REVIEW: MAXWELL - BLACKsummers’night

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

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.