John Legend has turned out a robust holiday album with a handful of soulful standouts.
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When listening to the album – which involved various detours into Christmas music favourites – I did consider whether there is an underlying cynicism to Christmas music. It implores behaviours – mainly gratitude, love, and giving – purely on the basis of it being Christmas. Does this risk suggesting that such behaviours are not equally as essential in any other season? Shoehorning all of one’s good deeds into the latter end of the year feels a convenient way of compensating for a previous eleven months of spite and malice. But enough of my musings.
Legend announced his Christmas album this past October, stating that he ‘wanted to do this for a long time’. Executive-produced by preeminent neo-soul artist Raphael Saadiq, A Legendary Christmas comprises covers of Christmas classics with six original contributions (all co-written by Legend).
His voice, a velvety baritone, is allowed full breadth to shine. On ‘Silver Bells’ – reinvented as a soul jam with orchestration reminiscent of Marvin Gaye’s 1970s discography – Legend projects effortlessly. He closes with a soulful lick, with delectable hitches in his voice. ‘Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas’ is rendered as a well-matched duet of Legend and jazz songstress Esperanza Spalding. The fullness of his tone complements her dainty, bouncy vocal stylings. Though ocassionally over-egging his crooning, he performs a passionate cover of ‘Merry Christmas Baby’, lifted by the band, with a (slightly odd but nonetheless pleasant) transition into the Jackson 5’s ‘Give Love On Christmas Day’.
There are no real missteps on the album, but it does occasionally drift into the forgettable: A sleepy rendition of ‘The Christmas Song’ and a slightly stripped down version of Marvin Gaye’s ‘Purple Snowflakes’ where Legend’s falsetto feels overbearing.
Likewise with some of the original material. ‘By Christmas Eve’ recycles grand tropes – he describes ‘crossing the deserts and oceans’ to make a timely return to his family for Christmas – and packages them into a paint-by-numbers ballad. It is saved by the introduction of his backing singers, led by Sy Smith. ‘Bring Me Love’ is the ‘I Just Haven’t Met You Yet’ (Michael Buble) of the album. That is, rather middle of the road with an annoyingly catchy hook – potential to be hit if backed by sufficient promotion.
But fortunately, A Legendary Christmas features some remarkably strong originals. With enchanting backing vocals by Sy Smith, breezy horns, and a cool midtempo flow, ‘No Place Like Home’ sounds like a vintage Stevie Wonder cut. Legend creates a setting of familial and domestic bliss with his home smelling sweetly of cinnamon and pine. He snuggles by the fireplace, binges on Christmas movies, and rejoices in carolling. He paces himself, rising with more power at the final chorus. Closing track ‘Merry Merry Christmas’, part jazz soiree and part gospel foot-stomper, has an uncanny timeless sound.
(Image copyright: Columbia Records)
