Here I Stand - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
2008 album from the R&B superstar. Here I Stand is Usher's follow-up to his history-making, nine-times platinum-selling Confessions. The album tells the story of growth: triumphant, reflective, somewhat defiant and it marks a new period in Usher's life and creative expression. Here I Stand finds Usher working with some of the best producers and writers around including Polow Da Don, Jermaine Dupre, Dre & Vidal and Dream & Tricky Stewart. Features the first single 'Love In The Club'. Laface.

Customer Reviews: Read 132 more reviews...

2 out of 5 stars

Married Man Music (MMM) May 28, 2008
39 out of 49 found this review helpful

Two stars means "ok," and I want to clarify that beforehand because there's absolutely nothing wrong on this CD. However, I listened to it twice, and there was also no song on here that stood out to me, made me want to replay it, or dance to the beat. I'm used to turning Usher's CDs up full blast and trying to memorize all the words, but I didn't get that on this album. There were a lot of songs about being in love, marriage, and being a father (including doing what all parents seem to think is cute--recording their baby(ies) making baby noises). This album was weird for me. It was like Usher lost all his swagger and the cool feel of his music. If you've listened to "Love in This Club," that's basically the feel of the CD. Who thinks about "making love" in a club, as the magazine "Vibe" says in "20 Questions". Usher has definitely grown up, and I think he will gain an older audience with this album. But if you're looking for the old usher who oozes sexy in his songs, flirts with the ladies through melody, and gives us a little bit of hip hop through a lot of R&B, this isn't that album. (Note: He kept that sex appeal when he was with Chili, so I can't say it's the relationship. Man, I loved those two as a couple!) Listeners will, however, get the Usher who sounds head over heels for his wife and child. Again, nothing wrong with this album, but it was kinda repetitive, a little boring, and out of my element (no kids, no marriage). But I am happy for him being in a stable, happy relationship, and I hope him and Tamika stay together forever.

UPDATE (AFTER FIFTH LISTEN): I followed That Juice's advice and listened to the CD again on my MP3 player. Then I listened again. And again. I sincerely am an Usher fan, and I wanted to like it. And I think That Juice is right, along with another reviewer on here who said that maybe the reason some fans couldn't immediately get into the CD was because we weren't READY for it. There was no leading up to the ballads or such a dramatic shift in his music. He just up and did a completely different album. I think my hesitation was that I was unprepared for what I'd listen to. Now that I've settled with the idea that Usher is making MMM, I'm more content with it. I still can't convince myself to change the stars though and think it's "just okay," but I look forward to the next album and will buy it!

2 out of 5 stars

A Weak "Stand" May 30, 2008
15 out of 23 found this review helpful

Based on the first single "Love In This Club", I thought this Usher release was going to be great and exciting. After listening to the entire CD, this was, for me, a rather weak release. My problems with it are mainly that it lacks spirit and variety, all the songs at first listening pretty much sounding similar and few chances being taken to show that Usher's grown as an artist. Another problem is that Usher seems to have suffered the same fate that many married artists do; the songs seem to be written about his relationship or he's attempting to debunk the rumors of the media and tabloids through song. For me, it didn't work.

What I did like were those songs like "Love In This Club" on the album that really stand out and have feeling matched with great production value. "Moving Mountains" and "His Mistakes" both speak of being burned by love and having a few missteps in a relationship. These songs give you chills and manage to make you a bit misty and teary eyed with how relatable they are. I also enjoyed "Trading Places" which is about sex but sets up a curious and playful situation lyrically with some great vocal work. "Love in this Club, Part II" is also fun simply because it features Beyonce and is a total reworking of the song. The Lil Wayne part of the song is weak, but still, I appreciate that for once instead of just having two artist singing over the regular track, someone took the time to totally revamp the song and the feel of it.

Then, the other songs fall flat. The production value isn't great, making some of the songs sound as if they are mix tape quality and in need of more mixing. Usher goes on to sing about women and sex, his two main subject matters, but at this point in his career they simply sound tired and overdone. The other songs on the CD compete with one another due to the sound and lack of excitement put into it. It makes me wonder if some of these songs were rushed through and shows you that an abundance of songs on a cd isn't always a necessarily good thing. It loses my attention and many of these track have 'b-side' quality to them making them fluff and skip-worthy.

