John Legend captures the intimacy of the R&B genre without sacrificing the core music, which keeps it interesting for everyone. Whether you’ve fallen victim to cuffing season or you’re simply looking for some good music, Love in the Future can be your album.
That level of sonic indulgence seems like it should be incompatible with an artist who is, essentially, a piano man, but Love in the Future is among Legend's best work, made for couples who are into one another for the long term while feeling a little daring and crazy.
On Legend's fourth LP, executive producer Kanye West helps give him a plush, nuanced palette to match his signature emotional generosity and strong sensuality.
Executive producer Kanye West’s influence is clear on much of Love ... But Legend too often resorts to theater-kid oversinging, turning simple pretty musings like ”Hold On Longer” into histrionic piano-bar busts.
Legend's voice is excellent throughout and comes to the fore on ballads such as All of Me. If ever the record's appeal wanes due to the generic feel of the backings and melodies, it is given a lift by Legend's fine piano playing or little production tweaks
There are quite a few classics on this that outweigh the filler, which is most of the record actually. You already know which ones are good though, as they're some of his most iconic songs,
1 | Love In The Future (Intro) 0:40 | 55 |
2 | The Beginning... 3:25 | 60 |
3 | Open Your Eyes 3:06 | 54 |
4 | Made to Love 4:00 | 32 |
5 | Who Do We Think We Are 4:53 feat. Rick Ross | 76 |
6 | All of Me 4:29 | 74 |
7 | Hold On Longer 2:38 | 46 |
8 | Save The Night 3:09 | 57 |
9 | Tomorrow 3:32 | 55 |
10 | What If I Told You? (Interlude) 0:50 | 42 |
11 | Dreams 2:38 | 57 |
12 | Wanna Be Loved 3:06 | 60 |
13 | Angel (Interlude) 1:24 feat. Stacy Barthe | 52 |
14 | You & I (Nobody in the World) 4:12 | 67 |
15 | Asylum 3:17 | 60 |
16 | Caught Up 3:45 | 62 |
/ | NPR Music |