John Legend - Get Lifted

When a record this hyped comes along, I’m instantly skeptical. But with production/songwriting team West and Legend’s overwhelmingly tasteful arrangements—priceless guitar- and-piano hooks, ethereal strings, cascading Philly-soul harp and silky, Mariana Trench-deep grooves—Get Lifted has as much in common with the classic funk and soul of Isaac Hayes, Stevie Wonder and The Delfonics as it does with today’s best R&B, hip-hop and neo-soul.

The only misstep—and it breaks my heart that such juvenile lyrical spew made this masterful record’s final cut—is West’s track-debasing rap on the otherwise stellar “Number One,” during which he (I’m not kidding) has a conversation with his penis. But with Legend’s subtly beautiful piano and soulful vocals breathing life into these soon-to-be standards, you’ll forgive this one cringe-worthy blunder.