Track Listing

1. Intro
2. Yeah! Featuring Lil Jon & Ludacris
3. Throwback featuring Jadakiss
4. Confessions
5. Confessions Part II
6. Burn
7. Caught Up
8. Superstar (Interlude)
9. Superstar
10. Truth Hurts
11. Simple Things
12. Bad Girl
13. That�s What It�s Made For
14. Can U Handle It?
15. Do It To Me
16. Take Your Hand
17. Follow Me
18. My Boo � Duet With Alicia Keys
19. Red Light
20. Seduction
21. Confessions Part II Remix Featuring Shyne, Kanye West & Twista

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #4391 in Music
• Released on: 2004-10-04
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
A CD is always more compelling when you know it's lifted from the artist's autobiography, and that's certainly the case with Confessions, Usher's first record since 2001's 8701. The Atlanta singer's string of hits over the past decade have been decidedly under-18s rated, almost veering towards teen pop, but he's changed all that on this coproduced offering, which he claims is "the real him". It would be too simplistic to just brand this record a break-up record, chronicling his public split with TLC's Rozonda "Chili" Thomas; it is that, but so much more. It would be more accurate to call this Usher's coming-of-age record, bridging the gap from boy to man, as he navigates the emotional fallout from the disintegration of his relationship and the events that led up to it--real or imagined.

But other than a guilty conscience, it seems unclear why Usher feels compelled to disgorge his secret life, as he documents his infidelities, transgressions and emotional perfidy in the album's prodigious 17 songs that range from insinuating sultry R&B grooves to the decidedly crunky "Yeah", which pairs an insistent keyboard romp with Lil' Jon's assertive beats and Ludacris' rather humid rhymes. This tracks shines all the more since it's the only club track, but you find yourself pining for more, since most of the other songs tend to get bogged down in his lush, feverish balladry. That's not a bad thing, but the disc would have been better served by a few more muscular tracks. --Jaan Uhelszki, Amazon.com

CD Description
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.

Customer Reviews

Special Edition
Confessions is a fanatastic album and you would think the original couldn't be beaten. The special edition version is just as good, with a remix of "Confessions Part II" featuring the unstoppable Kanye West and the beautiful duet "My Boo" with Alicia Keys.

The album continues through the original format until track 18, when you realise the tracks "Whatever I want" and "Confessions Part I" have been removed. The special edition may advertise itself as having 4 bonus tracks, but in fact you are only getting 2 extra tracks. Whichever version you decide to purchase, you will always feel like you are missing out. I feel Usher let his fans down here as in order to enjoy the full Confessions experience you would need to purchase both albums.

True "Confessions."
"Confessions," the fifth long-player from Usher, is more than a new album. It's also a mature step forward and an exercise in self-examination. Here, Usher unloads some serious baggage, ranging from infedelity (the title track and "truth hurts"), materialism ("Simple Things"), unwanted pregnancy (the title track again), and failed relationships, particularly his breakup with TLC's Chili. But that's not to say "Confessions" is all drama and no fun. The album is neatly divided between uptempo jams and smooth ballads, and Usher doesn't disappoint on either front. At first listen, I wasn't a huge fan of the kickoff single "Yeah!" (featuring Ludacris and Lil'Jon), but over time, this catchy hip-hop flavoured number caught onto me quickly. Other decent cuts are "Superstar," the Jam & Lewis-produced "That's What It's Made For," and the downtempo groove, "Follow Me." Well produced and with minimal filler (I could have done without the messy "Do it To Me"), "Confessions" lives up to its title thanks to its honest lyrics and its tight production.

The Best of Usher
Usher has been around for a very long time and some of his best tunes were made when he was still a young pup. He has definitely come back and made his mark, as the Confessions album is one of the best albums of 2004.