Confessions

Usher

Product Details

• Audio CD (March 23, 2004)
• Original Release Date: March 23, 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: La Face
• ASIN: B0001F7UHA
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (595 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #27,267 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
A CD is always more compelling when you know it's lifted from the artist's autobiography, and that's certainly the case with Confession, Usher's first record since 2001's 8701. The Atlanta singer's string of hits over the past decade have been decidedly PG-13 rated, almost veering towards teen pop, but he's changed all that on this co-produced offering, which he claims is "the real him." It would be too simplistic to just brand this record a break-up record, chronicling his public split with TLC's Rozonda "Chili" Thomas; it is that, but so much more. It would be more accurate to call this Usher's coming of age record, bridging the gap from boy to man, as he navigates the emotional fallout from the disintegration of his relationship, and the events that led up to it--real or imagined. But other than a guilty conscience, it seems unclear why Usher feels compelled to disgorge his secret life, as he documents his infidelities, transgressions, and emotional perfidy in the album's prodigious seventeen songs that range from insinuating sultry R&B grooves to the decidedly crunky "Yeah," which pairs an insistent keyboard romp with Lil' Jon's assertive beats and Ludacris' rather humid rhymes. This tracks shines all the more since it's the only club track, but you find yourself pining for more, since most of the other songs tend to get bogged down in his lush, feverish balladry. That's not a bad thing, but the disc would have been better served by a few more muscular tracks. --Jaan Uhelszki

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not Half "Bad", But Inconsistent and Typical, June 9, 2004

By	Andrew Jacob (Brooklyn, New York) - See all my reviews

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.

76 of 97 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars True "Confessions.", March 23, 2004

By	The Groove (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

"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.

64 of 85 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Time taught him and now he has made a masterpiece, March 26, 2004

By A Customer

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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!