John Legend has a straight-A pedigree. A University classmate of Kanye West and a brilliant songwriter, he also penned Alicia Keys' You Don't Know My Name. His debut LP Get Lifted sold by the lorry load, and he walked away with three Grammies from eight nominations. It's a tough act to follow that kind of success and many artists have failed to live up to the promise of their debuts.
Thankfully, Heaven is a slice of perfect pop soul. Legend has opted for a 70s soul sound, cocoa smooth backing vocals, a big beat and his pure silk voice floating atop. The more contemporary twitchy R&B edges of his debut have been shaved off, and the new sound is a bonus more than detraction allowing the strength of Legends' songwriting to shine.
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