Usher - Raymond vs. Raymond

Usher’s new album ‘Raymond vs. Raymond’ is fine. Yep, just fine. If this album was released, say, ten years ago, it may have been described in more complimentary terms, but now, it’s just fine. At this point, I do have to acknowledge that it debuted at number 1 in the U.S. charts, but of course, I’m usually a little more judgemental than your average consumer.

Basically, this album sounds a lot like his last four. It reeks of the over-sexualised narcissism that has come to characterise Usher’s public persona and his music. This may have been different and new in ‘My Way’, his first record in 1997, but after four albums it’s tiring, trite, contrived and of course fully predictable.

The album is formulaic and uninspiring, as Usher continues to sing about the same subjects he did 13 years ago, with lyrics such as “I’m not a player, I’m a pro” and “I’m guilty ‘cause girls always wanna show me love.” Puh-leese Usher, we all know you know you’re hot, you’ve told us continually. How about telling us something new? Not only that, but such eye-rolling lyrics are sung in the same manner and style, and to basically the same beats as those of the past – there’s no evidence of artistic maturity or development, it’s simply static. There’s nothing wrong with singing about sex – it’s ever-present in our overly-saturated pop culture, but since it is so ubiquitous, an artist of Usher’s supposed calibre should be attempting to explore it with more originality.

Granted, if one were to stick this album on in a club full of half drunken 20-somethings, no one would leave the dance floor. Of course, they would also just continue in the same generic head bopping and body grinding as they would do with any other song. It’s just fine.

The one exception to this is ‘OMG’, Usher’s collaboration with Will.I.Am, which is the debut single from the album and is currently all over the radio. It is a great song, with the kind of freshness and funk that has come to be expected of Will.I.Am. The beat is Black Eyed Peas-esque, but unique enough to stand on its own as a great beat accompanied by some pretty good lyrics.

Usher is a great singer; his vocals are awesome, which is probably what has sustained him for so long. But his lyrics and song style in general have been exhausted. It was time to try something new two years ago. Maybe he’ll finally work up the courage and creativity to go outside his own status quo for the next album. [Image from http://agentsmithfiles.wordpress.com/category/usher/]