John Legend

John Legend could make a pet rock swoon, and his brand of martini soul provides a nice respite from the crunk-baked R&B that dominated the charts in 2006. It isn't that Legend's agenda differs from that of his contemporaries; it's that he approaches the bedroom with a whisper rather than a bark. "Save Room" and "Heaven" have beautiful harmonies to top off Legend's seasoned Lothario lyrics, while "Stereo" plays out over a neo-classic hip-hop beat and "Slow Dance" harkens back to the Stylistics and Delfonics. More consistent than his debut, Once Again is a satisfying seduction.