With his third studio album, John Legend wanted to change his sound up, while not drifting too far from home. The album opens with an intro of one of its greatest songs “Good Morning”. The melodic piano keys mix with horns and Legend’s neo-soul voice produce a sound synonymous to previous albums, yet juxtaposed to some of the album’s more funky tracks.

“Give me the Green Light”, sings Legend on the album’s first single, that features Outkast’s Andre 3000. The video for the single was released a while back, and vividly displays the party anthem for what it is. “I’m just style freein’, freestylin’, which yawl seldom do,” chants Dre’, on the single, that was Legend’s biggest leap from his typical sound.

“It’s Over” (ft. Kanye West) carries with it a jazzy sound, over a notable Pharell Williams produced beat. One of the better songs on the ablum, “Everybody Knows”, follows with lyrics like “I still can’t believe you, found somebody new. I wish you the best… I guess".

Talented, but troubled, singer Brandy makes an appearance on the album in “Quickly”. The story of a love that must ensue a.s.a.p. for fears of a falling sky and Armageddon, or maybe it was more of global warming and a doctor’s visit gone bad. Next though, and more of a ballad is “Cross the Line”, the only extravagance being the slight percussion that accompanies the piano line.

With an essence of reggae, soul singer, Estelle steps on board on the track “No Other Love”. Legend, in the wake of artists like Jasmine Sullivan, draws from the reggae genre to add that extra funk. (He did this in a big way later on, but you have to keep reading).

“This time I want it all!” sings Legend over a slightly synthy background. “Last time I wasn’t sure/ This time I will give you more/ I’m more mature” from “This Time”; it’s lyrics making it the perfect “breakup and get-back-together” song. The album picks back up with a more upbeat “Satisfaction”, but the speed is broken quickly with “Take Me Away”.

Birds’ chirping in all, “Good Morning” shows why John Legend is one of this generation’s kings of soul “Baby how can I convince you/ Make it so you can’t resist/ Whatever else you have to do now/ It can’t be half as good as this”. He continues in this vein with “I Love, You Love”, a truly heartfelt tune.

The album’s final song, “If You’re Out There”, was debuted at the Democratic National Convention back in August. The song called for voices of a generation to stand up and make a difference. One of the album’s bonus tracks, “Can’t Be My Lover”, features Jamaican reggae powerhouse Buju Banton. That’s more of that reggae thing I was talking about. A collaboration no one expected, I’d say, but the track came out amazing and flows well as Legend pulls off the reggae swagger.

The album is currently #6 on the Billboard Hot 200, but has peaked at #4 already. Besides a few glitches here and there, John Legend accomplishes his goal of morphing into an edgier artist and embedding his name in R&B/Soul History. The Ordinary Joe Blog gives “Evolver” a “B” for high energy and talented collaborations, and soothing soulful rhythms and lyrics.

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T.I. – Paper Trail – Review – T.I.

“One for da money, two for da show dawg/ Three for the niggas hatin' on da low”, says T.I.P to all those who thought he couldn’t come back after he caught that case, in “56 Bars”, the intro to “Paper Trail” the album that still topped the Billboard 200 Chart after being fully leaked on the net. Ordinary Joe here, and I’m about to lay down the review for one of this years hottest albums. Yep, Atlanta Rapper T.I. is back with a vengeance, stirring up the industry like it’s his play ground once again.

The album carries a strict street swagger while appealing to the masses with a sometimes pop sound. From the range of “I’m Illy” with lyrics like “Before you rap bout me best ask bout me/ I'm out my f**king mind need counseling” to “Live Your Life ft. Rihanna” with “So keep on getting your paper and keep on climbing/ Look in the mirror and keep on shining”. T.I. reminds listeners, that not only is he the best, but if they try hard and don’t change who they are…they may have a slim chance of being as good as he is.

“On Top of the World”, which features Ludacris is one of the few party anthems, “I used to dream oh whoah/ about the money and the cars and girls/ but now I sing oh whoah/ because I’m sitting on top of the world”, shows that these two, like most rappers, know how to brag of their riches…can’t hate um for that, can we? The album’s second single “Whatever You Like” which made a record leap to number one on the Billboard Hot 100 (before Britney’s Womanizer trumped it) features the artist exhibiting what would be some singing talent as he tells a lady “Go get it/ I’ll buy it/ Tell em other broke niggas be quiet”

“Facin’ all kind of time/ but smile like Im fine” he tells us in “No Matter What”, addressing the looming one year term he must spend in prison following a federal sentence for weapons charges. This was also the reason “Paper Trail” was recorded while T.I. was under house arrest. “My Life Your Entertainment ft. Usher” shows that T.I. can make fun of his situation. Also, he has expressed some regret, but holds that it was necessary for his protection. Usher helps him out again as T.I. takes it smooth at least once on the album in the wavy sounds of “Porn Star”.

Featuring a sample from the now pregnant and eccentric artist M.I.A’s song “Paper Planes”, “Swagger like Us” is definitely one of the album’s hottest songs. It features an assortment of the most talented rappers in the industry, Kanye West who produced the track, Jay-Z and Lil Wayne. Kanye banged out “My swagger is Mick Jagger/ Everytime I breathe on the track/ I asthma attack it”, While Jay-Z chanted “But I can’t teach you my swag/ You can pay for school but you can’t buy class” but what made all the Lil Weezites out there scream was “And when it comes to styles I got several/ Sharper than a swagger, dagger or metal”. However, T.I. would not be left out, delivering arguably his best verse of the album.

The Ordinary Joe Blog gives T.I.’s “Paper Trail” a “B” for his ability to persevere through one of the hardest times in his life, and produce and album of sheer Rap Quality

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John Legend - If You're Out There - John Legend

“We're the generation / We can't afford to wait / The future started yesterday and we're already late”

Good isn’t it? Billboard News calls it an “anthemic call-to-action and evocation of human potential”. John Legend will debut his song “If You’re Out There” tonight (Aug. 25) at the Democratic National Convention at Denver’s Pepsi Center. The song was produced by Trevor Horn and Devo Springsteen. It features the Agape Choir, and will be available via www.my.barackobama.com/johnlegend after the performance but can be purchased now via i-Tunes.

The song is taken from John Legend’s upcoming studio album “Evolver” due for release on October 28, through Columbia Records. “Green Light” (feat. Andree 3000) the album’s first single and video clip have already been released.