John Legend is a Singer/Songwriter. Musician. Producer. Philanthropist. Entrepreneur. To quote music industry pioneer Quincy Jones, the nine-time Grammy winner is simply “a genius.”
One of the industry's most innovative artists, John returns after five years with his much-anticipated fourth solo album, Love in the Future. Taking R&B/soul to the next level, Legend creates an immersive experience about romance, love, hope, commitment and optimism.
Enhancing the experience: a rich, melodic soundscape–accented by compelling interludes–that fully integrates the musician's gospel and pop influences, classical training and unerring hip-hop/soul sensibilities. “Love in the Future is a celebration and meditation on love,” says Legend. Back as sounding boards and executive producers for this album are longtime Legend collaborators Kanye West and Dave Tozer.
From start to finish, Love in the Future pulsates with a stripped-down urgency that perfectly showcases Legend s skills as a musician, lyricist and vocalist. The supple tenor sets the mood with an engaging cover of Bobby Caldwell's “Open Your Eyes,” then sings about seizing the moment on the Q-Tip collaboration “Tomorrow.” Legend conjures '70s Stevie Wonder with the synth-infused “Hold on Longer.” Then the impending groom discourses on the subject of love with the penetrating “You and I” and “All of Me.” Worthy enough to stand on its own as a full track is Legend's mesmerizing interstitial take on Anita Baker's “Angel” with newcomer Stacy Barthe.
The Standard version of the album features 16 tracks and the Deluxe version of the album includes 4 BONUS tracks.
Review
This is John Legend's first solo studio album since 2008's Evolver.
Between the two releases, he recorded the Grammy-winning Wake Up! with the
Roots, scored a gold single with “Tonight (Best You Ever Had)” (from the
Think Like a Man soundtrack), was featured on a couple albums' worth of songs by
other artists, and somehow managed to be deeply involved in philanthropy. He
also got engaged. Although he proposed to model Chrissy Teigen five years after
meeting her, much of Love in the Future seems drawn from a romance that was
quicker to bloom. “The Beginning…” sets a tone of urgency with a scene
from the day after their first night spent together. Legend sings with
certitude, “Pick some names, boy or girl/Then we'll change, change the
world.” That sense of blissful urgency – of seizing the moment, getting
lost, and knowing that the future is set – is belied in the pacing. Even the
album's standard 16-track edition meanders at a crawling pace. It's broken up
by the occasional soaring arrangement or some hypnotically clanking/pinging
percussion, as heard on highlight “Made to Love,” which resembles a
latter-day Moby collaboration with distant handclapping, spooky background
vocals, and a sample from Lil Louis' noisy house classic “Video Clash.” This
is a heavy, laboriously made set of songs. The list of producers alone includes
Hit-Boy, Bink, 88 Keys, the Runners, Doc McKinney, Q-Tip, and Ali Shaheed
Muhammad. Kanye West, and Dave Tozer pile on as co-producers and co-executive
producers. Perhaps they ensured that the whole album would have its dramatic,
slightly eerie tone; even the covers of Bobby Caldwell's “Open Your Eyes”
and Anita Baker's “Angel” are a little uneasy. That level of sonic
indulgence seems like it should be incompatible with an artist who is,
essentially, a piano man, but Love in the Future is among Legend's best work,
made for couples who are into one another for the long term while feeling a
little daring and crazy. Andy Kellman – Allmusic.com