Evolver (John Legend album)

Evolver is the third studio album by American singer John Legend, released by GOOD Music and Sony Music Entertainment on October 28, 2008, in the United States and on October 20 in the United Kingdom. It features guest appearances by Kanye West, Brandy, Estelle and Andre 3000, among others.

Evolver
Studio album by
John Legend
ReleasedOctober 28, 2008
Recorded2007–2008
StudioThe Cutting Room Studios
Length50:42
Label
Producer
John Legend chronology
Once Again
(2006)		 Evolver
(2008)		 Wake Up!
(2010)
Singles from Evolver
  1. "Green Light"
    Released: July 29, 2008
  2. "If You're Out There"
    Released: August 24, 2008
  3. "Everybody Knows"
    Released: March 23, 2009
  4. "This Time"
    Released: May 25, 2009

The album debuted at number 4 on the U.S. Billboard 200 with sales of 132,823 copies.[1] It also entered the UK Albums Chart at number 21, and reached number 26 on the national Japanese albums chart, as well as number 5 on the Japanese foreign chart. The album received positive reviews from music critics. Since the album's release, it has been certified Gold by the RIAA.

In May 2009, the song "This Time" was featured prominently in the closing scenes of the third-season finale of the CW/BET comedy-drama television series The Game.[2]

Background

Speaking in July 2008 to noted UK R&B writer Pete Lewis of Blues & Soul, Legend explained what he wanted to achieve musically with Evolver: "I wanted it to be diverse. So I basically just wanted to make some great records that together covered the whole gamut of the various forms of expression I feel comfortable doing. So we have a couple of club tracks; we have a reggae song; we have a few really strong ballads... and kind of everything in between. Plus we have a political anthem at the end as well. So, while there are some elements that people have heard in previous albums of mine, I also think there are some things people HAVEN'T heard from me before. And I think that's what makes the album interesting. In particular I feel I've made different arrangement and production choices this time. While I don't think my writing style itself has changed significantly, sonically the main difference is that we chose to use more electronic instruments on this record."[3]

Reception
Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic67/100[4]
Review scores
SourceRating
About.com[5]
AllMusic[6]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[7]
Los Angeles Times[8]
Paste8/10 (Van Dusen)
3/10 (Fink)[4][9]
PopMatters[10]
Robert Christgau(dud)[11]
Rolling Stone[12]
The Times[13]
USA Today[14]

The album so far has a score of 67 out of 100 from Metacritic based on "generally favorable reviews".[4] The Independent gave it four stars out of five and said that the album was "not perfect... but it would be churlish not to praise its ability and ambition."[15] Yahoo! Music UK gave it eight stars out of ten and said that "Once Again remains Legend's best record. But Evolver, in all its modernity and timeliness, may well become his biggest."[4] Now likewise gave it four stars out of five and stated that the album, "like everything else Legend has done, showcases his skill as an artist, but it lacks the passion that would help him reach the Stevie Wonder status he strives for."[16] The A.V. Club gave the album a B and said, "Smooth to a fault, Evolver solidifies Legend's standing in the pantheon of good soul singers, but greatness continues to elude him."[17]

Billboard gave it a positive review and said that "Legend's voice remains beyond reproach, but for a guy who's an oasis of style and soul in a sea of synthetic, robo-call R&B, at times it seems like he's playing catch-up."[18] The New York Times likewise gave it a positive review and stated: "With reverberations and a choral backdrop straight out of Seal, it's his only overreach. Mr. Legend is more charming one-on-one."[19] The Village Voice also gave it a favorable review and stated: "As the dying industry is still breathing in the toxins of useless filler, patrons like John Legend are fully indulging their creativity in all its flawed glory, just like the soul giants of yesteryear."[20] AllHipHop likewise gave it a positive review and stated: "Even if Evolver is less cohesive due to the integration of the Pop sound to the alternative styles [Legend] played around with in Once Again, it still is light years ahead of any artist mimicking his suave persona."[21] The Boston Globe similarly gave it a positive review and stated that, "As the title suggests, Legend is a work-in-progress, and this stage in his evolution is worth hearing."[22] Hartford Courant likewise gave it a positive review and said that the album "delivers what it promises: A singer, songwriter and musician pushing himself to grow. This is a good first step."[23]

