Usher
proved that he had a strong, soulful voice with his self-titled debut, but he fulfilled his potential on his second record,
My Way
. What makes
distinctive from his
urban
loverman peers is the fact that he doesn't oversing; he simply delivers his songs soulfully. Unfortunately, he falls prey to uneven material, just like any of his peers, but there are more strong songs on
than many
contemporary R&B
albums from the late '80s. Both
Jermaine Dupri
and
Babyface
contribute seamless productions and fine songs; respectively,
"You Make Me Wanna..."
"Bedtime"
are their best
ballad
contributions. Even if the
ballads
are usually seductive and romantic, cuts like the funky
"Just Like Me,"
which features a cameo from
Lil' Kim
, might make you wish
didn't play it cool all of the time. And while it's refreshing to hear a
hip-hop
/
R&B
album clock in at a reasonable running time, it would have been nice if the tenth track was something other than a remix of
Nevertheless, it's a strong second effort that showcases
at his best. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine