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.[citation needed] 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/BETcomedy-drama television series The Game.[2]
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]
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]
evolver, john, legend, album, evolver, third, studio, album, american, singer, john, legend, released, good, music, sony, music, entertainment, october, 2008, united, states, october, united, kingdom, features, guest, appearances, kanye, west, brandy, estelle,. 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 EvolverStudio album by John LegendReleasedOctober 28 2008Recorded2007 2008StudioThe Cutting Room StudiosLength50 42LabelGOOD Columbia SonyProducerKanye West John Legend Shannon Sanders Drew Ramsey Malay KP Dave Tozer Midi Mafia Dapo will i am Trevor Horn Devo Springsteen The Neptunes Supa Dups Teddy Riley Ne YoJohn Legend chronologyOnce Again 2006 Evolver 2008 Wake Up 2010 Singles from Evolver Green Light Released July 29 2008 If You re Out There Released August 24 2008 Everybody Knows Released March 23 2009 This Time Released May 25 2009The 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 citation needed 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 Contents 1 Background 2 Reception 3 Track listing 4 Charts 4 1 Weekly charts 4 2 Year end charts 5 Certifications 6 References 7 External linksBackground EditSpeaking in July 2008 to noted UK R amp B writer Pete Lewis of Blues amp 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 EditProfessional ratingsAggregate scoresSourceRatingMetacritic67 100 4 Review scoresSourceRatingAbout com 5 AllMusic 6 Entertainment WeeklyB 7 Los Angeles Times 8 Paste8 10 Van Dusen 3 10 Fink 4 9 PopMatters 10 Robert Christgau 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 amp 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 EditNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length1 Good Morning Intro Drew RamseyBritton NewbillJohn StephensShannon SandersJohn Legend0 462 Green Light featuring Andre 3000 Andre BenjaminFin GreenallJames HoStephensRick NowelsMalayKP4 443 It s Over featuring Kanye West WestPharrell WilliamsMalayKPWest a 4 274 Everybody Knows HoStephensKawan PratherTerrence SmithMalay4 355 Quickly featuring Brandy Christopher BreauxDapo TorimiroStephensKevin RistoWaynne NugentMidi MafiaTorimiro3 426 Cross the Line StephensPratherWilliam Adamswill i am3 227 No Other Love featuring Estelle Dwayne Chin QueeEstelle SwarayStephensMitchum Khan ChinSupa DupsChin a 3 598 This Time Dave TozerStephensPratherTozerTrevor Horn4 239 Satisfaction Christine TeigenStephensAdamswill i am4 4510 Take Me Away Reggie PerryShaffer SmithSyienceNe Yo a 3 0311 Good Morning RamseyNewbillStephensSandersDrew and ShannonLegend4 0112 I Love You Love StephensMark KnopflerAdamswill i am4 3513 If You re Out There Devon HarrisStephensPratherMarcus John BryantHornDevo SpringsteenBryant a 4 20 iTunes bonus tracksNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length14 Floating Away Chuck HarmonyStephensSmithtHarmonyNe Yo a 4 1515 Set Me Free GreenallStephensNowelsNowels3 5516 Green Light Afroganic Mix BenjaminGreenallHoStephensNowelsMalayKPAfroganic b 4 11 Europe and Brazil bonus tracks 28 No TitleWriter s Producer s Length14 Can t Be My Lover featuring Buju Banton Chin QueeStephensMark MyrieChinSupa DupsChin a 4 3415 It s Over Teddy Riley Remix WestWilliamsMalayKPWest a Teddy Riley b 4 20 Japan tour edition bonus tracksNo TitleWriter s Producer s Length14 Floating Away HarmonyStephensSmithtHarmonyNe Yo a 4 1515 Set Me Free GreenallStephensNowelsNowels3 5516 It s Over Teddy Riley Remix WestWilliamsMalayKPWest a Riley b 4 2017 Can t Be My Lover featuring Buju Banton Chin QueeStephensMyrieChinSupa DupsChin a 4 3418 Pride In the Name of Love Adam ClaytonLarry MullenDave EvansPaul David HewsonLegendJoel Beckerman4 08 Brazil re release bonus tracks 29 No TitleWriter s Producer s Length14 Can t Be My Lover featuring Buju Banton Chin QueeStephensMyrieChinSupa DupsChin a 4 3415 Green Light Johnny Douglas Radio Edit BenjaminGreenallHoStephensNowelsMalayKPJohnny Douglas b 3 2416 No Importa featuring Noel Schajris 4 0717 Entreolhares The Way You re Looking At Me featuring Ana Carolina 3 15 Notes a signifies co producer b signifies additional producerCharts EditWeekly charts Edit Charts 2008 PeakpositionAustralian Albums ARIA 30 66Belgian Albums Ultratop Wallonia 31 37Danish Albums Hitlisten 32 82Dutch Albums Album Top 100 33 7French Albums SNEP 34 72German Albums Offizielle Top 100 35 86Irish Albums IRMA 36 52Italian Albums FIMI 37 19Swedish Albums Sverigetopplistan 38 38Swiss Albums Schweizer Hitparade 39 36UK Albums OCC 40 21US Billboard 200 41 4US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 42 1 Year end charts Edit Chart 2008 PositionDutch Albums Album Top 100 43 65US Billboard 200 44 157US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 45 57Chart 2009 PositionDutch Albums Album Top 100 46 96US Billboard 200 47 86US Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard 