When it comes to storytelling, Usher does handle things pretty well. "U Got It Bad" is interesting evidence on how a person could be dangerously in love, if you will, and "U Remind Me" reminds us that no matter how hard you try, sometimes bad past relationships can affect possible future relationships. The only story that goes awry is "Good Ol' Ghetto", which is a back-in-the-day-type track. It has a good premise, but the lyrics may rub you the wrong way.

Other standouts on the album include my personal favorite, "Can U Help Me" (finally, the artist releases the best song!), where Usher really shines. Also check out "How Do I Say" and "I Don't Know" featuring P. Diddy. (By the way, P. Diddy has been slowly improving ever since "Diddy", and he doesn't disappoint here.) And although "U Don't Have To Call" is catchy, the production and Usher's adlibs are a little annoying.

And that leads to the bad news. A lot of people think "U Don't Have To Call" is a little too loud, but it sounds quiet compared to some of these other tracks. Thanks to Jermaine Dupri's production, some of the songs are louder, thus making them more annoying than even Rodney Jerkins songs. The best example, "I Can't Let U Go", has Usher and JD literally screaming about a doing-me-wrong girl having a hold on them, and it's accompanied by obnoxiously loud music, which will probably make you say "SHUT UP!" And the lyrics to these tracks aren't that grand either. "Twork It Out" (whatever that means) is about Usher wanting to do up his girl, but first he tries to be a gentleman by saying "How 'bout a N fix you something to eat?" Also, he and JD try to introduce a new dance called the "U-Turn", but it's about as relevant as the Casper Slide.

Another concern I have with this album is that Usher spends much of his time unconvincingly telling girls to lose their man and get with him; I say unconvincingly because of the lyrics (you can tell JD wrote them). If Usher wants to have a classic album in the future, he needs to lose him and stay with the better producers, Jam & Lewis (they wrote "Can U Help Me" and "How Do I Say").

Agreeing with Haygn- Middle of the Road
...this CD is sort of the middle of the road...I'm not really what one would call an Usher 'fan', but I enjoy his music. This CD split me almost straight down the middle. There are a few tracks that are absolutely wonderful- "Can U Help Me", "U Don't Have to Call", & "U Got It Bad" are my favorites -and there are some that are pretty good- "U Remind Me" was way too overplayed -but the worst part is a few of the tracks are so sexual they're almost perverse. Prime example is track 4, "Twork It Out". A wonderful melody was ruined by trying to be sensual. Didn't work. I skip the song every time.

This album is worth the money. Usher is a great artist. But a few of the tracks are also worth avoiding. Four stars.

USHER'S BEST ALBUM
This is Usher's best album. It's better than "My Way", and "Confessions." Nuff said.

Smooth and Seductive R
It is very rare for me to come across a true R&B CD I can listen to all the way through and not change a song on the first listen or on any listen afterwards. Usher's first hit CD, My Way, just displayed Usher's singing ability and also some of his writing skills while his latest effort, Confessions, is definately more adult oriented. However, Usher's 8701 ranks up there with Boyz II Men's II for the quality and smooth R&B it has from the beginning of the CD until the end.

The interludes and intro are well placed but not overdone like they are on other albums. I never was a huge fan of "U Remind Me" when it first came out but it does set the stage for "I Don't Know" and I actually appreciate it much more now. If anything, those two tracks are the weakest tracks on the whole album. "Twork It Out" is absolutely seductive and amazing along with the ballad "U Got It Bad" following in a wonderful R&B fashion that's so amazing and smooth. "If I Want To" and "I Can't Let U Go" are great songs with different beats but they stand out even more so because of their lyrics. "U Don't Have to Call" slows down the beats and the mood before the interlude "Without U". Combining "Without U" and "Can U Help Me" makes up the best set in the whole CD. "Can U Help Me" is one of the most tender and outstanding R&B ballads in a long time (think Boyz II Men in the mid-90s) lyrically, musically, and in every way. "How Do I Say" and "Hottest Thing" run on the same type of theme about praising and admiring a woman while "Good Ol' Ghetto" and "U-Turn" go back to a more party vibe and feel. "U R the One" ends of the CD in a club feel and paves the way to realizing that Usher will have club tracks on his next album too. However, this song has a good vibe and ends off the album strong. 8701 isn't one of those run of the mill R&B albums with a couple of songs that stand out. Rather, it's an album that flows like a story from beginning to end and the various forms R&B takes on the album makes 8701 one of the best R&B records penned in the new millenium so far.
that this cute little guy by the name of Usher who came out with the awesome "My Way" would grow up to be an arrogant womanizer with about as much originality as Britney Spears. Grow up Usher. Be a man. You either have the talent/personality/ and originality or you don't. Leave r & b and go be one of Brit's back up dancers.
On his third studio effort (and fourth overall), 22-year-old R&B/pop star Usher Raymond makes the not-so-simple transition from post-teen heartthrob to love man. He does it with solid songs and a generous helping of charisma and vocal acumen, making this much-delayed collection a hot summer treat. Usher is aided in his musical efforts by renowned hit-makers like the Neptunes, Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis (who deliver soaring ballads like "Can U Help Me"), Jermaine Dupri, and new jack Edmund Clement who penned the irresistible single "U Remind Me." With catchy tracks and emotive vocals, Usher revs up his sex quotient and unleashes a winning blend of street-honed jams and passionate love songs. --Amy Linden