natew1977 said:

I knew it was like two years as well, I listened to it for awhile and gave up on it. It was the longest snippet I had ever heard.

I purchased "Pretty Wings" on itunes and have been listening to it for days, on repeat.

Only did I realize the song was finally out when I saw this thread, after being away from this place for a while. (why are they called threads?) This place can be informative at times.

He is #9 on the new Urban AC chart.

http://www.radioandrecord...ChartId=12

He's going to be on Tavis Smiley's show Thursday, May 14th.

ernestsewell said:

Thanks!

Part of Tavis Smiley interview:

http://www.youtube.com/wa...nabc_vaWP4

I really love "Pretty Wings".

Got a really nice box set of his single "Luxury Cococure" - it was only available mail order from Sony, and has 3 CDs with each CD containing remixes of the track by different remixers (think CD2 has Cottonbelly mixes). I've never come across it anywhere else. Also got the "Don't Let It Go To Your Head" sampling remix of "Matrimony".

I've seen that a few times. I wanna see the whole interview.

I'lllll be buyinggggg thisssss

Nick715 said:

DAMMIT, I'm officially excited DIGGIN' the song, gorgeous video - simple, elegant... I'm SOLD! If his ticket prices are decent I'll definitely see him, the last time he came through here (a few months ago I think) they were $120 & I was between jobs Looking forward to the albums




.
[Edited 5/17/09 12:43pm]

CalhounSq said:

$120 for real! Hmm. I love me some Maxwell, but not sure about $120...

FreeSpirit said:

Yea, he was trippin'. I'd love to see him but DAMN

CalhounSq said:

They were like $80 at Radio City and we had very good seats.

Just saw this on Yahoo:


http://new.music.yahoo.co...r-8-years/ Go to the link for pics and clips.


Will Maxwell's New Conservative Look Lose Him Some Fans?
Posted Mon May 18, 2009 6:53pm PDT by Billy Johnson, Jr. in Hip-Hop Media Training
R&B heartthrob Maxwell looks drastically different than he did 8 years ago when he released his last album, the platinum Now.

Since his 1996 debut, Maxwell drew attention both for good looks and for his music, especially from women. He wore his hair in a massive wavy afro. He was frequently photographed shirtless, and if he was wearing a shirt it was unbuttoned.

Now, he looks more conservative. He has a short hair cut. He wears sleek, dinner party attire. He sometimes dons those thick nerd spectacles, and is pictured in promo shots holding an eco-friendly coffee cup.

I wonder if his extreme makeover will disappoint fans who were likely expecting the same slick, ladies man persona.

Gail Mitchell, R&B Editor for Billboard magazine, doesn't think Maxwell's female fans will love him any less.

"Personally, I like the large ‘fro ... But he looks just as good with the short hair," Mitchell says, speaking strictly from a 'female perspective.' "From what I've heard over the last couple of years, he's been rockin' the close-cropped look. I just think it's part and parcel of the evolution we all go through as we get older and become more comfortable with ourselves, our image, etc."

Ironically, Maxwell, who cut his afro during his hiatus, told AP that abandoning his trademark hairstyle afforded him much needed anonymity during his break.

But while Maxwell's appearance may play down his pretty boy attributes, songs from his new album, BLACKsummers'night, still offer a good balance of romantic mid-tempo ballads and slow jams. The album's first single, "Pretty Wings," is already No. 3 at Urban AC radio in just three weeks.

The positive reaction was evident last week at an album listening party held in Beverly Hills. Music industry professionals were actually quite giddy to see the 35-year-old back on the scene.

While Maxwell performed last year in an Al Green tribute on the BET Awards and spent some time touring, he says he also focused on growing up.

"[A] lot of my absence was based on just going out to get life experience, becoming a man," Maxwell told AP. "In your twenties you are just a sketch of what you're trying to be."

Those life experiences are conveyed in BLACKsummers'night, a trilogy to be released in installments over the next two years. The first is due out on July 7. Maxwell stayed in demand with fans who never lost hope even though BLACKsummers'night was delayed several times.

