Reviews (page 2 of 8)
Music for smooshing booties
Not for me
Chill as advertised.
Two great soul albums back to back. I was excited to listen to this since I've only ever listened to one other record by Maxwell. He has a great voice and the production here is also fantastic. Favorite track: Dancewitme 3.5/5
I feel liked I’ve been sexed at without my consent.
I get it, smoothly done. Not for me
2.5
Pleasant but too borrowed, like the Hall and Oates keyboard on opener and Mary Jane Girls bass line on Ascension. It would be fine if in service to something greater but after a while, the superficial songwriting gets tiresome. I was wondering if it was maybe more impactful in the time in which it was made but by 1996 we already had Tony Toni Tone and D'Angelo and both made better neo soul.
I don't think I've ever heard anything by Maxwell before, so this was a nice experience to get a dose of funk-oriented soul (apparently one of the early "neo-soul" albums of the later 90s). I'll admit it starts off more promising than it ends, especially as it gets progressively slower and occasionally verging into easy-listening mode (as the storyline descends into ballads and odes to monogamy), but it's well-produced, and kudos to Maxwell for bucking the hip-hop soul trend of the times and invoking the likes of Marvin Gaye or Prince. A strong debut album, and a shame to read that his subsequent albums didn't rise to the level of this one.
I like the album's title more than the album itself, but the music drifts by innocuously. Tracks 3-5 were my favorites, and I especially liked the bass on Dancewitme
Totally nice neo soul album. Love this genre, this felt dated but enjoyed still
Aangenaam
good rnb
honkshoohonkshoomemememememe
Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite was an album that was on track to be a 4 but due to a few reasons, i just don't quite think it makes it. All the reviews that i have seen of this album are saying that it is very smooth, in fact, it's so smooth that everything around it will be smooth and they didn't lie. This album is a very smooth one but i honestly expected it seeing as it is an R&B album. The album certainly did sound nice with the aforementioned smooth music and Maxwell had some great vocals. The problem is that this album gets really repetitive and i feel like it outstays it's welcome. It is far from a bad album but its not as good as i was hoping it would be. Best Song: Sumthin' Sumthin' Worst Song: The Suite Theme
1996 R&B, neo soul Muy funky o bastante pop en función de la canción.
Very cool. Great voice. And very impressive that he performs, sings and produces on every track!
The worst thing I can say about is that a lot of the songs go on for too long. Other than that, this stuff is my jam. Very jazzy.
I am def not as pregnant as other people in the reviews, and honestly i expected this album to lean more into what most people wrote: seductive. Very nice songs overall, but i definetly would rather listen to this while making dinner or falling asleep since it is so serene and repetitive.
Elite album.
Wow this really is not my kind of music. I would like to take Maxwells silver hammer to this album, bang bang. It’s so smooth and generic it makes me wanna throw up in an elevator
Really not for me.
It's like this album was made in a lab to be the most R&B easy listening album of all time. Of all the albums, this is certainly one of them. I would put this on in the background of date night, it gives you something to listen to without giving you something grab onto
Awesome
Smooth AF and brimming with soul! Very enjoyable.
I don’t know about this one. It feels like something from 92 or 93. 96 feels real late for this sound. It’s pleasant but for the most part I just wanted it to be over.
This is like liquid butter. Why liquid? Because it is unbelievable smooth, like butter, but it is also super hot and sensual, so the butter ended up melting. I really like this neo-soul album, as I don't think I've ever heard any project that sounded so smooth, sexy, intimate and inviting. The vocals, the bass lines, the guitars, the grooves... everything is really well done and contribute to develop the warm romantic atmosphere that encapsulates this record. My only complain about it is that it feels a bit too one-dimensional for me, making it hard for me to point out any moment in special. Actually, there is something, and I like the politeness of his lyrics, most notably in "Sumthin' Sumthin'", in which he invites a partner to have an intimate moment, but only if the other part agrees to it: "If It's cool We can do a little sumthin'". Altogether, it has an undoubtedly high quality, making it a very memorable and impactful experience, regardless of being a bit one sided.
not my style
That's certainly music. Slid right through one ear and out the other. I mean, it's got good production and sounds alright, but it's like a sculpture thats been sanded into a sphere.
