Customer Reviews

Versus

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

After 2008'S underrated Here I Stand, Usher returned this past spring with the double platinum selling Raymond Vs. Raymond. With the club bangers Lil Freak, the pop orientated OMG and the slow jam There Goes impacting radio, Usher was ready to reclaim his thrown as the King Of R&B/Pop. With Versus, Usher displays more of the lover man swagger that was evident on Raymond Vs. Raymond, gone is the married father who sang about being a one woman man on tracks like Here I Stand & Something Special from 2008's Here I Stand. On tracks such as Hot Tottie feat Jay-Z and the album's opener Love Em' All, Usher croons about his love for all of the ladies. Unlike the recent albums from Dru Hill & R. Kelly, Usher doesn't use the voice box, instead he lets his natural do what it does best. My only complaint with the album is the reuse of There Goes My Baby from Raymond Vs. Raymond, Usher could have easily given another slow cut to go along with the excellent Lay You Down. Versus is a worthy companion piece to Raymond Vs. Raymond with a little something for every musical taste from Grown & Sexy R&B ( Lingerie) pop ( DJ'S Got Us Fallin In Love & Somebody to Love ) and southern Hip Hop ( Get In My Car feat. Bun B) Usher should be around for years to come.

"Versus" is a 9 track EP by Usher, released about 5 months after his million selling "Raymond VS Raymond". Along with the sensual ballad "There goes my baby" (originally from Raymond VS Raymond") and a remix of Justin Bieber's rather cheesy upbeat Dance/Pop "Somebody to love", there are 7 new songs.

Leading the new songs is Usher's current US top 10 hit "DJ got us falling in love", a Techno-ish Dance number (with a perfunctory rap by Pitbull) in the vein of his recent US & UK #1 "OMG". Other standouts are "Hot tottie" which features Jay-Z and is skeletal with a booming bassline, "Lingerie" which is an upbeat Michael Jackson-channeling R&B number produced by Jam & Lewis, and the ballad "Stranger" with swirling synths which is similar to songs like "Burn" or "Moving mountains".

The other 3 songs are rather throwaway though, which is a shame as it seems just as he is stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new, he rushes back to the safety of bland generic R&B sounds. 3 and a half stars.

I absolutely LOVE this cd. Every song is excellent, and I could not stop listening to it over and over again all summer long. One of the best.

Love Usher, and all of his songs, but the product came when stated and arrived on time. Thank you Amazon! :D

I LOVE THIS SONG AND THE VIDEO. USHER IS A FINE LOOKING YOUNG MAN WITH A LOT OF TALENT I LOVE HIS MUSIC. HE SINGING HIS SONG NOT JUST RAP. I AM VERY HAPPY WITH THIS PURCHES AND WILL BE GETTING MORE. I AM 66YRS OLD WITH A YOUNG HEART.

Bought this album for the kids and has some nice beats I find myself bumpin this album by myself now love it.

I love this CD. I wish there were videos on Hot Tottie and Get into My Car. Love those songs. I also love: Love 'Em All, DJ Got Us Falling in Love and Somebody to Love. Buy this CD!

I have actually enjoyed this record! Usher has done it again! This album shows him connecting with his female fans. The newfoudn comfort is evident throughout the heavily sensual collection. This album is about more than sensuality. Given the wide range of songs he creates, He draws from different sources when writing. This EP is good enough to be purchased along with Raymond v. Raymond.

I am a big Usher fan, so this was just another to add to the list. I have everything he has made, and this met all my expectations of what he brings to music. Love it!

Since he disappeared due to marriage, I know a lot of his fans have wondered if he could pull off another "comeback." It seems to me as though the more Usher disappears, the more he is loved when he comes back into the music industry! Thats what I respect about this man! Too many artists have the misconception that they have to be any and everywhere all all waking hours (i.e. media, videos, parties, magazines, commercials, new products, etc). In all actuality, that is how people become bored with you and tired of seeing your face. Every few years or so, Usher will disappear and we won't hear anything new from him for a year or two, but to be honest, thats what makes us (as listeners) crave his music even more! Raymond Vs. Raymond was okay, but in my opinion, Versus is sooooo much better. I must admit that it disappoints me to see so many R&B artists steadily migrating to pop because not too many artists can pull it off, but surprisingly enough, Usher has the versatility to be both! On "Versus," I felt as if he wanted to show the world he can crossover to "pop" at anytime he wants to. My favorite tracks on the album are:

"Love Em All"

"DJ Got Us Falling In Love"

"Hot Toddy"

"Lay You Down"

"Lingerie"

"There Goes My Baby" (even though the radio has OBLITERATED any of my interest in the song now---overkill of the song)

"Get In My Car"

"Somebody To Love"

"Stranger"

I do not consider myself a fan of Usher, but I do enjoy his music. Over the years, I feel as though Usher has developed an egotistical persona about him, but not to the point where he has abandoned his idea of what music should be. Honestly, the only disappointment was the fact that his album was extremely short. I feel as though Usher should have had a few more tracks on this album, but overall...it wasnt bad at all! Wonderful job Usher! Me gusta!