New album reviews: Pharrell brings soul and gospel to 'Hidden Figures,' John Mayer gets mellow again

SOUNDTRACK: R&B

Various artists, "Hidden Figures: The Album" (Columbia)

To tell "Hidden Figures' " rarely heard story of the brainy African-American women working at NASA at the dawn of the 1960s, director-screenwriter Theodore Melfi brought in nu-soul auteur Pharrell Williams to compose, star in, and oversee its soundtrack, co-compose its score (with Hans Zimmer) and produce the film.

Rather than shrink at the responsibility, Williams rises high; not just with sweet retrofit R&B appropriate to the Motown era and the optimism of the space race, but with his usual sunny disposition pop-hop, this time tinged with strains of gentle folk and sacred song.

Though the former describes Williams' own chipper anthem "Runnin'," the gloriously emboldened "I See a Victory" encompasses the Virginia native's rich gospel inspirations. Williams offers similar raw religiosity for duet partner Lalah Hathaway on "Surrender."

Along with producing grand raging tracks for Mary J. Blige ("Mirage") and saving a hint of hard soul for himself ("Crystal Clear"), Williams — with movie co-star Janelle Monae — tackles "Jalapeno" and brings back another side of his sound, the blistering electro-rock-funk of his onetime band N.E.R.D.

A.D. AMOROSI, Philadelphia Inquirer

POP/ROCK

John Mayer, "The Search for Everything: Wave One" (Columbia)

There's little trace of the Grateful Dead's jam-band boogie on Mayer's first solo effort since touring recently with Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzmann as Dead & Company. But as the EP's title suggests, there are bits of pretty much everything else Mayer is known for: relaxed white soul in "Moving On and Getting Over," polished soft rock in "Love On the Weekend," folky piano balladry in "Changing" and "You're Gonna Live Forever in Me."

The four songs come from the singer's latest studio album, which he intends to put out in digital batches (or "waves," as he refers to them); more tunes are expected "throughout the next several months," according to a statement, before they're bundled for a physical release this spring.

MIKAEL WOOD, Los Angeles Times

new releases

• P.O.S., "Chill, Dummy"

• Lauren Alaina, "Road Less Traveled"

• Tift Merritt, "Stitch of the World"

• Migos, "Culture"

• Train, "A Girl, a Bottle, a Boat"

• Japandroids, "Near to the Wild Heart of Life"

• Bell Biv DeVoe, "Three Stripes"