Here I Stand

---

---

Customer reviews

review by: Luzh date: 2008-11-26 rating:
Stand for nothing, fall for anything
Usher becomes the victim of his own success on this album. If Jaheim or Raheem DeVaughn or Dwele had released the exact same album, it would have been a classic, but not for Usher. Instead, he comes off as a former superstar, trendsetter who's gone soft. This, for me, is not a bad thing because I can relate to this Usher better having been married 2yrs ago myself.

Songs like "Appetite", "Before I Met You" & "Here I Stand" are real/relevant to me and they stand out as my favourites. The 1st single "Love In This Club" and its remix are also brilliant but unfortunately also misleading as they do not define what the rest of the album is about. Other tracks that play on the sex theme like "Trading Places" & "This Ain't Sex" fall flat.

Unfortunately for Usher is the fact since he's been gone the R&B scene has evolved. An evolution lead by the European sounds of StarGate & the Jodeci'esque sounds of Tricky & The Dream. Acts like Ne-Yo, J-Holiday, Chris Brown etc. have had a few years doing it so it does not sound fresh when Usher tries it on. "What's You Name" with Will.I.Am for example is excellent but it sounds like every other song on Ne-Yo's last album. Similarly, the power ballad and 2nd single "Moving Mountains" may be on class of its own lyrically but the overall package sounds generic.

Usher does redeem himself on the all too short intro and interlude tracks. These are beautiful tracks that really put his pipes on display, the extra slow "Love you Gently" is another beautiful addition. But I suppose people aren't ready to hear Usher on slow jams and that explains the reception that this album has had.

I applaud Usher for taking a stand on this album, even if the rest of the world may choose not to stand with him

---

review by: B23 date: 2008-11-01 rating:
Intellegent art vs pap
This album consists mainly of slow tracks but not all are typical ballads. Some are soulful reflections on life and relationships. The music itself is a mix of neo classical soul and modern R n B. This combination may lead to audiences responding to the familiarity of the modern beat and then eschewing the other creative material.

Basically your ability to appreciate this music depends on your ablity to appreciate talent in song writing, vocal delivery and the arrangement of strong vocals with the right accompaniment. If you can appreciate these, this album wil inspire you and will call you back time and again, even in 5 or ten years. If you like to feel a beat and you 'know what you like' - and that is modern mass produced R n B - you may well be disappointed.

My assessment is that Usher has made an album that is interesting. If you read novels, it is like a combination of good character development and superb plot. If you watch films it is like fantastic dialogue, great character development and wonderful locations. If these references to the content of other art forms bewilder you, you probably will rate this album poorly.

---

review by: whitcol date: 2008-08-16 rating:
Get yer own great album
I am huge fan of Usher, but was concerned after reading the many reviews this album has received. However those who slate the album are not themselves any favours.
I found the album to be a really good one, and one that takes Usher to a new level. It is true there is a slightly different feel to the music but is this not what we would want. Too many artists stick with music that bears little change from their last albums.
This new album is slightly different but not to his detriment. This style is not that different but just what allows his maturity to shine through.
I purchased the album and was not disappointed at all, if you are an usher fan then I feel you would live to regret not to get this album.

---

review by: music_man date: 2008-07-22 rating:
Usher is all grown up
This reviews of this album have been very divided. However i do believe its an exellent album. I tried to forget that confessions existed so i could listen to this album with an open mind. The album contains writing from ne yo, raheem devaughn and the dream, This is noticed on the opening track Forever young which sets the tone for the album in terms of its maturity.

Stand out tracks include love in this club which everyone has heard by now. its a perfect first single with a banging beat from polow da don. Another track which caught my ear was this aint sex...its got a micheal jackson feel to it, but usher makes it his own. Moving mountains the second single is a beautiful ballad produced by the hitmaker tricky stewart its a definate smash.

Whats your name is a possible future club joint and future single. something special is one of my fav tracks produced by jermaine dupri this is a clear ode to his wife. its well sung and produced with a perfect beat which suits the lyrics and tone of ushers voice perfectly.

However my fav track is best thing feat jayz where they both talk about there luck in love and there careers its a greatrnb hip hop tune which jay z lights up with his verse.

Revolver and lifetime are too skipable tracks but there ok. Overall its a diferent usher but confirms his status as the king of rnb!


review by: Rachel date: 2008-07-05 rating:
MUCH BETTER THAN CONFESSIONS
Like i said in my title this album is so much better than confessions i thought apart from the singles he released from confessions there were only about 3 or 4 tracks i liked that were not singles. Anyway let's get into this album, it defo shows off a more grown up usher let not forget he is nearly 30
Foever young-It took me a while to get into this song but now i like it
Love in this club-Great club banger but part 2 is better
This ain't sex and Trading places are great uptempo songs love, love these two tracks.
Moving mountains- A lovely heartfelt ballad
What's your name- Still not sure about this one but a defeinite grower
Prayer 4 u-One word cute
Something special-Lovely song about love
Love you gently-A great song 4 the lovers
Best thing feat JAY-z- A brillant song love jay-z's raps
Before i met you- One of my favourites it is about him being a player until he met his wife
His mistakes- Written and co-produced by Ne-yo,lovely ballad another of my favourites
Appetite- good uptempo song
What's a man to do- This song is off the chain such a great song
Revolver- No this song is not about a gun, it is about resolving arguments
Lifetime-Lovely ballad about spending your life with that one special person
Love in this club part 2- Much better than the single feating beyonce's soulful vocals and lil wayne with a brillant rap
Here i stand and Will work 4 love, great songs with good beats
THIS ALBUM IS UP THERE WITH HIS SECOND ALBUM 8701 HE HAS GROWN SO MUCH DON'T LISTEN 2 DA NEGEATIVE REVIEWS. GET THIS NOW!

---

Similar products

Year Of The Gentleman
Exclusive: the Forever Edition
Departure
E=MC2
Good Girl Gone Bad (New Version)

---

Similar categories

Music . Special Features . Bargain CDs
Music . Styles . R&B and Soul . Bestsellers
Music . Styles . R&B and Soul . Soul
Music . Styles . R&B and Soul . Urban
Music . Styles . Hip-Hop & Rap . Bestsellers
Music . Refinements . Format (binding_browse-bin) . CD . CD Album

---