hierograffiti's Full Review: Get Lifted [SACD] by John Legend
John Legend's (ne John Stephens) sensational studio debut, Get Lifted, begins with the twinkling keys of Prelude over which Legend commands, "Come on and goooooooooo with me." At this point, even if you had intentions otherwise, you will obey. If you have somehow managed to not be drawn in by Legend's impeccable skills on the piano, his uniquely soulful voice will hook you, and you will not be released until the last note on the album has played. Get Lifted is a musical journey unlike any other to be had in 2004.
When trying to describe Legend's style, the most obvious candidate for comparison is Alicia Keys. Legend has shown himself to be at least as equally proficient on the black and ivories as the chanteuse and, like Keys, has a distinct, instantly recognizable voice. Much of Legend's music is piano-driven, he does compose several pieces where the piano isn't the focal point, but rather serves as a background mood-setter, of sorts. But the area where Legend has already surpassed Keys is his songwriting ability. While Get Lifted doesn't contain any mind-blowing poetics, Legend is a more than capable scribe and he never experiences the lapses into lyrical laziness that Keys is prone to fall into (don't act like you didn't hear her say "Like a desert needs water/I need you a lot").
Legend's skills with the pen are on full display on second single, Ordinary People, which features him trying to convince his girl to mend her differences with him and give their relationship one more chance. His main point is that they are real people, not fictionalized characters in a storybook who can fall in love instantly. For them to build something meaningful, they can't rush into or force it:
I know I misbehaved
And you made your mistakes
And we both still got room left to grow
And though love sometimes hurts
I still put you first
And we'll make this thing work
But I think we should take it slow
Legend's lyrics play at the border of poetry, but rarely cross over. This seems to be by design and the formula works remarkably well on the album, as what he says seems very natural, almost as if he is speaking to someone and not trying to write a song. A line like "Maybe, baby, Puffy...Jay-Z would all be better for you/Cuz all I can do is love you" from lead single Used To Love U is something that many men have said in one form or another and is very easy to relate to.
But Get Lifted isn't all rocky relationships. It Don't Have To Change is a fantastically written piece about loving one's family being a constant at a time where everything else is changing. Sappy? Maybe. But well executed and very touching? Yes. The sentiment is amplified by the fact that Legend's family is featured on the track and they do NOT bring down the quality of it at all. Album closer Live It Upis Legend's "I finally made it" track and does not feature the type of bragging that songs of this nature tend to entail. It does feature Miri Ben-Ari, whose violin gives a reflective, almost somber quality to the track that stands in stark contrast to Legend's celebratory lyrics. In theory, this seems like a bad idea, but on wax, the marriage works perfectly.
The only other guest appearances occur on Number One and I Can Change which feature Kanye West and Snoop respectively. The former, with it's sample of the Staple Singers's Let's Do It Again, is a midtempo, summery groove that invokes images of a family barbecue. Even a completely unnecessary Kanye verse that features him talking about jagging off can't stop Legend's shine. The latter is an ode to cleaning up one's act to please a woman, and Snoop's uncharacteristically animated verse fits perfectly with Legend's heartened cries and emotional beat.
But Legend's gifts shine brightest when they are allowed to shine on their own. Refuge (When It's Cold Outside), which just may be the best song on the album, features Legend singing his heart out about someone who he can turn to for solace no matter what else happens in his life. The song sounds almost like it could be about God, but the "Cuz we're in love" bit in the hook probably means it's about his girl. And that song's rival for the "best on the album" title, Stay With You, is an outstanding old-school flavored declaration of devotion that features Legend's most understated vocal performance of the album.
Get Lifted is a near flawless album and is definitely a must buy for any R&B fan. Though label-head Kanye West coining John Stephens a "Legend" is premature, the up-and-comer definitely is on the right path to living up to his new moniker.
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