John Legend
Evolver (Sony)
John Legend’s third studio album, Evolver is nothing more than Legend’s third studio album. It is not his crowning achievement - the one that stands alone in what has thus far been a solid career. Nor is it his departure from the formula that got him to where he is today. Evolver is, as the name of click he's affiliated with implies, good music. Not great. Good.
Legend plays it safe all the way around, careful not to take too many risks, lest he alienate a fan base that has brought him two chart-topping albums. When Legend has lost the object of is affection, he comes with songs like “Everybody Knows” and the piano-laden “This Time,” two ballads that are wistful and wishful at the same time. And even when Legend has his girl laying in bed right next to him, he can’t help but sound like he wants more from her, as demonstrated by the cooing pleas of “Good Morning” or “No Other Love”, a sultry, roots-Reggae inspired duet with Legend’s musical protégé, Estelle.
Where Legend has matured is in his ability to craft songs that can actually make a dance floor move. The New Jack Swing inspired “It’s Over” empowers men to shake the spell of their exes with a verse by Kanye West added for emphasis (“Don’t ask why shorty be over/newsflash, shorty we over”). And the album’s first single, “Greenlight” featuring Andre 3000, has proven to be Legend’s biggest and best club-ready hit since 2004’s “Used to Love U.”
Stacked up against other R&B albums this year, Evolver is one of the best. But against Legend’s own work, Evolver is not the game-changer the singer is capable of creating. It’s an effort that does just enough to keep him in the game.
Evolver hits stores 10/28/08
Track Listing for Evolver
1. Good Morning Intro
2. Green Light (feat. Andre 3000)
3. It's Over (feat. Kanye West)
4. Everybody Knows
5. Quickly (feat. Brandy)
6. Cross The Line
7. No Other Love (feat. Estelle)
8. This Time
9. Satisfaction
10. Take Me Away
11. Good Morning
12. I Love, You Love
13. If You're Out There
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Comments
1.
fdhobson says:
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very impartial interview and very true....
November 19, 2008 at 12:19 am