broomqueesha's Full Review: Once Again by John Legend
John Legend burst onto the scene two years ago with "Ordinary People," (a breath of fresh air in the overproduced R&B music market), sold a bajillion albums, and, as Bill Maher pointed out, became the only Penn graduate to win three Grammys. Now he's back with a brilliant second album, Once Again, that's much more suited to his style. John's first record, Get Lifted, was nice, but he could do so much better, and he proved it on this effort. Everything, especially his smoother vocals, is more polished this time around, and he successfully crafted the perfect example of what a sophomore album should be: not a regurgitation of the first record, but an artistic growth.
First single Save Room is a retro, mid-tempo jam that deserved much more airplay. John's vocals are smooth and lilting while the crescendo of guitars and organ create a romantic but still totally funky atmosphere. This single is a definite departure from the last album, but it's an excellent one. The second single, Heaven, is definitely more radio-friendly. It's the only track on this album that's produced by Kanye West, and his signature sample-heavy production is in full-force. The background vocals are great and, despite the more modernized production, there's still an old-school soulful vibe. The thing that sets this track apart in my mind, though, is that the verses are more catchy than the hook. Stereo, John's own groupie tale, sounds the most like the first album of any song on this record, and it demonstrates John's gift in crafting clever lyrics. With its quick drumbeat and strong bassline, this song is a definite head-nodder. It sounds great live, by the way.
The album's only slight misstep is the religiously-themed Show Me, produced by Raphael Saadiq. It's a nice, slower song, but its placement in the middle of a slew of up-tempo tracks throws the album off for a second. If you like organic-sounding R&B full of guitars and strings and falsetto-tinged vocals, you'll love this. Otherwise, it will seem rather plodding. The sparkly-sounding Each Day Gets Better is the epitome of feel-good R&B. It contains a Four Tops sample and quiet drums, courtesy of producer Will.I.Am. The breakdown near the end of this song, resplendent with handclaps and passionate vocals, is one of this album's best moments. However, third single PDA (We Just Don't Care), just might be the GREATEST SONG OF ALL TIME. It is so irresistibly catchy and fun and upbeat, it will be stuck in your head for the rest of your life, and you won't mind at all because it's such a great song. With playful piano and an excellent melody, this classy homage to public lovemaking is by far the standout track of this album.
Slow Dance is a smoky, sexy mid-tempo song and arguably the most soulful song on the record. John's vocals are low and slightly gruff, harkening back to the days of old-school soul greats like Ray Charles. Lyrically, it's also one of the album's best; when I saw him in concert, the line "Let's not talk about the war/Don't know what they're fighting for" elicited claps and cheers from the crowd. Now if you liked "Ordinary People," you'll love Again, as it has the same simple, stripped-down style of John's breakthrough hit. John wrenches every last drop of emotion out of this song and exposes his vulnerability as he plays the lone piano expertly. It's another standout track. Maxine veers dangerously close to lounge lizard territory, but stops just short and is altogether charming. John's vocals are soft and airy, contrasting the bubbly, synthy production. It's a nice, classy song; not one of the album's best, but nice.
Where Did My Baby Go? is another soft, emotion-packed ballad. The melody can become a bit repetitive by the second verse, but John's delivery, which is both innocent and sweeping, saves it. It's another classic, bare-bones tune that doesn't need a lot of bells and whistles to be memorable. On the other hand, Another Again is the most production-heavy song on the record, but it's still great. The way the melody weaves in and out of the production is interesting, and the slight piano and flute add a lot of character to the overall sound. The background vocals compliment John's leads nicely. The politically-tinged closing ballad, Coming Home, is a bit dramatic for my tastes; all of the strings and guitars and the choir of background vocalists at the end seem to be fighting to be heard. Still, it's a nice way to close the record; it's definitely the big bang you'd expect to hear at the end of an album as great as this one.
Honestly, I was a bit disappointed with Get Lifted; I expected to hear a whole album full of "Ordinary People"-esque masterpieces. However, it's understandable that John's first record was packed with hip-hop production and guest stars; homeboy needed to make some money. I am immensely pleased with the direction he took on Once Again; it's classy, passionate, artful, and my favorite album of 2006. More than any other young artist out there today, John Legend has a knack for both composing music and writing lyrics; he never skimps on anything on this record. Once Again is classic R&B that will get you grooving and singing along, but it will also hit you right in the heart, which is what real music should do.
Repeat: "Save Room," "PDA," and "Again"
Skip: "Show Me" after the first minute and a half or so
Great Music to Play While: noticing that he thanks Bill Clinton and Harold Ford Jr. in his liner notes, therefore making John Legend the most awesome person. Ever.
Once Again, John Legend s new album, is many things, chief among them, it s a pop/soul album fueled by intelligence, intuition, sensuality, spirit and...More at Buy.com Marketplaces
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