turned on to this writer by another thread.

Cool maxwell blog on the rumours behind his album delay;

www.soulmusic.com/soblsojoonma.html

The beginning of Fistful of tears reminds me a lot of a Prince song.. I just can't figure out which song!! Any help?

I thought of "The Beautiful Ones" myself, but it's just the chord played on the keyboard (/ piano) in that same kind of repeated, staccato way.

Justfortheloveofit said:

Think I found out during my morning training.. The Beautiful Ones, with a slice of International Lover...

novabrkr said:

Thanks!! Missed your reply while typing..

I guess it has also something to it that reminds of bits from The Marrying Kind / If I Could Be The Man In U'R Life -thing on Musicology. Well, at least the latter one of that dyad.

But Prince isn't the only person to ever use piano chords that way either.

Nice article today on Maxwell and the three albums:

http://www.billboard.com/...340.story?

paisleypark4 said:

The Latest Maxwell News Reported that the album will be sold on VINYL at www.target.com !!!

Don't cry!!

Oh that price - $23 DOLLARS and 73 CENTS plus shipping. Hmm..not to sure if I could handle getting that vinyl if only 9 tracks are on it



http://www.target.com/BLA...ell&page=1
[Edited 6/23/09 3:13am]

Maxwell Spells Out 'Black' Trilogy, Tour Plans
June 22
Link

Sade did it. It's been nine years since she released "Lovers Rock," which sold 3.9 million copies in the United States, according to Nielsen SoundScan.

D'Angelo did it. It's been the same amount of time since he put out his platinum-selling set "Voodoo." Lauryn Hill did it. "The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill" -- six-times platinum -- came out 11 years ago.

A vanishing act has become practically de rigueur for R&B musicians of a certain caliber (although Sade and D'Angelo are supposed to release albums this fall). Many make a mega-hit album or two, collect Grammy Awards and critical accolades -- and then disappear.

Now, after being on hiatus since 2002, Maxwell is stepping back on the public stage. On July 7, the 36-year-old Brooklyn native will release his long-awaited, often-delayed fourth studio album, "BLACKsummer'snight," the first installment of a trilogy, through Columbia Records. Maxwell first announced the trilogy in 2005, saying the releases would be full of heart-pounding melodies and true-to-life love stories.

"The time away gave me a better appreciation of things, so I took the time I needed to live to make this album something of substance," he says now. "People tend to be so hell bent on remaining famous that you become desensitized to the music industry to some level. But my passion is making music and promoting and supporting great musicians."


At the time he stepped out of the public eye, the R&B singer had released three studio albums: 1996's Grammy-nominated "Urban Hang Suite," which sold 1.8 million copies; 1998's "Embrya" (1.2 million); and 2001's chart-topping "Now" (1.8 million). He also recorded an "MTV Unplugged" session, which was released in 1997 as a seven-song EP (742,000).

But in 2002, after wrapping up the "Now" tour, Maxwell pulled the plug on his public life. Maxwell says he didn't mean to stay away this long -- he first announced his hiatus as a short break -- and he never stopped making music.

He began living a "pedestrian life, and I liked being regular. It was kind of a recalibration of the system as life experiences caught up with me," he says. "Up to that point I'd been on the road and didn't have a chance to really live. But I write about real-life experiences, so it just felt like I had to sit back and let these experiences happen and inspire me all over again."

About the trilogy, Maxwell says that "'BLACK' is darker. It has a bluesier side and features more despondent records. It speaks plenty to love lost."

"BlackSUMMER'Snight," eyed for release in 2010, has more of a gospel feel. "It's lighter. It's gospel music for the common person that wouldn't naturally get involved with that type of music. Hopefully they'll get down with it now," he says.


And, finally, "Blacksummer'sNIGHT," with an anticipated 2011 release, is "straight-up slow jam records."

The first single from "BLACK," the lullaby-like "Pretty Wings," is currently No. 11 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart.

"I want my music to last forever. I never want my music to be dated," he says of the single. "'Pretty Wings' falls into that. I met this girl who I still respect very much, and although still respect very much, and although it didn't work out, I got lots of inspiration from it. This track speaks of my time with her."

He describes the second single, the regretful, horn-driven midtempo number "Bad Habits," as "the saltiest and most aggressive record I've ever done."

While times, technology and music have all changed, the reception Maxwell received during his first public appearances make it seem as though he never left. On a drizzly Saturday night in June, Maxwell performed a seven-song set at the annual conference of the 100 Black Men organization. Women of all ages could barely keep their composure; one even pulled on his leg and stuck her hand out to greet him.

"Fellas," Maxwell joked between songs, "if y'all can't get it together with your lady after you leave this show tonight, you better join the priesthood right quick."

A year ago, he garnered a similar response when he did a surprise performance of "Simply Beautiful" during an Al Green tribute at the BET Awards in Los Angeles.

Last fall he went on his first tour in six years, and although it wasn't supported by any new material, the tour sold out most of its stops.

His performance at the 100 Black Men conference officially launched his tour, which runs from June 20 to August 2. An arena trek in September will mark his first stop at New York's Madison Square Garden.


In between, he will return for this year's BET Awards (June 28) and appear at the Essence Music Fest (July 4). He will also be a guest on "Late Show With David Letterman."

Beyond touring, the first disc of the trilogy will be packed with bonuses to appeal to Maxwell's longtime fans. The deluxe edition of the album, available at most retailers, will include a DVD of a documentary called "Five Nights of Black."

Although dates haven't been set, Columbia's Legacy division will release a Maxwell catalog album as well as a DVD-bolstered version of "MTV Unplugged." Online, a remixed version of "Stop the World" featuring rapper Nas will be available for those who purchase the album on iTunes.

Proving that he's up to date with the times, Maxwell has adopted some of the new formats of marketing, including Twitter and Facebook.

Amid all the re-established glitter and fame, Maxwell still plans to live his life as he chooses -- like an ordinary person. "I know this sounds crazy, but, at the end of the day, I just want to have a house on the hill, some kids and a wife I will never divorce," he says. "It's that simple."

Copycat said:

Now this is the shit I've been waiting for

I guess I should point out that this album is in no way something that would have been recorded "live with musicians in the studio" as somebody insisted on claiming on that promo. Compared to most modern R&B -type of music it does have a "livelier" feel, but it's still sequenced on a computer with multiple vocal tracks by Maxwell layered on top of each other. There's still plenty of digital trickery on it.