Customer Reviews

Confessions

5 star:		(280)
4 star:		(106)
3 star:		(69)
2 star:		(49)
1 star:		(82)

 

 

"Confessions," the fifth long-player from ATL's Usher Raymond, is more than a new album. It's also a mature step forward and an exercise in self-examination. Here, Usher unloads some serious baggage, ranging from infidelity (the title track and "Truth Hurts"), materialism ("Simple Things"), unwanted pregnancy (the title track again), and failed relationships, particularly his breakup with TLC's Chili. But that's not to say "Confessions" is all drama and no fun. The album is neatly divided between uptempo jams and smooth ballads, and Usher doesn't disappoint on either front. At first listen, I wasn't a huge fan of the kickoff single "Yeah!" (featuring Ludacris and Lil' Jon), but over time, this catchy hip hop-flavored number caught onto me very quickly. Other decent cuts are "Superstar," the Jam & Lewis-produced "That's What It's Made For," and the downtempo groove of the killer closer, "Follow Me." Well produced and with minimal filler (I could have done without the messy "Do it To Me"), "Confessions" lives up to its title thanks to its honest lyrics and its tight production. Grade: B.

I have to confess: the only reason why I bought the album was because I wanted to know more about his breakup with Chili from TLC. Usher has always remained to me to be one of those artists you "acknowledge but don't really care for", and after listening to "Confessions", Usher's fourth studio album, I can't say my opinion of him, as an artist has changed much. The album splits between two types of songs: mid-tempo/slow jams about bad relationships and miscellaneous mid-tempo/upbeat "club" songs. Many of the upbeat songs tend to be typical choices for singles (meaning they're guilty pleasures) including the lead single "Yeah" (which by the way, has a stale, played out beat, courtesy of Lil' Jon). There are those surprisingly catchy "club songs", including "Caught Up" and "Take Your Hand". Many of miscellaneous songs lean towards mediocre, including the boring "Truth Hurts", the sappy "Superstar", and the semi-preachy "Simple Things". Usher fares better with the slow jams, like "Throwback", "Confessions Pt. II", "Do It To Me", the second single "Burn", and the best track on the album, "Can U Handle It". There are however, those songs that are just incorrigibly dumb, like "Bad Girl" and "That's What It's Made For". Unfortunately, the bad outweighs the good. Many tracks on the album are those types of songs that you like for now, but don't have high-replay value. In the end, "Confessions" remains ordinary, at best.

I originally wasn't going to get it because I didn't like "Yeah" at all and didn't want one of those 'crunk' CDs. My fiance gave it to me, though, and I did listen to it...I was not disappointed. Anyone who's looking for the CD to be more of what you hear in "Yeah" and even "Confessions Pt. II" (another song I dislike) is going to be disappointed...most of the CD has more of Usher's soulful, ballad-turned voice rather than club hits. Although his ego has definitely skyrocketed and some of the subject matter isn't exactly the deepest, using little hip-hop catch phrases a lot of misguided teenagers use nowadays (to his discredit), I more so enjoyed Usher's exploration of his own voice. Sometimes I have to kind of tune out the lyrics to enjoy the songs, but Usher's voice is really great on this CD; he has a more mature and stronger sound, and the music he chooses really plays off of that. The best songs I would say (musically, that is) are "Burn" (my favorite!), "Caught Up" (bad lyrics, good beat/music), "Superstar", "Truth Hurts" (interesting subject), "Simple Things", "That's What It's Made For" (questionable lyrics, good song), and "Do It To Me".

This is an excellent CD. Usher sounds great--his voice has expanded-- and he has matured (maybe from being with an older woman)and therefore the songs are also wonderful from beginning to end. I also must say that I love the arrangements of the tracks; they form a wonderful story to listent to, relate to, and respond to. My favorites are Yeah!, Confessions pt.2, Burn, Superstar, and Do It To Me. If you are a music lover you will apprecite this album. Buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I've heard a lot of people say that Usher is an underrated artist. And you may say, "How? He's put out three albums, he's had at least three #1 hits, and his 'U Don't Have To Call' won a Grammy!" Well, I think Usher is a very talented singer, but I've noticed usually the best songs on his albums aren't released, and there are a number of not-so-good songs that surround the good ones. Such is the case with his latest album, Confessions.

Now, we're all familiar with the hit song "Yeah!" (although Lil Jon has a habit of completely taking over songs that he's only featured in). There are other good songs, too. Usher usually delivers when it comes to ballads, and he doesn't disappoint with offerings like the revealing title track. And this time around, the songs Jermaine Dupri wrote are quite impressive, as evidenced by "Burn" and "Do It To Me". The latter is perfect for getting the mood right, but "Can U Handle It" might do that even better.

Unfortunately, there's also some bad news. There are a couple songs that you can tell were written at the last minute, like "Superstar" and "Caught Up". And when Usher tries to sing over sped-up (or chopped-up) old soul samples, he hits ("Throwback") and misses ("Take Your Hand"). And I don't think the album would have suffered if "Bad Girl" or "Follow Me" weren't on here.

