John Legend is a 45 year old singer/songwriter, pianist, producer & actor from Springfield, Ohio who became the very 1st artist one of my top 10 producers of all-time Ye formerly known as Kanye West signed to G.O.O.D. Music in 2004 & released his debut Get Lifted in tandem with Columbia Records on his 26th birthday. His sophomore effort Once Again as well as Evolver & Love in the Future each have some of his best material too, signing to Republic Records right after Darkness & Light came out. A Legendary Christmas alongside Bigger Love & Legend were all mediocre in their own rights, so hearing Sufjan Stevens was producing John’s 9th studio LP had me interested.
“We’re a Family” kicks things off with this chamber pop intro singing about his wife & the mother of his 4 children Chrissy Teigen whereas “When I Feel Sad” whimsically lets us know what he does whenever he’s down on his luck. After covering “3 Little Birds” by the late Bob Marley, the only single “L-O-V-E” maintains a chamber pop vibe for a celebration of humanity while “Deep in the Ocean Blue” sings about life underwater.
As for “For You”, we have John coming through with a chamber pop anthem dedicated to fatherhood just before “When We Fly” after a rendition of “You Are My Sunshine” by The Pine Ridge Boys kicks off the 2nd half of My Favorite Dream singing about the only limit being the sky. “Safe” recaptures the elements of chamber pop promising to protect his kids from all danger while “Go to Sleep” provides a soothing a lullaby for anyone needing help getting some shuteye.
“Always Come Back” properly ends the album embracing an orchestral vibe instrumentally assuring his children there’ll always be a point where he returns home from the road while “Great, Great Day” starts the deluxe run treading the singer/songwriter waters singing about making the best out of every 24 hours he has. “Friendship” expresses the gratitude he feels towards his present circle of companions & the final bonus track “Maybe” sings about one swinging or swimming back to him.
Come to find out the very same man who made both Illinois and Carrie & Lowell would be producing John Legend’s foray into children’s music & it’s disappointing for me to say the same mediocrity that plagued both of My Favorite Dream’s predecessors creeps it’s way back up here too. I can appreciate John challenging himself writing 9 original compositions other than the production, but I wouldn’t be opposed to parents playing it for their kids as much as they do Raffi or They Might Be Giants.
Score: 2.5/5
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