Product Description

Welcome to Maxwell's, where the groove always flows and love fuels all. Eschewing the slicker tendencies of contemporary R&B, Maxwell joins young turks D'Angelo and Tony Rich in looking back to the aesthetics of '70s soul for inspiration. Opening and closing with instrumentals ("The Urban Theme" and "The Suite Theme"), URBAN HANG SUITE is knee-deep in wah-wah guitar, funky Rhodes piano and lush, atmospheric sounds that evoke silk sheets and champagne.
Although Al Green and Marvin Gaye are obvious touchstones, Maxwell avoids vocal theft, instead appropriating the way those singers inextricably meld their music and their sensuality. The breathy quiet-storm sax that closes out "Welcome" is as much a part of the sexual vibe as the sinewy funk and propulsive rhythm of "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)". Oozing with sensuality, URBANSUITE is a soundtrack for an evening of romance.

Track Listing

1. Urban Theme
2. Welcome
3. Sumthin' Sumthin'
4. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
5. Dancewitme
6. Till The Cops Come Knockin'
7. Whenever Wherever Whatever
8. Lonely's The Only Company
9. Reunion
10. Suitelady
11. Suite Theme

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #20515 in Music
• Released on: 2002-04-22
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
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 1980s 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

Customer Reviews

lovin it, better than sex!!
damn this is cool, just arrived this morning and im addicted, what more i say. I have just bought the other two albums because im feeling it so much, buy it. If you dont dig it then i guess you dont have a soul!!

Timeless
its often the most simple, and basic things which work effectivley. Ive had this album for about 4 years, and i play it all the time, it could never be dated, compare some of his tracks from this record to today's 'so-called' r'n'b tunes and you understand why! My children, and there children will be told about this album!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i love it, it puts you in this great mood, and you could call me byist as i love him too, which is why i have all his records, im not ashamed to admit it!!!!
music, at its best!

Soulfood and no doubt.
This is a terrifc album, slicky produced, beautifully egineered and played and with songs that form a delicious journey. Maxwell's voice is incredible, melting and smooth, capable of strong masculine and the fragility of pain racked top notes. The beats and arrangements physicaly and psychocologocally moving and stirring. The jouney here is the classic soul/r+b exploration of love, longing, joy and pain and yet each track is exquiste and edible. Maxwell is a vocal genius and if you don't have this album you will wonder how it passed you by. Echoes of 70's soul, 80's city slickness and 90's retroversion mix imperceptably.