Usher Confessions CD

Usher has been a symbol of tender sexuality ever since he shifted from teenage sensation to soulful superstar. He's breathtakingly good at what he does; possessing that undefinable essence known to a select few soul crooners (Al Green, D'Angelo, etc.) who radiate sensuality through song, Usher has reached an apex on the sultry CONFESSIONS, his fifth studio album.

After the obligatory intro, Lil Jon kicks in with his exhortations on the catchy, dance-floor-ready single "Yeah." Usher follows that up with the sublimely sweet "Throwback," a torch song with a fantastic Motown hook. On "Confessions Part II," he exposes his most vulnerable side when admitting to his lover that he's fathered a child with another woman. Exemplifying his versatility, Usher follows the standard pop ballad "Simple Things" with the guitar-riff-driven "Bad Girl," somewhere between 1970s funk and '80s Prince. CONFESSIONS is the sound of an R&B luminary at the top of his game.

After the obligat

To Ari63982 As Of Monday 9/27

Personnel: Usher (vocals); Ludacris, Lil Jon (rap vocals); Thicke, Rich Harrison (various instruments); Bobby Ross Avila (guitar, piano, Wurlitzer piano, keyboards, Moog synthesizer, programming, vinyl scratches); Daniel Marino (guitar); James Wright (Wurlitzer piano, bass); Jimmy Jam (Fender Rhodes piano); Larry Cox, L-Roc (keyboards); LaMarquis Jefferson (bass); IZ (drums, percussion, vinyl scratches); Sean Garrett, Darcy Aldridge, Paula Patton (background vocals).

Producers include: Just Blaze, Valdez Brantley, Jonathan "Lil Jon" Smith, Usher raymond, James Lackey.

Personnel: Bobby Ross Avila (guitar, strings, piano, Wurlitzer organ, keyboards, drum programming, scratches, background vocals); Iz (guitar, keyboards, drums, percussion, scratches); E Bass, Ken Lewis (guitar); Jimmy Jam (Fender Rhodes piano); James "Big Jim" Wright (Wurlitzer organ); L-Roc, Larry Cox (keyboards); Darcy Aldridge, Sandy Garrett, Patrice "ButtaPhly" Stewart, Paula Patton, Jonathon "Lil' Jon" Smith, Usher Raymond (background vocals).

Audio Mixers: John Frye; Manny Marroquin; Ken Lewis ; Jermaine Dupri; Jon Smeltz; Jonathon "Lil' Jon" Smith; Andre Harris; Phil Tan; Serban Ghenea; Tony Maserati; Vidal Davis; Richard Furch.

Recording information: Baseline Recording Studios, New York, NY; Blue Jay Studios, LA, CA; Circle House Studios, Miami, FL; Doppler Studios, Atlanta, GA; Flyte Time West, Santa Monica, CA; Hitland, Atlanta, GA; Larrabee North, North Hollywood, CA; Larrabee Sound West, West Hollywood, CA; Record One Studios, LA, CA; Right Track Studios, New York, NY; Rondor Studios, LA, CA; Sony Studios, New York, NY; SouthSide Studios, Atlanta, GA; The Village Recorders, LA, CA; Wavelab Recording, Philadelphia, PA; Zach Digital, Atlanta, GA.

Photographer: Anthony Mandler.

This is an Enhanced CD, which contains both regular audio tracks and multimedia computer files.Rolling Stone (4/15/04, p.151) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Songs such as 'Yeah' create] sensual panic by combining Usher's jumpy attacks with [Lil Jon's] sublime, frayed beats."
Rolling Stone (4/15/04, p.151) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Songs such as 'Yeah' create] sensual panic by combining Usher's jumpy attacks with [Lil Jon's] sublime, frayed beats."
Rolling Stone (p.153) - Included in Rolling Stone's Top 50 Records Of 2004 - "[A] ballad-heavy blockbuster..."
Entertainment Weekly (3/26/04, p.72) - "The vocalist reveals his new-found maturity by opening with the grittiest song he's ever done....The ensuing track glides smoothly between club-friendly hip-hop soul and ballads." - Grade: B+p
Entertainment Weekly (3/26/04, p.72) - "The vocalist reveals his new-found maturity by opening with the grittiest song he's ever done....The ensuing track glides smoothly between club-friendly hip-hop soul and ballads." - Grade: B+p
Q (p.107) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[H]e's a fully grown R&B sensation....[With] addictive R&B hooks and all-dancin', all-lovin' subject matter boosted with hot production tweaks."
Q (p.107) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[H]e's a fully grown R&B sensation....[With] addictive R&B hooks and all-dancin', all-lovin' subject matter boosted with hot production tweaks."