Singer Maxwell's Black Musical Composition
Review on the Celebrity Entertainer’s First Trilogy CD
Sep 20, 2009
Nearly a decade ago, Maxwell began to share the results of some of his creative pursuits with the public. “Fortunate,” “Lifetime,” “Sumthin’ Sumthin’” and “Get To Know Ya” are early songs the artist created that were widely received and highly reviewed.
Maxwell and the Artist’s Way
Prior to the release of these popular songs, Maxwell was creating, writing, visiting and revisiting lyrics and sound. Few, if any, knew of his talent. He was a teenager, just another guy walking down the street. And yet, he was creating. The talent was always there; Maxwell was playing with it, just not in front of a crowd.
It is not uncommon for artists to create in private or in solitude. Novelists and painters do it all the time, some taking several years between major published works. Singers, on the other hand, operate from a different platform. People want to see their faces over and over again, as if this public display somehow contributes to their creative works.
In 2002 after the release of his hit CD, Now, Maxwell broke tradition, removed his voice and his persona from the public eye and returned fully to his private life. Then in 2008 he appeared at the BET music awards show and sang “Simply Beautiful” as part of a tribute to legendary Rhythm and Blues soul crooner, Al Greene.
Maxwell Shares His Creative Works With the World
Maxwell’s performance was received by the audience with the same energy that he had sung the song -- beautifully. That autumn, Maxwell took the band he fronts and started to tour the country. Absent a new CD, people went out in droves and purchased tickets to watch him sing live in concert.
The outcome was rewarding. Next came a round of interviews and the airing of “Pretty Wings,” the first song from the artist’s new album, BLACKsummers’night, to play on the radio. July 7, 2009 the entire CD was released. Within one week BLACKsummers’night had landed at the Number One spot on Billboard’s Top 200 with 316,000 units moved.
On the DVD that accompanies the CD BLACKsummers’night, Maxwell talks about what has been promised to the people from an artistic standpoint. If he promised his listeners engaging music that would remain viable and poignant across time, he has kept his promise.
BLACKsummers’night kicks off with the song “Bad Habits,” a record that tells the story of a man bound to a woman by sexual tension. However good the sexual escapades, the man realizes that the attraction he seemingly has no power to turn away from, no choice whatsoever about as if he is but a puppet, is keeping him from something better, real love shared with a different woman perhaps.
“Cold” shares an experience many adults have lived through. An encounter with a former lover is not met with warmth, is surprisingly cold. Rather than to express sorrow over the emotional climate garnered from the meeting, Maxwell strikes back. It is as if he thinks the frosty reception is unwarranted.
Timeless and Universal Messages in Maxwell’s Music
“Pretty Wings” needs no introduction. “Help Somebody,” “Love You,” “Playing Possum” and “Fistful of Tears” are songs that can be applied to scores of situations. These songs are delivered with a balance, poignancy and a clarity that allows listeners to open their minds, and, if they so desire, begin to examine their relationships with lovers as well as relationships at home, at work and with the larger universe.
In particular “Fistful of Tears” speaks to the struggle and the conflict to let go of something that you also long to hold on to. It could be a job, a relationship or a way of thinking. People who are trying to make a decision and move forward in an area of their life might especially enjoy listening to “Fistful of Tears”. “Stop the World” is plainly put, a song for lovers.
Maxwell Keeps His Promise
Not long enough is one criticism to be made for BLACKsummers’night. After listening to the CD several times it can still feel too short. It is hard to get enough of the soul singer’s rich, probing voice. Some listeners might also have a longing for more insightful storytelling.
The arc of the songs is wide enough to be fulfilling for people whether they are in or out of an intimate relationship. The music has a studio rawness that makes it reminiscent of classic Rhythm and Blues cuts or hits produced by great bands like Earth, Wind and Fire. Above all, Maxwell’s soul cuts through on the tracks. As with all authentic artists, it is the essence of the man who created the music that lends BLACKsummers’night its greatest strength.
It is a very good thing that Maxwell continues to create, both in and out of the public eye. The evidence of his efforts is clever, is excellent -- is promise keeping.
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