John Legend - DARKNESS AND LIGHT

John Legend
DARKNESS AND LIGHT
2016
Spotify

John Legend has made it abundantly clear six albums in that He knows what he is doing when it comes to the soulful singing and song writing. We could try and dig in to the minutia of what exactly it is he is doing, but that exercise defeats the entire purpose of John Legend. His music is a wave that washes over you all at once. There are no special reveals or surprises on DARKNESS AND LIGHT and incredibly that doesn't matter at all because most of the record is pure joy. "I Know Better" starts the album off on a soulful note, but the second track "Penthouse Floor" featuring Chance the Rapper is pure groove bliss. If your ass is not shaking ten seconds in to this track see a doctor, check your pulse or re-evaluate your decisions in life because this is where it's at. Legend has this really uncanny ability to elevate whomever He is featuring on his tracks, and you can tell just how much everyone enjoys working with him. "Overload" which features Miguel, an unlikely pairing since the both essentially work in the same genre, but both are simply at their best. The music is classically styled and feels like a jazz set but even the avante garde Miguel sounds fantastic.

The song writing at times can become a bit generic especially this far on in John's career but what saves it from feeling stale is his near perfect delivery. With every style he tackles He is able to really succeed without sacrificing what is the actual heart of his art. A song like "What You Do to Me" which really is an odd choice for Legend somehow pulls you around and although it is not nearly the best track on the album it still is a real interesting take. He is at his absolute best on "Surefire", just a few strings and percussion backing him and a choir, but instead of being a spiritual song you'd expect it is about holding on to love before it leaves you. You get the sense listening to this record that every note, every second was something John wanted there and the album is better for it. While DARKNESS AND LIGHT may not go down as one of the greatest records of Legend's career it is still miles ahead of anyone trying to chase him down. Don't let this record just slip away, allow it to wash over you and you'll be thankful you did.

8.0 out of 10