By AARON KREIN
Arts Editor
R&B crooner John Legend released his fifth studio album, “Darkness and Light,” last Friday. The album, which follows up the success of “Love In the Future” and it’s breakout single, “All of Me,” is his first album since his wife, Chrissy Teigen, gave birth to their first child, Luna. He is also still fresh off his Oscar win with rapper Common for Best Original Song with “Glory” from “Selma.” Since then, fans of R&B and soul have been waiting to see what Legend has on his plate next.
The album starts off with the piano ballad, “I Know Better,” which emphasizes taking responsibility for things you aren’t proud of doing in order to move on. With a chilling organ against his smoky vocals, Legend opens the album in such an anthemic way despite being in such a slow tempo.
The funk comes on “Penthouse Floor,” which features current Grammy nominee Chance The Rapper. It details the struggles of living life as a celebrity couple and how they can’t wait to have sex once they’re out of the public eye. It’s definitely a unique subject over a beat similar to Nick Jonas’ “Jealous.” It’s steamy and blunt with its meaning, which reminds me of Bruno Mars’ recent promotional single, “Versace on The Floor.” In other words, it’s what we expect from Legend who has given us countless classics from the bedroom.
Another collaboration comes on the title track, which features Alabama Shakes’ frontwoman, Brittany Howard. The mix of falsettos over a jazzy blues beat tells of a story of a couple who struggle to be together but still can’t stop loving each other. Compared to the last song, it’s a cookie-cutter subject that we’re used to hearing, however, the vocals on this song is what makes it stand out. I would not be surprised to see this nominated for a Grammy in the R&B categories come 2018.
“Overload,” featuring Miguel, details a relationship that started as an affair and ended with them together in public ridicule. Both Legend and Miguel talk about their loves and how they don’t care what others say about them. It’s a subject that has been beat to death from songs like Michael Jackson’s “They Don’t Care About Us,” to Gwen Stefani’s “Truth.”
The next track is the album’s lead single, “Love Me Now,” which surely conforms to the production of a mainstream crossover hit. Legend tells his lover on the track that he wants to save their relationship and promises to love her like it’s his destiny. Being that I’ve heard the track multiple times over the radio, it seems as if he’s trying to get another hit to keep the “All of Me” momentum going. The track “Surefire” contains the same meaning but with a slower soulful tempo with delightful background vocals. Between the two, the former is much catchier while the latter lyrically is superior.
“What You Do to Me” chronicles the love/hate relationship he has with someone where they both take their anger out on each other while under the sheets. It’s one of the more memorable songs on the album, which experiments with its trap beats. Although, it reminds me of something that could’ve been on The Weekend’s “Beauty Behind the Madness.”
Legend serenades his daughter on “Right By You (For Luna)” where he wonders if she’ll be like her parents with love and says he’ll always be there for her. The last verse tells Luna to listen to this song if she ever needs them when her parents are no longer around. The background saxophone and piano make this for a deep and personal insight into his life. It’s definitely one of his career highlights as a songwriter and I would love to see more from him in this regard.
A one-night stand takes full center on “Temporary Painless” where they both fulfill each other’s loneliness and pretend to be a couple. The vocals, production, and lyrics are reminiscent of his “Evolver” album and make for a nice nostalgic track. I could see this track getting airplay on urban radio based on that factor alone.
“How I Can Blame You” involves a storyline of a man who becomes greedy with his life and how he sympathizes with his lover who has to put up with him. Like the last track, the song reminds me of his past work on his first album, “Get Lifted.” The production takes you out of your element and helps paint the story that the lyrics tell. It’s definitely one of the must-hear tracks from the album and should be a single at some point.
Interestingly enough, the following track, “Same Old Story,” seems to be the same plot with the roles reversed. Legend is tired of his lover telling him the same lies “over and over again” but still falls for them. The orchestra backing him is angelic but the unnecessary auto-tune on the bridge disrupts the flow of the track.
The album comes to a close on “Marching into the Dark,” a track dedicated to fallen entertainers who have gone too soon. Joining “Right By You (For Luna),” it’s one of the deepest and most thought-provoking tracks on the LP while being catchy and uptempo. It reminds me lyrically of something Alicia Keys would write, especially with her latest album release, “Here.” It’s a bit depressing but it’s definitely a strong way to bookmark a set.
Overall, I found the album to be fairly decent. Some of the tracks for the bedroom seemed to be repetitive but at least they all had some differences that made them stand on their own. The album soars with its tracks that find Legend being personal or speaking out on the world today. If you are a fan of R&B music that fuses with pop, jazz, blues, and even a bit of trap, I would encourage you to take time to listen.
