Judging by his latest album, Looking 4 Myself, it would seem that Usher is undergoing some sort of identity crisis. Nearly two decades into a career full of multi-platinum sales and crossover hits, it is less apparent than ever who the 33-year-old star is as an artist. Though once (not unconvincingly) hailed as Michael Jackson's successor, Usher's musical output now consists of a dishearteningly market-tested mash-up of radio-ready dance-pop—which boosted his sagging profile back in 2010—and the R&B ballads that were his bread and butter.
If I could make one suggestion to help Usher sort things out, it would be to drop the stale synths and focus more on soulful numbers like this summer's exquisite "Climax" and new single "Dive," another sexy bedroom jam. The falsetto runs and heavy-handed central metaphor are nothing new to his repertoire, but they showcase Usher at his best: as a master of seductive sensitivity. If you're going to stick to a formula, pick the right one. A-
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