Black Summers' Night

At the time Maxwell dropped this stellar album, I was so distracted by another musical genius and the tragedy that had befallen him, I could not focus. All the while, I was listening and asking could it really be so? Could it be so, that Maxwell is incapable of making a bad album? This. Man. Is totally incapable of making a bad album!!! I love every single song just as I've loved every single song on every single album that Maxwell has blessed us with.My most hugest, biggest crush at this moment is STOP THE WORLD. I don't know if Maxwell can be touched, lyrically, at this given time. He says, in many of these songs what every woman needs to, longs to hear. He is so incredibly, romantically, lyrically gifted in a very cool and soulful way. STOP THE WORLD reminds me of PRINCE on a very, very good day.The music on this album is crazy good. Who are these musicians? Like all the rest, Blacksummer's night is another timeless album by this amazingly, talented man. I don't begrudge Maxwell for taking his time and putting it down. In a nutshell: Not a bad song on it. An album men and women can fall in love with. Will stand the test of time. Soulful, mellow and jazzy.

Wow! This is by far Maxwell's BEST CD yet. I can't stop listening to it. I'm familiar with all of Maxwell's work. I've loved his music from the beginning. But this CD, I am so pleased with it. This is one of those CD's that you can put in and totally listen to all of it without skipping any songs. You can just relax and chill. Pretty Wings, oh Pretty Wings, I've been there before. Fistful of Tears is my #1 song. I can relate to this whole CD. This CD is so DEEP! I think everyone will love it. Everyone will relate to this one. I'm anxiously waiting on his next and I know it will be spectacular. If you're not a fan, you will be after this CD. Believe me, it was worth the wait. Oh, I could go on and on. THIS IS IT. We need more music like this. I can't stop screaming.

I really didn't know what to expect after a 8 year hiatus. Sade records every eight years or so lately and gets it right time after time. I didn't lack confidence, I just wondered about which direction he would take. I'm so very enthralled with his recent release, words are flooding into my mind too swiftly. I absolutely adore this piece of work. I heard Bad Habits on the AOL Listening Party a couple weeks before the release and immediately became obsessed. Pretty Wings grabbed me immediately. My Favorites in order:Fistful of TearsBad HabitsPretty WingsLove YouStop the WorldPlaying PossumHis voice is prime, his emotions are untethered, his lyrics heartfelt. It's one of the best things that's happened to me this year...Thanks Maxwell...thank you so very much. Love you much.

The first few listens of the whole album did not impress me. In fact I was feeling downright disappointed. But then I stepped back and thought 'I need to give this a real good listen.' I put it on during a long car ride and I focused in on the vocals and music and how it made me feel and kept referring to the lyrics on the CD cover. I fell in love! Now it is on all the time and I can't wait for the concert here in LA. We have to grow with the artist and this is what I felt happened, I grew with Maxwell as opposed to expecting the same thing as the previous CDs. Remember, though it is only 9 tracks it is part of a trilogy, 2 more CDs are coming annualy.

I have always loved Maxwell's work - and 8 years felt like 100, waiting for new material from him. I saw him perform Pretty Wings on the BET awards; I thought the song was pretty and he looked great. However, that song alone did not convince me to buy the album.Then I saw the video for Bad Habits. Not only did his vocals blow it out of the water, the video was on fire. Classic Maxwell. I came right to Amazon.com and ordered the disc. I have to admit, it took about 3 passes through the songs and me removing any expectations I had for his work for me to really enjoy the product. The instrumentation and his vocals are exquisite from beginning to end. He sets the mood for a 70's funk/R&B vibe, and the feeling of the album follows this pattern well. I have read a couple of other reviews that complained the production was inconsistent. I give production a B+.My top picks?1) Bad Habits2) Fistful of Tears3) Playing Possum4) Cold5) Love YouI am praying that his follow-up releases have the same fluidity. I am so pleased with this purchase!

This is a beautiful album! I love it from start to finish. Each song carries its own personality. No two songs sound alike. It isn't one of those albums that you only want to or end up listening to the songs released to radio. All the tracks are appealing. I thoroughly enjoy the instruments that can be heard vividly in each track. In a world of Autotune, it is pleasing to hear authentic instruments. One of my favorite tracks is "Phoenix Rise". It is the ultimate example of how the instruments used truly come alive. I was thrilled to read that Maxwell will release three albums by this title. Ingenius! The second will be BlackSUMMERS'night and it is anticipated to be released in summer 2010.

Mawxell's new album, "BLACKsummers'night" is the new album everyone has been waiting for. He has been away for eight long years. The last time Maxwell released an album was "Now" in 2001. In his off time, he worked on a trilogy, the first of which I've heard now. He produced his new album (under his alias, Muzse) with longtime collaborator Hod David. The album is a worthwhile- albeit short- listen. There are only nine songs, but all of them are fantastic. Although this is his album, the real star of "BLACKsummers'night" is former Mint Condition touring drummer Chris "Daddy" Dave, who plays on every song on the album, with his signature playing. Still in all, buy this album, you will not be disappointed.

I bought this for my son

最高。デビュー作とライブ版を聴いて以来、Maxwellは一番好きなアーティストです。D'angeloと一緒に言及されることが多いけれど、私には両者の共通項が感じられません（D'angeloも好きですが）。私の中では、Maxwellは独特で、別格。待ち焦がれた新作です。BLACKsummers'night。三部作の第一部。ここ数年出るとか出ないとか言われ続け、延期に次ぐ延期だったけれど、ようやく聴けました。大満足。これまでの作品とは少し変わったチャレンジもしているけど、"あの"声も健在で、どの曲もしっかりMaxwell一流の世界が広がっています。収録時間は短いですが、完成度の高いアルバムです。日本版の説明には"scheduled to include one bonus track"となっているけれど、結局ボーナストラックはなしのようですし、DVD付きのこのLimited Editionが、ファンには一番かと思います。付属DVDの内容は、Maxwellや関係アーティストのインタビューが多く、ミュージッククリップはPretty Wings一曲しか入っていませんので、これが不要な方は安い通常版で宜しいかと（でも、このクリップ、素敵です）。DVD内容の抜粋は、YouTubeのMaxwell公式チャネルで視聴できますので、そちらを購入の際の参考にされるとよいと思います。（しかし、公式チャネルでは、楽曲のクリップは著作権の関係上、日本国内からは見られなくなっています。インタビューの部分は見られますが。本当に残念なことです。）さて、トリロジーの第二作、第三作は、本当に来年、再来年にリリースされるでしょうか...（笑）。次がまた8年後だと困りますが...本作を聴きながら、楽しみに待ちたいと思います。

Au TOP comme d'Hab avec MAXWELL le bien Nommé!

ネオ・クラシック・ソウルと呼ばれるアーティストの1人で、エリック・べネイより寡作で、ディアンジェロより多作な方。はじめてマクスウェルのアルバムを買いました(他の作品は未聴、「Fortunate」だけはシングルで持ってます）。べネイさんはフォーキーで、Dはブルーズ/ファンク寄りで、マクスウェルはUKぽいですね。いいですよ。