After nearly a decade since his last album was released, Maxwell is back w/ BLACKsummers’night, the darker opening installment of a trilogy. blackSUMMERS’night (which has a gospel feel) & blacksummers’NIGHT (slow jam records) are slated for release in 2010 and 2011, respectively.
In a recent interview with Billboard, Maxwell explained that “the time away gave me a better appreciation of things, so I took the time I needed to live to make this album something of substance.” And that, it certainly is. Working again with long-time collaborator Hod David, who serves as co-producer and co-writer of the album, Maxwell delivers a smooth, sensual, soulful album that is well worth the wait set behind a blues background (which includes a 10-piece band) and dealing with love lost.
BLACK opens with the quintessential slow jam, “Bad Habits”, a bluesy mid-tempo number with an amazing horn arrangement, which Maxwell calls “the saltiest and most aggressive record I’ve ever done”. The jazzy, hot “Cold” follows, describing a lady love (“Global warming ain’t got nothing on this chick. She’s not to play with. You can’t just leave this. You can’t just think that you can quit this. She’ll make you regret this. She’s on top, and she means business.”).
The angel-soft lead single ballad, “Pretty Wings”, is both sexy and mournful as Maxwell laments about a failed relationship. But with “Stop the World”, Maxwell seductively details experiencing a love that makes the world seem to stop with no worries or battles. The pleading “Love You” is next with Maxwell explaining, “I can be anything you want me to be. I just wanna love you.” “Fistful of Tears” deals with the possibility of opening up to love in spite of painful experiences of the past, while “Playing Possum” revives a love lost (“I’m begging you sugar, have some leniency. Call the president, and ask him, baby, to pardon me and bring you back to me.”) The album concludes with the instrumental “Phoenix Rise”.
BLACKsummers’night, marking the triumphant return of Maxwell, is filled with raw emotion and exhibits his maturity not only as an artist but also as a man able to let go of being afraid to love. The only disappointment is that the album is just over a half-hour, leaving you wanting more and counting down until SUMMERS’NIGHT.
Make sure you pick up your copy of BLACKsummers’night in stores or online today.
I’ll be Maxwell’s Black Summer Nite, you can believe that with his fionnnnneeeeee azz.
I love all the songs except for “COLD”! My favorite is “STOP THE WORLD” because he talking about me in that song
hahahaha! “Bad Habit” is his next release. The radio station that I listen to just played it. I can’t wait to see the “Bad Habit” video.
I couldn’t wait for this cd to drop. I had to download it online. BUT, I BOUGHT IT! I saw Maxwell when he came to Memphis, TN on his BLACKSummersnight Promo Tour. I was so ready for Jazmine Sullivan to get window bustin’ azz off the stage so I could hear my baby Maxwell!!! He was so worth the wait. CLAWD HAM MERCY that man had me in the mood as soon as he hit the stage. I screamed for the 1st 10 minutes of the show. I told my hubby before we got to the concert to not even get jealous if I start screaming. If he was going to act like a rear-end, he needed to stay his rear-end at home. I don’t play about my Maxwell. He was cool.
I have to strongly disagree with the poster saying he is rude and keeps his fans waiting. I wasn’t at the Essence Music Festival but when he was here in Memphis, he kept giving us more and more. He often stopped between songs to say how much he appreciated us waiting on him. After the concert was over, he came back on stage and did 4 more songs. Such a gentleman and a humble man.
Now, the CD…I must say that listening to the album the 1st time, I wasn’t in love with it. But, I listened to it again and again, wooooo weeeeee,….that man has some serious lyrical abilities. I mean, you get him, you get it, you know what he’s talking about. The cd gave me a Marvin Gaye type vibe. I support real talent…none of that “blame it on the ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah-ah….” junk on everybody’s ringtone.
And, yes….Lauryn Hill need to shake herself loose and send these no vocal range, no musical depth, no message-having wannabes back to school! Lauryn was a lyricist too. The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill is in heavy rotation on my Zune. Lauryn….where you at? Come back! Hip Hop/R&B hasn’t been the same since she dropped off the map!
