There are some musical artists who’ve earned lifetime support subscriptions in my book – John Legend, Alicia Keys, Robin Thicke, for example. These singers can count on me to purchase just about any album that they release. Their music has treated me well in the past, and so I’ve remained a loyal fan. I can find a way to defend even their less attainable projects with earnestness!

But what happens when an artist like Usher, who, based on the thumpin’ strength of 8701 and Confessions, was quickly approaching an induction into my lineup of surefire hitmakers, releases an album like his most recent – the…less than crunk but more personal Here I Stand?

I, being an R&B enthusiast, buy it of course with hopes that I’ll be able to vibe with a couple of the album’s tracks. And when friends question the potency of the disc, I try to convince them that it’s merely one of those CDs that has to “grow on you”. I then continue to seek extra layers in the songs’ lyrics and instrumentals that I may have missed the first go round.

But, now is Usher, himself, hinting that Here I Stand didn’t fully live up to his supporters’ or his own expectations? According to MTV, he’ll be heading back into the studio pretty soon and possibly working with Ne-Yo on his next project which should hit shelves in early 2009. Since Here I Stand just came out in May 2008, this announcement is particularly surprising – it sounds like Usher might be trying to regain our attention with an upbeat follow-up record. You can hear him and Ne-Yo discuss the project below:

I still maintain that Here I Stand is a decent and mature album, but I’m hoping that Usher knocks it out of the park with this next release!

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