The former John Stephens flits through rap, reggae, club grooves, guitar-led singer-songwriting and generic pop anthems, with an oversmooth Eighties sheen and sentimental, loved-up lyrics that take him dangerously close to a sloppy, drossy territory.
That is John's problem: his contemporary soul, lovely though its melodies are, suggests facility rather than passion, skill instead of instinct.
His new album remains earthbound.
He lends some old school soul sophistication to the R&B scene, but often seems to promise more than he delivers.
His third album, filled with big name guests, such as Kanye West, Will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas and Andre 3000 of Outkast, because he can, is a case in point - laid-back, confident, diverse... and a little disappointing.
"Good Morning" is a standard smoochy wake-up call, "This Time" could easily be farmed out to a boy band without seeming any less vacuous, while "If You're Out There's "inspirational" lyrics amount to no more than a string of clichés.
And this with mandatory gospel choir.
The blithe reggae track "No Other Love", the Estelle duet, is enjoyable and sultry enough. At least his new protégé, Estelle, gets to return the favour.
"References to "change", "destiny" and "the future" abound; the arrival, midway through, of surging chorales is reassuringly inevitable, as are the crashing power chords.
It is a little corny, but don't be surprised if you too get swept up in its grandeur on....November 4".-A.Macpherson
As on Legend's previous two efforts, his balladry can tend towards banality, and bland slow jams such as "Cross the Line" prove unmemorable.
"We suspect Legend aspires to be a modern Stevie Wonder or Marvin Gaye. He has ended up as the 21st-century Lionel Richie".- Dan Cairns
But the innate warmth of John's voice mostly carries his material.
Highlights: "Green Light", "It's Over" and "No Other Love".

Shine

Being a big fan of John Legend's previous two albums, it's really hard to imagine this being his third album. Whatever happened to the passionate piano pieces that were found in "So High", "Ordinary People" and "We Just Don't Care"? The cheeky themes and lyrics found in "She Don't Have To Know" and "Number One"? The smooth tunes of "Save Room" and "Slow Dance"?

'Evolver' feels like a manufactured compilation of samples and beats which play in the background while Legend tries akwardly to fit in with his soulful crooning. While the previous albums lacked the big name collaborations featured in this album, this album lacked the originality and passion that made John Legend a star. And that, at the end of the day, is really what music is about.

The album title may be named 'Evolver', but this seems like a step back towards manufactured Pop/R&B that's playing on the radio. Stick with Legend's previous albums.

Wow...I mean, I really do love this man. He actually went to my alma mater (big up U Penn!) so I feel a lil connection with him. But I would be remiss if I was not honest about what is going on here. Mr. Legend has served up a mixed bag with this latest cd. I very strongly like about 5 or 6 songs..leaving me with about half the album that doesn't do much for me. At first, I thought that I wasn't a big fan of his last project, Once Again, especially when comparing it to his ground breaking first album. But sadly, I just realized that I actually like his 2nd album better, and I really hate when artists steadily begin to make poorer musical choices. Anyway, let me try and say something nice about this latest offering. I happen to LOVE Greenlight, along with the rest of all people with good hearing. It's Over is great and Everybody Knows is growing on me. Quickly, with Brandy, is GREAT! I love this song, and it's great to hear her coming back. Love the Estelle song, Satisfaction, and Take me Away. The rest, SNORE! My friend actually heard Legend perform This Time live with only a piano and he claims it was amazing. I think I believe him, and wish Legend had been inclined to keep it beautiful and sparse like that on the album, but alas, he did not. I REALLY hate the last song...super super cheesy and just...well take an listen for yourself and decide. All in all, I wish I could string together the songs that I like, cause I really do like them a great deal, and make a little mini album. Not Feeling the Filler John!!

I have always been a fan of John Legend even before he was Legend, it was John Stephens but I am not excited about this CD. As he mentioned in the beginning of the Amazon video when he creates a new project he does not know what the sound will be and it shows on this project. This is to POP sounding and missing the raw passion and the jamming sounds which I love about his music. I will always follow his career but this Evolved into nothing for me. Sorry John.

Speaking as someone who actually saw John Legend live, i can honestly say that this man has talent and that his latest album Evolver was a collection of great songs. Seems he always welcomes diversity and has the ability to project a sound that is welcome by ears all over the world. Simply he is classic. I loved every song he wrote or co-wrote on the album (95%). I read reviews that are trying to rip Evolver of its true essence. Listen people, John delevered on this album. He has Evolved, and i'm excited for this ablum. Is it not enough that he writes his own songs? and sounds even better live than in a studio where the walls soak up the smoothness of his voice. 'i love you love', 'this time', 'everybody knows', 'green light', 'quickly', 'good morning','cross the line', 'no other love', are my favs. John is, and has been keeping music alive and classy. So to the haters out there or to those who would belittle his music and song writting abilities, perhaps you wont be satisfied until John collabs with a trashy Pop artist like Ms. Spears, or does a lame remix of 'Bartender' with t-pain....(even though John could probably pull it off with his vocals and thus make me actually like the song). Lets hope though that it never happens, but if it does, no worries. He's doing it, and doing it, and doing it well.