Evolver - Dark Publications

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Editorial Reviews:

Album Description
The album Evolver features superstars Kanye West, Andre 3000 and Estelle.The album's first single 'Green Light' impacted Urban & Rhythm formats August 19th, 2008. John Legend's debut CD Get Lifted & sophomore CD Once John Legend is the winner of five Grammy Awards.

Customer Reviews: Read 63 more reviews...

4 out of 5 stars

Melodiously catchy, oversmooth 80's sheen. October 28, 2008
31 out of 35 found this review helpful

The former John Stephens flits through rap, reggae, club grooves, guitar-led singer-songwriting and generic pop anthems, with an oversmooth Eighties sheen and sentimental, loved-up lyrics that take him dangerously close to a sloppy, drossy territory.
That is John's problem: his contemporary soul, lovely though its melodies are, suggests facility rather than passion, skill instead of instinct.
His new album remains earthbound.
He lends some old school soul sophistication to the R&B scene, but often seems to promise more than he delivers.
His third album, filled with big name guests, such as Kanye West, Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and Andre 3000 of Outkast, because he can, is a case in point - laid-back, confident, diverse... and a little disappointing.
"Good Morning" is a standard smoochy wake-up call, "This Time" could easily be farmed out to a boy band without seeming any less vacuous, while "If You're Out There's "inspirational" lyrics amount to no more than a string of cliches.
And this with mandatory gospel choir.
The blithe reggae track "No Other Love", the Estelle duet, is enjoyable and sultry enough. At least his new protege, Estelle, gets to return the favour.
"References to "change", "destiny" and "the future" abound; the arrival, midway through, of surging chorales is reassuringly inevitable, as are the crashing power chords.
It is a little corny, but don't be surprised if you too get swept up in its grandeur on....November 4".-A.Macpherson
As on Legend's previous two efforts, his balladry can tend towards banality, and bland slow jams such as "Cross the Line" prove unmemorable.
"We suspect Legend aspires to be a modern Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye. He has ended up as the 21st-century Lionel Richie".- Dan Cairns
But the innate warmth of John's voice mostly carries his material.
Highlights: "Green Light", "It's Over" and "No Other Love".

Shine

3 out of 5 stars

Legend on the decline? November 2, 2008
17 out of 22 found this review helpful

Wow...I mean, I really do love this man. He actually went to my alma mater (big up U Penn!) so I feel a lil connection with him. But I would be remiss if I was not honest about what is going on here. Mr. Legend has served up a mixed bag with this latest cd. I very strongly like about 5 or 6 songs..leaving me with about half the album that doesn't do much for me. At first, I thought that I wasn't a big fan of his last project, Once Again, especially when comparing it to his ground breaking first album. But sadly, I just realized that I actually like his 2nd album better, and I really hate when artists steadily begin to make poorer musical choices. Anyway, let me try and say something nice about this latest offering. I happen to LOVE Greenlight, along with the rest of all people with good hearing. It's Over is great and Everybody Knows is growing on me. Quickly, with Brandy, is GREAT! I love this song, and it's great to hear her coming back. Love the Estelle song, Satisfaction, and Take me Away. The rest, SNORE! My friend actually heard Legend perform This Time live with only a piano and he claims it was amazing. I think I believe him, and wish Legend had been inclined to keep it beautiful and sparse like that on the album, but alas, he did not. I REALLY hate the last song...super super cheesy and just...well take an listen for yourself and decide. All in all, I wish I could string together the songs that I like, cause I really do like them a great deal, and make a little mini album. Not Feeling the Filler John!!

3 out of 5 stars

Let down October 29, 2008
15 out of 20 found this review helpful

I have always been a fan of John Legend even before he was Legend, it was John Stephens but I am not excited about this CD. As he mentioned in the beginning of the Amazon video when he creates a new project he does not know what the sound will be and it shows on this project. This is to POP sounding and missing the raw passion and the jamming sounds which I love about his music. I will always follow his career but this Evolved into nothing for me. Sorry John.

2 out of 5 stars

Disappointing at best November 5, 2008
12 out of 13 found this review helpful

Being a big fan of John Legend's previous two albums, it's really hard to imagine this being his third album. Whatever happened to the passionate piano pieces that were found in "So High", "Ordinary People" and "We Just Don't Care"? The cheeky themes and lyrics found in "She Don't Have To Know" and "Number One"? The smooth tunes of "Save Room" and "Slow Dance"?

'Evolver' feels like a manufactured compilation of samples and beats which play in the background while Legend tries akwardly to fit in with his soulful crooning. While the previous albums lacked the big name collaborations featured in this album, this album lacked the originality and passion that made John Legend a star. And that, at the end of the day, is really what music is about.

The album title may be named 'Evolver', but this seems like a step back towards manufactured Pop/R&B that's playing on the radio. Stick with Legend's previous albums.

5 out of 5 stars

Another Hit, Another Legend October 28, 2008
6 out of 8 found this review helpful

The minute I heard "Ordinary People" from John Legend, I was instantly a fan! I had Evolver on preorder and received it the day before it's official release on Amazon. From the pictures online, I wasn't too impressed with the album cover, but upon receiving it, the cover has this metallic shiny cover. Pretty fancy. ;-)

"Greenlight", the first single is catchy and great to dance to. It sounds like Legend and Andre' 3000 are both just making a song and having fun. "It's Over" sounds like a straight throwback to the early `90s (the hip hop cooley sound). It could be just me...Legend even does a little run at the end of the song that sounds like Teddy Riley. "Everybody Knows" is such a sweet song. It talks of working on relationships and the hardships and puzzlement that it brings. "Quickly" takes it to a pop level with a long-time, no-hear artist, Brandy. Her voice is a lot different and I have to take a little time to get used to it...like she's all grown up all over again! :-) The song itself will have to grow on me. "Cross the Line" is my *first listen* favorite. The vocals and beat just flow in a nice contemporary fashion. This would be a great single--but for some reason my faves never make the singles lists! "No Other Love" is okay and features Estelle, who folks are comparing to Lauren Hill. I wish they wouldn't do that--she's unique on her own and if she doesn't reach the level Hill reached, will end up with an unfair bad rap. That would be like if someone compared Rihanna to Beyonce...(!!!) "This Time" is okay, it will grow on me like "Again" did on his second album. "Satisfaction" is a pretty nice groove--I can also see this being a single (but I don't produce records, so I'm no expert!). "Take Me Away" has a nice island beat and has Legend's vocals shining through--high ranges. This is a great song! "Good Morning" is a wonderful lover's song. Something to listen to when it's just you and your significant other. There is an awesome set of trumpets that fit well with this jam. Reminds me of something by Earth, Wind, and Fire. "I Love, You Love" has been on repeat since playing the cd. It's Stephens' most wonderful ballad since Ordinary People. This song is absolutely wonderful! I wished it would have lasted longer! Finally, the last song, "If You're Out There", I heard a few times during the presidential campaign, and I would compare with "Coming Home" from Once Again.

The only negative thing I would say about this album is the amount of slow songs versus fast on this album, but it works for this album and it flows well. Overall, this album is another hit by John Legend, and once again, I'm glad I purchased from Amazon!

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