Y'all remember when Usher came out? (Yea, I said yall). He reminded me of the boy in High School that was always tryna be cool-er than he ever really was, or would've been. It was that faithful Tuesday mornin', September 16, 1997 when "My Way," Usher's sophomore album dropped. Rememberin' then, I was just into the music, not so much the dancin' all over the place, and him openin' his shirt and all that jazz… Listenin' back, Usher's voice was strong and he delivered his talented soulfully without bein' too excessive with his vocals. Don't ya just hate that?

Now, Confessions, Usher's third and said to be most personal album, was released March 23, 2004. The original release was set for March 30, 2004, but I'm sure to spare any competitive sales between his and Janet's album, it was released a week early. I don't think it was an issue; the leaked track 'Yeah,' featurin' Lil John & Luda is definitely this yrs hotness! I'm lovin' the track. From what I understand, 'Yeah' is no. 1 for the sixth straight week on The Billboard Hot 100. Lil John apparently does nothin' but justice when he adds his 2-cents.

In my personal and honest opinion, the album is tight. Production on the album come from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Just Blaze, Bobby Avila, Andre Harris, and of course Jermaine Dupri (amongst others). Confessions kicks off w/ a more mature Usher reflectin' on what is… the truth, one could say.. and what you're about to get into. more..

Y'all remember when Usher came out? (Yea, I said yall). He reminded me of the boy in High School that was always tryna be cool-er than he ever really was, or would've been. It was that faithful Tuesday mornin', September 16, 1997 when "My Way," Usher's sophomore album dropped. Rememberin' then, I was just into the music, not so much the dancin' all over the place, and him openin' his shirt and all that jazz… Listenin' back, Usher's voice was strong and he delivered his talented soulfully without bein' too excessive with his vocals. Don't ya just hate that?

Now, Confessions, Usher's third and said to be most personal album, was released March 23, 2004. The original release was set for March 30, 2004, but I'm sure to spare any competitive sales between his and Janet's album, it was released a week early. I don't think it was an issue; the leaked track 'Yeah,' featurin' Lil John & Luda is definitely this yrs hotness! I'm lovin' the track. From what I understand, 'Yeah' is no. 1 for the sixth straight week on The Billboard Hot 100. Lil John apparently does nothin' but justice when he adds his 2-cents.

In my personal and honest opinion, the album is tight. Production on the album come from Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis, Just Blaze, Bobby Avila, Andre Harris, and of course Jermaine Dupri (amongst others). Confessions kicks off w/ a more mature Usher reflectin' on what is… the truth, one could say.. and what you're about to get into. "Still goin' strong," is what we're told headin' into the album to get the damn thing started. In this album, Usher keeps innovating all the while remainin' soulful.

• Yeah, Yeah, Yeah… We all know this is hot. From the groups of folk competin' on the dance floor @ the club, to your fellow-driver blastin' it from their car w/ all the windows rolled down. There's nothin' more appealin' to me in '04 than hearin' Lil John on any LP screamin' "YEAH" or "OKAY!!!"
• Throwback wasn't what I expected. I really dig the chick's bg vocals, and the electric guitar over the mellow R&B beat. It's just a head-boppa, and the lyrics are strong. It's in with whas' hot… It makes me think of Mario Winans' "I Don't Wanna Know", or Crucial Keyz' "If I Aint Got You…" The similarities run together in style and tone.
• The Confessions intro is a trip… Decent actin' on Usher's part. I thought it was a smart & tactful opener for Confessions II. Now… I need to touch base on a somethin' right now… (damn it). We all know the Chilli & Usher drama! We were all like "Aiight" when they got together, then "…Oh damn," when they broke up… And I know I was like "Good then," when they got back together, but when they broke up again? I was like "LORD."
  
  None-the-less… Confessions II speaks of a man (USHER) sleepin' with a woman he barely knows (to my knowledge, a damn groupie), and her gettin' pregnant and all the things that run through the man's head about what the situation he's found himself in. Okay? So it's been rumored Chilli & Usher departed for the 39,842,039,874,023,472 time, due to Usher's infidelity. I believe the first time was 'cause she realized that Dallas Austin was just her baby's fatha, and she needed to finally get married.
  
  Usher's a young lil playa, excuse me… Individual in the prime of his life & career, so of course he's not ready for such. In a recent review, an understandably bitter Chili stated, and I quote, "Usher did the ultimate no-no, and I never want to see him again." Then you cop his LP and you hear Confessions II and think, "Damn? Who knew???" Only for Usher to claim that this particular song has nothin' to do with him, he was basically writin' from an experience of someone he "knew."
  
  Now this bothers me… I'm all about folk keepin' it real in the last days of the world… But why the hell come out with an album that is allegedly your most personal yet, only to claim thereafter - shoutin' from the rooftops - that is was all about you then try and say that you actually took situations/experiences from your life, as well as others? This leaves me to believe that either Usher is a big ass fake, or everything on this album is true? I've been told from media sources, that Usher is actually fathering the child of the groupie… And Chili is still through. (Sigh) To sum it all up, Confessions II is definitely a good joint… It's powerful & expressive whether it's true or not.
• Burn, the second single from Confessions is a great ballad. Usher delivers with power, vulnerability, and a voice that has been styled & structured well within his style. I think Burn is what a lot of men & women feel when experiencin' relationships gone wrong, etc.
• Caught Up is a jumpin' joint… Up beat, and different. It's a more relaxed rendition of the 'Yeah' feel. Most definitely Usher'ish.
• Superstar is a cool, jazzy, laidback dedication to Usher's fans. I'm all about performers gettin' personal with their fans. The intro slips into Superstar II, which is definitely a poetic lounge, romantic groove. The idea wantin' to be a fan of one of your own fans is a subject never touched by artists. Kudos!
• Jam & Lewis touched Truth Hurts nicely. I recognized it right off. It's a mid-tempo, not too heavy or light track. The melody flows effortless with Usher's vocals, and the cadence is pleasin' by all means.
• Laid back, and much ripened is Simple Things. Another easy-listenin' track, about the things we take for granted.
• 'Sho 'nuff! Bad Girl proves Usher has more than one side. I'm diggin' the track because it adds alterity to the album. Not only is it just real, it's unsorted and has great eminence. Hot track!
• Sexually driven, "That's What It's Made For," proves Usher ain't got to take off his shirt all the time for the ladies. The song is definitely charged and edgy. Not only is it in your face with sexual reality, it has a good message droppin' "We got protection - That's what it's made for." - On another note, not added to the album is a joint called "Seduction." I'm not sure why it wasn't added, but it is definitely in the same light of "That's What It's Made For." However, I like "Seduction" better… It's pieced together so well, you find yourself wantin' to repeat that one mo' gin'.
• To lay with the sexuality, but keep it sensual, we're brought to "Can You Handle It." This is lullaby soundin', glossy/unbroken track for the freaks. Very workable - HAHA.
• "Do It To Me" is reminiscent of Prince's (or the unknown sign I couldn't draw or recognize if I wanted to) "Diamonds & Pearls". Solely by the flow of the music & beat… It's a romantic joint that has Usher's vocals on a higher note, but his ad-libs work in great with the sensual momentum.
• I'm lovin' the vinyl "Take Your Hand!" Both "Take Your Hand" and "Follow Me" are an extremely sanguine feel. Overall, the joints are a hot ending to the album.

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