Evolver

Performer: John Legend
Artist: Andre 3000; Kanye West; Brandy; Estelle
Producer: Kawan Prather; Marcus Bryant; Dwayne Chin-Quee; Syience; Christopher Breaux; Devon Harris; Dave Tozer; John Legend; Kanye West; Malay; Shannon Sanders; Trevor Horn; Will.I.Am; Drew Ramsey; Dirty Swift; Bruce Waynne; Mitchum "Khan" Chin
Distributor: Sony Music Distribution (

Notes: Personnel: John Legend (vocals, piano, keyboards, background vocals); Estelle, Brandy (vocals, background vocals); Agape International Choir, Kanye West, Andr� 3000 (vocals); Malay (various instruments, keyboards, programming); Mitchum Chin (guitar, keyboards); Tomi Martin, Sharief Hobley (guitar); Dave Tozer (guitars, keyboards); Tim Pierce, Trevor Horn (guitars); Joel Pargman, Lorenz Gamma, Irina Voloshina, Nina Evtuhov, Katia Popov, Robin Olson, Mark Sazer, Tammy Hatwan, Jennie Levin, Alan Grunfeld, Neil Samples, Julie Rogers, Robert Martin , Sid Page, Bruce Dukov, Igor Szwec, Lesa Terry, Shalini Vijayan, Neel Hammond, Emma Kummrow, Darius Campo, Olga Konopelsky, Gregory Teperman, Charles Parker (violin); Alexandra Leem, Shawn Mann, Kate Reddish, Carole Castillo, Carolyn Riley, Piotr Jandula, Davis A. Barnett, Alma Fernandez (viola); Gioyanna Clayton, Larry Corbett, Jennie Lorenzo, Cecilia Tsan, Victor Lawrence (cello); Paul Klintworth, Dana Kelley, Jennie Kim, Jim Thatcher (French horn); Dean Fraser, Hornz Unlimited (horns); Eugene "Man Man" Roberts (keyboards, vocoder, programming); Stephen Tirpak, Jamie Muhoberac, Shannon Sanders (keyboards); Drew Dembowski, Bruce Morgenthaler, Pete Donnelly, Sue Raney, Ann Atkinson (bass instrument); Pharrell Williams (percussion, background vocals); Luis Jardim (percussion); Dwayne Chin-Quee (programming); Jessyca Wilson, Lenesha Randolph, Terrence "Scar" Smith, Christopher "Lonny" Breaux, Candice Anderson (background vocals). Audio Mixers: Kevin "KD" Davis; Manny Marroquin; Alex Yenguen; Jean-Marie Horvat; Mike "Hitman" Wilson. Arrangers: Dwayne Chin-Quee; Stephen Tirpak; Dave Tozer; Larry Gold; Nick Ingman; Pete Murray. The third full-length from John Legend finds the neo-soul singer-songwriter mixing it up a bit. Whereas its predecessor, the excellent ONCE AGAIN, stayed the course of smooth yet passionate retro-themed R&B, EVOLVER experiments with different sounds and styles. The lead single, "Green Light," with its amped-up programmed beat, synths, and cameo from Andre 3000, sounds more like a 21st-century club jam than an old-school throwback. Reggae, ballads, adult contemporary, and digitized contemporary R&B all make their way into the album's diverse musical stew. Whether it's the mellow, low-key funk of "It's Over," the synth-pop of "Satisfaction" (one can imagine the song being performed by Depeche Mode), or the guest spots from Brandy, Estelle, and Kanye West, EVOLVER keeps the listener guessing. It may not have the consistency of Legend's first two releases, but its cornucopia of interesting sounds and directions offer something for everyone.

Rolling Stone (p.125) - 3.5 stars out of 5 -- "With piano-flecked soul, lite funk and reggae, EVOLVER's tunes and arrangements are as impeccable as the cut of Legend's suits." Spin (p.106) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "EVOLVER proves that Legend remains one of R&B's most forward-looking craftsmen." Entertainment Weekly (p.62) - "Legend is still at his best when he plays to his voice's strengths with clean-cut ballads like 'Everybody Knows.'" -- Grade: B+ Mojo (Publisher) (p.104) - 3 stars out of 5 -- "When he moves away from the more straightforward ballads, it's obvious that Legend's maverick side is still intact....He's reaching out to address more universal themes, and finding the music to match."

Though it appears that he emerged fully-formed in 2004 from the mind of Kanye West, John Legend got his start on the East Coast in the mid 1990s as John Stephens, a promising neo-soul piano-player and songwriter. After he garnered the attention of Lauryn Hill--on whose 1998 classic Legend played--many high-profile studio gigs followed, including a pivotal one co-writing and playing on Kanye West's smash debut. West, impressed with Stephens's abilities, signed him (as "John Legend") to his production company and co-produced his debut album, GET LIFTED, a soul-hip-hop hybrid that wowed critics and listeners alike. Thus rechristened, a Legend was born.

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