"8701" is the third studio album from the R&B superstar Usher. The name of this comes from the the years which Usher's career had been entertaining, from 1987-2001, at that time. This album managed to achieve a #1 in this country as well as five singles of which none did worse than a top-twenty. I believe that this album was the peak of this performers career however, many would say that the LP following this, "Confessions" was greater due to its awards and sales.
Usher's style was a lot different from what was seen later on in the 2004 album as it contained many less slow songs, all about relationships and such, this does have a similar theme but, he sings about it differently here as the music is funkier, something good to dance to.
1. "Intro-Lude 8701" (intro)
2. "U Remind Me"
**Five Stars**
This is an example of a track which would have been done to a slow tempo in his newer albums, this was however a great song with a lot of appeal. It has a strong beat ans Usher's vocals are perfect as he sings to a woman about wanting to get with a woman, but cannot due to he similarity to an ex of his.
Usher managed to secure the first of his five Grammy Awards, this for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in 2002.
This is nice song with a good beat to it and it sounds quite a lot like songs made by P. Diddy around this time as it is a goof track which I can imagine hearing in a club in the late nineties and early 00s.
Although it isn't too strong and its beat isn't that memorable, I does stick in your head, because it reminds me of other
tracks of the period and I think of that era to be my 'golden age' of R&B.
4. "Twork It Out"
**Four Stars**
This is a slow and sensual song which we know Usher for as he masters this type of love song by going on a different angle of creating a sexual mood.
The song took a while to grow on me as the first couple of times it as just another song about sex, but you start to discover more as you listen to it at a more relevant time.
5. "U Got It Bad"
**Five Stars**
I can't say that I liked this too much until a 2-Step remix was made for this track. However afer hearing that it was made to be one of my favourite Usher songs. This managed to reach number 1 in America and so it was obviuosly successful.
This is a pure love song by Usher, telling us what it really feels like to be in such a state hen your entire life revoles around the person in your life who you adore so much.
6. "Pop Ya Collar"
**Five Stars**
This is a banger of a track by usher and it gets you up on your feet as soon as it comes on because it has the qualities of a great R&B track with a little added 'thug' just so that the listener range is increased and provides him with added appeal.
It is the ultimate in feel-good track as he teaches you to just relax and brush off any worries in life and carry on, because you can stay down forever. This record saw great success in the UK and managed to climb all the way to number 2, which I felt was massive for him at the time.
7. "If I Want To"
**Four Stars**
This Jermaine Dupri produced song samples Notorious B.I.G.'s "Going Back To Cali", and you hear it clearly as his deep voice greets you as the track i9s just unfolding. Here he is performing the chorus of the rap and it seems to fit in well with with Usher tune despite the fact that the topic of the records completely contrast.
Surprisingly when I listen to this track after a while with R&B having moved on quite a bit from the early 00s, the first lyrics by Usher remind me of Justin Timberlake, but at this time he will be at the end of his run with N*Sync.
8. "I Can't Let U Go"
**Four Stars**
I can't quite identify the song, but this reminds of a collaboration between Ush and Diddy around this period of time as it has a similar sound to it, and it has a lot of appeal to it as it is suited to party people, which usually includes everyone.
9. "U Don't Have To Call"
**Five Stars**
This track won Usher's second Grammy and is another big song from him. This is a party song and the artist sings to his girlfriend that he dosen't need her to have to call him, because he's going to go out and party instead of say in and talk to her on the phone.
The remix of this features a single verse from Ludacris, this completes the track as he gives an added bit of help to get you into the partying mood.
10. "Without U (Interlude)" (skit)
11. "How Do I Say"
**Two Stars**
At some point there was bound to be a weak link in the album and this is definately it. It is an incredibly boring song with influence from Hispanic recording arts which I am not a fan of, so it made the track go on forever (the near-six-minute span doesn't help), and so now I have to skip straight past it.
12. "Hottest Thing"
**Three Stars**
This song tells a the story of a night where Ush is in the club watching (obviously) the most attractive woman in the place. It is a great way of presenting a tale in the form of a track as it goes through all the emotions of seeing rejection and finally getting accepted.
I felt that although it wasn't of the highest quality, it is quite memorable as a slow sedcung record which many may enjoy and want to listen to
13. "Good Ol' Ghetto"
**Four Stars**
Usher takes time to take a look at what he has become and decides to show that he knows that no girl is as good as one from the "Good Ol' Ghetto". His overwhelming popularity is shunned in this one as he goes back to his roots in Atlanta to notice that none of the up-market as as good as the ones which he grew up with.
I really like that he takes time to sing a record like this, because it is a topic which doesn't tend to get spoken about too often (but I have heard a brand new Sisqó track called "Champagine & Hennessey" along similar lines as this).
14. "U-Turn"
**Five Stars**
This is probably my favourite Usher song ever. It a great dance track produced by JD (Jermaine Dupri). The song had a dance to go along with it, which Usher hoped would be as successful as Michael Jackson's Moonwalk, it failed to do so, however the song was still a hit.
Usher goes through many stages of his life in this song explaining what the style of dance was at the time and the "U-turn" was meant to continue this. This fad of creating dance moves for songs didn't really work at this time, it wasn't until Jamaican artists such as Elephant Man and Sean Paul started doing this before it translated onto US soil especially Usher's hometown of Atlanta with people like Lil' Jon and the Ying Yang Twins started doing this well, making it all come out into the clubs around the world.
15. "T.T.P."
**Five Stars**
If the artist was looking for another single to get out of this LP, I'm sure that he would have chosen this one, because it is brilliant. The song is of the time and I really liked the composition which added more to what we here from JD's production as he chose to do a little beatbox along with the dance-inducing beat.
As I know you were wondering I will tell you that the 'T.T.P.' in the title refers to "The Total Package", which he believes that he deserves in the next girl that he gets with. This song is very exciting and it gave me a similar feeling which I felt when I heard "U Remind Me" for the first time.
16. "Separated"
**Two Stars**
The album rose all the way up to a massive anticlimax as we end on a very boring track as he explain why he has to end the relationship with his girlfriend, because it's just not working out.
I absolutely hate songs like this as I have no reason to listen to them and I can't see a reason why I would in the future. I do admire his great vocal talent, but this one just wasn't for me.
In conclusion, this is one of the best ever R&B album which I have ever listened to, the LP includes all of my favourite songs by this artist so there's no way that I can complain, apart from this, there are also a few more big songs which bring out your emotions in a big way.
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You know what's funny / ironic. I have owned this '8701' album for a long.... LONG time and it was one of the earliest records that I bought for my CD collection. I have listened to the entire '8701' CD numerous times back in 2001 and I will definitely publish a review on it soon. T.T.P. is one of my favourite tracks that gets high replay value from me. Production-wise, T.T.P showcases Jermaine Dupri at his best as a producer, even though he can also be a hit-and-miss. Like you, I also thought Separated was the WORST track on the album. Respect. ---- DIJEH
Following on from 1997's My Way, 8701 crowns Usher's position as R&B man of the moment. ... more
Never mind the hype about Michael Jackson, Wacko is going to have some serious competition in years to come. Usher is a rap singer and dance man with a twist. Rathe...
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