Get Lifted＜完全生産限定盤＞

2004年発売 ジョン・レジェンドのデビュー・アルバム『Get Lifted』(アナログ盤)

グラミー12冠、ノミネート総数38を誇り、米エンタメ界最高の名誉でエミー賞、グラミー賞、アカデミー賞、トニー賞を全て獲得した者だけに贈られる称号＜EGOT＞を史上最年少、黒人男性として初めて獲得したシンガー・ソングライター/ピアニスト、ジョン・レジェンド。デビュー・アルバム『Get Lifted』は、ソウル、R&B、ヒップホップのエッセンスを融合した作品。今作は、「Used to Love U」「Ordinary People」「Let's Get Lifted」等のヒット楽曲、ローリン・ヒルが参加した「So High - Cloud 9 Remix (feat. Lauryn Hill)」を収録したアナログ盤。

If you've listened to Top 40 radio or flipped through the video channels during the past few years, odds are pretty good you know something about John Legend. He played piano on Lauryn Hill's "Everything Is Everything" and might as well be considered Kanye West's sidekick, having assisted the producer and MC on several sessions -- Jay-Z's "Encore" and Slum Village's "Selfish" being two of the more prominent 2004 singles featuring his work. A former choir director, he has also released a handful of energetic live discs, some of which are credited to his less hubristic birth name, John Stephens. And though he claims "I've got something new," you've also heard substantial chunks of Get Lifted in records made decades ago by Sly & the Family Stone, Curtis Mayfield, Quincy Jones, and Bill Withers. This might not be a problem for listeners who crave anything that recalls the music they first heard in their youth, but Legend's over-reliance upon his inspirations is an impediment as much as a slick way to grab attention. That's because he has more than enough talent and charm to get by on his own. His own lyrics and hooks are unique and clever enough to get the point across that he's no everyday R&B artist and, just as importantly, he has a personable and instantly fetching voice you could listen to all day long. However, the association with West -- whose Sony-distributed boutique label released the record -- is very helpful. Without it, Legend would likely be zoned into neo-soul (2003's Live at SOB's New York City really makes this notion apparent), thereby standing little chance of reaching the ears of anyone younger than 30. The production work supporting his songs strikes a fine balance between soul and hip-hop, allowing him to appeal to those who are coming from either angle. This is a very good record. It's a given that Legend is destined to make at least two others that top it. ~ Andy Kellman

超ロングセラーを記録しているジョン・レジェンドの傑作メジャー・デビュー・アルバムが、日本盤のみの完全限定仕様で再登場。CD＋DVDの2枚組となり、CDにはローリン・ヒルとの共演が話題の“So High”の新ヴァージョンを含むボーナス・トラックが!　また、DVDにはジョンの気さくな人となりに触れられるインタヴューやライヴなど盛りだくさんの内容で、ジョン初の映像作としても重要だ。通常盤を持ってても欲しい!
bounce (C)佐藤 ともえ

〈カニエ・ウェストの秘蔵っ子〉という印象がありますが、このジョン・レジェンドはすでにインディー盤やライヴCDをリリースしており、多くのソングライトやセッションもこなす地力のあるアーティスト。歌えて、曲が書けて、ピアノも弾ける……となると〈男版アリシア・キーズ〉と言われそうですが、実際それくらいの才能を感じる傑作。塩辛めのヴォーカルと、カニエ節のソウルフルなトラックはとにかく美味。聴けばわかる!
bounce (C)池谷 昌之