Usher was pushing his "revolutionary pop" concept as early as 2010, when he told StyleList, "I love that people are talking about the new hair, it represents who I am now and the creative movement of revolutionary pop." Prior to the release of his seventh studio album, he was doing it more than ever, quite likely encouraged by a Top Five Hot 100 collaboration with mainstream dance kingpin David Guetta ("Without You").
With rare exception, revolutionary pop as presented on Looking 4 Myself sounds just like contemporary pop-oriented R&B, or European dance-pop, or some combination of the two.
Compared to Usher's previous album, this is weighted more heavily toward dance-pop, much of which is functional and well made but unremarkable.
The set is front-loaded with two such numbers.
"Can't Stop Won't Stop," a typically savvy production from will.i.am and partner Keith Harris, incorporates flashes of commercial dubstep and a synthesized version of that escalating wordless melody from Billy Joel's "Uptown Girl." The Max Martin/Shellback-produced "Scream," a Top 20 hit by the time the album was released, is a pummeling dancefloor track with a mindless seduction theme.
Next is the stellar Diplo collaboration "Climax," a bittersweet, 100% modern ballad that creates tension with space.
It's more moving than what precedes and follows, but there are other highlights and a couple pleasantly surprising twists.
"Lemme See," featuring Rick Ross, is a slithering, low-slung jam -- one of Usher's best.
The easygoing yet emotive title track, a cross between new wave and soft rock with an appearance from Luke Steele (the Sleepy Jackson, Empire of the Sun), could pass for a cover of a missing track from the back half of the first N.E.R.D. album.
Ironically, that's the singer's boldest move.
While Usher's talent as a vocalist adds some depth to the producer-driven field of dance music, he's more of a creative force when he's working with slower, soul-rooted material.
There's no shame in riding the wave, especially when you can do it better than anyone else.
Calling it revolutionary is disingenuous.
| Title/Composers | Performer | Listen | Time | Size | Size | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Can't Stop Won't StopWilliam Adams, Keith Harris, Billy Joel | Usher | Play | 03:51 | 8 MB | 28 MB |
| 2 | ScreamUsher Raymond IV, Savan Kotecha, Max Martin, Shellback | Usher | Play | 03:54 | 8 MB | 29 MB |
| 3 | ClimaxSean Fenton, Usher Raymond IV, Thomas Wesley Pentz, Ariel Rechtshaid | Usher | Play | 03:52 | 8 MB | 24 MB |
| 4 | I Care for UMarcella Araica, Eric Bellinger, Kevin Cossom, Nate Hills, Usher Raymond IV, Juan Najera | Usher | Play | 04:07 | 9 MB | 26 MB |
| 5 | Show MeMarcella Araica, Kevin Cossom, Nate Hills, Usher Raymond IV | Usher | Play | 03:43 | 8 MB | 25 MB |
| 6 | Lemme SeeEric Bellinger, Usher Raymond IV, Lundon "Da Bridge" Knighten, Nickolas Marzouca, Daniel Morris, William Roberts, James Scheffer | Usher | Play | 04:12 | 9 MB | 28 MB |
| 7 | TwistedUsher Raymond IV, Pharrell Williams | Usher | Play | 03:43 | 8 MB | 22 MB |
| 8 | DiveRico Love, Daniel Morris, Frank Romano, James Scheffer | Usher | Play | 03:46 | 8 MB | 23 MB |
| 9 | What Happened to UEric Bellinger, Sidney "Omen" Brown, Sean Combs, Reginald Ellis, Norman Glover, Usher Raymond IV, Noah Shebib, Carl Thompson, Christopher Wallace | Usher | Play | 04:21 | 10 MB | 25 MB |
| 10 | Looking 4 MyselfEarl Hood, Eric Goudy II, Rico Love, Pierre Medor | Usher | Play | 04:11 | 9 MB | 29 MB |
| 11 | NumbSteve Angello, Axel Hedfors, Usher Raymond IV, Sébastian Ingrosso, Terry Lewis, Alessandro Lindblad, Ryon Lovett, Klas Åhlund | Usher | Play | 03:45 | 8 MB | 26 MB |
| 12 | Lessons for the LoverEarl Hood, Eric Goudy II, Rico Love, Pierre Medor | Usher | Play | 05:07 | 11 MB | 32 MB |
| 13 | Sins of My FatherUsher Raymond IV, Terry Lewis, Rico Love, Salaam Remi | Usher | Play | 03:56 | 9 MB | 26 MB |
| 14 | EuphoriaSteve Angello, Axel Hedfors, Usher Raymond IV, Sébastian Ingrosso, Terry Lewis, Ryon Lovett, Juan Najera, Klas Åhlund | Usher | Play | 04:20 | 9 MB | 31 MB |
| 15 | 2nd Round | Usher | Play | 03:21 | 7 MB | 23 MB |
| 16 | Hot Thing | Usher, A$AP Rocky | Play | 03:27 | 7 MB | 26 MB |
| 17 | I.F.U | Usher | Play | 04:02 | 9 MB | 24 MB |
| 18 | Say The Words | Usher, Surahn Sid | Play | 04:00 | 9 MB | 25 MB |
| 71 mins | 164 MB | |||||
| 71 mins | 481 MB | |||||
