Confessions (Usher album)
| Confessions | ||||
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| Studio album by Usher | ||||
| Released | March 23, 2004 | |||
| Recorded | 2003–04 | |||
| Genre | R&B, pop | |||
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| Label | Arista | |||
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| Alternative cover | ||||
Special edition cover
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| Singles from Confessions | ||||
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| Professional ratings | |
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| Aggregate scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| Metacritic | 71/100 |
| Review scores | |
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  |
| Entertainment Weekly | B+ |
| The Guardian |  |
| Los Angeles Times | |
| Q | |
| Rolling Stone | |
| Slant Magazine | |
| Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5 |
| USA Today |  |
| Vibe | 3.5/5 |
Confessions is the fourth studio album by American singer Usher. It was released on March 23, 2004, by Arista Records. Recording sessions for the album took place during 2003 to 2004, with its production handled by his longtime collaborator Jermaine Dupri, alongside with Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis and Lil Jon, among others. Primarily an R&B album, Confessions showcases Usher as a crooner through a mixture of ballads and up-tempos, incorporating musical genres of dance-pop, hip hop and crunk. The album's themes generated controversy about Usher's personal relationships; however, the album's primary producer Jermaine Dupri claimed the album reflects his personal story.
The album became an instant commercial success in the United States, selling 1.1 million copies in its first week. Its continued success was bolstered by its four chart-topping singles. To begin strategizing of boosting its sales amid threats of bootlegging, the special edition for the album was issued, which includes the hit single, "My Boo"; a duet with Alicia Keys. Despite some mixed criticism towards its lyrical substance, Confessions received mostly positive reviews and earned Usher several awards; including the Grammy Award for Best Contemporary R&B Album.
The album has been regarded by music writers as Usher's greatest work, and according to Billboard, is the second best-selling album of the 2000s decade in the United States. With over eight million copies sold in 2004, the album's commercial success was viewed as a sign of recovering album sales in the US, following three years of decline. It was also exemplary of urban music's commercial peak and dominance of the Billboard charts in 2004. Confessions has been certified Diamond by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) and, as of 2016, has sold over 11 million copies in the US and over 20 million copies worldwide.
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