Bad Habits
The first song on the first album that we hear from Maxwell in eight years starts soft and falsetto but soon comes down into a lower key that shows off a much better tone to that unmistakable voice. The song builds layer on layer and needs to be listened to to be appreciated. Everything is live instrumentation and you'll be able to pick out something new with each listen. It's good to have him back.
Cold
Brass is used to good effect to punctuate this song that asks how a lover can turn so cold. After the first verse and chorus, everything strips back to what sounds like windscreen wipers. The song is like a production and you can imagine Maxwell sat in his car in the rain trying to get his head around what has happened. I love this song, which seems to gather speed as it progresses which adds to the sense of confusion.
Pretty Wings
The introduction to the stand out track and lead single from the album sounds like a music box or wind chime. It is a beautiful start to an exceptional song. This has headed straight to the top of my playlist in itunes and I can't get enough of it. This is one helluva smooth song that Maxwell has said is about meeting the right girl at the wrong time and is almost tragic in places. My favourite, the organ, comes in verse two; once again adding layers to a Grammy-nominated song that you simply must own. If you did not see the Grammys' performance of this, after which Maxwell was joined on stage by Roberta Flack, head on over to youtube.
Help Somebody
Pretty Wings is a slower song that the first two and Help Somebody is a return to the pace of the start of the album. The sound is slightly different, however, this one sounds fiesty in comparison. Drums, guitars, brass, it's all there and this is another great song.
Stop The World
This is a slow head-nodder and is a love song. It is sung to a loved one and says that it is as though time stands still when they are together, even if the world rages on outside the window. As the song progresses, the sound becomes almost gospel. It's good.
Love You
It's You are the first words of this song that picks up the pace a little. The subject is quite clear and Maxwell sings this one with passion. This is up there with the first few songs on the album and also comes recommended.
Fistful Of Tears
This is one of the sexier sounding tracks on the album and asks that his woman recognises what she has in front of her and holds on to it, rather than causing Maxwell to shed a fistful of tears.
Playing Possum
The acoustic guitar, cymbals and kettle drum start off this slow song that asks a partner to stop playing possum and breaking his heart. Another beautiful song.
Phoenix Rise
The introduction of this song sounds almost dance in style until the drums kick in. It is a lively-paced instrumental track that was also Grammy-nominated. It seems a surprise to me that, with a voice as good as Maxwell's, he chose not to sing on this one. Consequently, for me, there is something lacking from this.
The whole album comes in at around forty minutes so even if you are unsure, it's not going to take up too much time out of your day to give this the benefit of the doubt. You will be glad that you did. It is billed as being part one of the Black Summers' Night trilogy. I for one cannot wait for the next two parts and this has had be reaching for my older Maxwell CDs and redescovering some of the gems that had fallen out of favour over the years. The fact that Maxwell won two Grammys for this album shows that I am not the only one to be happy to have this new release and the brilliance of this project is getting the recognition that it deserves.
Maxwell's Official website: www.musze.com
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