After I heard my fiance’s initially unenthusiastic review of John Legend’s new album, I had low expectations. Since then, I have listened to the album in its entirety several times, and I can say that it is one of my favorite albums of the year.

Legend’s new double-album, titled “LEGEND,” is his first in more than two years. Since his summer 2020 release “Bigger Love,” he has only put out a few singles. 

After listening to “LEGEND,” it’s easy to see what he’s been working on this whole time.

The album contains 24 new tracks and comes in at almost an hour and a half long, making it his longest album to date. It also features 12 guest artists, including Saweetie, JID, and Ty Dolla $ign.

In traditional Legend fashion, the album is a mix of R&B and pop with a romantic flare, focusing on the intersections of love, sex, and relationships.

After listening to the album several times, it became clear the order of the album’s songs tells a story of deepening love. In the beginning, the songs discuss quick flame, purely sexual relationships, and can be pretty explicit at times. As the album goes on, lust transforms into a slow burn, long-term love, and Legend references his wife and their growing family.

The three songs that stand out to me the most are “Dope (feat. JID),” “Splash (feat. Jhené Aiko & Ty Dolla $ign),” and “Wonder Woman.” They all use intense imagery such as lights, water, and superheroes to lead the listener to see the portrait he paints of the woman or relationship he is describing. 

Legend married Chrissy Teigen in 2013 and has since solidified her as his muse. She’s the subject of his most romantic and popular songs, including “All of Me” and “Wild (feat. Gary Clark Jr.).” After watching the music video for “Wonder Woman,” it is obvious that he wrote this song about Teigen, as she is featured in the video along with their two children. 

He uses the play on words, referencing both the DC Comics superhero Wonder Woman and saying “You make me wonder, woman / How do you do well?” He seems to be referencing her job as a mother to their two kids and her work as a model and television personality. 

Throughout his work, Legend loves to feature his wife and their family. Although he and his wife don’t align with the average Hillsdale student when it comes to politics and culture, it doesn’t come through in his music. He focuses on the love that he and his wife share, and that is especially apparent in the last two songs.

The last two tracks, “I Don’t Love You Like I Used To” and “Home,” deserve a seat right next to his most popular song, “All of Me.” They’re truly beautiful works of art that show the depth of the love he and his wife share; they could be played at weddings and bring the whole audience to tears. While they’re not his most listened to songs on this album, they are certainly my favorite.

This type of music might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but if you’re a fan of Ed Sheeran or are a casual listener of any of Legend’s other music, you should explore this album.

After my requests to listen to the tracks a bit closer, “LEGEND” has also become one of my fiance’s favorite releases of the year. Or maybe he’s just saying that.