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
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