Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

Amazon.com
Handsome in his designer clothes and angelic, nappy dreads, Maxwell styles himself a modern-day urban love prophet in the tradition of Marvin Gaye. He concocts a conceptual music suite that purports to tell a fully rounded tale of meaningful love set in the tough but misunderstood inner city. What he delivers, however, contains only the faintest hints of what he promises. Instead we get a whole lot of the same tired R&B elevator slush and lyrics like "Gonna take you in the room suga'/ Lock you up and love for days." Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is significant only in that it recasts the same old same old as something monumental, and nearly pulls it off.

Initially, there's a lot to like about Maxwell: On his openers, "Urban Theme" and "Welcome," the early '80s full-band R&B and jazz pop grooves are reminiscent of Maze's brightest days and Steely Dan's coolest nights. But soon even Maxwell's passionate voice gets lost in a flat mix that turns every song into faceless background music. While R&B is at no loss for suave and sexy personalities to take the stage, a dearth of new ideas keeps the genre for the most part floundering and visionless. In the end, Maxwell's urban hang suite is just another empty room. --Roni Sarig

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite,Maxwell,Sony,Contemporary R&B,Pop,R&B,Soul/R & B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Average customer rating:

umph umph umph what a man!!!!!
Oooh Maxwell!
The Start Of It All
Remarkable Debut
Wonderful

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
Maxwell
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Neo-Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Embrya
Now
Brown Sugar
MTV Unplugged
Love Jones: The Music (1997 Film)

ASIN: B000002ASA
Release Date: 1996-04-02

Tracks:

The Urban Theme
Welcome
Sumthin' Sumthin'
Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
Dancewitme
...Til The Cops Come Knockin'
Whenever Wherever Whatever
Lonely's The Only Company (I&II)
Reunion
Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
The Suite Theme

Amazon.com

Handsome in his designer clothes and angelic, nappy dreads, Maxwell styles himself a modern-day urban love prophet in the tradition of Marvin Gaye. He concocts a conceptual music suite that purports to tell a fully rounded tale of meaningful love set in the tough but misunderstood inner city. What he delivers, however, contains only the faintest hints of what he promises. Instead we get a whole lot of the same tired R&B elevator slush and lyrics like "Gonna take you in the room suga'/ Lock you up and love for days." Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is significant only in that it recasts the same old same old as something monumental, and nearly pulls it off.

Customer Reviews:

umph umph umph what a man!!!!!.......2007-07-10

Anything Maxwell is off the chain!!! Can't wait for his latest CD. By the way, wonder what's takin so long?

Oooh Maxwell!.......2007-07-09

THis album is a classic.If i were editor of an r&b version of the source I would give Maxwell 5 Mics. Every song on the ablum is sexy! This is the album you can groove to, make love to, listen to, sing to...whatever! It's the best I've ever heard. Any real neo soul or r&b fan should have this album in thier collection. My all time fav songs on this album are:
Ascention (Dont ever wonder), Sumthin Sumthin, Til The Cops Come Knocking, Lonely's The Only Company.....Oh my gosh!!!!Maxwell cant be touch...THis album is absolutely amazing!

The Start Of It All.......2007-06-17

He has two other cds with aroud five or so great tracks on each. For new fans, he has a track written by R.Kelly called Fortunate, different to his mucic style but a great song, its off a movie soundtrack called Life. I think if he sticks to his style of music but does one or two tracks like fortunate on his future cds, they would be even better.

Remarkable Debut.......2007-05-30

I was not in the cheering section when Maxwell made his debut with "Urban Hang Suite", a concept album, built around a weekend tryst. I remember watching the video for 'Til The Cops Come Knockin' believing he would be a one-hit wonder-if the song, which at the time I felt was mundane, became a hit at all. It wasn't until the song 'Sumthin' Sumthin' ' debuted that I began to step back and really take a listen. Using live instruments (of all things) and blending old school soul, R&B and Funk, Maxwell, along with co-conspirators D'Angelo and Erykah Badu, helped to give life support to the growing monotomy of R&B music and are often credited as founders of "Neo-Soul" Music. Although I prefer Maxwell's sophomore effort "Embrya", "Urban Hang Suite" was a remarkable debut, and deservedly became a critically acclaimed classic. And it will more than likely grow in appeal in the years to come.

Wonderful.......2007-03-29

Greetings,
Maxwell does a fantastic job of showing you how great of a singer he is. This is a c.d for the archives, one to keep around and one that every music fan should have regardless of what kind of music you listen to. Good music just wants to be heard!

Average customer rating:

TRACK LISTING (2 great cds, one package!)
Simply the Best

Urban Hang Suite/Embrya

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Neo-Soul | R&B | Styles | Music

Quiet Storm | R&B | Styles | Music

R&B | Imports | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Now
Lifetime
Love Jones: The Music (1997 Film)
MTV Unplugged
Double Up

ASIN: B000ATJZC0
Release Date: 2006-01-31

Album Description

European only two-disc coupling of his smash hit debut album and his sophomore album. 23 tracks in all. Two standard jewel cases packaged in a slip case. Sony.

Customer Reviews:

TRACK LISTING (2 great cds, one package!).......2007-03-04

Urban Hang Suite:
1. Urban Theme, The
2. Welcome
3. Sumthin' Sumthin'
4. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
5. Dancewitme
6. Til The Cops Come Knockin', ...
7. Whenever Wherever Whatever
8. Lonely's The Only Company (I&II)
9. Reunion
10. Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
11. The Suite Theme / (untitled) - (hidden track)

Embrya:
1. Everwanting: To Want You To Want
2. I'm You: You Are Me And We Are You (Pt Me & You)
3. Luxury: Cococure
4. Drowndeep: Hula
5. Matrimony: Maybe You
6. Arroz Con Pollo
7. Know These Things: Shouldn't You
8. Submerge: Til We Become The Sun
9. Gravity: Pushing To Pull
10. Eachhoureachsecondeachminuteeachday: Of My Life
11. Embrya

Simply the Best .......2006-07-25

I love this compilation. Maxwell is one of the sexiest, smoothest, sultriest, mellowest artists out there. I hope he comes out with something new soon.