Maxwell 'BLACKsummers'night' - Metareview

After taking an eight year break from the music industry, Maxwell is back and is dishing out the same soul and fire that distinguished him with his 1996 debut album. Hear the album on AOL Music's free full CD listening party (Please note- the listening party expires Sunday July 12). You can also listen to select songs from the album on AOL Radio's Top R&B station.

Guardian (3/5): "13 years after Urban Hang Suite, the Brooklyn man's impossibly gorgeous debut album which charted a relationship in its entirety, he has yet to equal its poetic pillow talk, lavish orchestration and sweat-free delivery. ... Maxwell's voice is so unusually rich and supple that at best, as on the mercurial Bad Habits, you cannot help but disregard his fondness for cliche. ...'BLACKsummers'night' lacks the imagination of Maxwell's 1996 debut."

The Koalition (4/5): "The renowned crooner's trademark falsetto signals his return on "Bad Habits" before the funky instrumentation takes over and continues onto "Cold." ...Maxwell continues to dazzle over the uptempo melodies. ...Backed by a 10 piece band throughout the album ...the exceptional 'BLACKsummers'night' acts as a concise and able teaser until Maxwell's supple vocals reappear next year with 'blackSUMMERS'night.'"

YK2 Daily (4/5): "BLACKsummers'night' is the first of a trilogy, and judging by the soulful cadence of his tracks, the album is undeniably an exceptional piece of work. ...His bread and butter are his flawless ballads, and with his breathtaking songs ...he effortlessly recaptures the Maxwell of old. 'BLACKsummers'night' is filled with intimate bedroom jingles, poignant melodies ...and the everlasting tones of Maxwell's soothing falsetto."