Maxwell - BLACKsummers'night
List Price:
Our Price: $4.55
You Save: $5.44 (54%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $1.88 (click here)
Category: Music CD
See more CD details
Buy this Music CD at online store in your country
Canadian Music Store
Canadian Music Store
CD Details
Artist: MaxwellBrand: Baker & Taylor
Edition: Music CD
Audio: English (Unknown)
CD Release Date: 2009-07-07
Model: 696998914223
Music Label: Columbia
Product features:
- MAXWELL BLACKSUMMERS - NIGHT
- Bad Habits
- Cold
- Pretty Wings (uncut)
- Help Somebody
- Stop The World
- Love You
- Fistful Of Tears
- Playing Possum
- Phoenix Rise
Music reviews of BLACKsummers'night
Music Review: Superb, By All Means
Rating: 5 Stars
Maxwell has been out of the spotlight for a stunning EIGHT years, which is nearly an eternity in the music business, particularly in this day in age. A hardcore proponent of the neo-soul movement, many have questioned how Maxwell would update his signature, soulful sound when returning to a highly changed music scene where R&B has become nearly synonymous with hip-hop (and they are NOT the same thing). Maxwell came back, not the same, but even more soulful featuring a ten-piece band and perhaps the strongest album in his career. BLACKsummers'night, the first album of a trilogy, is nothing less than an R&B masterpiece. Not only does Maxwell sound as convincing, soulful, and sensual as he did during his "Ascension" or "Fortunate" days that helmed the neo-soul movement, he sounds even more affected vocally by soul music and pure unrequited soul. "Pretty Wings" is the perfect single - just commercial enough to make somewhat of a stir at radio, despite is unapologetic, non-commercial grandness. I would love to see BLACKsummers'night be that lone, soul-laden R&B album to debut at/near the penthouse of the charts and at least be certified gold. Whether that will happen is beyond my personal control or jurisdiction, but I can state that from a critical standpoint, BLACKsummers'night is exceptional in every facet of the word.
The album opens with the incredibly soulful, sensual "Bad Habits", which finds Maxwell singing in his pure, undeniably taut falsetto. In a time in R&B where the live-band is shunned and considered "old-fashioned", the set-up only bodes in Maxwell's favor, particularly making a soul track like "Bad Habits" stand-out among a host of over-produced "hip-hop R&B" tracks that have convoluted urban radio. The live horns truly add dimension and body to the totality of BLACKsummers'night. Intact with a "breakdown" section as well as an instrumental-driven outtro, "Bad Habits" is one of the best and most true "R&B" tracks of 2009.
"Cold" is equally or nearly as alluring, with a harder groove than "Bad Habits". Again, "Cold" benefits from a superb vocal performance by Maxwell as well as fine production work and exceptional songwriting. Again, the use of soulful horns truly establishes a heightened sense of credibility within the scope of these 9 tracks from BLACKsummers'night.
"Pretty Wings" is by far the valedictory track from BLACKsummers'night, as hard as that is to say of an album that is just this consistent. The songwriting is perfect, vocally Maxwell has never sounded better, and the authentically soulful production make this track a lock for a Grammy nomination (I'm crossing my fingers). Of all the fine R&B tracks that have been released this year, "Pretty Wings" stands out as one of the most genuine. It's even catchy! ("Your pretty wings, your pretty wings..."). "Pretty Wings" has a haunting quality, perhaps why it is so addictive and is defeating the odds of being a radio fixation.
"Help Somebody" keeps the momentum going with its grand concept and with Maxwell's earnest, sincere vocals. It is also great to hear R&B singers resurrect the notion of writing about the socially conscious, something that veteran soul singers like Stevie Wonder and the late great Marvin Gaye did so often and achieved in such a distinguished manner. "Stop The World" finds lover-man Maxwell at his most sensual, giving one of his most sensitive, falsetto-laden performances of BLACKsummers'night. "Love You" is as soulful as anything else, finding Maxwell painting his vocals over a sick, soulful drum groove and subtle blotches of swelling organ. "Fistful of Tears" sounds indigenous of 1970s soul as opposed to the neo-soul of 2009. Fantastic is the only word that can be used to describe the rousing "Fistful of Tears", in which you can truly feel Maxwell unrequited sincerity.
