Legend moves 'to the next level' to build his legacy

Legend moves 'to the next level' to build his legacy

John Legend proves up to the daunting task of living up to his acclaimed debut with another consistent front-to-back set on Once Again (* * * * out of four).

His knack for infusing new material with vintage sounds, witty storytelling, romantic optimism and expressive vocals makes him one of R&B’s most engaging new stars. Rather than simply trying to duplicate Get Lifted, Once Again pushes things forward.

Highlights to download: Save Room, Stereo, Tonight I Wanna Dance (Slow Dance)

Inspiration: Legend writes about subjects as different as public displays of affection and soldiers in Iraq. "I borrowfrom my own life, but also from other people's lives, and from books I've read — everything is fair game.

Updated 10/22/2006 10:47 PM ET

By Elysa Gardner, USA TODAY

NEW YORK — At 27, John Legend is still a young man, even by contemporary pop standards. But for his sophomore CD, the singer/songwriter/pianist had a rather old-fashioned vision.

"I wanted the album to be beautiful," says Legend. "I wanted every line to be well-conceived and well-delivered. I figured that if I write great songs and produce and arrange and sing them as best as I know how, then everything else will fall into place."

Certainly, that attention to songcraft and execution distinguished his 2004 debut, Get Lifted, which earned Legend — a Kanye West protégé who had previously collaborated with Alicia Keys, Janet Jackson and Lauryn Hill — three Grammy Awards.

But by the time he began recording Once Again, out Tuesday, Legend had acquired "more inspiration. The success I had gave me more confidence, so I felt I could take things to the next level."

Sitting in a Midtown studio where he is putting the finishing touches on some tracks, the boyish-looking artist discusses his work with the poise of an old pro.

One song that Legend is completing this evening, Coming Home, evokes the situation in Iraq by focusing on a homesick soldier. "I reference the state of the world in a few songs," he says. "There's also Show Me, which asks what's going on and why. If we have a God of love, peace and mercy, why is there so much suffering?"

Other tunes "are about everyday domestic life, the subjects that my friends and I talk about — like, who are you dating?"

Legend's rising profile has made him wary of divulging too many personal details, in his music or in conversation. "I borrow from my own life, but also from other people's lives, and from books I've read — everything is fair game."

More generally, fame has "affected some of the choices I make," Legend admits.

"I try not to let it overwhelm me, but I'm a little more aware of what I do in public." Public displays of affection, for instance: "There's a song called PDA on this album. That's something I probably won't do anymore."

Legend won't have a lot of downtime in the near future, anyway. "My main focus right now is on promoting and performing," says the singer, who is about to launch a U.S. tour and will follow up with European dates in December.

Not that he's nervous about Once Again's prospects. "My assumption was that if I did this album the way I wanted it to be done, I would sell more copies than I did the first time," Legend says. "I'll probably feel more pressure after this album, because I don't know if I'll be able to beat it. Hopefully, I will."