A title like Evolver is a scary thing, especially if you are an artist like John Legend, whom has delivered two arguably classic albums, relying mostly on his own strengths to do so. The album’s lead single, “Green Light”, is a great pop jam, teaming John Legend with Andre 3000, as the unsure duo asks their respective ladies for a go-signal. It’s an excellent collaboration, but sounds much more like something one might find on The Love Below, rather than Get Lifted. Meanwhile, the album’s second single, “It’s Over”, is another superb collaboration, as Legend joins a heartless Kanye West over a banging Neptunes beat, built around classic Freedom “Get Up and Dance” sample (as heard on BDP’s “U Must Learn” or SWV’s “Anything”). At the surface we have two incredible debut tracks from Evolver, but both breaking the typical Legend formula. So how does the rest of the album hold up?

Conceptually, Legend is still on track. His lyrical content always has a little bit of a twist to it, rather than the standard love-song drivel. Case in point is the album’s soft-rock entry, “Everybody Knows” – a breakup song – clearly not the best we’ve heard from Legend – but still armed with a zinger of a punchline at the end of each verse (no spoilers). Meanwhile, “Quickly”, another sub-standard entry thanks to the inclusion of an unneeded Brandy, finds the duo suggesting with all of the current problems in the world, they better mate, and fast. Again, Legend in top lyrical form with trademark wink-and-a-nod innuendo, despite the unnecessarily trading of his usual piano skills for studio produced beats. Hence, Evolver.

The album takes a turn for the better during it’s second half. The seducer in Legend comes out in full regalia, as a well-paced second act slowly works on his target’s emotions (that would be you, ladies). “This Time” is a beautifully written piano ballad, as the more flawed-but-forgivable aspects of his character rear their head as he begs for forgiveness. The will.i.am produced “Satisfaction” follows, as John takes it back upbeat, again finding John back in true form. The bossa-nova flavored, Fender-Rhodes driven “Take Me Away” sets the mood, as he winds down the evening for his lover, suddenly finding himself next to her in the A.M. on “Good Morning”. Here, Legend strikes it right out of the park, as he extends requisite pillow-talk into a four-minute before-breakfast ballad. Wow, some guys don’t even manage foreplay.

The proverbial cherry on top is “I Love, You Love”, a perfectly executed slow-burner, as will.i.am captures some of the same collaborative magic found on 1nce Again. The album closes out with the inspirational “If You’re Out There”, another powerful piano driven track, where Legend delivers a cryptic message about “change”, without saying it directly (that being, “vote Obama”).

Sure, Evolver might have been a scary title at first, but in the end, John Legend is still John Legend; he thankfully did not just decide on a whim to record an album of Gregorian Chant Rap or something. What is great about his music – just as on his other albums – he does not claim to be the perfect man, he confesses his faults openly (alcoholism, infidelity), but ends up being forgivable for doing so. He’s a gifted, clever songwriter and talented musician, and those strengths still shine through, despite the fact he’s moving further away from his piano playing roots. While not as strong as his first two records, and despite a somewhat rocky opening, the album ultimately delivers in the end. It will be interesting to see what John Legend evolves into next. – Pizzo