music
Usher - Raymond V Raymond
With the release of his seventh album, 'Raymond v Raymond', Usher comes into his own as a sage artist, skillfully capturing the stirring emotions of the human heart in a complete, balanced album in soul-stirring jams, in serious grown man fashion.
From his enchanting lyrical delivery on 'There Goes My Baby', to the cosmic creativity of 'Monstar' produced by Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis, Usher picks up where he left off in the style of his seminal album 'Confessions' – expressing what's on his mind, but leaving enough to pique the imagination and engage the five senses with breathtaking vocal delivery.
"Every super hero [has to] to have theme music," he quips on 'She Don't Know' and that's true for Usher, whose powers are indeed supernatural, framed against percussive handclaps and his familiar one-word recourse.
On 'OMG', set off by Will.i.am's crisp beats, Usher takes it to the floor, and goes hard as the seductive melody comes to a frenzied crescendo. With 'Mars vs Venus', Usher morphs into a mystic over the synth-edged sound of breath as he ruminates on the subject of his desire. 'Hey Daddy (Daddy's Home)', produced by The Runners and Rico Love, finds Usher more playful as a man of experience.
'Raymond v Raymond' was made in Atlanta and Las Vegas studios, reflective of the contrasting themes Usher explores. "Conceptually, the recording process mirrored the album. This time I recorded the album in both Las Vegas (for the first time) and Atlanta. In Vegas, it's no-holds-barred, unlimited access. There are so many different places and experiences. Then I recorded in Atlanta - the city represents to me the reality of emotion and feelings. One city represents perception and the other reality."
Release Date : 29 Mar 2010