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Critic Reviews
90
Maxwell might be delivering one course at a time, but for now, delivering one of the best albums of 2009 will sate your appetite just fine.
15y
90
For all its dimensions and progress, the album is simultaneously designed to ensure that devoted fans will feel the wait was worth it.
15y
90
BLACKsummers'night isn't just the soul album of the year, but also a top-tier addition to the canon of a once-fizzling scene.
11y
80
The first single’s called “Pretty Wings,” but the whole thing flies.
14y
80
The result is an R&B album about love, not just sex, for grown-ups who know the difference.
11y
80
“BLACKsummer’snight” is a testament that Maxwell hasn’t lost a beat.
10y
80
It represents the singer's best work since the aforesaid Urban Hang Suite.
Print Only
3y
80
He’s not doing anything radically different, but his maturity and years of experience writing heartfelt ballads set him apart from contemporary soul singers who come off as cheesy or crude.
10y
78
Maxwell is among the billions across the globe who have had their hearts broken at one time or another, but his latest record, BLACKsummers'night, is a deeply moving and evocative record that finds the singer expounding on this universal feeling like few can.
15y
75
His sentiments rarely transcend the boudoir — and listeners lulled by the album’s unvaryingly sleek, high-gloss beats may just drift off to dreamland before they get there.
10y
70
Upon first blush, there isn't much to chew on in BLACKsummers'night. Upon second pass, the absences become haunting.
11y
60
Truth is, while his honeyed tones merit adoration, he is more soul purist than intrepid chameleon.
7y
ROLLING STONE #467
Really not feeling this one tbh. This is the 4th album from neo-soul crooner Maxwell, who I was not very familiar with before this listen. This album to me is just a very generic rnb album that doesn't really push any boundaries or stand out, and isn't really memorable outside of maybe a couple tracks. One of those stand outs was the main single "Pretty Wings". Yeah, this is a jam- the sweet, falsetto chorus and the very pleasant instrumentation. But the rest of ... read more
Reviewing Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Albums of All Time: #467
Overrated/Underrated?: Overrated
I'm tempted to not even call Maxwell's 2009 comeback album "neo-soul" because he plays so close to the traditional soul sound that there's very little that's "neo" about it. Still, while there isn't much here that's inventive or original, Maxwell does create some really nice, sensual tracks that blend funk and jazz.
Maxwell's songs sound pretty nice, but there's a certain ... read more
*Rolling Stones 500 Greatest Albums #467*
I did not like this at all, the vocals were so similar and just sounded like they were produced super weird. Many of the songs seemed to drag on, and on, and on, going nowhere. Would not revisit any of these.
Favorites: N/A
Least Favorites: Bad Habits, Pretty Wings, Help Somebody
A step down from his first three albums but still a great release with some underrated gems.
Start of the album immediately feels so smooth its like swimming in butter and honey.
Fave songs:
- Bad Habits
- Love You (little bit of grit to his voice here)
- Fistful of Tears
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Track List
| 1 | Bad Habits (Uncut) 5:52 | 85 |
| 2 | Cold 4:02 | 77 |
| 3 | Pretty Wings (Uncut) 5:10 | 86 |
| 4 | Help Somebody 4:01 | 79 |
| 5 | Stop the World 3:56 | 72 |
| 6 | Love You 3:35 | 73 |
| 7 | Fistful of Tears 3:39 | 79 |
| 8 | Playing Possum 4:22 | 71 |
| 9 | Phoenix Rise 2:41 | 65 |
Total Length: 37 minutes
