Darkness and light

"On Darkness and Light, John Legend pushes beyond his comfort zone for something a bit more ambitious. This is a love record about navigating the bleak world and finding happiness in dark times ... In the end, Darkness and Light isn't the political feat Mills and Legend had hoped for, but it's a step forward in the singer's evolution. He may never be a firebrand, but Legend proves there's still strength in humility".

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"Even when he's in his comfort zone of singing about love, the production, most of which was handled by Alabama Shakes collaborator Blake Mills, pushes the songs slightly off-kilter, surrounding the excellent Surefire with jagged strings, while the glistening Temporarily Painless blossoms around Legend's emotionally rich vocal. A late 2016 highlight".

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"In addition to Legend's laser focus and Mills' presence, the album is tied together by the supreme rhythm section of Pino Palladino and Chris "Daddy" Dave. Each track has its own kind of burning intensity. The album's front, back, and inner photos are in black-and-white, but the music evokes rich shades of yellow, orange, and red".

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"I tæt samarbejde med produceren Blake Mills og overraskende sangskrivergæster som Bonnie 'Prince' Billy og Tobias Jesso Jr. har Legend skabt en soulplade, der i sær på den første halvdel er fuld af nerve og personlighed. Det er mørke tider, og som mange andre musikere i år fletter Legend med sin småhæse falset det politiske ind i det personlige. Men i traditionen fra sin barndoms gospelkor tænder Legend små lys i mørket".

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"Heldigvis har Legend allieret sig med blandt andre produceren Blake Mills, der ledte Alabama Shakes' soul-rock i en mere vovet retning på deres album fra sidste år, for Mills og de andre makkere skubber sangeren ud i overraskende udtryk. Der er no more Mr. Nice Soul Singer på »What You Do To Me«, hvor Legend bander, mens den tunge bas marcherer og gysersynths'ene hvisler ildevarslende. I helt andet hjørne er »Right By You (For Luna)«, der takket være saxofonisten Kamasi Washingtons vemodige piben og Legends egne ængstelige spørgsmål til sin datter er noget så sjældent som en gribende, jazzet baby-hyldest. Legend forbinder ikke det personlige og politiske lige så sømløst som f.eks. Beyoncé, Solange eller Blood Orange, men sangeren har alligevel begået sit mest vellykkede album i et årti".

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