Tag: John Legend

John Legend – “Muse” review

This is the 10th studio LP from Springfield, Ohio singer/songwriter, pianist, producer & actor John Legend. Becoming 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. Making himself home at Republic Records right after Darkness & Light came out. A Legendary Christmas alongside Bigger Love & Legend were all mediocre in their own rights, coming off My Favorite Dream to have Pharrell produce Muse.

The title track opens up with this swaggering intro singing about a woman who knows she can’t take any Ls whereas “Pray for Ya” hooks up a rubbery bassline & some horns arranged by Terrace Martin looking to ask God to help this person who can’t even help themself regardless of the money they have, presumably referring to Ye when it looks like he’s been medicated & getting help. After the “Her” introduction skit, the actual “Her” song itself passionately sings about doing anything for his wife.

“Daylight” blends contemporary R&B, dancehall & reggaetón for the lead single professing that he’s emotionally invested into the love of his life just before “Get Back” sings about this chick becoming fed up of telling people the bullshit she has to put up with & playing it off whenever something goes down. “Are You Ok?” finds John trying to figure out why this woman he’s addressing has become so infuriated & after the “Under the Bridge” introduction skit, “Under the Bridge” kicks off the 2nd half apologizing for any wrongdoing.

We have John promising his partner he’ll get things right with her “Next Time” & after the “Taps” skit, the 3rd & final single “Bodies on the Floor” featuring Clipse proclaims they’re in the middle of a war they no longer wish to fight fusing gospel & hip hop. “Doing Me” however brings back the symphonic elements that’ve heavily showcased itself across Muse singing about how he’s been focusing towards his grind & not having any patience left.

“Fireflies” winds down the album’s final act looking back at his & Pharrell’s respective upbringings honoring those in their lives who didn’t make it out of those troubling times in their youth while “Everything” sings about losing our monarchs over some bouncy bass & pianos, having nowhere to go or anywhere to be. “Sail Off” passionately wraps it all up loving this person like it’s all John has left in him in the midst of them leaving the day behind.

Mind you that I haven’t enjoyed a great deal of John Legend’s music since Love is the Future came out when I began my junior year of high school, so the teasers building up towards Muse had me hoping it would be his greatest musical statement since leaving G.O.O.D. Music to sign to Republic Records & I can gladly confirm that’s what we got. Pharrell’s production sprinkles refreshingly incorporated elements of orchestral, dancehall, reggaetón, funk, gospel, Afrobeats & hip hop music into John’s contemporary R&B style to back his smoothly commanding vocals.

Score: 4/5

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!

John Legend – “My Favorite Dream” review

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

Keep up with @legendswill_never_die on Instagram & @LegendsllLiveOn on Twitter for the best music reviews weekly!