Blue Note Records

Al Green’s Lay It Down is an eleven-song sermon, preaching love without sounding preachy. While resurrecting his signature old-school R&B sound marked by joyful horns, quiet beats, and his wide-ranging but always smooth vocals, Green has injected a bit of hip-hop swagger into his latest album. This is due, no doubt, to slick co-production by the Roots’ ?uestlove Thompson and James Poyser. The best moments of Lay It Down achieve a seamless mix of classic and current by sharing the vocal limelight with co-conspirators and fans including John Legend, Corinne Bailey Rae, and Anthony Hamilton. Unquestionably, Green still has more love to spread.