BLACKsummers'night is a Summer No

The Brooklyn-born musician Maxwell is back. However, his new album, titled BLACKsummers’night, is a failed attempt at a comeback by a crooner famous for his meditative love songs. 

 

It’s been eight years since Maxwell released an album, the last one being Now, which delivered the acclaimed “This Woman’s Work,” featured on the soundtrack of the popular movie, Love & Basketball.

 

Although his latest single, “Pretty Wings,” has been having a strong run on the Hip-Hop/R&B Billboard Charts, topping out at #2, the rest of the album is more experimental, with a Lenny Kravitz-esque rock & roll flow that doesn’t match the potential and personality of Maxwell as an artist.

 

With lyrics such as “Gotta brace my/soul to tell ya how I feel/Gotta listen to the tears people/cry for me in a world that’s so wild,”“Help Somebody” comes across as the crooner’s attempt at being selfless. However,the lyrics are overshadowed by the screeching guitars on the track. That is a common problem throughout the short, nine-track album.

 

Maxwell’s lyrics are beautiful and sophisticated, traits that are even more impressive at a time when the airwaves are dominated by “performers”with audio-enhanced voices who smugly brag about Birthday Sex. Every song is evidence of the metamorphosis he’s endured internally and in many up-and-down relationships that make him an appealing artist to both sexes as well as an easy one to relate to.

 

So, if you’re in search of an album you can listen to just to appreciate for its lyrics, this is the one.