"Confessions" is one of the most popular R&B albums ever, and has Usher on top of his game in 2004. This album when on to sell in excess of nine million worldwide, far outdoing anything which he had done prior to this. Unlike most in the UK, I was into Usher's music long before anything in ... Read review
Confessions - Usher
A CD is always more compelling when you know it's lifted from the artist's autobiography, ... more
and that's certainly the case withConfessions, Usher's first record since 2001's8701. The Atlanta singer's string of hits over the past decade have been decidedly...
and that's certainly the case with Confessions, Usher's first record since 2001's 8701. The Atlanta singer's string of hits over the past decade have been decidedly under-18s rated, almost veering towards teen pop, but he's changed all that on this coproduced 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 17 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, Amazon.com
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and that's certainly the case withConfessions, Usher's first record since 2001's8701. The Atlanta singer's string of hits over the past decade have been decidedly under-18s rated, almost veering towards teen pop, but he's changed all that on this coproduced 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 17 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 formore, 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, Amazon.com
A review by XICripZ on Confessions - Usher October 20th, 2008
Author's product rating:
Originality
Definitely a cut above the rest
Lyrics
Sublime
Quality and consistency of tracks
A couple of weak links
How does it compare to the artist's other releases
Good
Value for Money
Good
Advantages:
Lots of big singles
Disadvantages:
A couple of the tunes are just average
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
"Confessions" is one of the most popular R&B albums ever, and has Usher on top of his game in 2004. This album when on to sell in excess of nine million worldwide, far outdoing anything which he had done prior to this. Unlike most in the UK, I was into Usher's music long before anything in this release, and actually preferred things from "My Way" and "8701" to his switch to Crunk & B, however this is when his big break came through.
1. "Intro"
2. "Yeah!"
This was the massive single off the album, and the one which estbalished Usher's position of the mega force in music, and not just one of the top performers in R&B. Here, after gaining the help of Hip Hop's Ludacris and the Atlanta producer, Lil' Jon, Ush is able to come with an amazing fusion, making Crunk & B, which Ciara did a little earlier, and was able to appeal to people who listen to various genres of music, including the mainstream pop one.
**Four Stars**
3. "Throwback"
You get Just Blaze on this one, and you should be aware of the fact that he's a top producers in Hip Hop. For this one, it seems as though he didn't make too much of an effort to swicth his style up to fit in with the fact that Usher is an R&B singer, however I thought that it worked very well with how Usher sings; comign up with good things from them.
**Four Stars**
4. "Confessions" (Interlude)
5. "Confessions (Part II)"
For me, this song is heavily overrated, as I don't really see a lot to it, and since a lot of its power comes from the backstory relatign to why he intially wrote the song. However, even with my prior knowledge of this, I was unable to get itno it as many did, since it was able to shift so many copies of this record and top the charts in its own right as a single.
**Three Stars**
6. "Burn"
This is a big follow-up tune to the massively successful "Yeah!" and has him performign in a way which contrasts heavily from his club-suited Crunk & B work, making him concentrate on his roots as a soulful R&B singer. Here he goes into an emotionally-charged break-up song which is bound to get you involved if you are able to relate to the feeling of falling out of love.
**Four Stars**
7. "Caught Up"
Usher went for another up-tempo track for the fourth single off the album, and unlkie the other ones whihc came off this album, I enjoyed this one much more thna the rest as it wasn't overplayed as the others were. Ush works alongisde Dre & Videl for a classy track and has him work extremely effecitively, as his past two singles were full of depression over relationship break ups. thsi is a great uplifter and just what you need at this stage in the album.
**Five Stars**
8. "Superstar (Skit)
9. "Superstar"
On this one you have Usher doign some role reveral as he decides to give his girl a cahnce to feel what it is like to be a star and receive attention in the way which he gets it on a regular basis. It is something different, but for me it took too much effort to follow, I would rather listen to sometihng more straight-forward.
**Three Stars**
10. "Truth Hurts"
Dre & Videl show what they are about in this one as they come up with a interesting composition, which has them turn up with a great piece of Hip Hop production. I think that usually, Usher is able to work with these, however I thought that he didn't stick to this strongly enough to let it work with him, so it sounded all over the place.