In all, let down by this release and feel it was or has been over-hyped and weak. Not worth the money or attention put into it.

4 out of 5 stars

All grown up! May 27, 2008
12 out of 22 found this review helpful

In the 4 years since Usher released his blockbuster "Confessions" album, some major changes have occured in his life; He has gotten married and become a father. The influences of these are heard in his new album, "Here I am", from the album cover art that shows his son's birthdate on the car license plate, to the cries of his son on the interlude "Prayer for you" (on which he promises to be there for his son).

On the beautiful ballad "Before I met you", he confesses that he was a playa before I met you, and on "Appetite", he is painfully honest as he talks about the fight to keep his lust under control whenever he's away from his wife.

The album is ballad heavy, with only 2 uptempo tracks, the really groovy "This aint sex" (which has an 80s vibe), and the will.i.am produced "What's your name" (with techno-sounding strings and Usher saying "Like Donna Summer, girl give me this last dance"). It seems Usher has been listening to Techno quite a bit as techno strings are also used in the smash hit "Love in this club", the awesome ballad "Moving mountains", and the acoustic "What's a man to do"

Other standouts are the retro soul ballad "Something special", "Love you gently", the Stevie Wonder channelling title track "Here I stand", and the hidden track "Will work for love" (which tells the tale of some man down on his luck and begging for anything to do).

Jay Z appears on "Best thing" while his new bride appears on "Love in this club Part 2" (a different song, if you ask me) which is currently climbing the Billboard Hot 100.

My favourite track though is the stunning ballad "His mistakes", a piano ballad with awesome vocals from Usher. In fact, his vocals are so much stronger and soaring on this album.

I usually don't like ballad heavy R&B albums, but a lot of thought obviously went into this album, and in my opinion, this is his best album yet.

1 out of 5 stars

HORRIBLE!!!!! May 28, 2008
11 out of 18 found this review helpful

I waited all this time for this man to drop a CD. I brough it yesterday on BOOTLEG thankgod. It was the worse. i love Usher and his wife, but I dont want to hear him sing about her on every freaking track. He cant even compare this Cd to a CHRIS BREZZY CD. and that young boy dont have nothing on Usher. But I guess when he got married, he got comfortable and lazy. i cant even remember anything on the CD except for Love in this Club. I tossed it right out the window when the remix went off. Step you game up USHER that "spit" was wack!!!! I still love you though, just disapointed.

4 out of 5 stars

Almost 30, Usher shows that he can still make good music. June 12, 2008
10 out of 13 found this review helpful

I was introduced to Usher in 1993 when his track "Call me A Mack" appeared on the soundtrack to the 2 Pac and Janet Jackson movie Poetic Justice (1993 Film). To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of the track because I had purchased the soundtrack for songs by Dogg Pound, 2 Pac and Pete Rock & CL Smooth. When I heard the DeVante Swing produced "Can U Get Wit It", I quickly changed my thinking. This song was 100% better than "Call Me A Mack". Usher ended up being his self titled debut and was released in 1994. "Think Of You" was the 2nd single and was produced by Puffy and "Chucky" Thompson. My Way was released 3 years later and featured one of my favorite Usher songs of all time "You Make Me Wanna". "You Make Me Wanna", "Nice & Slow" and the title track pushed the CD to sales of more than 6 million units. 8701 was released in 2001 after the plan for his original LP was scrapped after the single "Pop Ya Collar" flopped in the US and several of the tracks had leaked to Napster and other internet sites. "U Remind Me" made people easily forget "Pop Ya Collar" and tracks like "U Got It Bad", "U Don't Have To Call" and "Can You Help Me" proved that the sales from "My Way" weren't a fluke. Confessions was released 3 years later and sold an unheard of 1.1 million units in its first week of release. "Yeah!", which featured Lil Jon and Ludacris, was #1 on the charts at the time and the other tracks that I had heard, "Burn" and "Confessions" Parts 1 and 2 didn't hurt either. Once this CD was re-released later in 2004, Usher achieved another #1 track with "My Boo", which featured Alicia Keys.

