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 Usher 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 My Way 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..." and "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 Usher didn't play it cool all of the time. And while it's refreshing to hear a hip-hop/urban 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 "You Make Me Wanna..." Nevertheless, it's a strong second effort that showcases Usher at his best.
Review by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
| Track | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | You Make Me Wanna... | 3:39 |
| 2 | Just Like Me | 3:26 |
| 3 | Nice & Slow | 3:48 |
| 4 | Slow Jam | 4:40 |
| 5 | My Way | 3:38 |
| 6 | Come Back | 3:47 |
| 7 | I Will | 3:55 |
| 8 | Bedtime | 4:45 |
| 9 | One Day You'll Be Mine | 3:24 |
| 10 | You Make Me Wanna... [Extended Version] | 5:20 |
What do you think about My Way?