**Three Stars**
11. "Simple Things"
I was really into the song-writing here, and you get to here some of the best on the album here as he sings about the finer things in life which we don't tend to think of that onften. I thought it may have been slighly let down by the simple beats, which did little to aid it and make it stand out on the record.
**Three Stars**
12. "Bad Girl"
Here is a tune which you may recognize at it is featured at the start of the single "My Boo", and this is the song in its entireity. This is one of the best songs on the album and has Ush in his club mode, and following on with the type of thing which you heard on "Caught Up" as he goes for something classy, but suiteable for the mainstream R&B fans.
**Five Stars**
13. "That's What It's Made For"
On this one you get even more incredible beats, and this time you get it from the duo of Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis (who have worked with Mary J. Blige, Mariah Carey and Michael Jackson in the past). The come up with something funky and fresh for Ush, and he comes with a nice, sensual one for the listeners. I think that it was slightly too lively for the subject, but it's still good stuff.
**Four Stars**
14. "Can U Handle It?"
This one was porduced by one of the big R&B acts of now, Robin Thicke, and you get similar beats in this one, to what you get with his songs. This one is filled with bass, and it contrasts heavily from the soft voice of Usher during this one. He keeps it all high in this one, and it emphasises how deep the beats are.
**Three Stars**
15. "Do It to Me"
It is all about the beat in this one as Jermaine Dupri pounds away in this one, and allows Usher to come out with sound great melodies to show off how well he has trained hios voice to do exactly what he wants to in order to make the lyrics work as best as they can. This one stands out, because of its production, showing JD is able to grab your attention with his originality.
**Four Stars**
16. "Take Your Hand"
The person who produced "Crazy In Love" does the beat in this one, and Rich Harrison seems to be able to come out with another classy joint for this album. I thought that it had to be considered one of the best one off this release as he comes with sometihng funky and new. It really should have been a sinlge, because it is just so exciting to me.
**Five Stars**
17. "Follow Me"
This one has an incredible beat from Dre & Vidal, and they insure that you aren't able to pick out anything worng with the tune, because, as always, Usher performs excellently and was able to cope well with what was given to his. He works so well in this one, and it ends the album on a high, which is reassuring, considering how varied it as for me.
**Five Stars**
I think that this is a more mature album for Usher, and this may be where I am losing him at times, but on it, you get the sense that he was going with something new as he had a set direction with this album and he really wanted to make sure he could put this first, and then make it commerical after. He was clearly able to win over millions with this album, and come up with a future classic in R&B albums (for which there are very few).
Advantages: decent voice, good lyrics Disadvantages: some not so good tracks, repetitiveness
...forget who.
5/10
4. Confessions (interlude)
Of course you've all heard this, its at the beginning of the confessions video. Its a nice interlude with user singing over a piano backtrack.
5. Confessions Part II
What, where was part 1 you say? Iy was a bonus on the UK edition, and is now on the special edition in the US as well. A bit stupid if ask me. Anyway when i first heard this track, I was like wow, Jermaine Dupri did a great job on the ... ...this track.
8.5/10
19. Confessions Pt I (UK Bonus)
Yep, it does exist! A stunning r&b track, with smooth vocals and production from Jermaine Dupri. This is one of my faves. It probably won't grip you like Confession Pt II, but it a great track nonetheless.
9.5/10
Other songs you may know of, which are on the special edition except sweet lies, are:
My Boo (Duet w/ Alicia Keys)
A very nice R&B track, with great production. Both artists deliver ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average very helpful
Advantages: very vocal,great lyrics,great tunes Disadvantages: most songs are slow songs
...which as titled is his confessions after being unfaithful to Girlfriend TLC's Rozonda "Chili" Thomas in a very public split. This album is very r & b, very soulful, very vocal, it has great lyrics, its easy listening but most of the tracks are the slow tracks that are Usher (U remind me, U got it bad) so if you wanting more tunes like Yeah! You may be disappointed.