When I heard the track "Love In This Club", I clearly wasn't a big fan of it. The video was entertaining, especially since Keri Hilson was in the video, but the song or the Part 2 version with Beyonce and Lil "T-Pain" Wayne doesn't do anything for me. Maybe if I was in a club, then I would want to hear it. The 2nd single, "Moving Mountains", is a much better track in my opinion. Usher focuses on the lowlights of his relationship and how all the drama and unexpected turns have caused him to get to the point where he realizes that either she is going to change or this is going to be over for good. "This Ain't Sex" is a nice uptempo track that has Usher telling his woman that the physical part of their relationship is just as special as the other aspects of their relationship. I have heard better Usher slow jams than "Trading Places" but I am sure that the ladies, married or not, won't mind hearing Usher narrarate a tale where the roles get reversed once in awhile on the date and afterwards in the bedroom. "What's Your Name" would be better had will.i.am stayed off of the microphone but once you hear this track you will wonder why tracks like "Echo" and "Dat Girl Right There" w/Ludacris were left off of the CD. If you are married or seeing someone that is worth introducing to your parents then "Something Special" should be one of your favorite tracks. Jermaine Dupri and Maunel Seal produce a nice midtempo jam and Usher takes care of the rest with his vocals and honest feelings towards his woman. "Love You Gently" is the Usher that I am use to on tracks like "Nice & Slow", "Seduction", "That's What It's Made For" and "Can U Handle It". This should be the next single as Andre & Vidal do their job on the production like they have been doing with Jill Scott, Musiq Soulchild, etc. for years. "Best Thing" clearly isn't the best track, but I can definitely relate to the subject matter as hopefully Usher has definitely dedicated his last song to Chili. I have heard better Jay Z performances but if you have been a man in this situation before, you will be able to relate to this track. The same can be said for "Before I Met You". Once again, I have heard better Usher slow jams but the subject matter is clearly something that any man that is married or actually committed in a relationship can relate to. Stargate and Ne-Yo have teamed up once again on another r&b release on "His Mistakes". Usher talks about a situation where he is tired of paying for the mistakes that one of his woman's ex's made. He understands that there is a recovery period, but Usher feels that he has been paying for those mistakes made by other men for too long. Amen! "Appetite" has Usher remaining commited to his woman but he also is fighting with the side that still wants to creep and be with other women. In the end, he realizes that staying committed to his woman is the #1 priority. Stargate is back once again with "What's A Man To Do" as Usher talks about a situation where he allowed a possible love triangle to form as his heart is now in 2 different places with 2 different faces as he puts it. He wants to be honest, but he knows that being honest may cost him both of his women. Usher's brother, James "J Lack" Lackey, who also produced Lloyd's "Get It Shawty", produces a stellar midtempo jam in "Lifetime". Usher reaffirms his dedication to his woman as he discusses almost giving up on love and appreciating the fact that he has found the right woman for him. The album closes with the stellar title track that is produced by Dre & Vidal. If you are in any type of commited relationship, you should be able to appreciate this track. This is clearly my favorite track on this CD. If you can wait out the silence inbetween you will also catch the bonus track "Will Work For Love". It isn't a bad track, but you will understand why it's a bonus track after a couple of listens.

Overall, other than both versions of "Love In This Club", you get a pretty good CD, in my opinion. Is it on the level of "Confessions"? No, but this CD is clearly better than all of these 1 star and 2 star reviews that I am seeing. If you like both versions of "Love In This Club" and you don't like the rest of the CD, then I can understand that. Some people want to hear a whole CD of "Yeah", "That's What It's Made For", "Nice & Slow", and "Can U Handle It" everytime he comes out with a CD. At the time that "Confessions" was made, he had just broke up with Chili and he was fighting with the fact that he still loved her and how he thought she would forgive him for finally being honest. Fast forward 4 years later and Usher now has a wife and a son. You can't expect that everytime an artist releases a CD that you will get the same type of CD every single time. I feel that a fairer rating of this CD is between 3 and a half and 4 stars. If you enjoyed Usher's past work, then I don't see any reason why you shouldn't enjoy this CD after a couple of listens.

James' Top 5

1) Here I Stand
2) His Mistakes
3) This Ain't Sex
4) Lifetime
5) Moving Mountains

Honorable Mention:

Love You Gently
Something Special
Before I Met You
Best Thing w/Jay Z
Trading Places

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