When icons & legends sing

Within the realm of R&B, Beyoncé Knowles and John Legend have both achieved royalty status. Not only is their musical output anticipated with relish, but their every movement and private lives also become the stuff showbiz rags have to relay and cover. At this point in their respective careers, it comes as no surprise that they manage a lot in terms of defining artistic vision and what projects they undertake. So, the two coincidentally have new double CDs on the market; and they’re perfect gift ideas if you have R&B fans in the family, or in your circle of friends.

Evolver: John Legend (Sony BMG). Whether as performer, songwriter or producer, John Stephens has certainly lived up to his acquired surname; and while flirting with Old School R&B on his most recent efforts, he has  maintained his status as one of the more forward-thinking luminaries in the R&B world today. There are times that he seems to be channeling Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye; and on the new double CD, there are instances when he seems to swim too close to the mainstream, and is in danger of channeling Lionel Richie as well. But if the shoe fits, and he has enough guests on the stronger numbers, there seems to be no stopping Mr. Legend. Kanye West, Brandy, Estelle and Outkast’s Andre 3000, the CD has John brimming with confidence whether the track is a dance groove, reggae-influenced, or straight R&B Soul. I loved the energy of Green Light with Andre, but my personal favorite would be the lilting Jamaican-inspired No Other Love which features Estelle. The second CD turns out to be a video; it’s just as well that all the good music can be found on a single disc.

I Am ... Sasha Fierce: Beyoncé (Sony BMG). Her first studio album since the No. 1 B-day CD of 2006, this is a highly-anticipated release with all the tracks co-written and co-produced by the diva herself. Sasha Fierce is the new persona she has created, and it was bandied about as the high-energy Beyoncé, and Sasha takes over on the second CD. The first I Am CD, is supposed to be the more reflective, personal side of Beyoncé. Hence, the carrier single, a ballad, If I Was A Boy, can be found on the I Am disc. With only eight tracks on each disc, one may wonder why all the hoopla on the double CD concept, but while I can say it works, it works in a qualified manner. The I Am disc is solid, but one has to manage expectations and know that ballads and mid-tempo numbers will fill the content of the CD. If one was expecting a full throttle, funk-out party on the second CD, it’s here that Sasha Fierce shows she just may be more bark than bite. There are some really good tracks, but the energy does flag somewhat. A decent effort, but perhaps some editing and a single CD would have sufficed.