48 31Certifications EditRegion Certification Certified units salesNetherlands NVPI 49 Gold 30 000 United Kingdom BPI 50 Silver 60 000 United States RIAA 52 Platinum 603 000 51 Sales figures based on certification alone Shipments figures based on certification alone References Edit Hip Hop Album Sales The Week Ending 11 2 08 Archived from the original on 2008 11 08 Retrieved 2008 11 06 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 John Legend interview by Pete Lewis Blues amp Soul October 2008 Bluesandsoul com Retrieved 2012 05 14 a b c d e f g Critic Reviews for Evolver Metacritic Retrieved 2013 11 14 Mark Edward Nero 2008 10 28 John Legend Evolver About com Retrieved 2012 05 14 AllMusic review Simon Vozick Levinson 2008 10 31 Evolver Review Entertainment Weekly Archived from the original on January 12 2012 Retrieved 2012 05 14 August Brown 2008 10 28 Album review John Legend s Evolver Los Angeles Times Retrieved 2012 05 14 Christine Van Dusen Matt Fink 2009 01 08 John Legend Evolver Music Reviews Paste Retrieved 2013 11 14 Mike Joseph 2008 11 04 John Legend Evolver PopMatters Retrieved 2013 11 14 Robert Christgau CG John Legend RobertChristgau com Retrieved 2013 11 14 Jody Rosen 2008 10 31 Evolver John Legend Review Rolling Stone Archived from the original on 2008 10 19 Retrieved 2013 11 14 Chris Johnston John Legend Evolver The Times Archived from the original on June 16 2011 Retrieved 2012 05 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 The Independent review Haidita Celestine November 12 19 2008 John Legend Evolver Columbia Sony Now Retrieved 2013 11 14 Nathan Rabin 2008 11 10 John Legend Evolver The A V Club Retrieved 2013 11 14 Jeff Vrabel 2008 Evolver Billboard Archived from the original on 2008 10 25 Retrieved 2013 11 14 Jon Pareles 2008 10 26 New CDs John Legend Evolver The New York Times Retrieved 2012 05 14 Timothy Cooper 2008 10 29 John Legend s Classic Soul Odes to Apocalypse The Village Voice Retrieved 2012 05 14 Greg Watkins 2008 10 29 ALBUM REVIEW John Legend Evolver AllHipHop Retrieved 2013 11 14 Sarah Rodman 2008 11 03 The Legend grows The Boston Globe Retrieved 2013 11 14 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 Mikael Wood 2008 10 30 John Legend Evolver G O O D Music Columbia Spin Retrieved 2013 11 14 Alex Macpherson 2008 10 16 Urban music review John Legend Evolver The Guardian Retrieved 2013 11 14 Eric Henderson 2008 10 26 John Legend Evolver Slant Magazine Retrieved 2013 11 14 Jackie Hayden 2008 11 06 Evolver Hot Press Retrieved 2013 11 14 subscription required John Legend Evolver Brazil first pressing Videolar com 2001 07 13 Retrieved 2012 05 14 John Legend Evolver Brazil second pressing Videolar com 2001 07 13 Retrieved 2012 05 14 Ryan Gavin 2011 Australia s Music Charts 1988 2010 PDF ed Mt Martha Victoria Australia Moonlight Publishing p 163 Ultratop be John Legend Evolver in French Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Danishcharts dk John Legend Evolver Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Dutchcharts nl John Legend Evolver in Dutch Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Lescharts com John Legend Evolver Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Offiziellecharts de John Legend Evolver in German GfK Entertainment Charts Retrieved October 7 2018 Irish charts com Discography John Legend Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Italiancharts com John Legend Evolver Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Swedishcharts com John Legend Evolver Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 Swisscharts com John Legend Evolver Hung Medien Retrieved October 7 2018 John Legend Artist Official Charts UK Albums Chart Retrieved October 7 2018 John Legend Chart History Billboard 200 Billboard Retrieved October 7 2018 John Legend Chart History Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Billboard Retrieved October 7 2018 Jaaroverzichten Album 2008 dutchcharts nl Retrieved July 8 2020 Billboard 200 Year End 2008 Billboard Retrieved October 7 2018 R amp B Hip Hop Albums Year End 2008 Billboard Retrieved October 7 2018 Jaaroverzichten Album 2009 dutchcharts nl Retrieved July 8 2020 Top Billboard 200 Albums Year End 2009 Billboard Retrieved July 8 2020 Top R amp B Hip Hop Albums Year End 2009 Billboard Retrieved July 8 2020 Dutch album certifications John Legend Evolver in Dutch Nederlandse Vereniging van Producenten en Importeurs van beeld en geluidsdragers Retrieved 17 November 2018 EnterEvolver in the Artiest of titel box Select 2008 in the drop down menu saying Alle statussen British album certifications John Legend Evolver British Phonographic Industry Herrera Monica May 11 2009 John Legend s Brother Vaughn Anthony Ready For Spotlight Billboard Retrieved October 16 2020 American album certifications John Legend Evolver Recording Industry Association of America Retrieved March 26 2022 External links EditEvolver at Metacritic Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Evolver John Legend album amp oldid 1105257042, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
