Nick715 said:

Well, at least I see we have something in common....I can't stand Van or Bilal either.

I consider myself a Maxwell fan. I think he is an extremely talented individual and is one hell of a performer. I love his first album, liked his 2nd and tolerated most of Now. I think this album has some good songs on it. I'm not going to say it's bad, but I don't hear many songs on this album that will get much ipod play.

I find it crazy that the record company has issued 3 singles for this album (all 3 prior to the album's release). This not done too often. Most of the time it's done to "save" the album OR to garner attention. For some reason, I feel this was done this time to try to "save" the project. Outside of "Pretty Wings", radio won't be running to spin this album (at least not until the public tires of "Wings").

BTW, it's not hard to get a number one album this day and time. Ask Chrisette Michelle or Prince. You just have to move a few thousand copies. The true test is when your sales sustain for a period of time, not for 2 or 3 weeks.[Edited 7/10/09 17:19pm]

Yes, I mean regarding part 1, I don't think they'll push more than 3 or 4 singles.

I would think by next April or May they will be planning the 1st single from blackSUMMERS'night (part 2). Part 3 is scheduled for 2011 like you said.

Like someone above posted, I really hope this doesn't end up like Erykah Badu's 'New Amerykah Pt 1' project. Still waiting for that part 2.

estelle81 said:

I heard it was coming out the week after George Michael's Listen Without Prejudice Vol. 2...

Graycap23 said:

Gotta say I'm with U both on this.

I think folks were just starving 4 his voice alone, because this doesn't come nowhere near what Urban Hang Suite and Embrya were.

This is more like Now, which was a drop from his previous two works, mentioned above.

I think Phoenix rise must be a "transition" song into the next record. I love it as well and was also taken aback that it is less than 3 minutes. I think it picks up at the start of part 2. As much as I always will enjoy UHS, I listen back now and it really does show such a different youth and optimism than what you are hearing on Black. I like that evolution. I think it's genuine. That was what, 13 years ago? I know my life and outlook have certainly changed over that time, so his likely have as well.
Now just didn't work for me. It didn't have any sort of cohesion, and felt like many other r*b singers could have recorded many of its songs. I know folks say Maxwell sing the phone book-and I agree. But I don't necessarily want that in his repertoire, and I didn't want an average r&b album in it either. It was more "fortunate" style, which I didn't care for either. The only thing that saved that record for me were the horns on Get to Know Ya and W/As my girl.

Giovanni777 said:

Well compared to R&B music released in recent years, it sure as hell is a great album....but compared to his other projects, its good, but definitely not a bad album. I like this one better than "Now" to be honest. I think "Now" is his weakest album. Is Black Summers' Night better than "UrbanHangSuite"? Hell no, but were we really looking for a carbon copy of "UrbanHangSuite"???

mcw00 said:

Yeah, that's the same thing I was saying about Pheonix Rise as it is an effective departure from the rest of the album. It's also a great ending for the album as well.

missfee said:

Yeah, 'Now' was really disappointing, and this is better than that 4 sure.

Compared 2 any other current R&B, it smokes, mos def.

Nah, I don't want a copy of 'Urban Hang Suite', but I would like some of that flavor...

The greatness of the contributors 2 that album cannot be denied:

Wah-Wah Watson, Stewart Mattheman, Leon Ware, Federico Pena, Gene Lake, Mike "Funky" Neal, etc.

His production hasn't been that organic and soulful since then.

Some of these cats resurfaced, but the vibe wasn't there.

I also loved 'Embrya'.

All that being said, I'll give 'Black SUmmer's Night' more of a chance, with a proper listening, but I feel like I'll still hear it as better than 'Now', but not by much.


.
[Edited 7/13/09 9:18am]

Maybe he should get back with Mike "Funky" Neal, Federico Pena, Wah-Wah Watson, and Gene Lake... Also, not sure if Stewart Mattheman was involved with this or not.

Giovanni777 said:

Cats from Me'Shell's band

Giovanni777 said:

I can see a little of what you are saying. I think what you are trying to say is that this album is good, but it lacks the smoothness of "Urban Hang Suite" and "Embrya", the neo-soulish smoothness is missing. But look at it from this view, maybe he's trying to go into a different direction with it. Sure its different from his first two albums, but there are more horns and you can defnintely tell that he's using his voice in more sensual, sexual, and sporatic tones...which is always a good thing I loved how he did this most notably on "Bad Habit"...he starts out in falsetto, then goes down to his normal range, then up and down and up and down throughout certain parts of the song. That man can still get the panties wet.....

Shango said:

...and 4 a long time.

I miss my DC cats. Freddie's (Federico) a beast on keys.

Giovanni777 said:

Word ! Man i had a ball watching them jam with her. And great to see that Wah-Wah is doing his thing in the scene.
He goes way back to the days of Herbie Hancock's Headhunters ! Dig the recognition. Saw him also perform with Adriana Evans, in the year of her debut album.

Shango said:

Oh yeah... Wah-Wah was on a lot of stuff. MJ, Marvin, Herbie, etc. Also, "Papa Was a Rollin' Stone"!!!!!

Freddie used 2 play in small clubs in DC all the time... trios, quartets... never knew was gonna show up. Mike Scott did one night.

We used 2 hang in Adam's Morgan back in the day.

Giovanni777 said:

Cool. Did Freddie ever had plans to record a solo album ? I found one from Gene Lake a few years ago and dig that joint a lot. Some good mix of funk and fusion.

This album is great.
Bought the deluxe/edition, yes bought, last night. After listening properly, I conclude, I really like this album.
Funky in a late 70's Marvin Gaye kinda way. Which to me is cool. Not immediate but reaps rewards after repeated listenings.Imo.
Listen to Help Somebody on headphones. Nice stuff. If one believes in the genre of Alt/Soul, which I do, this is it.
Sometimes I think there is an ADD affliction attributed to listening to music nowdays. Explaining, maybe, why sometimes people are so easy to dismiss things like this album so easliy, I dunno.
What I do know is I'm really diggin BSN.

Bfunkthe1 said:

Deluxe edition ? Are there several versions of this album ? More songs on it?
I don´t want to buy the regular version and then regret it a couple of days later. If there are more songs on it, I might as well buy the deluxe version.