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 Released 2003
Usher has the reputation as a loverman, largely because he fits the bill so well. He looks good, his material is smooth and seductive, and he has a nice voice, even if he tends to favor melisma. This has been true throughout his career, and remains true on his third album, 8701, a classy, seductive affair masterminded by Usher, Jermaine Dupri, and Antonio "L.A." Reid. There's not much new here, but Usher does move further in both directions -- the ballads are lusher, the dance numbers hit a bit harder -- but not so much so that it's really noticeable. Overall, the record is probably his strongest yet, but he still suffers from a lack of really memorable material (the singles are usually pretty good, but the album tracks are filler) and a tendency to oversing. Because of these two things, 8701 is more mood music than anything else, and while it does work fairly well on that level, it's not memorable outside of that mood. [The album was also released in a bonus edition that included videos for "U Remind Me," "U Got It Bad," and "U Don't Have to Call," as well as a making-of feature, photo gallery, and Web links.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide
TRACKS 1. Intro-Lude 8701
2. U Remind Me
3. I Don't Know
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 Thing
13. Good Ol' Ghetto
14. U-Turn
15. U R the One
16. U Remind Me [Multimedia Track]
17. U Got It Bad [Multimedia Track]
18. U Got It Bad [Soulpower Remix][Multimedia Track]
19. U Don't Have to Call [Multimedia Track]
20. The Making of 8701
21. Bio
22. Photo Gallery
23. Lyrics
24. Weblinks
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© 2006 All Music Guide, LLC