BLACKsummers'night
by Maxwell
  • Record Label: Columbia
  • Release Date: Jul 7, 2009
Metascore
85

Universal acclaim - based on 16 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 15 out of 16
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 16
  3. Negative: 0 out of 16
  1. BBC Music
    Mar 16, 2011
    90
    It's one of the best things you'll hear all year. Bring on the next two.
  2. Chicago Tribune
    Mar 15, 2011
    88
    It's free of gimmicks (Hey, an R&B record without Auto-Tuned vocals!) or trendy producers (No Kanye, no Timbaland; instead, guitarist Hod David does most of the work). No wonder BLACKsummers'night walks its own confident path down the artier fringe of R&B.
  3. AllMusic
    90
    For all its dimensions and progress, the album is simultaneously designed to ensure that devoted fans will feel the wait was worth it.
  5. Boston Globe
    70
    A few tracks (the fuzzy 'Fistful of Tears') miss the mark, but this is the necessary R&B return from one of our great--and seemingly lost--soulmen.
  6. Entertainment Weekly
    75
    His sentiments rarely transcend the boudoir--and listeners lulled by the album's unvaryingly sleek, high-gloss beats may just drift off to dreamland before they get there.
  7. Los Angeles Times
    100
    For those who like their pop delicate and unapologetically deep, this is one for turning up loud and wallowing.
  8. Pitchfork
    78
    While it lacks the iconic significance of his debut, BLACKsummers'night is a record more than worthy of Maxwell's talents, because it trades the physical sensuality of his earlier work for a deep emotional resonance, the performance of an artist whose focus and attention to detail gives his expression a singular veracity.
  9. Spin
    80
    The first single's called 'Pretty Wings,' but the whole thing flies.
  10. Billboard
    80
    BLACKsummer'snight is a testament that Maxwell hasn't lost a beat.
  11. Slant Magazine
    70
    Upon first blush, there isn't much to chew on in BLACKsummers'night. Upon second pass, the absences become haunting.
  12. Delusions of Adequacy
    80
    BLACKsummers'night is however, an impressive return to form. This is undeniably enthralling music: masterful, captivating and marvelous.
  13. PopMatters
    90
    Maxwell might be delivering one course at a time, but for now, delivering one of the best albums of 2009 will sate your appetite just fine.
  14. NOW Magazine
    80
    The album teeters on adult contemporary but never lets go of Maxwell's characteristic playful glint. Anyone remotely interested in his sound should pick this up.
  15. Mojo
    80
    It represents the singer's best work since the aforesaid "Urban Hang Suite." [Sep 2009, p.93]
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  16. Sputnikmusic
    90
    The first album in a series of three (all with the same title, differing only in capitalizations) BLACKsummers'night isn't just the soul album of the year, but also a top-tier addition to the canon of a once-fizzling scene.

Awards & Rankings

13
#13 Best Album of 2009
57
#57 Most Discussed Album of 2009
59
#59 Most Shared Album of 2009

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.7

Universal acclaim- based on 44 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 40 out of 44
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 44
  3. Negative: 4 out of 44
  1. dijavantewow
    Oct 16, 2010
    10
    Fantastic neo-soul album. Maxwell has a been away for way too long, and I'm glad he came back with something so powerful. When someone canFantastic neo-soul album. Maxwell has a been away for way too long, and I'm glad he came back with something so powerful. When someone can actually make an album that you can connect with, rather than just a bunch of junk available for sale, then I remember why I love music so much.… Full Review »
  2. All_ButTrU4
    May 8, 2022
    7
    Really good stuff here. The vocals are phenomenal and adjacent to D'Angelo whilst the lyrics are sincere and direct.
  3. ANNELAU
    Jul 6, 2012
    0
    In my head I knew Maxwell, but this was until I heard the entire BLACK album. Anytime I ear a song of him i get something new that he try toIn my head I knew Maxwell, but this was until I heard the entire BLACK album. Anytime I ear a song of him i get something new that he try to teach me...

    This album is generous. 9 track, yes but that never will want you to miss those 22 records tracks. It is generous in terms of emotion, lyrical content, musicality and humanity. Maxwell shares it all.
    He crosses barriers and shows everyone the most vulnerable side of him. This is a more blues man Maxwell here that tells how broken he is by his previous relationships..
    During his early 20's in the 90's, he definitely was this sex symbol, now he still is but with this added fact that he his a grown man, and we can sense that.
    Every song whether you like them or not, will move you, but still you will like them but you're untitled to your opinion when it comes to which one is you favorite.
    I would say that Black is far from Urban's Hang Suite in so many levels but pretty much link to the 1st album of the soul singer. The sound is different, bold and completed with the generosity add by the sound delivered by his 10 piece band. We can hear wild blues-funk (Cold) slow jams (Stop the world) as far as ballads like the 1st single 'Pretty wings'.
    But it's quite evolved, the arrengements sounds very contemporary (Pheonix Rise) and the way the vintage feeling that occured doesn't seems fake or besides the point. It does shows a deep statement : NOWADAYS SOUL STILL EXISTS.
    The Grammy award winner let us understand that it was better for him to step away for a moment so that he could 'live life to create after' and bring us some raw material and it was WORTH waiting for so long. And still, if you don't know who Maxwell is, I would say that it is never too late. His discography justify what a lover of music he is and how his music doesn't respond to all the dictated codes of the industry and the shift that soul/rnb music is taking.

    ENJOY this album and keep you ears wide open and feel every sound of it.    … Full Review »
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