Track Listing

1. Get To Know Ya
2. Lifetime
3. W/As My Girl
4. Changed
5. No One
6. For Lovers Only
7. Temporary Nite
8. Silently
9. Symptom Unknown
10. This Woman's Work
11. Now/At The Party

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #5595 in Music
• Released on: 2001-09-10
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Three years after the scattered Embrya, new-soul prodigy Maxwell returns with Now, his most fully realised disc yet. While not as ambitious as D'Angelo or just plain flippin'-off-the-wall as Macy Gray, the singer-songwriter does claim a stance: acoustic-guitar-based, near-tone poems ("Sympton Unknown") and Kate Bush covers ("This Woman's Work") are hardly the stuff of your average pop-R&B love-man. Maxwell's lush thickets of overdubbed vocals could stand as a fine listen on their own; the varied textures of the instrumental tracks make the flow that much more inviting. A steel guitar subtly fires "W/As My Girl", while a rock-influenced beat gives "Temporary Nite" a groove both choppy and slippery. Now's unity of feel and often pensive tone bring it a cohesive air. Even the potentially throwaway last track, "Now/At the Party", works as more than just an exercise in 70s-party groove. If the many brokenhearted plaints here were telling a story, it would provide a suitably happy ending. --Rickey Wright

CD Description
'Now' is Maxwell's third full length studio album and is a follow up to 'Embrya' which was released in 1998. A combination of soul, R&B and funk, with inspirations of Memphis style blues, rock and dance. Includes a cover version of 'A Woman's Work' originally done by Kate Bush.

Customer Reviews

Nearly!
I was lucky enough to get an early copy from New York, and I was very excited at the prospect of a new Maxwell CD.

Urban Hang Suite is a legendary debut, and as is often the way with such exceptional debuts, the follow-ups just never quite live up to their predecessor. "Now" is an accomplished piece of work - of that there is no doubt, but it is missing that rambling, suggestive mood of his debut, and it is not layered with the dramatic and powerful saxaphone arrangements so amazingly interwoven throughout Urban Hang Suite.

Embrya was much more of an introspective CD, which worked brilliantly after the seduction of his first. Embrya is something that needs to grow and mature withthe listener, often criticised unfairly by many reviewers. Again the expectation of Urban Hang Suite II is not reasonable.

NOW is more obvious, more groove laden, more the work of an established artists, looking to keep commercially in touch!. Very evident are many other influences from the likes of Prince (really laid on thick in the opening track), shades of other soul artists feature, Macy Gray type effects, Sade is never far away...but there is something missing.

Make no mistake, you should buy this CD, there are some exceptional trax, but do not expect another Urban Hang Suite, despite many saying this is the natural successor to that CD - it is not as complete a work. This CD contains some beautiful songs, and as a seductive disc it WILL deliver, but it does not transcend soul music and it does not show any real maturity from Maxwell. Perhaps Maxwell made his life difficult by launching his commercial career with such a stunning debut, and whatever else he comes up with just isn't going to melt us all away like UHS did.

A few lessons from Prince musically, but not enough in a career sense..earlier in Prince's colourful career he (Prince) had the ability to change, to shock and to challenge the listener...he was not complacent...maybe this is the problem with "Now" from Maxwell, a little complacent.

Theres No One Quite Like Him
Most people who like Maxwell's music would identify this album as the weak one. Its only weak simply because the first two were outstanding.

"Now" has a different feel to the others, and was set out to have more cross over appeal. The lyrics are not as deep and meaningful, but the music is still very good.

The album kicks off with perhaps its best track "Get To Know Ya". Its a track which is very catchy and talks about Maxwell simply getting to know a very nice lady. Lacks the depth in which "Sumthin Sumthin" had from the debut set, but still a track to look at.
My personal favourite on the album is "No One" which has gone into my top 3 Maxwell songs of all time. I recommend you by the album for this track alone. Shades of Prince are evident, but there is something about Maxwell's style that makes it his own.
"Temporary Nite" is another stormer. So funky you will fall off your chair. Maxwell dips into the rock/funk that prince did so successfully. To be honest this Track could have easily been the one I was saying was the best on here. Its that damn good.

