Evolver (2008)

John Legend's voice is constitutionally incapable of veering off-key, much less cracking or hiccuping. That kind of polish can give his music a certain adult-contemporary flavor, which he tries to escape on his third album Evolver by flirting with flashier synths and randier lyrics. The makeover works for the most part — even if there's something a little absurd about hearing him proposition a platonic friend (''Cross the Line'') or someone he's met moments before (''Quickly'') in that barbershop-quartet croon. Turns out Legend is still at his best when he plays to his voice's strengths with clean-cut ballads like''Everybody Knows.'' B+
Download This: Listen to a clip of ''Everybody Knows'' on imeem.com