I didn’t care for the album…I listened to it once, and it bored me…lol…oh well, maybe I’ll try it again…
i’m honestly in love with him. and his music. like, it’s kind of ridiculous.
please someone tell me that the gay rumors are just that- rumors! i asked about them before but didn’t get a response. i’m really concerned. haha
This cd is awesome. A very mature 70′s vibe to it. Finally real music is back, not autotune, live instruments and great vocals. A friend emailed it to me 2 weeks ago, but I bought it today. In love. My faves are:
Love You
Bad Habits
Fistfull of Tears
Pretty Wings
Good review J.Dakar! I will def be copping this album…my review will have to wait until I get my hands on a copy…
This album is good….very mature & classy…some people wont get it. And for those saying its too short,remember he will have the next 2 cds in the trilogy coming soon.
I WAS HOPING TO GET THE TAKE OF THAT FREE LANCE WOMAN YOU USE SOMETIMES…I THINK HER NAME IS KHADIJA MAYBE, BUT ANYWAY J.DAKAR YOU DID FANTASTIC WITH THE WRITE UP. I CAN’T SEE BRYAN DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
i loooooooooove this album i pre ordered the deluxe version on itunes they rest of yall need to get it if you dont, the real copy because this real great music n maxwell is fine as fuk all yall 14 yr olds know about is beyonce……..death……….
NEVER REALLY LISTENED TO HIS MUSIC BEFORE, BUT THIS MAN CLEARLY HAS TALENT. SO I’M GETTING A COPY..I’M DOWN TO HEARING GOOD MUSIC, UNLIKE THE GARBAGE THAT PLAYS ON RADIO NOW A DAYS
AND IT DOESN’T HURT THAT HES IS SO DAMN SEXY!
YUM!!
Okay , downloaded this last night from Itunes…I’m not sure the names of the new songs I like, but playing posums is so beautiful, I love it!! My only complaint is the album is waaaay too short!
Maxwell is back! I found this great photo gallery with pictures from the Maxwell show last night in NYC. I wish I was there, it was one of his first shows since the release of “Blacksummers’night”, which is amazing by the way. Check out the pictures here along with an article about the show:
http://tinyurl.com/maxwellnycpics
http://tinyurl.com/maxwellnycstory
Like “Playing Possum”….I’m still stuck on Musiq’s “So Beautiful” song though!!!
I got the pleasure of seeing Maxwell live 2JUL09 in San Antonio,TX……Damn….That’s really all I can see. That man SANG….some of you don’t know what that is ( for the young crowd)…That man SANG every note…as if he created it for the first time….Some of you keep complaining that the album only has 9 songs. I agree it’s too short…that’s only because it’s hard to STOP when somethings SO GOOD…..I haven’t bought or downloaded ANYONE’s album who had 100% good music on it….15 songs only yielded 6-7 good ones…..do the math….REAL R&B is BACK!!!
STOP WHINING ABOUT IT BEING ONLY 9 SONGS. JUST LIKE CONCRETE LOOP MAXWELL IS QUALITY NOT QUANTITY. PLUS YOU KNOW YOUR OTHER CD’S ARE 14 TRACKS OF BULLSH*T! THIS IS REAL MUSIC. ONLY FOR THE GROWN AND SEXY. CHICKENHEADS WHO CAN’T APPRECIATE REAL MUSIC SIT DOWN!
Welfare case
Please stop the stupidity. Maxwell is one of the nicest and most humble artists out today. Don’t go bashing him because of ONE incident. You know that wasn’t his fault.
MY GAWD HE LOOKS SO SEXY IN THAT PIC!
AND I LOOOOOOOOVE THE CD. GOT THE DELUXE EDITION CD/DVD & I’M IN LOVE WITH MAXWELL!
One of the most talented out today! Thank goodness we still have real artists like Maxwell.
HIS CD IS STRAIGHT FIYAH
I love Maxwell! His CD was sold out everywhere I went so I will order it online. Gotta have him!
YESSSSSSSSSS I LOVE BLACKSUMMER’S NIGHT! IT IS MY NEW FAVORITE!
Can’t wait to see him live! Excellent performer!
I consider myself to be a true Maxwell fan, but I am totally unimpressed with this album…trying to sell to the HIGHEST (or lowest bidder)…none of the tracks are hot! The lirics are ok…just NOT the Embrya or Urban Hangsuite Maxwell. Think I will listen to it again b4 I sell it.
this man seems to understand how music works!
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