Ballad wise, there are some nice track. "For Lovers Only" is nice but no where near previous efforts such as "Till The Cops" and "Drown deep".
"Was/My Girl" is better, but still lacks a certain edge that we know Maxwell can deliver.

On his Mtv Unplugged, set of a few years previous he did a cover of "This Womans Work" which was made famous by Kate Bush. He didn't include it on the Embrya album but has doen so here. Its not as good as that live version but it is still a fantastic cover. He makes it his own, and anyone who knows the orginal will know that is a hard thing to do. Actually, trying to cover any Kate Bush track is going to be a task.

"Now/At the Party" is the final track which is again very funky. A long muscial intro is mixed into Maxwell's cool soulful voice, to end the album on a high.

"Now" is not as memorable as his first two. But it still has its moments. Maxwell is a true performer in my eyes, and I cannot wait for his next set because I am almost certain there will be many tracks on there like on here which you just sit back and say, 'yeah'.

I Want It NOW NOW NOW!!!!!!!
Maxwell never really struck me as a great artist i was first introduced to him in 1998 when i saw the video for "Sumthin' Sumthin'" the song stuck in my head for a good few weeks i was very sceptical on buying the "Urban Hang Suite" as i'd not really heard from him before (I no how late was i).Never really listenin to "Embrya" as i heard it wasnt that good so i kinda avoided it but by the time "Get To Know Ya" was released i knew what i had to do...purchase "Now".It's one of the best albums i own i was really quick to judge Maxwell as i was a stern D'Angelo fan since "Brown Sugar" so i saw Maxwell as jus a wannabe I WAS WRONG!!

1.[Untitled Track]/What the hell?????? 4 seconds of nothing whats was the point N/A

2.Get To Know Ya/The 1st explosive single i love this up-beat acoustic number its one of the best tracks on the album its about trying to get to know a woman that wont give him the time of day great song 10/10

3.Lifetime/The 2nd single at first i thought this was a bit whingy and stale but after a few listens u start to feel Maxwells originality the song itself is a highlight not a great single release but its a great song 9/10

4.W/As My Girl/At first i was thinkin "oh dear typing error" but its not its "Was/As My Girl" very clever or jus lazyness?? nice laid back sexy jam hes voice really shines on this one its surprisingly catchy considering the tempo 10/10

5.Changed/Wasn't a fan of this one but slowly grew on me hes voice is outstanding i love the chorus its got a great vibe it seems its about a love gone awry cool song 10/10

6.NoOne/One of the best songs on the album seemin like a filler at first but gradually u wish it was a single release its up-beat and really funky its actually sweet in its own way just sayin theres no one like hes lover awww! 10/10

7.For Lover's Only/With a name like "For Lover's Only" you instantly think its a baby-maker which is the beat is so soft and sensual its ideal for making love the words are just outstanding (how does he come up with this stuff) 10/10

8.Temporary Nite/I did actually hear this song before i got the album on a "Nu Soul" mix-tape back in February of 2001 before the album was released in August 01 the funky guitar riff gives it a great edgy feel its simply just about a one night stand lol 10/10

9.Silently/This song is so so sexy its another one of the albums better track (which most of em are)it has a slight eastern feel to it and also very laid back 9/10

10.Symptom Unknown/The first line its my favourite part "There's An Ocean/Drained Of All It's Been/Took A Bath/But Just Cant Keep Clean" what a poetic and deep man Maxwell is this is definatly one of my fav tracks hes vocals are also wonderfully delicate 10/10

11.This Woman's Work/The Kate Bush cover i seriously gotta say im not really a fan of it, it was also featured in the movie "Love & Basketball" having never heard the original i cant compare but as for what ive heard from people this version is very very good its a nice song but never really listened to it 8/10

12.Now/At The Party/The infectious guitar riff and the pounding bass makes this song a great one i would love to hear this one live.It takes a while for him to start singing but really do we really need it the songs just satisfying listenin to the intrumental love it 10/10

Overall i will be buying Maxwell's previous work this album really woke me up to see just how great Maxwell is

Top 5 Now Tunes
1.Get To Know Ya
2.NoOne
3.Symptom Unknown
4.Temporary Nite
5.Now/At The Party

BUY IT!