Overall, Confessions still has more good songs than bad songs, and it's worth adding to your collection. I just wish that Usher could shine more when he doesn't just stick to ballads, because he does have what it takes to keep the party moving. Let's just hope the producers of the party joints step their game up and we'll see an even better album next time.

Anthony Rupert

Why has this album taken the world by storm? It's nothing but safe hip-hop that doesn't address any issues or offer any depth. I'm not saying that every song has to mean something, but come on, this is just shallow and stupid.There are tons of things that an artist like Usher could put out there. How about a song that encourages young people to vote and take an interest in the world around them? How about a song about how life is still difficult for a successful black hip hop artist? How about a little poetry? Is this where hip hop is headed?

Of Usher's big name CDs (My Way, 8701, Confessions) this is by far the worst. All of Usher's albums have had some filler but this album is packed full of it masquerading as what he and the teeny boppers of the world are calling "real R&B". Some reviewers here have called Usher a genius and the new Marvin Gaye. Thats one of the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. Look at the songwriting and production credits for this album, there are a number of songs where Usher didn't write a word (including "Yeah") and most other songs he co-writes with about 3-10 other people. He also didn't produce a single track. Some genius. The only genius I give him credit for here is the fact that he's conned so many people into buying this album. If you want to listen to some real soul/R&B music by some of the real male R&B geniuses listen to some Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder or R. Kelly.

Usher, along with the garbage that is constantly played on MTV, especially TRL, is the reason why I don't listen to radio anymore and stopped watching MTV. I liked Usher when he first started out, and I liked his last 2 albums, but this one is pure garbage. Just a side note, I've been reading other reviews mentioning My Way and 8701, but people seem to forget his very first album, which is a self-titled album that was released back in 1994. I loved "Think of You" from that album, and when I think about that song and compare it to his stuff now, I really miss the old Usher days. I listened to Confessions in my friend's car and just skipped tracks. It's so awful that I even refused to download the album and waste computer space. I'm not hating, I DO have to give my props for huge sales of this album and it's great that he's at the peak of his success, but once you're at your peak, you can only go down and that will be inevitable for Usher.

I love this CD. some of the songs weren't good when i first heard them but now I love them. I would definately suggest buying this album.

1. Intro--(7/10) Its not that great, but its an intro so it doesn't really matter.

2. Yeah--(10/10) This song is amazing. Great beat

3. Throwback--(9.5/10) it picks up more when you get into the song

4. Confessions (Interlude)--(10/10) I love the singing on this track. a great intro to the next song too!

5. Confessions Part II--(10/10) this song is fantastic and u can really feel his pain

6. Burn--(10/10) a great slow song. its getting a lot of airplay and i can see why

7. Caught Up--(10/10) One of my favs, i really like the beat

8. Superstar (Interlude)--(8/10) I could've done w/o this one on the cd, but good nonetheless

9. Superstar--(9/10) this is one of the songs that's grown on me

10. Truth hurts--(8.5/10) good listen, my not one of my favs

11. Simple Things--(10/10) Another great slow song that i really like to listen to

12. Bad Girl--(10/10) i like this song but i don't know why, its really catchy

13. That's what its made for--(9.5/10) interesting lyrics (lol) but i love the beat

14. Can you handle it--(7.5/10) i've heard alot of people like this song, but i just never really gotten into it

15. Do it to me--(8.5/10) i like it but sometimes it can get annoying

16. Take your hand--(10/10) i love this song as well. really great

17. Follow Me--(9.5/10) A good way to end the album, very catchy.

My favorites are:

1. Yeah
1. Caught Up
1. Confessions Part II (i can't decide between those 3)
4. Burn
5. Simple Things
6. Take Your Hand
7. Bad Girl

Usher really wasnt a very common name until his hit "U Got It Bad" hit radio. People were talking, and slowly liking the kid and his light R&B flavor. Who would have expected something phenomenal to forever set him on the top of the charts with one of the hottest albums of 2004?\

The soulful beats and hyped songs like "Yeah!" prove some creative power coming from Uhsers way. His writing and such isa little mediocre, but is supported by the music they are put to.

What may be misleading about the album is its title, "Confessions". Talked about as a "deep" album, theres only a few songs that can back that support. (Confessions 1 & 2, Burn, truth Hurts, Simple Things, etc.). Most songs, on the other hand, sound like average hashed lyrics that don't even represent what the album is about.

Usher may have had a huge club smash with "Yeah!", but it seems that he lacks in supporting what he was shooting for, an emotionally "deep" album. Confessions in some retrospect falls short of that and becomes a very long, dragged out album with a few deep songs and other sex-selling songs and have fun songs, which dont even define what confessions is about.

But weather or not Usher will continue to produce major hits and songs we can all have mesmorized will only be determined by time. It seems, however, that this "Confessions" is in a sense just an over-hyped, longly dragged out album with a few emotional tracks and the rest returning Usher back to where he used to be before his career exploded, an Songwriter and Artist just trying to make a name for himself with un=inspired songs.