My favorite song so far is "The Fall."

I got it on Friday and have spent some time with it now. I don't know; it's "fine." I like Lake By the Ocean and All the Ways Love Can Feel and The Fall. It's good. I wouldn't turn it off if it came on the radio. But, I don't know if I'd actually reach for this album. It's the regular Maxwell template - that absolutelu beautiful voice, some mid-temp grooves, some ethereal slow songs. But, I don't think it's to the level of past albums. Overall, it's just pleasant; blandly inoffensive, but nothing that striking about it. Decent chill out music, but again, not as good past albums, IMO.

[Edited 7/2/16 20:08pm]

[Edited 7/2/16 20:47pm]

Nick715 said:

Sadly the album is only projected to sell between 55-60K copies first week according to Hits Daily Double.

I thought he would open with over 100,000 in sales easily. Yes, I know streaming is huge now, but I thought his fanbase was more dedicated.

Honestly, I am not that suprised. I just dont think that his fanbase, which is primarily 40 year old adult women, are at a point in life where they are going to be "dedicated" to a musician, particularly one who is not very actively making music. I have several friends in this demographic, who I know have enjoyed Maxwell in the past, yet they haven't said a word about this album, or anything about him in YEARS. They are working, marrying, divorcing, raising kids, caring for parents. Will some of them get around to buying this album? Probably. But I doubt most of them even know it is out.

But I welcome others to disagree. Perhaps something else is at play.

[Edited 7/2/16 20:56pm]

The "Lake By The Ocean" video currently has under 500,000 views on Youtube. The lyric video has 1,500,000.

There doesn't seem to be much of an interest in him outside his fanbase currently.

Although I can clearly hear that the musicianship is good, and that there's alot of talent on this album, it's boring as "#$% on first listen. I love some of Maxwell stuff. But mostly his live stuff, and some of his old stuff. I should probably give it another chance though.

Replica said:

Although I can clearly hear that the musicianship is good, and that there's alot of talent on this album, it's boring as "#$% on first listen. I love some of Maxwell stuff. But mostly his live stuff, and some of his old stuff. I should probably give it another chance though.

I would like to hear a live album of this material...

suomynona said:

novabrkr said:

Replica said:

missfee said:

Replica said:

Although I can clearly hear that the musicianship is good, and that there's alot of talent on this album, it's boring as "#$% on first listen. I love some of Maxwell stuff. But mostly his live stuff, and some of his old stuff. I should probably give it another chance though.

Exactly how I felt after listening too on the first go round. The one song I do love is "The Fall".

I thought the same thing TOO last nite. Boring as #$%*. I'll have 2 spin it again and see if if it doesn't excite me the 2nd time around. I'm still HATING that misused apostrophe in the title tho. You can't have a pluralized possessive fighting a singular subject. It makes him (Maxwell) AND the record label appear dumb/illiterate/whatever u wanna call it. Summers' Nights is correct. Summers' Night" is not. It's basic English Grammar.

whitechocolatebrotha said:

missfee said:

Replica said: Exactly how I felt after listening too on the first go round. The one song I do love is "The Fall".

I thought the same thing TOO last nite. Boring as #$%*. I'll have 2 spin it again and see if if it doesn't excite me the 2nd time around. I'm still HATING that misused apostrophe in the title tho. You can't have a pluralized possessive fighting a singular subject. It makes him (Maxwell) AND the record label appear dumb/illiterate/whatever u wanna call it. Summers' Nights is correct. Summers' Night" is not. It's basic English Grammar.

Nick715 said:

119 said:

Once again, not my kinda thing.

Pretty good interview in the New York Times: http://www.nytimes.com/20...t&_r=3

And here´s the link to a new interview he gave Tavis Smiley; http://www.pbs.org/wnet/t...r-maxwell/

Oh Snap. Did not know he was on. I like this song more now than when I heard it:

Kimmel did not air on TV:

Identity said:

New visual for initial single, "Lake By the Ocean."

1) This dude reminds me of Beethoven. Not because of the might of his composing, but because
if you look at Ludwig's sketchbooks, you'll see musical ideas scratched out and re-written all the
time because he took his time with composing and he lived life too. Maxwell, I bet, does the same.

