My Way is the 1997 breakthrough sophomore album from Usher released on LaFace Records. This is my favorite Usher album. The majority of production for the album was done by Jermaine Dupri and Babyface. For this review, I’m just going to stick to the highlights
Side A.
1. You Make Me Wanna…
The album opens with a now classic Usher song “You Make Me Wanna…” This song is Usher singing about wanting to leave his current relationship to pursue another woman.
2. Just Like Me (feat. Lil’ Kim)
“Just Like Me” is a song in Usher’s catalogue that had a lot of potential but just comes up short overall. It features two decent verses from Kim but in my opinion they hold the song back. The chrous is catchy. Both of Usher’s verses on the song are on the shorter side.
“I know you get lonely (just like me)
And you want it (just like me)
But act like you don’t
When you know you’re just like me
I know you get lonely (just like me)
And you want it (just like me)
But act like you don’t
When you know you’re just like me”
3. Nice & Slow
“Nice & Slow” is the second single from the album. This is a top 5 Usher song without question. This is Usher’s most sing-along-able song.
5. My Way
“My Way” is the third and final single from the album. In my opinion, the three best songs on this album are the three singles. “My Way” is definitely the third best song on the album but an arguement could be made for the best being either of the other two singles. This song has Usher singing to another man about how the other man’s girl likes Usher better.
Side B.
6. Come Back (feat. Jermaine Dupri)
The 2nd side of this LP opens with “Come Back” which has Usher pleading to his ex to come back. The song opens with a Jermaine Dupri verse that is good on its own but frankly has nothing to do with the rest of the song. It’s a weird transition to have Jermaine rapping about how dope So So Def is and then go into Usher singing to a lady to come back to him. The beat caters more to JD on this song than it does to Usher so I would have liked to have this song be more of a ballad.
9. One Day You’ll Be Mine
This song samples “Footsteps in the Dark” by The Isley Brothers which is the same sample used in Ice Cube’s “Today Was A Good Day”. A theme develops through out the album of Usher longing for relationships with people who are already taken. In this song Usher sings to a girl already in a relationship that one day they won’t have to keep their relationship a secret.
Overall the first half of this LP is extremely strong but the second half is lacking. That being said, I mainly look to Usher for his singles and not the deep album cuts. This is the original promo version and sadly features the clean versions of songs. There is now a 20th anniversary edition of this record available on blue vinyl!
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