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8701
Usher
(Arista/BMG)
A year ago, when this CD was first supposed to be released, it was called All About U -- a Prince-ly spelling affectation that seems fitting given the preponderance of song titles like U Got it Bad, U Remind Me and U R The One.
Now revamped with several new tracks, this sucker has been retitled 8701. On the enhanced CD, Usher Raymond says the title refers to the length of his musical life, which began in 1987 and continues today. Whatever.
From where we sit, it could just as easily refer to the number of hip-hop and soul cliches wrapped up into these 15 cuts. There are the usual producers (Jimmy Jam, Terry Lewis, Babyface, Jermaine Dupri), the usual kinetic slow-groove beats, the usual "sex you up" lover-man shtik, the usual wind-chime and acoustic guitar ballads.
Aside from one cut -- the rousingly aggressive I Can't Let U Go -- there's nothing here for U.
Track Listing
1. Intro-lude 8701
2. U Remind Me
3. I Don't Know featuring P. Diddy
4. Twork It Out
5. U Got It Bad
6. If I Want To
7. I Can't Let U Go
8. U Don't Have To Call
9. Without U (interlude)
10. Can U Help Me
11. How Do I Say
12. Hottest Thin
13. Good Ol' Ghetto
14. U-Turn
15. U R The One