Life on Earth is
Taalib Johnson's first proper album in five years, and his first set released outside the major-label system. After six albums for
Def Soul and
Atlantic, and the
Shanachie-supported
9ine, a reggae-oriented
Syleena Johnson collaboration, the singer known as
Musiq Soulchild resurfaces on
My Block, the
eOne-affiliated boutique label run by Grammy-winning producer
Warryn Campbell (
Mary Mary,
Kanye West).
Johnson and
Campbell previously worked together on
Luvanmusiq and
OnMyRadio, both of which topped Billboard's R&B/Hip-Hop album chart. The two pick up here where they left off. Nothing here is out of step with anything from
Johnson's earlier releases. It's all comfortable, soul-rooted R&B with occasional throwback references, such as the opener's rhythmic likeness to "Rapper Dapper Snapper" and the familiar breakbeat that propels highlight "Heart Away." "Loving You," co-written by
Raphael Saadiq, is one of the singer's most ardent ballads, all slinking drums and shadowy synthesizers. Its chorus feels like
After 7's "Ready or Not" stretched out, as heard in a dream that plays out in slow motion. On the coasting "Changed My Mind,"
Johnson makes like a less extroverted
Maurice White, granted a backdrop that bears some resemblance to
Earth, Wind & Fire's "Can't Hide Love." The conflicted moments, as expected, are handled in sensitive and loving fashion, as on the soul-jazz-infused "Far Gone," featuring a typically layered
Rapsody verse, and the
Songs in the Key of Life-like "Walk Away," where simple words of wisdom are delivered with too much warmth to be disregarded as trite.
Johnson is as reliable and as mature as ever here, and it looks like he finally got rid of that malfunctioning space bar. ~ Andy Kellman