Apparently, the eight year vacation has done him some good.

funkyslsistah said:

I just read that and was coming to post it

I was just tripping because whoever wrote this article is kinda late on the Maxwell hair change; he's been sporting short hair for a few years now. Regardless, seems like a random basis for an article, a definite insult to his female audience and to his talent. Pity, that.

funkyslsistah said:

Who wrote this shit? Looks ain't everything. The most important part is still there. HIS VOICE. 1) He still looks good (even though I miss the fro. 2) He's still sexxxy. 3) I rather listen and look at him over Ne Yo or Pleasure P.

In response to lyecry and Ottensen, I totally agree about all the focus on his hair. You'd thought he was Sansom, who had all this power in his hair, and then lost it when it got cut. You know R&B is in trouble if the focus is on a singer's hair, which also happened when India.Arie cut her hair. Yes it was his signature style, and even I was shocked when I first saw the new style.

All you have to do is close your eyes and listen to "Pretty Wings" and you know without a doubt that he still has it. If anything there should be more concern with maintaining a fanbase after being gone longer than four years. Last years tour proved that there is still much love for Maxwell.

Ottensen said:

I think they were talking about the bullshit reporting like this

http://www.mediatakeout.c..._curl.html

I just had the chance to watch the Tavis interview. Max was funny and seemed relaxed. Typically he seems really nervous and guarded in interviews. Tavis must make folks feel really comfortable on his show. I've seen a few artists appear uncharacteristically calm and relaxed on his program.

bboy87 said:

But it's MediaTakeout....uuugh ! Not to soung all snooby snooty, but his fanbase always struck me as being more mature from the get go. They don't care nonthin' bout that boy's hair. They just want want some music and a tour

Ottensen said:

You're right, his fanbase is more mature than that

I honestly believe MediaTakeout was made to make black folks look bad

From Twitter today:

album COVER debuts this week on WWW.MUSZE.COM

final first leg of the 3 YEAR long BLACKsummers'night TOUR coming up...

about 6 hours ago from web

every city we HIT on the 2008 tour will be an ARENA date this

SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER... we couldn't bring you the SAME show!

about 6 hours ago from web

Maxwell in an arena tour? Hmmm. I wonder what the strategy is behind this? I think of him as a smaller venue artist. This will be interesting.

I'm cool with his new look he still sounds nearly the same.I am hoping D'angelo does a similiar make over. Kill the whole braids thing and go back to the "U Will Know" video look.

I personally think it's going to harder for D'angelo than Maxwell to come back unless he goes for a more commercial,polished, radio friendly, studio sounding cd. more like a "Brown Suagr" 2009

Album Cover



[Edited 5/21/09 20:53pm]

lyecry said:

Thanks guys! Love the cover. Simple, but very nice.

Billboard review:


Pretty Wings MAXWELL

Producer(s): Hod David, MuszeWriters: H. David, MuszePublishers: various
Label/Catalog Number: Columbia


May 30, 2009 ET

Pretty Wings

Reviewed by Ronald Hart


After an eight-year hiatus, the neo-soul sensation Maxwell makes a triumphant return to the R&B fold with the beautiful "Pretty Wings," the first single off his highly anticipated fourth album, "BLACKsummersnight." He proclaims the set is the first part of a trilogy with which he plans to usher in the second decade of the 21st century. Over delicate xylophone plinks and warm, soulful horn arrangements that sound as though they were directly lifted from an old Hi Records 45, the Brooklyn-born singer croons a heartbreaking ode to letting go of a relationship. It's an absolutely gorgeous ballad that ushers in a long-overdue welcome return to one of R&B's most talented and original artists.

So it'll be

BLACKsummersnight

then

blackSUMMERSnight

and then

blacksummersNIGHT?

bboy87 said:

That's what I read. He is also referring to the 1st one as just "Black".

Bah. Now that i've seen the cover, I can say with absolute certainty that this album will tank.

He's cut his hair!!!!! OMFG!!!!#@!#@^$^!$#^%$#%@