EFFORTLESSLY dodging the difficult second album curse with smash hit 8701, Usher Raymond's luck has caught up with him on Confessions.

Those expecting more of the subsonic beats of number one single Yeah will be sorely disappointed by the lack of further club anthems. Usher is not in the party mood on a whopping 68-minute record devoted largely to self-indulgently unburdening his soul. An R&B act of Usher's calibre shouldn't need fillers and the bland drone of Confessions (Part I and II), Burn and Do It To Me just dilute the impact of a funky and fresh album just waiting to get out.

Take Your Hand and Whatever I Want ooze the vibe of Seventies funk, while Bad Girl is guaranteed to get you moving with its cool guitar riff and hand claps. For those who like things slower, the stripped-down soul of Can U Handle It? is Maxwell at his best. Promising, but could be better.

Updated: 09:30 Thursday, April 15, 2004