If you close your eyes and listen to "Love In This Club" you might guess that you're listening to a close cousin to Akon. However, the vocals are lacking the sheer beauty of Akon's best vocals or any particular soulfulness. Lyrics generate some of the requisite sexual heat, but this musical ground has been covered many times before in more arresting fashion.Producer Polow da Don provides a nicely atmospheric synth groove and Young Jeezy's featured raps are reliably gritty. However, for an artist of the stature of Usher (his last album Confessions sold over 9 million copies), it's reasonable to expect something more after a 4 year wait.

Usher has lined up an all-star set of producers to work on the upcoming new collection, so it is far too early to give up hope on a strong album. Perhaps Usher's concentration on film acting and Broadway stage performances has distracted him from his bedrock singing talent. Meanwhile, I'll cue up "Burn" and hope for better in the future.

Download mp3 HERE