Album Review: John Legend- ‘Love in the Future’ (30/08/2014- Columbia)

Actor, do-gooder and 9-time Grammy Award winning R&B/Soul Singer songwriter- John Legend has been gracing us with his presence since 2004. Before becoming a recognised artist in his own right, Legend collaborated with the likes of Jay-Z, Kanye West and Alicia Keys.

Legend’s debut studio album ‘Get Lifted’ sold over 116,000 in its first week, but since then, the Ohio-born singer has gone from strength to strength, with his first single from ‘Love in the Future’, ‘All of Me’- which is dedicates to his model wife Chrissy Teigen. The single has shifted more than 4 million copies in the U.S. alone, and has therefore gone 4x platinum. As for the album itself, it’s sold over 500,000 copies in the U.S. and 100,000 in the U.K.

‘Love in the Future'- the artwork

‘Love in the Future (Intro)’ is a simplistic, tender welcome to the record, with elements of seduction, romance and looking ahead, thrown together with an unadulterated golden voice. Right from the word go, John Legend draws you in with his warm and soulful flair and each track is seamlessly intertwined with the next.

‘The Beginning…’ is put together in a timeless manner, combining strings, heavier beats and top notch vocals. The instrumentation of this track is on point, despite the sexual nature of it- proving that writing songs about sex doesn't need to be seedy. John Legend is all about commitment on this album, and ‘The Beginning...’ is no different. It introduces the idea of optimistically planning for the future…babies, a home and o course, changing the world along the way. 

However, I can’t help but feel the record's appeal wanes due to the generic feel of the backings and melodies. But it’s given a lift fine piano playing and minor production tweaks. Yet he does capture intimacy very well, and paints a picture of a long-term couple.

Legend’s dulcet tones in Legend’s cover of Bobby Caldwell’s classic ‘Open Your Eyes’ are the perfect addition to up-beat piano playing weaved into energetic yet light back beats. While some R&B singers can get by on the strength of their voices alone, Legend puts in the extra effort to stand out; he knows how to play to his strengths. 

John Legend performing

These songs are carefully crafted exclusively to his fitting and he performs every one with so much soul and passion that it really is moving at times. Album production is also top notch- creating a record that has a modern vibe with a timeless heart.

The hap-hazard beginning of ‘Made to Love’ forms the pathway to a hook-laden, handclap infested feast for the ears. The track also makes use of djembe drumming and voice-effects that make Legend’s dreamy vocals come across as even more classic, if a little repetitive. It also features Synthpop singer Kimbra- and its clear her musical influences have crept their way into the recording. In fact, towards the end of the song, with the addition of soulful backing vocals, and a sample-like feel, ‘Made to Love’ comes across as a mediocre remix of an R&B classic with a melodramatic ending. 

Speaking of sampling, ‘Who Do We Think We Are’ intertwines Legend’s sublime talent with Jean Knight’s ‘Mr Big Stuff’, creating an example of why sampling is tricky to get right, as this track is a very hit and miss affair and trickles into its lackluster ending of talk-singing. It also features rapper Rick Ross to emphasise that John Legend’s best work is definitely his ballads. 

Legend co-wrote next track ‘All of Me’ the song with Toby Gad and co-produced it with Dave Tozer. It’s easy to see why it was selected as the first single from the record- it’s intricate tones and meaningful lyrics make it radio-perfect and suitable for music fans who are into various genres. It’s stunning in its simplicity, and also highlights the consistency of Legend’s voice as well as his pure talent as a songwriter. His voice is clear as a bell and generates a calm, intimate feel with his velvety smooth style and honest lyrics.

‘Hold on Longer’ is a tender yet dreary track to say the least; even Legend’s focused singing doesn’t overwrite how eerie yet dull this song is. With its funky, modern groove, ‘Save the Night’ makes use of current recording and studio tricks without superseding John Legend’s lush vocal abilities.  It’s also another example of how ‘Love in the Future’ looks at a relationship from different perspectives- the good and the bad, to form a steady theme.

John Legend

‘Tomorrow’ is about seizing the moment and ‘What if I Told you?’ boasts a Motown tone 

against Legend’s husky vocals until it comes to a halt with a cautious trumpet section. Incredibly repetitive, but bursting with cynicism and vigilance, ‘Dreams’ is so dreamy and quietly unapologetic, it almost sends you snoring.

Both ‘Asylum’ and ‘Wanna Be Loved’ are moody and sinister; even when the latter breaks into a section with backbeats, they’re incredibly tentative and timid. Soul/Jazz star from the 70s, Anita Baker is also covered on the record. Her track ‘Angel’ (featuring Grammy-nominated Stacy Barthe) is so short-lived it’s barely worth featuring, especially along with another cover previously.

As for ‘You & I (Nobody in the World)’; it’s obvious this song was composed as a single- with popularity taken into consideration. Having said that, it’s just as vocally haunting as ‘All of Me’ and takes up the theme of being absolutely in love with someone. In complete contrast, ‘Asylum’ begins eerily yet somehow, introduces love song ‘Caught Up’ really well.

Cynical and cautious at times, this record is often the tricky balance of warm, soulful performances with the precision of digital programming. John Legend’s caramel-like voice intertwines seamlessly with the more gentle melodies; however some tracks are so laid-back they practically send you to sleep, whilst others take away from his vocal flair.

3/5