Enjoy!!

https://www.youtube.com/w...O-quWd4IP0

love it. guess it's finally time for NIGHT to get a release

LILpoundCAKE said:

LILpoundCAKE said:

love it. guess it's finally time for NIGHT to get a release

Man, talk about stretching some shit out! BLACK and SUMMER were what - like 5 years apart or so? And between NOW and BLACK was years and years. He all but lost most of his fan base. Sure folks will return, but not in the same numbers.

What he also fucked up with is after NOW is that people lost interest in neo-soul. The genre died out by 2002 or 2003. He's not to blame for it, but he also didn't stay in the mix to keep it going. Erykah didn't either, very much. Lauryn Hill went off and did whatever it is she did with papa guru. So once Maxwell came back, and his music had changed a bit anyway, it was just weird.

We were glad to see him back, but I have to say, BLACK wasn't nearly what I wished it had been. I don't remember one song from SUMMER'S. I think I own it.

With the letdown of the first two in this alleged trilogy, I honestly don't have huge hopes for NIGHT. But, I'm always going to give it a listen. He's still Maxwell, he's still talented and a great songwriter. But I sorta wish Hod David would shake the shit out of Maxwell and get him back on track.

TrivialPursuit said:

LILpoundCAKE said:

love it. guess it's finally time for NIGHT to get a release

Man, talk about stretching some shit out! BLACK and SUMMER were what - like 5 years apart or so? And between NOW and BLACK was years and years. He all but lost most of his fan base. Sure folks will return, but not in the same numbers.

What he also fucked up with is after NOW is that people lost interest in neo-soul. The genre died out by 2002 or 2003. He's not to blame for it, but he also didn't stay in the mix to keep it going. Erykah didn't either, very much. Lauryn Hill went off and did whatever it is she did with papa guru. So once Maxwell came back, and his music had changed a bit anyway, it was just weird.

We were glad to see him back, but I have to say, BLACK wasn't nearly what I wished it had been. I don't remember one song from SUMMER'S. I think I own it.

With the letdown of the first two in this alleged trilogy, I honestly don't have huge hopes for NIGHT. But, I'm always going to give it a listen. He's still Maxwell, he's still talented and a great songwriter. But I sorta wish Hod David would shake the shit out of Maxwell and get him back on track.

BLACK took some time to grow on me but when it did, I bumped that album constantly. I remember SUMMER'S sounding like a compilation of songs with very little to no cohesiveness. But then I have to remember that it was SEVEN years in the making. I also noticed on SUMMER’S that Maxwell’s voice changed.

I’m not thrilled about this new single but I’m looking forward to completing the trilogy.

blacknote said:

BLACK took some time to grow on me but when it did, I bumped that album constantly. I remember SUMMER'S sounding like a compilation of songs with very little to no cohesiveness. But then I have to remember that it was SEVEN years in the making. I also noticed on SUMMER’S that Maxwell’s voice changed.

I’m not thrilled about this new single but I’m looking forward to completing the trilogy.

You nailed it there. There wasn't a cohesiveness to it. And I don't believe all of it will be a cohesive set in retrospect once (if) we get it all. I think he's sticking to the trilogy just because he started it. I don't know if he ever had a real plan, it's just sorta ...there.

I've still not listened to the single.

Cool! Nice song nothing special...read that he was inspired by Prince when he wrote this one..i can see that. The last great song imo by Maxwell was Lake By the Ocean

HrdwcH said:

Sounds nothing like Lenny. His singing is really powerful. The music is sparse but in tha pocket. It's as good as the new Bruno shat.

There seems to be an R&B comeback?

There needs to be a neo-soul comeback.

Maxwell true to himself. long live the Prince of Neo Soul!

I finally listened to the song just now. I listened twice.

This sounds more like Maxwell than anything he's done (which is very little) since Now. This is what he should've done about 3 or 4 years after Now.

He's very high-hat-y with the last two albums, and this song, but the arrangement overall, the chords, the production, the sounds - much more on-brand for him.

Now the question is: Will this be on NIGHT? Will be a sore thumb track, or is it indicative of the direction that NIGHT will take?

Some - very few - artists have released records so great that they deserve that one listens to all their new releases. Not saying you have to like them, but to listen to them at least once. Maxwell is one of those artists in my view.

So hey, get a new record out... I'l be listening

TrivialPursuit said:

I finally listened to the song just now. I listened twice.

This sounds more like Maxwell than anything he's done (which is very little) since Now. This is what he should've done about 3 or 4 years after Now.

He's very high-hat-y with the last two albums, and this song, but the arrangement overall, the chords, the production, the sounds - much more on-brand for him.

Now the question is: Will this be on NIGHT? Will be a sore thumb track, or is it indicative of the direction that NIGHT will take?