Other reviews are average, mixed or negative: Mojo gave the album a score of three stars out of five and called it "a good album, but there's a pull between the commercial and the more left-field."[4] Q also gave it three stars out of five and said that the album was "more in the same gold-standard, singer-songwriterly vein."[4] Spin gave it a score of six out of ten and said, "Though he's unlikely to encounter much trouble selling these romantic conceits to his female-heavy fan base, some of the scenarios on John Legend's third studio album could be fresher."[24] The Guardian likewise gave it three stars out of five and said, "As on Legend's previous two efforts, his balladry can tend towards the beige, and oatmeal slow jams such as 'Cross the Line' prove unmemorable; but the innate warmth of Legend's voice mostly carries his material."[25] Slant Magazine also gave it three stars out of five and said, "For a change, Legend doesn't constantly sound as though he's trying to impress the VH1 cognoscenti with his impeccable musicality. Sure, that's to say it's occasionally dumb, but oh so approachable."[26] Hot Press gave it the same score of three out of five and said, "Legend manages to capture the optimistic spirit of Barack Obama in addition to his mastery of soul, pop and hip-hop".[27] Blender, however, gave the album two stars out of five and called it "the least accomplished of [Legend's] albums" but "nonetheless a refreshing change of sorts, for all its faults, at least as far as missteps are concerned."[4]

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Good Morning (Intro)"
John Legend0:46
2."Green Light" (featuring André 3000)
4:44
3."It's Over" (featuring Kanye West)
4:27
4."Everybody Knows"
Malay
4:35
5."Quickly" (featuring Brandy)
3:42
6."Cross the Line"
will.i.am3:22
7."No Other Love" (featuring Estelle)
3:59
8."This Time"
  • Tozer
  • Trevor Horn
4:23
9."Satisfaction"
will.i.am4:45
10."Take Me Away"
3:03
11."Good Morning"
  • Ramsey
  • Newbill
  • Stephens
  • Sanders
4:01
12."I Love, You Love"
will.i.am4:35
13."If You're Out There"
4:20
iTunes bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Floating Away"
  • Harmony
  • Ne-Yo[a]
4:15
15."Set Me Free"
  • Greenall
  • Stephens
  • Nowels
Nowels3:55
16."Green Light" (Afroganic Mix)
  • Benjamin
  • Greenall
  • Ho
  • Stephens
  • Nowels
  • Malay
  • KP
  • Afroganic[b]
4:11
Europe and Brazil bonus tracks[28]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Can't Be My Lover" (featuring Buju Banton)
4:34
15."It's Over" (Teddy Riley Remix)
  • West
  • Williams
4:20
Japan tour edition bonus tracks
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Floating Away"
  • Harmony
  • Stephens
  • Smitht
  • Harmony
  • Ne-Yo[a]
4:15
15."Set Me Free"
  • Greenall
  • Stephens
  • Nowels
Nowels3:55
16."It's Over" (Teddy Riley Remix)
  • West
  • Williams
4:20
17."Can't Be My Lover" (featuring Buju Banton)
  • Chin-Quee
  • Stephens
  • Myrie
  • Chin
  • Supa Dups
  • Chin[a]
4:34
18."Pride (In the Name of Love)"
  • Legend
  • Joel Beckerman
4:08
Brazil re-release bonus tracks[29]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
14."Can't Be My Lover" (featuring Buju Banton)
  • Chin-Quee
  • Stephens
  • Myrie
  • Chin
  • Supa Dups
  • Chin[a]
4:34
15."Green Light" (Johnny Douglas Radio Edit)
  • Benjamin
  • Greenall
  • Ho
  • Stephens
  • Nowels
  • Malay
  • KP
  • Johnny Douglas[b]
3:24
16."No Importa" (featuring Noel Schajris)  4:07
17."Entreolhares (The Way You're Looking At Me)" (featuring Ana Carolina)  3:15

