Customer Reviews
Usher not quite at his best, but still a great album. - By: Flo, 17 Jul 2010 
I really quite like this album, I think there is a broader range of styles of music than his previous albums.
The first song "Forever young" makes good use of a piano & string instruments at the begninning & with the mysterious sounding key, the song start is intense & suspenseful, then further into the song, the R&B vibe comes through. Usher also uses a broad range of vocals - going very low & high.
Though still with the R&B style there, "Something special" & "will work for love" are simpler - "something special" is accuostic style. "Will work for love" reminds me of the script - "The man who can't be moved". These 2 songs are a nice change to the other songs on the album, but don't seem out of place.
Moving mountains is a great ballad showing his vocal ability & emotion. "His mistakes" & "what's a man to do" are similarly emotional & earnest (Usher's signature :P).
"This ain't sex", "Lovein this club" & "What's your name" are the more upbeat songs on the album. I like the 3 songs but "What's your name" (feat. WIll.I.am) is a little boring & the beat is very repetitive (maybe this is Will.I.am's touch...).
I'm quite favourable about the album :), but I must admit I didn't take to the album straight away - took me a few listens through to appreciate some of the songs. I think that because the album is quite long, some of the songs aren't as good - but the majority of the songs definitely make up for those :).
Ushers on top form !! - By: A. Brown, 07 Feb 2009 
I read many of the mixed reviews on here about 'Here I Stand'. Don't go with the negativity - Ushers grown up !!!
This CD shows his maturity & I can't fault it. From the beats to the lyrics, Usher hasn't put a foot wrong.
If you've grown with him from Confessions, then you will understand where he's coming from; he is afterall now a married man with two kids !!
This is on constant repeatin my house
Definetly buy, listen & enjoy !!
Excellent! - By: Mrs. J. Walters, 01 Feb 2009 I bought this for my daughter for christmas, it camein good time & my daughter loves it!
Stand for nothing, fall for anything - By: LT Twalo, 26 Nov 2008 Usher becomes the victim of his own success on this album. If Jaheim or Raheem DeVaughn or Dwele had released the exact same album, it would have been a classic, but not for Usher. Instead, he comes off as a former superstar, trendsetter who's gone soft. This, for me, is not a bad thing because I can relate to this Usher better having been married 2yrs ago myself.
Songs like "Appetite", "Before I Met You" & "Here I Stand" are real/relevant to me & they stand out as my favourites. The 1st single "Love In This Club" & its remix are also brilliant but unfortunately also misleading as they do not define what the rest of the album is about. Other tracks that play on the sex theme like "Trading Places" & "This Ain't Sex" fall flat.
Unfortunately for Usher is the fact since he's been gone the R&B scene has evolved. An evolution lead by the European sounds of StarGate & the Jodeci'esque sounds of Tricky & The Dream. Acts like Ne-Yo, J-Holiday, Chris Brown etc. have had a few years doing it so it does not sound fresh when Usher tries it on. "What's You Name" with Will.I.Am for example is excellent but it sounds like every other song on Ne-Yo's last album. Similarly, the power ballad & 2nd single "Moving Mountains" may be on class of its own lyrically but the overall package sounds generic.
Usher does redeem himself on the all too short intro & interlude tracks. These are beautiful tracks that really put his pipes on display, the extra slow "Love you Gently" is another beautiful addition. But I suppose people aren't ready to hear Usher on slow jams & that explains the reception that this album has had.
I applaud Usher for taking a stand on this album, even if the rest of the world may choose not to stand with him
Intellegent art vs pap - By: Harold Sewell, 01 Nov 2008 This album consists mainly of slow tracks but not all are typical ballads. Some are soulful reflections on life & relationships. The music itself is a mix of neo classical soul & modern R n B. This combination may lead to audiences responding to the familiarity of the modern beat & then eschewing the other creative material.
Basically your ability to appreciate this music depends on your ablity to appreciate talentin song writing, vocal delivery & the arrangement of strong vocals with the right accompaniment. If you can appreciate these, this album wil inspire you & will call you back time & again, evenin 5 or ten years. If you like to feel a beat & you 'know what you like' - & that is modern mass produced R n B - you may well be disappointed.
My assessment is that Usher has made an album that is interesting. If you read novels, it is like a combination of good character development & superb plot. If you watch films it is like fantastic dialogue, great character development & wonderful locations. If these references to the content of other art forms bewilder you, you probably will rate this album poorly.