It's just a lot.
Overall: 6/10 This is a smooth, sexy album with a gorgeous voice that acts as an aphrodisiac. The songs start sounding very similar after a while, but that first half was getting me going. The basslines are especially buttery and fun to listen to. Fav Song: Dancewitme
Some great beats, evokes badu, and dilla, like the overall vibe, must be an influential piece but feels like an album that if you don’t know it when you are 18, you won’t appreciate the brilliance. This isn’t timeless.
Great for Saturday breakfast on the balcony
Nice and funky but pleasant background music at best
Inoffensive RnB influenced by jazz. Nothing crazy special about this, but nothing insultingly bad. Sumthin Sumthin and Ascension are groovy. A perfectly mid album. Surprised this had so much critical acclaim in the mid 90s tbh.
Had high hopes, was a bit dull, mellow and samey, some decent tunes mixed in, probably wouldn't listen again, definitely wont remember
Made it halfway through but no desire to finish. Better than some, fine background music
Liked the first lesson but on the second it got creepy when I actually heard the lyrics
Yeah not too bad, nice bit of soul funk vibes, easy to bop along wit… *hears Til The Cops Come Knockin’ lyrics* … What the hell?!?!?
Loading menu music
Liked the momentum and clarity of this. I’ll definitely listen again
I was wondering why I hadn't rated anything one star yet and now I know why, I was reserving it for dross like this The singer sounded like he was drowning and by the end I wish he had. The guitarist sounded like he'd received an effects pedal for Christmas but hadn't worked out how to turn it off yet. And every song mendered on the way to nowhere before thankfully ending Very difficult to listen, impossible to enjoy
Muy interesante No lo conocía
Its okay, not essential
Jazz rears its ugly head again. Not for me.
Did not grab me.
30 seconds in and my panties hit the floor and never came back up.
Very good at what it does.
This is so bad I didn't finish
Sexy
Smooth, pleasant, groovy, pretty boring. It's fine.
2 out of 5. This was a smooth album and went by quicker than I realized.
Sucking maximum suckage 1.0
Ultradigg. Mista meg litt da han begynte med ballader, men så kommer saxen inn og lager Blade Runner-stemning på Lonely's the Only Company og jeg er fortsatt med likevel. Noen av disse instrumentalene er perfekte for å lage slushwave av.
Det er chill, men jeg syns R&B rett og slett blir for kjedelig i lengden. Sorry
580/1089 - Samey but good overall. Esp. the first half is really good.
Some of the best bass I’ve ever heard
7.5/10
This 1996 album "features a mellow, groove-based sound with elements of funk, jazz, smooth soul, and quiet storm." Maxwell has a great natural voice that seamlessly transitions to falsetto. Stuart Matthewman, the saxophonist for Sade was extensively involved in this album. The first half of the album is more uptempo strong funky R&B. Then the songs slow down and are less funky and more ballads which I liked less. Overall it's a good album with a nice vibe. Top songs for me are Welcome, Ascencion and The Suite Theme.
This album is a great vibe. Not a lot of standalone songs for me, but I’ll absolutely replay this from cocktail hours, etc.
this was too sexy for me like i couldn’t relate
Sensual, sexy and silky smooth. Records like this don't always work for me but the Urban Hang Suite hits the mark. A delightfully lush and pretty record.
I wanted to like this more. it had potential but leaned more boring that smooth and lovely
Het is een prima RnB / Soul album, maar het is gewoon niet mijn genre. Ik ben niet van dat hijgerige, dat heb ik de afgelopen 2 weken ook alweer 6 keer gezegd volgens mij. Ik moet zeggen dat ik me er niet gruwelijk aan stoor, maar ik zet dit niet voor m'n plezier aan. Het is aan de lage kant, maar ik geef 2 sterren.
Pretty sexy, some great instrumentation
This was okay. I remember being in middle school when "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" dropped, and thinking it was a decent R&B tune. It's interesting to listen back to the album now and read up on it, and contextualize it as one of the forebearers of bringing neosoul to the mainstream. Kind of cool, in that regard. There were a lot of good songs on here, but as is my typical complaint with a lot of 90s albums, songs often went on for too long simply because CDs could hold more space. This one didn't drag on to the point of me resenting it, but by the time it was done, I was ready.
