Aided and abetted by Canadian rapper Snow, Usher offers a semblance of new jack swing in the late-night vibe of "Joy in Small Places." The disc's full melodies and studio-tweaked successes are sometimes offset by the singer's pretensions, though. A line in "How Are You" about "another struggle just to get through nine to five" is laughable coming from a guy who hasn't had a day job in years, while a cover of Tracy Chapman's dead-end-lives portrait "Fast Car" only serves to remind listeners of the vastly superior original. And, in "Butterfly," Usher's tendency to over-emote sinks an otherwise delicate, acoustic guitar-based number. But those who can overlook such foibles--and, judging by the success of Moist, there are many--will find much to like about Morning Orbit.

--Shawn Conner