Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0886972338828 Label: Jive Manufacturer: Jive Number Of Discs: 1 Publisher: Jive Studio: Jive
Rating: - Usher Stands Tall
Usher did an impressive job following up his 9x platinum, "Confessions" album. I'm sure it was definitely difficult attempting this. While some people may agree or disagree this is a very impressive follow-up. My only gripes about the album is the single choices. It seems they weren't probably planned since the album was rushed to coincide with "Love In This Club" taking off so fast. Single, "Moving Mountains" is very good but is way too dramatic and overlong. "Before I Met You" is one of my favorite songs on the album. I can't stop playing it. My other favorites include:
What's Your Name(which should be a single)
Best Thing
What's A Man To Do
Lifetime
Trading Places
This Ain't Sex
and more
Rating: - Here I stand Review
I have been a fan of Usher since 8701. I was very excited to hear Usher was back with a new album after taking some time off to start a family and work on other projects. When I heard "Love in This club" on the radio I thought WOW! Usher is back at the top! I bought the cd the day it came out. When i got home i put it in my cd player and listened to the whole thing, and was disapointed. I figured it was just because I didn't know the songs, and had to listen to it a few times... I've had the cd for about 4-5 months now, and have listened to it many times trying my best to find something I like about it, and just can't. The only songs i do like out of 17 are,
"Love in This Club", Trading Places, and the intro "Prayer for you" with his son.
Rating: - The Spiritual Side to "Here I Stand"
Usher begins by dedicating his album: "To my Lord and saviour, you have revealed to me where I need to be and what I should be doing. Thank you for my life, my experiences, my struggles, and your grace and guidance to overcome the obstacles..." To which I give Usher credit (for his faith and standing up for what he believes in). Although he has made some mistakes along the way he has tried to do the right thing for his future.
His album has quite a few spiritual references including from the song Moving Mountains, an expression taken from the bible (see Matthew 17:20, 21:21 and Mark 11:23). Usher also quotes 1 Corinthians 13:11 in his liner notes "...When I was a child I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, but when I became a man I put away childish things...". The interlude Prayer For You is a prayer for protection, covering, and guidance for his son. In Best Thing feat Jay-Z, Usher also sings "...I've been to church, and I talked to the Bishop, and he wanted me to share this with you, how much I miss you, I'm so sorry I ran the streets, acted like the devil..."
Love In the Club was the first single I heard. Although the tune was infectious and lively, I was initially hesistant about it because of the lyrics. Afterall what person in their right mind would make love in a club "on the couch, on the table, on the bar, on the floor..." in front of everybody (please don't answer if that's you!)? I wondered what Usher's new wife would think of his single as well as his new child (when he grows up)? Although I can't answer for Foster, according to the goss she was apparently jealous of the actress in the video shoot.
I wondered what a married man would be doing singing a song like this, however Usher, himself, explains it "My first single takes you back to the beginning of my life story - [reintroducing] the guy who wanted to hustle and play in the club but eventually making his journey to lifetime". Although I enjoy this song, I do struggle with the morality of it. I am personally married so it doesn't bother me about the 'making love' part, but more the idea of having sex with a stranger in a club!
Trading Places is about a couple trading places in their daily roles as well as in the bedroom! It's got a lovely tune and is very romantic, but I only recommend it to the married, again, for obvious reasons.
Moving Mountains, the 2nd single released from the album, has to be one of my absolute favourites with its smooth sailing vocals demonstrating Usher's amazing vocal range. Combined with its video clip it's an extremely emotional and moving piece that Usher pulls off well. The song is about a lover whose "heart is obliterated" and trying to get through to her is like moving mountains (something that seems impossible). This song will touch the hearts of couples struggling under the weight of everyday pressures whom need to revive their love: "no matter what it takes I've got to get it together, baby".
What's Your Name feat will.i.am, the 3rd [Australian] single from the album is good for its addictive beat while Before I Met You shows a progression "I was a hustler and a player, girl, before I met you... but how you've made a difference... you've got my life together... and I thank you forever." This seems to talk about the difference his new wife has made, who has helped settle Usher down and (along with his son) changed his whole perspective on life.
