With a wifey and a baby under his belt, Usher Raymond is back with Here I Stand.   The album is a testimony of Usher's growth and maturation, despite its inability to break ground and move records as he did with 2003's Confessions. Featuring ensemble production cast Polow da Don, Will I. Am, The Dream, Dupri, and R&B favorite Ne-Yo,

Usher uses the album to explore different facets of married life, including the concept of roll playing in "Trading Places," and an ode to the woman in his life with "Here I Stand."  Although the album isn't a well rounded representation of what Usher is capable of, it would be wrong to ignore tracks like "His Mistakes," "Before I Met You," and Will I. Am dance hit "What's Your Name?"  Here I Stand is definitely more than half way decent, however its appeal is  mostly dimmed by the high bar Usher has set for himself.

 

Reviewed by Nosa Garrick