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Evolver | 
| Artist: John Legend
Label: Sony
Category: Music
List Price: $18.98
Buy New: $11.99
You Save: $6.99 (37%)
Rating:  35 reviews
Sales Rank: 42
Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 4.9 x 0.4
MPN: 713740
UPC: 886971374025
EAN: 0886971374025
ASIN: B001E7OO2I
Release Date: October 28, 2008 (New: Last 30 Days)
Shipping: Eligible for Super Saver Shipping
Promotion: Save $10.00 when you spend $50.00 or more on Qualifying Items offered by Amazon.com. Enter code BMLSAVES at checkout. Terms and Conditions
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
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| Tracks:
| • | Good Morning (Intro) | | • | Green Light featuring Andre 3000 | | • | It's Over featuring Kanye West | | • | Everybody Knows | | • | Quickly | | • | Cross The Line | | • | No Other Love featuring Estelle | | • | This Time | | • | Satisfaction | | • | Take Me Away | | • | Good Morning | | • | I Love, You Love | | • | If You're Out There |
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| Editorial Reviews:
Album Description
The album Evolver features superstars Kanye West, Andre 3000 and Estelle.The album's first single 'Green Light' impacted Urban & Rhythm formats August 19th, 2008. John Legend's debut CD Get Lifted & sophomore CD Once John Legend is the winner of five Grammy Awards.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 30 more reviews...
 A Disappointing Evolution November 19, 2008
Music Man (Boston MA)
The good news is that all the goods John Legend has to offer are still here, his assured melodic flair, fine piano chops and above all, that raspy tenor he uses to expressive ends. Yes, everything's still in place. It's just repeatedly swallowed up in over-produced techno goo that flattens out Legend's distinctive sound and locks him into stilted grooves. Legend is at his best when he has room to breathe but, except for a few instances, he doesn't get that on "Evolver". It sounds like he's trying for a broader pop audience but what he delivers is mostly generic atrophy and that's unfortunate. Legend has so much more to offer.
Superstar cameos abound on this CD, but except for a fine duet with Brandi they're as dispensible as confetti. Brandi sounds great alongside Legend, her edgy urban coo snuggling up to his rough and tumble tenor with a sly wink. Elsewhere, Andre 3000 and Kanye West force their raps into two of the CD's best cuts, "Green Light" and West's "It's Over", in the process destroying the structure of the songs. Get rid of them and you'd have two tight, smooth R&B grooves. Still, the show is Legend's and unfortunately his spotlight is dimmed by mountains of drumbeats, reverb and synths that drain many of these songs of life. Of course, he has his moments. "Good Morning", "Green Light", "It's Over" and "Take Me Away" harken back to the heydey of 70s and 80s R&B. They're evocative without ever sounding anachronistic and bring out the best in Legend. Elsewhere, the arrangements are devoid of his piano mastering and rely on stunted guitar and that beat-beat-beat. On these cuts he sounds muted, and his churly voice is completey unsuited to the bland sheen. In fact, Legend's voice is his unsung trump card. Distinct and instantly recognizable, that voice can turn almost anything into gold. On "Evolver", it sometimes has to. Sure as his melodic sense can be, Legend never met a lyrical cliche he didn't like, and paying close attention to the words on "Evolver" can be trecherous. Only two cuts spotlight Legend's piano skills. "This Time" is a rather bland ballad with syprupy synths and "If Your Out There" is one of those generational anthems in the "We Are the World" mode. 'Nuff said about that.
"Evolver" is both a pleasing and infuriating listen: pleasing because Legend still shows why he's a gifted artist, and infuriating because he buries himself in too much pop pretense. Take all the glop away and he's still got the goods. Let's hope next time out, he'll trust his talent more.
 Grown and Sexy November 18, 2008
Monica Robinson (Arizona)
John Legend is in a league all his own. Only the grown can appreciate his passion to release what's true to him. That is what mskes this album beautiful. He takes risks and reacheas to the top with this album. I love this album with all the collaborations he takes this album to the next plateau. Love you John Legend. I'm looking forward to seeing you live in concert.
John! John! John! November 18, 2008
jamrock43 (Philadelphia, PA)
Usually I am not a big fan of John Legend. I bought his first cd and really didn't care for most of it. I often refer to him as the "lounge singer." His second cd there were a few songs I liked. However, this cd blows me away. I especially love "Green Light" & "Good Morning." Andre 3000's appearance on "Greenlight" was an added bonus!I enjoyed this cd from start to finish. Check Evolver out, you WILL NOT be disappointed!! I especially love when singers are also musicians. That is real talent. Buy this cd.....TODAY!
Different album... Love it or Hate It ! November 17, 2008
Empress Lay (Miami, FL)
I'm not understanding the reasoning behind the STRONG dislikes against this album at all... maybe because this album is soooo different from his previous ones. Well, in my opinion, the album summed up in one word: EPIC. I loved his 1st, was kinda feelin the 2nd, and ended up being a bit scared about the turnout of this album... WELL, it turned out just fine ! This is really what his second album should've been. It DEFINITELY has a different vibe so BEWARE and it doesn't include many of the monumental emphasized "ballad-singing" Legend usually does but IF you can get over that, the album is pretty damn good. The topics brought up on EVOLVER still have the strong roots of Legend's creativity. The Feel Good tracks include his joints with Kanye West, Estelle, & Brandy and also his solo joints "Everybody Knows," "Good Morning," & "I Love, You Love." The only track that sounds bad is Track 8: "This Time" and one of the extra bonus tracks "Pride (In The Name Of Love)." Other than that, this album is FIYA--- respect J.L. for what he still knows how to do & that's making goood music !
PEACE.
It Stops with Green Light November 16, 2008
S. Cooper
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I LOVE John Legend. LOVE!!! But this album is mediocre at best. Favorite songs: Green Light, It's Over, Everybody Knows, I Love you love, Good Morning. You have classic John Legend with Good Morning (sidebar-It kills me when an artists album has no rhyme or reason to song order like why is Good Morning the intro? I digress) Overall, I understand the need to Evolve, but the album evolved into typical r&b. This sounds more like a first album when an artist is trying to discover their niche. May I add, just because an artist has a niche doesn't mean their cornered by their music. Green Light is a super hot dance song, and had the song writing and production throughout the album would have mirrored the freshness and creativity of Green Light and the relatable lyrics of Everybody Knows, then this would have been a hit album. This is just not a fan album. I still LOVE John Legend, but I'm ready for next.
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