Maxwell
BLACKsummers’night
Columbia Records, 2009
By Sara Starkman
Perhaps I shouldn’t have had a certain expectation before hearing soul singer Maxwell’s newest album, BLACKsummers’night, but it seems to come with the territory of an artist’s first new album in EIGHT YEARS. So I got into my car and cranked the stereo, hoping for Maxwell’s sexy voice and urban beats to surge through my speakers and trickle into my bloodstream, forcing my heart to pump just a little bit faster.
Unfortunately, this was not the case. Although the album is definitely one I’ll reserve for the lovemaking shelf, it didn’t encompass the necessary spark or pizazz for an album intent on revitalizing an artist’s career. The album’s overall theme is love, and Maxwell makes it explicit in almost every song that he is either missing, loving, or questioning the actions of a girl.
It’s not all bad, though: “Cold” had me feeling hot (oddly enough) as I envisioned myself owning the dance floor to its fast-paced urban groove, while other tracks used the musical delectability of an acoustic guitar, Spanish guitar, and sexy horn solos that undeniably had me swaying in my seat. The hard-hitting piano chords of “Love You” introduce a sexy R&B groove that, alongside Maxwell’s voice, would have the average girl swooning. But for the rest of us, these lyrics are too wet with clichéd loving sentiments to be truly moving.
With Maxwell’s beautiful, buttery vocals and fantastic instrumentals, BLACKsummers’night should have been of a much higher caliber. Unfortunately, the album couldn’t overcome the disappointing lyrics of a few too many sappy love songs.
