John Legend
Get Lifted
(Columbia)
Most modern R&B comes off like an artistically dead genre. The purveyors of the style emphasise vocal runs and dance routines, leaving songwriting and musicianship to those poor people who call themselves “artists.” But every once in a while, someone like John Legend comes along. The disc is an impressive collection of neo-soul and R&B that bears the hand of producer Kanye West proudly. Now there’s no excuse for not hating Maroon 5.
—Matt Charlton
This article appears in Dec 6-12, 2007.
