The Main Idea:
After a disappointing debut record, Usher redefined his sound and released his sophomore effort, My Way, in 1997. The album was an immediate success, and it's easy to see why. My Way's sound is more mature and grown-up than Usher's first record and introduces many hip-hop elements, courtesy of executive producer Jermaine Dupri. It's smooth and soulful, but its lyrical content can be a bit unsettling when sung by a teenager. That's my only qualm with this record because everything else about it is excellent. The vocals, production, instrumentals, and the less provocative lyrics all come together to create an album that flows perfectly from song to song, even if there are only nine songs.

Song-By-Song Breakdown:
1. YOU MAKE ME WANNA... - This was Usher's breakthrough hit. Produced by Jermaine Dupri, the song is about being in love with someone, but realizing you wanna be with somebody else. The hip-hop-heavy production is surprisingly catchy and really suits the flow of the vocals well. This is one of my favorite Usher songs of all time, mostly because it's so smooth and really shows what he can do. It's excellently written as well with not a hint of childishness - 5/5

2. JUST LIKE ME - Call me a perv, call me a freak, call me whatever you want, but this is one of my favorite songs on the record. The lyrics are quite dirty, as is the more hardcore production, and Lil' Kim adds a slightly over-explicit rhyme: "Got mirrors on my ceiling/So I can see it/When ya head be in between it/If I had a penis/I'd be hard that's for real though/N*ggas start sh!t/I'd just flash out my d!ldo." Ummmm, okay.... anywho, nothing could ruin Usher's superb and convincing delivery of this gem, even if it is a little nasty - 5/5

3. NICE & SLOW - I'm sure you're familiar with this hit ballad, but I'll briefly describe it anyway. It's very sexy and romantic, but, when I first heard this song, I thought it went "I'll f*ck you right I will." Imagine being eight years old and thinking you heard that... it's still a great song, though, and features some great, plucky guitar, smooth production, and cool echo-sounding background vocals. I'm still a little disturbed by an eighteen-year-old singing these lyrics, though - 5/5

4. SLOW JAM - I guess the title of this cut gives away its overall sound. It's actually a duet with Monica. I think she was a really good choice because her voice meshes well with Usher's. Anyway, the piano, keyboards, and classic R&B production really bring out the soulful, rich qualities in both Usher's and Monica's voices. The lyrics, though they're certainly not Shakespeare, are well-suited to the production. I find this tune just a tiny bit boring, but I love it regardless - 4/5

5. MY WAY - Yet another hip-hop/R&B mix, though this one's a bit more radio-friendly. The cocky lyrics - "But you think you a baller/And I ain't gonna call her/Clip that, you can get mad if you want to/Say whatever you want/But she's still gonna give it up" - and fresh, yet somewhat simple, production are great, and I even like Usher's little rapping piece, though I think he should stick to singing. Arrogance can be annoying, but, in this case, annoying can be good when set to some excellent beats - 5/5

6. COME BACK - This song's background music probably sounds familiar, as it borrows from the same Joe Cocker track sampled in 2Pac's "California Love," and some of the vocals, particularly on the hook, don't suit it too terribly well, but it's great nonetheless. It's quite danceable and funky, and Usher sounds like he really does want his girl to come back. It's very catchy, though I could have lived without JD's rapping at the beginning; I really can't stand him - 5/5

7. I WILL - This track, though co-written by Teddy Riley, is probably my least favorite on the album. That's mostly because of the odd-sounding background vocals and slightly corny lyrics: "I will pay anything to know what's on your mind/I do whatever it takes, pretty baby/I will pay anything to know what's on your mind/Please tell me baby, I would pay anytime." Usher sings really smoothly on this mid-tempo ballad, and the production is great, but it's just those weird vocals on the hook that turn me off. They don't sound like Usher - 4/5

8. BEDTIME - This is another Babyface-produced ballad with a real sensual feel to it. It's almost ruined by the "get freaky" parts, as that's not the best way to compliment this tune's romantic, keyboard-laden production and sound. The background vocals on this cut are the best on the album; Shanice (check her out too) adds some really beautiful ad-libs. Usher really excels at ballads; I would have liked to see more songs like this tacked on to the record - 5/5

9. ONE DAY YOU'LL BE MINE - By sampling a familiar Isley Brothers tune, producer Jermaine Dupri gave this otherwise decidedly hip-hop track an old-school soul vibe. The lyrics are catchy - "But what's bad is I know you got a man/And he'll never understand/The chemistry between me and you/Something inside of me/It's saying you and I were meant to be" - and the melody is great. The production and vocal arrangements are also noteworthy, and Usher adds a little bit of attitude to it - 5/5

10. YOU MAKE ME WANNA... (extended version) - I guess if for some reason you didn't like the single version, you can listen to this longer, more danceable version if you really wanted to, but I personally don't like songs that are extended by long production pieces. It doesn't ruin the track for me, though; I just don't see the point in dragging out one song for over five minutes when you already have the meat of it on another track. Has the same identical sound as #1 - 4/5

The Big Picture:
My Way is definitely one of my favorite albums of all time (look for a list of those coming soon), even if it does have only nine original songs. It's just excellently thought-out and put together and is a perfect example of what a contemporary R&B record should sound like. I still find the concept of an eighteen-year-old writing and singing songs about sex and getting freaky hard to swallow (no pun intended), but I really think it's presented in a fairly tasteful way. In truth, Usher seems far beyond his years on My Way, both vocally and lyrically. I think his biggest strength is the way he delivers a song, always with conviction and meaning. He knows how to use his voice to make every song sound uniquely his own, and by now I truly feel that none of the songs on My Way could have been done by any other artist as well as Usher did them.

Equal parts soulful and street-smart, My Way was a great way for Usher to really introduce himself to the mainstream market. It's radio-friendly and accessible without losing its raw energy and appeal, and that's something that's usually very hard to find in the music industry, particularly in the R&B market. As I mentioned before, this album only has ten tracks, and I feel it would have been an even bigger success had it included at least a couple more, especially ballads, as they're really Usher's strong point. They allow him to stretch a bit more vocally and express more emotion in the lyrics. If you're into some downright soulful music that can still get you moving on the dancefloor, My Way is definitely the record for you. It's R&B at its very best, and I like it baby, I really do.

^^^Me and my stupid cheesy little lines - I'm pretty lame, aren't I? Well, at least I'm still Potato God (hee hee hee, just some shameless self-promotion).

Final Notes:
Average Song Rating: 4.7
Best Song(s): "You Make Me Wanna...," "Just Like Me," and "Come Back"
Worst Track(s): "I Will"

How Would I Rate This Record's...
Vocals? 4 stars
Lyrics? 4 stars
Production? 4 stars
Timelessness? 3 1/2 stars
Artistry? 3 stars

Also Recommended:
TLC - CrazySexyCool
Toni Braxton - Secrets
Aaliyah - Age Ain't Nothing But A Number

Recommended: Yes

Great Music to Play While: Romancing