| Artist | Job | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kory Aaron | Assistant |
| 2 | William Adams | Composer |
| 3 | Klas Åhlund | Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 4 | Steve Angello | Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 5 | Marcella Araica | Composer, Mixing |
| 6 | Diego Avendaño | Assistant |
| 7 | Axwell | Instrumentation, Producer |
| 8 | Liz Bauer | Assistant |
| 9 | Eric Bellinger | Composer |
| 10 | Delbert Bowers | Assistant |
| 11 | Andre Bowman | Bass |
| 12 | Sidney "Omen" Brown | Composer |
| 13 | Jen Bui | Management |
| 14 | Nathan Burgess | Assistant |
| 15 | Noel "Gadget" Campbell | Mixing |
| 16 | Francesco Carrozzini | Photography |
| 17 | Andrew Coleman | Arranger, Digital Editing, Engineer |
| 18 | Stephen Coleman | String Arrangements |
| 19 | Sean Combs | Composer |
| 20 | Kevin Cossom | Composer, Vocal Producer |
| 21 | Tom Coyne | Mastering |
| 22 | Ron Croudy | Art Direction |
| 23 | Thomas Cullison | Assistant |
| 24 | Czech Film Orchestra | Strings |
| 25 | Jacob Dennis | Assistant |
| 26 | Diplo | Producer |
| 27 | Gleyder "Gee" Disla | Engineer |
| 28 | Dylan Dresdow | Mixing |
| 29 | Reginald Ellis | Composer |
| 30 | Alex Eremin | Assistant |
| 31 | Sean Fenton | Composer |
| 32 | Chris Galland | Assistant |
| 33 | Serban Ghenea | Mixing |
| 34 | Norman Glover | Composer |
| 35 | Mark "Exit" Goodchild | Engineer |
| 36 | Eric Goudy II | Composer, Drum Programming |
| 37 | John Hanes | Engineer |
| 38 | Keith Harris | Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 39 | Axel Hedfors | Composer |
| 40 | Vincent Henry | Saxophone |
| 41 | Nate Hills | Composer |
| 42 | Earl Hood | Composer, Drum Programming |
| 43 | Matt Huber | Assistant, Engineer |
| 44 | Mashanda Huskey | Vocals |
| 45 | Sébastian Ingrosso | Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 46 | Billy Joel | Composer |
| 47 | Phil Joly | Assistant |
| 48 | Jim Jonsin | Keyboards, Producer, Programming |
| 49 | Lundon "Da Bridge" Knighten | Composer |
| 50 | Savan Kotecha | Composer |
| 51 | Terry Lewis | Composer |
| 52 | Alessandro Lindblad | Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 53 | Rico Love | Composer, Producer, Vocals |
| 54 | Ryon Lovett | Composer |
| 55 | Robert Marks | Mixing |
| 56 | Manny Marroquin | Mixing |
| 57 | Max Martin | Composer, Producer, Vocals (Background) |
| 58 | Jaime Martinez | Assistant |
| 59 | Nickolas Marzouca | Composer |
| 60 | Nikolas Marzouca | Engineer, Mixing |
| 61 | Pierre Medor | Composer, Keyboards, Producer |
| 62 | Daniel Morris | Composer |
| 63 | Danny Morris | Keyboards, Programming |
| 64 | Mr. Morgan | Management |
| 65 | Nico Muhly | Piano, String Arrangements, Strings |
| 66 | Juan Najera | Composer |
| 67 | Nicole Patterson | Make-Up |
| 68 | Thomas Wesley Pentz | Composer |
| 69 | Mark Pitts | A&R, Executive Producer |
| 70 | Usher Raymond IV | Composer, Executive Producer, Liner Notes |
| 71 | Ariel Rechtshaid | Composer, Keyboards, Synthesizer |
| 72 | Salaam Remi | Arranger, Bass, Composer, Drums, Guitar, Keyboards, Producer |
| 73 | Dana Richard | Assistant |
| 74 | Ramon Rivas | Assistant |
| 75 | William Roberts | Composer |
| 76 | Frank Romano | Composer, Guitar, Producer |
| 77 | Rick Ross | Featured Artist |
| 78 | David Royer | Stylist |
| 79 | Sam Holland Såklart | Engineer |
| 80 | Ed Sanders | Assistant |
| 81 | James Scheffer | Composer |
| 82 | Phil Seaford | Assistant Engineer |
| 83 | Noah Shebib | Arranger, Composer, Instrumentation, Producer |
| 84 | Shellback | Composer, Keyboards, Producer, Programming |
| 85 | Curtis Smith | Groomer |
| 86 | Aaron Spears | Drums, Percussion |
| 87 | Luke Steele | Featured Artist |
| 88 | Swedish House Mafia | Producer |
| 89 | Carl Thompson | Composer |
| 90 | Max Unruh | Assistant |
| 91 | Usher | Primary Artist |
| 92 | Jorge Velasco | Assistant |
| 93 | Christopher Wallace | Composer |
| 94 | Randy Warnken | Assistant |
| 95 | Eric Weaver | Assistant |
| 96 | will.i.am | Instrumentation, Producer |
| 97 | Pharrell Williams | Composer |
| 98 | Frank Zuber | Art Direction |
| Quality | Format | Encoding | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | MP3 | 320kps 44.1kHz | MP3 is an audio coding format which uses a form of lossy data compression. The highest bitrate of this format is 320kbps (kbit/s). MP3 Digital audio takes less amount of space (up to 90% reduction in size) and the quality is not as good as the original one. |