2) The lane Maxwell occupies is an exemplar of sophistication, maturity, and sensuousness. I
wonder what he would sound like if he had Nigel Godrich as a producer and kinda steered into
Radiohead's lane?

3) The mix is kinda boring because he (or whoever mixed this tune) has most of the sound signals
hard center. Throw the chorus hard left and right and move the keys somewhere else instead of
having everything on top (lead vocals, drums, base are all sitting on top of each other).

4) If Maxwell was born in 1963 instead of 1973, he would've given Sade a run for her money in
the 80s and early 90s!

That Unplugged version of "This Woman's Work" is glorious . . . chills.

JoeBala said:

duccichucka said:

Identity said:

New visual for initial single, "Lake By the Ocean."

1) This dude reminds me of Beethoven. Not because of the might of his composing, but because
if you look at Ludwig's sketchbooks, you'll see musical ideas scratched out and re-written all the
time because he took his time with composing and he lived life too. Maxwell, I bet, does the same.

2) The lane Maxwell occupies is an exemplar of sophistication, maturity, and sensuousness. I
wonder what he would sound like if he had Nigel Godrich as a producer and kinda steered into
Radiohead's lane?

3) The mix is kinda boring because he (or whoever mixed this tune) has most of the sound signals
hard center. Throw the chorus hard left and right and move the keys somewhere else instead of
having everything on top (lead vocals, drums, base are all sitting on top of each other).

4) If Maxwell was born in 1963 instead of 1973, he would've given Sade a run for her money in
the 80s and early 90s!

That Unplugged version of "This Woman's Work" is glorious . . . chills.

I like the fact that he´s very open and honest about his slow tempo. He admits that he likes to take his time, that he enjoys the simple pleasures that life has to offer such as Netflix and going to the beach and having a lovelife. And that he simply procrastinates a lot even though he also knows how to work hard.

I really like that and can relate to it. Which makes him even more likeable for me.

-

I also agree with you regarding the production.

Ever since he released the Now album, his music has sounded a bit more generic, for lack of a better word, than the timeless masterpieces Urban Hang Suite and Embrya.

I have listened to a few songs off of this new album but haven´t bought it yet (will probably buy it today on my way to the gym).

So, here´s hoping that this album sounds as cohesive and timeless and fluid as UHS and Embrya still do.

At least that´s what Maxwell said , kind of , while introducing the song Lake By the Ocean (a song that I really like).

Can´t wait to get my hands on this and turn up the volume.

The last one wasn´t really my cup of tea.

Another interview:http://www.npr.org/2016/0...mmersnight

Anyone here go? He was in my area, but no monies:

duccichucka said:

Identity said:

New visual for initial single, "Lake By the Ocean."

1) This dude reminds me of Beethoven. Not because of the might of his composing, but because
if you look at Ludwig's sketchbooks, you'll see musical ideas scratched out and re-written all the
time because he took his time with composing and he lived life too. Maxwell, I bet, does the same.

2) The lane Maxwell occupies is an exemplar of sophistication, maturity, and sensuousness. I
wonder what he would sound like if he had Nigel Godrich as a producer and kinda steered into
Radiohead's lane?

3) The mix is kinda boring because he (or whoever mixed this tune) has most of the sound signals
hard center. Throw the chorus hard left and right and move the keys somewhere else instead of
having everything on top (lead vocals, drums, base are all sitting on top of each other).

4) If Maxwell was born in 1963 instead of 1973, he would've given Sade a run for her money in
the 80s and early 90s!

That Unplugged version of "This Woman's Work" is glorious . . . chills.

I like to play "Fistful of Tears" on the piano and some parts of it remind me of classical music (Bach more than Beethoven, though).

This album reminds me of latter day Seal albums once the innovation leveled off( post Human Beings). A few decent songs, a couple of legit good tunes, and 1 or 2 kinda forgettable ones. Nothing too offensive or career-wrecking, but no molds being broken either.

That being said, I lkie it. Its good to drive to

l like "Lost". I hear a Prince vibe.

I don't like the album but I'm glad he finally knocked Beyonce out of the top spot on the R&B chart.