By Henry Alberts
Staff Writer
“Darkness and Light” by John Legend is an album with an unsettling beat and uneven rhythm that just passes the bar for being enjoyable, but ultimately lacks direction.
The album has a mix of pop-like love songs and haunting political tunes that are enjoyable on their own, but this combination falls flat when listened to as a whole piece.
“Darkness and Light” is Legend’s fifth album, produced by GOOD Music and Columbia Records. Additionally, tracks throughout the album feature artists such as Chance the Rapper, Brittany Howard, and Miguel, each getting a song of their own to add to.
It is as individual songs where this album shines. The titular “Darkness and Light” offers an enjoyable R&B sound with the combination of its soft bass and Brittany Howard’s pleasant voice. “Penthouse Floor”’s distorted tune offers a modern sound that works surprisingly well with the steady drum and Legend’s slight lisp, appealing to all kinds of listeners.
However, the album’s overall tone is inconsistent. Starting with a gospel-like piano in the first track, followed by a creepy, unsettling drumbeat in the second makes Legend’s mellow tone the only similarity between the two. The effect is jarring enough to potentially irritate listeners.
The album is also inconsistent in the tone of the lyrics, from the racially driven theme of “Penthouse Floor” to the sugary, mediocrity of “Overload”. There is simply no overall message or concept being conveyed throughout the album.
The tone of the album seems like an attempt at evoking the works of artists such as Marvin Gaye and Barry White, but it misses the mark. “Darkness & Light” is aimed at a younger millennial audience, yet its beats don’t match up to appeal to someone with a modern ear.
“Darkness and Light” feels more like a compilation than an album and, as such, its individual songs are too contrasting to be listened to in one session. It seems that Legend could not decide between love songs or political statements, and the fusion of the two is unsuccessful.
“Darkness and Light” was released December 2, 2016, and is available on various music platforms and in stores nationwide.
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