HuffPost Review: Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night

It's been eight long years since Maxwell's platinum-selling, number one album Now debuted at the top of the charts, toting its urban hits "Lifetime" and "This Woman's Work" along with it. That disc's follow-up, BLACKsummers'night, finally hits the street, and the obvious question is, was it worth the wait? Absolutely, for a couple of reasons: The singer's voice has matured significantly--along with his haircut and wardrobe; this time out, Maxwell has recast himself as a grown-up with all its musical and lyrical upgrades. Also, since BLACKsummers'night apparently is THE FIRSTofatrilogy, given what the singer introduced within this lush, sensuous album, his next two offerings promise deeper explorations of what this guy is really feeling and what he creatively can deliver.

Captured live in the studio, at times, BLACKsummers'night feels like it was created out of Marvin Gaye's seventies catalog, especially the albums Let's Get It On and Trouble Man (albeit from the perspective of the sheets, not the streets). That especially applies to its horn arrangements, such as the one featured on "Bad Habits" that recalls the earlier decade as it spruces things up with a spritz of Stax. Everything on this track, as well as the whole album, is about space, warmth, and the sexy, like when Maxwell's chorus hook "Will you forgive me?" and tag line "I can't control the feelin'..." ignite an old school fade amidst a jazzy horn wrap-up and howling Marvinistics. Overall, this project just wants to seduce, as when "Cold"'s chanty "How can you be so cold" vocal harmonies grab Sade's exotic use of inverted fourths, or when the single "Pretty Wings" starts with eerily intimate chimes and ends with lush lullaby synths layered with distant horns. And with the open-pedal'd piano sustain of "Love You," Maxwell's "Houdini would be very proud" stays buoyant in the keyboard's wake.

Sure, BLACKsummers'night's elegant vocals and production with their lovely musical backdrops make this one of those albums you can do it to if you must--although it's not THAT carnal, it's actually pretty artistic. And this is the type of project we would have expected D'Angelo to one day deliver before or during his own long, self-imposed hiatus from the music scene. Instead, it's Maxwell who put those puzzle pieces together, his fully taking advantage of a voice glowing more golden with age. He now emotes from that place from which r&b stirs, though the singer has many musical miles to go before he fills any ground-breaking, bigger shoes that came before him. Still, if he's real smart about his choice of material (stepping out of the bedroom, lending his voice to some weightier topics) and growth as an artist (perhaps delving deeper into what made Atlantic/Stax/Motown beloved), he might someday be a real contender.

CD:
1. Bad Habits
2. Cold
3. Pretty Wings
4. Help Somebody
5. Stop The World
6. Love You
7. Fistful Of Tears
8. Playing Possum
9. Phoenix Rise

DVD:
1. Intro
2. Pretty Wings
3. Help Somebody
4. Cold
5. Stop The World
6. Love You
7. Pretty Wings - music video

Follow Mike Ragogna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ragz2008

Comments

[allheavens]

Could you imagine after eight years coming back with the same do and the same sound? Now THAT would have been disappointing.

The young Maxwell is a distant and comforting memory, but the king is dead, long live the king. As much as I loved the lush instrumentation and the romanticism of Maxwell’s towering falsetto, I am definitely "feeling" the new emotionally raw Maxwell along with the blistering brass section and wicked percussions.

Besides, "Bad Habits" is classic Maxwell, along with "Pretty Wings". Those two songs are a concession to the fans who were wishing for him to appear magically, not one day older, rocking the Afro and Bryan Ferry's wardrobe.

Is it a great CD? Is it a classic? The answer would be no but it is a very good one. I think the man is on a journey and for better or worse, I think going to get my ticket to ride.

[hellavajewel]

I definitely agree with the old skool flair. However I'm not feeling it. I like my Maxwell the way I was first introduced to him. He had a look and flair that made him unique. A newess that I welcomed and played almost day and learned every word to every song.

I grew up on Marvin and I loved him, but Maxwell is no Marvin. I want the old Maxwell back. When I saw him perform at the BET awards. I wasn't moved Iike how I was mesmerized when I first heard him. I could feel his passion in his words, not anymore.

A singer like Maxwell has to move women if he want to move units. I'm just not ready to grow up with Maxwell.

[ragz2008]

Well, don't know what to say about old vs. new, these guys get to mature, you know? And I really wasn't comparing him to Marvin's greatness or classic-ness, just the approach he took.

[AceInTheHole]

Nice article my friend, I think Maxwell is a star in his own right but I would never compare him to Marvin Gaye or R. Kelly. Guys like them are incomparable. But I'm glad that Maxwell is musicaly active again because I think he has a lot to contribute musically. But I can understand him taking a long break when he did because like Jesse Powell, another very talented young R&B artist , they both were being over shadow by the genius, talent, and notoriety, of R.Kelly . Kelly took all of the oxygen out of the room for the other R&B singers for almost a decade and he still does. When a guy like Kelly can get over 22,000,000 play hits on Facebook site in a little over a year and 3,000.000 on his latest single "Supaman High" in one month. Those numbers approach Michael Jackson in his prime, type numbers.

[ragz2008]

Thanks Ace, and I heard Marvin being used as the role model for production, etc., not so much that he's the next Marvin...although he's real good.

[smit9187]

I love Maxwell, "Pretty Wings" is so mellow.

[ragz2008]

Yeah, so smooth.....

[Nommo]

Marvin Gaye indeed. If ya can't beat 'em...Too bad it took him eight years to figure that out.

[ragz2008]

Well, if you're going to emulate, why not do it with one of the best!