This is the lead single, and the Night album is being released in Spring 2022.

He released "Shame" in 2018, I believe that was a stand alone single.

Nick715 said:

This is the lead single, and the Night album is being released in Spring 2022.

He released "Shame" in 2018, I believe that was a stand alone single.

While I don't not believe you, I'll just say I will believe it when I see it.

TrivialPursuit said:

Nick715 said:

This is the lead single, and the Night album is being released in Spring 2022.

He released "Shame" in 2018, I believe that was a stand alone single.

While I don't not believe you, I'll just say I will believe it when I see it.

Haha. I totally get it.

So, let's take a side bar and talk about Maxwell's albums. Let's take a minute and rate them.

Oddly, for me, the rate mostly how they came out. I'd include unplugged in there right where it was released. I do think Urban Hang Suite is his best record to date. The whole journey, the production, it's just brilliant. If we took unplugged out of the mix as a proper studio album, then Embrya is next. It's a different kind of texture. It's "thicker," creamy. UHS is more silky and luxurious, but Embrya feels organic, fluid.

Now departs from that a bit, but still has its own sound.

But then you have the long period before BLACK came out, and it was a hard right turn from his aural aesthetic. I don't have words for it, and I've never listened to SUMMER'S more than once or twice when it was released five years ago, so I don't remember one thing from it.

So my list is the order his albums came out, as far as best to least.

TrivialPursuit said:

So, let's take a side bar and talk about Maxwell's albums. Let's take a minute and rate them.

Oddly, for me, the rate mostly how they came out. I'd include unplugged in there right where it was released. I do think Urban Hang Suite is his best record to date. The whole journey, the production, it's just brilliant. If we took unplugged out of the mix as a proper studio album, then Embrya is next. It's a different kind of texture. It's "thicker," creamy. UHS is more silky and luxurious, but Embrya feels organic, fluid.

Now departs from that a bit, but still has its own sound.

But then you have the long period before BLACK came out, and it was a hard right turn from his aural aesthetic. I don't have words for it, and I've never listened to SUMMER'S more than once or twice when it was released five years ago, so I don't remember one thing from it.

So my list is the order his albums came out, as far as best to least.

For me its:

1) Embrya - It might be because its the first of his albums I heard but theres just something about this one. Can't think of an album by him or anyone lese that sounds quite like this. Its apt the cover has him under water as thats how the production feels to me.

2) BLACKSummersNight - I thought this was a spectacular come back after so long away. His most song centric release.

3) Urban Hang Suite - Brilliant although it tails of a bit in the second half for me

4) Now - Very solid release with some of his best material (Lifetime is my favourate Maxwell song) but feels like he's overcompensating and playing it a bit safe after the commercial failure of Embrya

5) BlackSUMMERSNight - Still really decent but just doesn't feel nearly as focused as his other albums. I was worried when he didn't come through on his plan to release the trilogy in consecutive years as I had a feeling the focus would be lost

funkypixie said:

1) Embrya - It might be because its the first of his albums I heard but theres just something about this one. Can't think of an album by him or anyone lese that sounds quite like this. Its apt the cover has him under water as thats how the production feels to me.

I remember him on Storytellers. He mentioned Embrya and wondered if people had heard it, and seemed really surprised when people cheered for the album. It's almost like he a great bit of self-doubt about the album's dexterity and longevity.

OFF-icial video.

By the way, he performed a medley of hits on the recent Soul Train Awards. I guess he received the Living Legend Award?

I'm not sure about htose pants. They looked ill-fitted. You know how older acts get a bigger gig, and they all go to Men's Warehouse and buy similar shirts and identical pants, but they're oversized and they all look sorta slumpy?

I sorta felt that with Maxwell's clothing. The pants were about 2" too long. Ya couldn't see those cool ass shoes. But he looks like he has a few extra lbs on him, so maybe he was trying to hide it. But the last thing you want to do is look even bigger! haha The dude could still do the splits, tho!

Anyway - the performance was just amazing. Hod David was right there leading the band through the medley.

[Edited 12/7/21 14:08pm]

TrivialPursuit said:

daingermouz2020 said:

TrivialPursuit said:

The dude could still do the splits, tho!

Anyway - the performance was just amazing. Hod David was right there leading the band through the medley.

Is Maxwell known for doing splits? I missed it.

I don't really remember him doing them before. But I've not seen all of his performances either.

HrdwcH said:

Could've been a Lenny Kravitz song.

Why do you say that? Are the lyrics completely garbage or something? That's Lenny's defining characteristic. He wants to fly so very high like a dragonfly? Does he realize dragonflies fly an average of about 6 feet off the ground? Idiocy. That's what happens when appearance and vibes come before songwriting.