love In This Club’ sees Usher deliver a radio-hit ballad over a beat that wouldn’t have been lost during the 90s techno era. In teaming up newcomer Young Jezzy, Usher made sure this was a hit right around the world. He also messes with the traditional R&B sound on ‘What’s A Man To Do’; a track that is made by its eastern feel and battles ‘His Mistakes’ for the title of the Best Track On The Album. Other great tracks include ‘Trading Places’, ‘Before I Met You’, ‘Appetite’ and ‘Lifetime’ but they are soured by dreadfully bland tracks like ‘This Ain’t Sex’, ‘Love You Gently’ and ‘Here I Stand’. Will.I.Am brings his magic to ‘What’s Your Name’ a track that has single written all over it, while Usher shines on ‘Something Special’ which consists of a funky guitar sound that complements his blues-sounding voice and briefly takes the audience back to the 1970s. His voice’s power is also revealed on ‘Best Thing’; the high notes found here would test most modern artists… but not Usher. The second single of ‘Here I Stand’, ‘Love In This Club Part II’ is a total disappointment. It is bland and Beyonce’s talent is massively underused on it. ‘Here I Am’ shows that Usher isn’t dead and buried yet. He lives to fight against the new comers for another day. It’ll sell units but Usher isn’t back to his best just yet.