"Make me crazy, don't speak no sound/ I want you to prove it me in the nude, addicted to the way you move."
Tracklisting
o1. badhabits
o2. cold
o3. prettywings
o4. helpsomebody
o5. stoptheworld
o6. loveyou
o7. fistfuloftears
o8. playingpossum
o9. phoenixrise
The first words you hear from Maxwell's newest CD, BLACKsummers'night are "make my crazy, don't speak no sound". The first part of his epic musical trilogy is a masterpiece on its own. While some are upset by the short tracklisting of only nine songs, one must remember that the fewer number of songs makes an album concise. The most popular song, "Pretty Wings", is a beautiful song of falling in love with that right sweet thang, but having to let her go because the time just isn't right. But it's "Cold" and "Bad Habits" that I favor, just badass songs. Now, mind you the whole album is bleak in emotion, singing of heartbreak and love gone wrong, there are some pretty amazing upbeat jams.
Remember Marvin's "What's Going On"? Well, Maxwell basically did a Maxwell version of that called "Help Somebody" and it's pretty awesome. "Stop the World", "Love You", "Fistful of Tears" and "Playing Possum" are what you'd expect, a song about love, another song about love, and then two heartbreak songs. Given an album so heavy on the feeling of helplessness, the final track [one of my favorites] offers a reprieve. "Phoenix Rise" is the album's only instrumental track, but the vibe is uplifting and gives you hope of solace after all of "BLACKsummers'night"'s despair.
BLACKsummers'night is a Maxwell album, there's not doubt about that. But, I'd have to say that it differs from the rest in terms of theme alone. No "Til the Cops Come Knocking" or "Temporary Nite". This Album comes across as a sequel to "Now" if you will, the songs being tighter than "Embrya" or "Urban Hang Suite". All in all, I think this album is probably his best, not in terms of having the best songs all around, but in terms of having a really on point album, this is Maxwell's greatest thus far. The live band accentuating his songs giving a live vibe is just a treat. Don't expect his mellosmoothe falsetto this go around though, eight years obviously putting some maturity and partial strain on his voice. But, this vocal alteration is a benefit in my opinion, giving his voice that raw hurt that strengthens all of his songs. He tries his falsetto and instead of sounding like a young 20 something year old boy trying to fit in his father's shoes [albeit well], Maxwell comes off as if he'd lived the life and is just singing his experiences out. If "Urban Hang Suite" was a kid trying to be Marvin, "BLACKsummers'night" is Marvin's attempt at doing "Here, My Dear"...minus the anger.
BLACK is to be the album of bleak emotion, SUMMERS' is supposed to be full of hope and summer magic, and NIGHT is the sex album, made for baby making. xD So 2010 and 2011 have some pretty good gems on their way. Badu is in the Badudio working on Return of the Ankh for its release this year, and D'angelo iunno. I hope he releases something.
