22. Usher, Looking 4 Myself

Label: RCA
Released: June 20th

R&B isn't dead. But damn, it can get boring. Thankfully, Ursh refused to let people sleep on Myself. With producer Diplo's help, Usher's first single “Climax”-a gloomy techno breakup song disguised as a slow jam-is one of the year's most intriguing songs. The rest of the album is no letdown either. Worldly dance peppers it, delighting most on “Numb” and “Euphoria.” But that smooth R&B flavor he's been cheffing for nearly 20 years remains at its core. Not only did Usher find himself again, but he found a cool new sound, too.