Then there is His Mistakes: "I'll do anything to prove I love you, but baby girl I refuse to pay for something I didn't do. I love you, girl. But I refuse to stay, paying for his mistakes..." I think this will hit home for people who have trouble trusting in love again after past relationships. Again, very moving.
Appetite which is introduced as a "true story" talks about the temptation to cheat and how easy you can cross that line. While Usher acknowledges the temptation he warns his listeners not to feed that appetite: "Tempted I must confess, but I better not make a mess, better give my girl my best, put my B.S under arrest, because I love my lady, fellas if you love your girl fight that appetite for the ladies..." This song also seems to suggest the dangers of internet pornography "But lately only late at night... I find it hard to sleep... I'm surfing all the sites... it's almost like I'm caught up in living another life, man I'm hungry for something I need to feed this appetite..."
Overall a great album showcasing Usher's amazing talent and ever-maturing voice. There is progression through the album from a young man who liked playing around (listen to Love In the Club Parts 1 and 2, What's Your Name, Before I Met You) to one who now wants to be responsible and stick by his wife and kids (listen to Prayer for You, Something Special, Before I Met You, Appetite, Lifetime, Here I Stand). The songs in between talk about the struggles between right and wrong, the old life and the new (listen to Moving Mountains, What's a Man to Do, Appetite). As Usher reveals in the album credits "This album has given me the opportunity to let my fans know who I am now, a different me, a changing me, a growing me. Here I Stand begins a new chapter in my life."
Rating: - ITS OK,,,,,,, CD GETS BETTER TOWARDS THE END!!!!
I THINK THIS ALBUM WAS A LITTLE DISAPPOINTING........I BOUGHT THE ALBUM WITHOUT EVEN LISTENING TO THE 30 SECOND SAMPLE ( WHICH I NEVER DO) BUT BECAUSE IT WAS USHER I JUST KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE HOT!! WRONG!!! I WAS SO MAD AFTER HEARING THE FIRST 5 SONGS THAT I NEVER LISTENED TO IT AGAIN UNTIL WEEKS LATER...ONLY BECAUSE I HAD NOTHING ELSE TO LISTEN TO!!!! NOW THE CD IS OK.. BUT IF I WOULD HAVE HEARD IT BEFORE I BOUGHT, I WOULD STILL HAVE MY 9.99 IN MY POCKET!!! NOW DONT GET ME WRONG THERE ARE A COUPLE REALLY GOOD SONGS ON THERE BUT OVERALL THE CD WASNT GOOD FOR A PERSON ON HIS STATUS!!! HE SHOULD HAVE RETIRED AFTER CONFESSIONS!!!!!!! WHILE STILL ON TOP!!!!
Rating: - great album, nice rhyms!
you should definitely buy Usher next one because I think he's getting better and better! :)
Omega Centauri is one of the finest jewels of the southern hemisphere night sky, as ESO's latest stunning image beautifully illustrates. Containing millions of stars, this globular cluster is located roughly 17,000 light-years from Earth in the constellation of Centaurus.
I've heard it said by Dave Winer and many many others: if only Dean had reinvested half the money raised into the Internet, then ...
OK, so you're the Dean Campaign Chief Information Officer in August 2003. The money starts to roll in. $20 million over six months, $2-4 million per month.
What would you spend the money on?
What does your monthly budget look like?
What is your application and infrastructure portfolio?
How much will you allocate to maintenance?
You're building from scratch, so what problems do you hope to avoid through wise architecture?
What are your big milestones?
Who are your key vendors?
How do you spend in consonance with the campaign strategy?
How will you use the Internet to bring offline voters into the campaign at the same numbers as radio or television broadcasts?
What is your online strategy for responding to attack ads and opposition pundits in radio, television and print?
Online community takes time to build and is very hard to organize geographically. What will you do to match the state-by-state primary schedule?
What can you do with online services to serve the campaign in caucus states?
You are preparing for Bush to launch in Spring 2004. What are your countermeasures to reach out to moderate Republicans online while the GOP uses its advanced voter email systems to barrage 200 million validated email addresses?
- Usher Stands Tall
- Here I stand Review
- ITS OK,,,,,,, CD GETS BETTER TOWARDS THE END!!!!
- great album, nice rhyms!