"Playing Possum" and "Phoenix Rise" end the album strongly, despite not possessing the same greatness as "Bad Habits", "Pretty Wings", or "Fistful of Tears". Either way, both this tracks are well written, well performed, and do nothing but rightfully heighten the profile of a soul star returning back to a scene the he once took by storm. No one can deny that Maxwell sounds on top once again, eight years or not. I hope this is the album that can solidify Maxwell a Grammy. If it's not, so be it, but he definitely deserves to be nominated as this is one of the very best R&B albums of 2009, EASILY. Brilliant.
Description of BLACKsummers'night
1 CD with 9 new tracks in a jewel box with a four-panel insert.BLACKsummers'night is the heavily anticipated new studio album from groundbreaking modern soul artist Maxwell. BLACKsummers'night is the first full-length Maxwell release since Now, his critically-acclaimed third studio album, debuted at #1 on the Billboard 200 in August 2001. This album is the sensuous opening installment of the artist's monumental BLACKSUMMERS'NIGHT trilogy. Striving for an emotional authenticity and real world sound for the album, the entire album was recorded live in the studio with an a-list ensemble of elegantly sympathetic musicians.
Pop CDs
Music Genres
Bestsellers in Pop CDs
Yvette Freeman - Dinah Was (L.A. Theatre Works Audio Theatre Collection)Release date: 2005-04-12; Music CD
Best price: $18.61
Price in other shops:
Twin Sisters Productions - Building Character Music CDTWIN SISTERS PRODUCTIONS; Release date: 2007-01-01; Music CD
Best price: $6.75
Price in other shops:
Bernadette Peters in ConcertDVD
Best price: $92.90
Everything Must Go/ Two Against Natureby Steely Dan
Published: 2003; Music CD
Scattered Ashes: A Decade Of Emperial WrathRelease date: 2009-07-28; Published: 2009; Music CD
Best price: $13.25
Price in other shops:
![Christmas at the Biltmore Estate [VHS] Image](/images/Christmas-at-the-Biltmore-Estate-VHS-076700437X-X.jpg){kind=small}
Christmas at the Biltmore Estate [VHS]A&E Home Video; Release date: 1998-09-04; VHS Tape; VHS Video
Best price: $6.08
Price in other shops:
The Shadow: Rare Radio Gems (Rare Radio Gems)Release date: 2002-09-01; Published: 2002-09-01; Music CD
Best price: $20.00
Price in other shops:
On the Shoulders of Giants, Vol. 1: An Audio & Musical Journey Through the Harlem Renaissanceby Kareem Abdul-Jabbar
Release date: 2011-09-06; Published: 2008; Music CD
Best price: $1.98
Price in other shops:
Francis Durbridge, Paul Temple & The Gilbert Case - Radio ShowRelease date: 2003-05-12; Music CD
Best price: $21.20
Price in other shops:
The Serenaders - My One and Only YouRelease date: 2011-05-28; Music CD
Best price: $8.59
Price in other shops:
Similar CDs
Erykah Badu - BaduizmRelease date: 1997-02-11; Music CD
Best price: $6.33
Price in other shops:
Maxwell - Maxwell: MTV UnpluggedRelease date: 1997-07-15; Music CD
Best price: $9.82
Alicia Keys - The Element of FreedomRelease date: 2009-12-15; Published: 2009-12-11; Music CD
Best price: $4.98
Price in other shops:
Kem - KemistryKEM; Release date: 2003-02-25; Music CD
Best price: $8.26
Price in other shops:
Jill Scott - Who Is Jill Scott? Words and Sounds, Vol. 1SCOTT,JILL; Release date: 2001-01-03; Music CD
Best price: $7.94
Price in other shops:
Maxwell - EmbryaMaxwell; Release date: 1998-06-30; Music CD
Best price: $5.99
Price in other shops:
Kem - IntimacyRelease date: 2010-08-17; Music CD
Best price: $10.14
Price in other shops:
Maxwell - For Lovers Only: Best of MaxwellRelease date: 2008-04-22; Music CD
Best price: $5.42
Price in other shops:
Maxwell - NowMaxwell; Release date: 2001-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $4.78
Price in other shops:
Maxwell - Maxwell's Urban Hang SuiteMaxwell; Release date: 1996-04-02; Music CD
Best price: $4.80
Price in other shops: