John Legend is the first artist on Kanye West's Getting Out Our Dreams label and he has ties to the Philadelphia area. Legend was a student at Penn and played his music around the town. Now he's on Columbia Records with his debut release Get Lifted, a soulful LP that shows Legend as a force to recognize in the future. His vocal and music playing talents are impressive and the first singles were nice but nice singles don't lead to a good LP. So does Legend have the stories to make a statement off the bat? Let get into this GeoReview and find out!

The album's prelude shows Legend's vocal talents and it leads to "Let's Get Lifted", a song about having that excellent sex and other sensual acts over a Kanye West beat. "I Used To Love U" is the first single and on it Legend talks about why its time for a new love begin and his current to end.

"Alright" is on a Kanye beat with a Hip Hop feel to it. On this particular song, Legend talks about having a relationship (even a five minute one) with someone who already has a relationship.  

"She Don't Have To Know" is produced by will.i.am of Black Eyed Peas fame and Legend gives you 70's song feel as he talks about sneaking moments with a woman when he could be with his lady. Will.i.am's drum programming gives you a nice shake on this track and Legend's lyrics are easy to translate to your own life, if you have ever done anything like this.   The trombone by Elizabeth Lea and guitar by George Pajon, Jr. and Jay Curtis are hot additions in the end as well.

Kanye brings his production and vocals to "Number One" a track that borrows the melody to "Let's Do It Again" written by Curtis Mayfield. The two artists talk about making mistakes but getting another chance because you were number one.

Snoop Dogg comes on in the intro to "I Can Change", a track about making change (something we are all about) for the better of the relationship. Produced by Dave Tozar and Legend this track uses the keyboard and the rich sound of the chorus to set a tempo.   Snoop's lyrics are poignant especially when considering the break up and coming back together of his marriage.

"Ordinary People" is the second track on the album and it has a chance to be played at weddings. Produced by Legend himself and co-written by will.i.am, the song talks about the struggles of a relationship especially a young one with high expectations and a low level of understanding. The piano in this track is key and Legend's voice shows power and passion.

"Stay With You" is a ballad about being with a person through thick and thin.   It could be a song to play when you're married or struggling to stay together. The organ makes the song sound serious and meaningful.  

"Let's Get Lifted Again" is the after party song after the initial fun has been had and Legend shows his falsetto range and that leads to "So High", a slow down track about being high on love produced by DeVon Harris.

"Refuge (When It's Cold Outside)" is a tribute to the power of relationships and friends and how it can change whatever is going around you or at least the perspective.

"It Don't Have Change" features the Stephens Family and they help Legend talk about the olden days of family and how it doesn't have to change despite the other obstacles that life throws in the way.   The sounds like it could have been sung in the church and that's cool because family should be like a religion.

"Live It Up" features the violin of Miri Ben-Ari and the dreamy track talks about doing the best you can despite what else going on. It's song about changing the way you do things and having perspective.

Overall Legend does a great with this album about not getting too low or too high. He talks about family, relationships, love and does it with different sounds and vocals.   Some songs sound very recent others sound as if they could have been made in earlier times.   Legend looks like he has a bright career because of his skills with the piano, his style versatility and voice.

I'll give the album 4 Globes.   

Any comments, suggestions, questions email Clayton at clayton@geoclan.com.

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