Notes

  • ^[a] signifies co-producer
  • ^[b] signifies additional producer

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Netherlands (NVPI)[49] Gold 30,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[50] Silver 60,000*
United States (RIAA)[51] Platinum 603,000[52]

* Sales figures based on certification alone.
^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. "Hip Hop Album Sales: The Week Ending 11/2/08". Archived from the original on 2008-11-08. Retrieved 2008-11-06.
  2. Mara Brock Akil (writer); Salim Akil (director) (2009-05-15). "I Want It All and I Want It Now; The Wedding Episode". The Game (U.S. TV series). Season 3. Episode 21, 22. The CW.
  3. "John Legend interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' October 2008". Bluesandsoul.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  4. "Critic Reviews for Evolver". Metacritic. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  5. Mark Edward Nero (2008-10-28). "John Legend - Evolver". About.com. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  6. AllMusic review
  7. Simon Vozick-Levinson (2008-10-31). "Evolver Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 12, 2012. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  8. August Brown (2008-10-28). "Album review: John Legend's 'Evolver'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  9. Christine Van Dusen; Matt Fink (2009-01-08). "John Legend: Evolver :: Music :: Reviews". Paste. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  10. Mike Joseph (2008-11-04). "John Legend: Evolver". PopMatters. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  11. Robert Christgau. "CG: John Legend". RobertChristgau.com. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  12. Jody Rosen (2008-10-31). "Evolver : John Legend : Review". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on 2008-10-19. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  13. Chris Johnston. "John Legend: Evolver". The Times. Archived from the original on June 16, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  14. Elysa Gardner (2008-10-28). "THIS ALBUM HAS IT ALL: CHEER, GLOOM, POLITICS (John Legend, Evolver: Reach for It)". USA Today. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  15. The Independent review
  16. Haidita Celestine (November 12–19, 2008). "John Legend: Evolver (Columbia/Sony)". Now. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  17. Nathan Rabin (2008-11-10). "John Legend: Evolver". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  18. Jeff Vrabel (2008). "Evolver". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2008-10-25. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  19. Jon Pareles (2008-10-26). "New CDs (John Legend: '"Evolver")". The New York Times. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  20. Timothy Cooper (2008-10-29). "John Legend's Classic Soul Odes to Apocalypse". The Village Voice. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  21. Greg Watkins (2008-10-29). "ALBUM REVIEW: John Legend - Evolver". AllHipHop. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  22. Sarah Rodman (2008-11-03). "The Legend grows". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  23. Eric R. Danton (2008-10-27). "CD Review: 'Evolver' by John Legend". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2013-01-19. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  24. Mikael Wood (2008-10-30). "John Legend, 'Evolver' (G.O.O.D. Music/Columbia)". Spin. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  25. Alex Macpherson (2008-10-16). "Urban music review: John Legend: Evolver". The Guardian. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  26. Eric Henderson (2008-10-26). "John Legend: Evolver". Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2013-11-14.
  27. Jackie Hayden (2008-11-06). "Evolver". Hot Press. Retrieved 2013-11-14.(subscription required)
  28. "John Legend - Evolver (Brazil first pressing)". Videolar.com. 2001-07-13. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  29. "John Legend - Evolver (Brazil second pressing)". Videolar.com. 2001-07-13. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  30. Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 163.
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  49. "Dutch album certifications – John Legend – Evolver" (in Dutch). Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld- en geluidsdragers. Retrieved 17 November 2018. Enter Evolver in the "Artiest of titel" box. Select 2008 in the drop-down menu saying "Alle jaargangen".
  50. "British album certifications – John Legend – Evolver". British Phonographic Industry.
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