My fave tracks by far have got to be Burn, it’s a typical Usher song, but the lyrics ... ...this album his about his confessions and that he is still strong. Yeah! (4.08)
Ok so you must have heard this song by now, and you may be getting sick of it because of the amount of times its played on TV and radio. But it’s a great tune with a great beat and a very catchy tune. It features a rap part from Ludacris (Stand Up, Rollout (My Business), Area Codes, 2 fast 2 furious) who’s part is very catchy and also an appearance by Lil John who actually ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: wondeful lyrics, heart-felt songs Disadvantages: mainly slow songs, if you think thats a disadvantage
...whole experience of listening to Confessions by Usher is enjoyable. It is so nice to see an artist mature in the way Usher has. In the past year or so he has had to deal with an extremely public break-up and impregnating a girl he hardly knows. That is what the Confessions album is all about and Usher is really able to make the listener believe the emotions he portrays in his songs because he blieves them himself.
There are several interludes/intros ... ...I intended to put Confessions on for 5-10 minutes while getting ready for a party but I couldn't leave until I had heard the entire album. My particular favourite songs are Burn - a typical Usher track, Caught Up - a jumpy number and Confession Part II - Usher's most honest track. The only downfall to the album, if you see it as one, is that Yeah! and Caught Up are the only real dancy tracks on the album as the others are all reasonably slow.
The ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: A great album to relax to, nice to hear someone tell the truth Disadvantages: Its Usher- could there possibly be any? Really?
...which as titled is his confessions after being unfaithful to Girlfriend TLC's "Chili". Usher confesses that he had an affair with another girl whom he got pregnant. The lyrical content of this album is great as Usher confronts the issues which many of us have experienced in relationships. This album is sensuous, conveying pure emotional lyrics in the most dire of situations. The very essence of the tragic circumstances is reiterated through out the ... ...the story. I think the album is so evoking, as you feel very involved as you feel like he’s telling you the story- or as though you’re listening to HOT gossip! I think that the most moving track on the album is 'Confessions'.
Usher does a great job in demonstrating how the he has hurt ‘Chilli’, why he did what he did, the consequences of his actions and the emotional rollercoaster he too has been on, due to his own actions. It makes you feel sympathy ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: EVERY TRACK, VOCALS, MUSIC, Disadvantages: ??
...story is basically illustrated in confessions part 1 and 2. THIS is a top album showing usher can come with the goods, twice in a row, so has he beaten usher to the thrown....sorry but YEAH YEAH YEAH..............YEAH!
1. Intro 2. Yeah! 3. Throwback 4. Confessions 5. Confessions, Pt. 2 6. Burn 7. Caught Up 8. Superstar 9. Superstar 10. Truth Hurts 11. Simple Things 12. Bad Girl 13. That's What It's Made For 14. Can U Handle It? 15. Do It to Me 16. ...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
Advantages: Every song has its own way to love. Disadvantages: Theres nothing to dislike.
...Listening to the powerful beginning of the [Intro], you know this album is going to have it's own very true meaning of each song.
Hard to hate, easy to love because Usher knows how to make each song unforgettable. No matter how many other influential singers out there with there powerful albums, Usher's Confessions is memorable, always.
I personally think that this is one of the best albums to get out there, one of the truest artist there is.In my opinion people MUST HAVE this album. Every song is brilliant in its own way.
[Beats] - must say, its all very different - just hearing the instrumentals, you can tell it's a part of Usher's album..
[Lyrics] - The way he sings each song, you cannot forget the lyrics, it's in him to make every song of his addictive.
[Voice] - AMAZING! He knows how to put the meaning in music...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful
Advantages: excellentt, awesome music by a fit singer! Disadvantages: none that i could possibly think of!
...I’ve liked usher for ages and when I got his album I was over the moon!
Intro-The intro isn’t much, just a short song to introduce the album (confessions) about the album.
Yeah feat lil john and ludicrous- This song is up beat and it’s a good song to dance and sing to! It’s all about being in a club and dancing with some girls and they’re trying to turn it into more of a one night stand!
Throwback- In the song it doesn’t actually say anything about ‘throwback’ but who said it does. This song is good but not as good as the others! It’s about getting thrown back by a girl and never knowing what you’ve got until you’ve lost it. He ends up being heartbroken and regretting taking his girl for granted
Confessions- This song doesn’t sound like ‘confessions’ (but I haven’t heard it for ages as I’m always listening to his other songs...
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Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful
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