Prva polovina vrhunac RnBa. Druga polovina malo smori nažalost. Divan glas i bas, samo nedovoljno konzistentno prema kraju.
I appreciate the funk n fuck genre for the babies it’s created. Otherwise, not my thang, man.
Love it
$240 worth of pudding, the album.
Stand-out tracks: The Urban Theme, Ascension, Reunion, The Suite Theme The first track excited me, thinking the entire album would be this way, but it quickly got very sentimental, breathy vocals, a lot of longing for love and similar bs. Feels like this artist wears his influences on his sleeve and really tries to be like other popular artist at the time, but ends up sounding just like a less polished version of those.
Highlights: The Urban Theme, Welcome, Ascension, Til the Cops Come Knockin, Suitelady, The Suite Theme Discount M.J. vocals, discount lyrics... Everything but the instrumentals made me yawn. This is pure but very basic sexytime background music and it feels cheap on this list. I mean it's fair enough not to be called shit, but it is playing it too safe for me to say I loved it. However I do have to applaud some of his goofy moments like on "Cops Come Knockin". That was actually fun to listen to and way sexier that the shitty cliches. We also have to point out the world's first "sex lullaby", that being "Whenever Wherever Whatever". I just don't see this working in a steamy environment.
"Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite's suggestive cover art is an aerial photograph of a pair of gold open-toed high heel stilettos lying on a carpet adjacent to a descending wall with the track listing printed directly in the center. Maxwell’s headshot is only present on the back of the album sleeve, suggesting that despite his undeniably photogenic assets, his music remains the primary focus." https://albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-25-years-of-maxwell-urban-hang-suite Huh. Neo-soul/ quiet storm platters like these are how the C.I.A. will get me to give up my grannies. Sorry Meemaw
funky, smooth, a little slow at times
About track 5 it felt like I'd been listening to this for over an hour. Very boring stuff. I don't get why this is significant in any way? 1/5.
This isn't the sort of thing I listen to much these days, but listening to this took me back to the fact that I grew up listening to a lot of R&B, and that was a fun journey to go back on. Definitely enjoyed this.
Fona muzika
Es paklausījos viņu citas dziesmas un viņas ir daudz labākas par šo albūmu :/
Wow this album is smooth. Really smooth. I think if I'm in just the right mood for something chill (and smooth), this fits quite nicely I feel like a lot of the tracks run together for me, but I did like Whenever Wherever Whatever.
Too smooth for this earth. 1 listen Favorite Track: …Til the Cops Come Knockin’
First song is good though thought I was on hold with a city hotel. After that, t.hings really get good. This is my kind of jam and I hope to see Mawell here again.
Nice voice, reminds me of Prince, the music is not my cup of tea.
Talvez a nota mereça ser maior pela qualidade mas eu decidi q ia colocar a nota puramente pelo quanto gostei de ouvir e não por outros critérios. Provavelmente se eu escutar mais vezes por mais tempo essa nota suba mas por hora é isso.
Not really my thing, but still enjoyable.
Like the vibe. I feel "vinyl" sound.
TBH, this wasn't my thing. I get that he's talented, but, to me, it sounded like every other 90's R&B artist.
Soporific. Maybe it's because I was already sleepy while listening to this on my morning commute, but it really made me feel like nodding off. The singer has a nice voice, and the chill vibe of the music is quite pleasant, but it all sort of blends together in a samey sort of way that makes the overall experience rather boring
aight ig
Totally chill and inoffensive.
So boring. Not for me. Almost a 1.
I really liked this album of RnB tracks but wasn’t sure what was so special about it to have an entry in the book. I can see that he pioneered progressive soul, but I cannot really hear it. l. Perhaps I am missing something here.
It’s jazzy and funky but sounds the same the whole way through.
I forgot how nice this album is, I know I still have the CD somewhere. 3.75 stars rounded up to 4.
Smooth as hell.
I thought this was pretty dull. Couldn't distinguish one track from another. Standout Track: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
Grew into it and ended up really enjoying it. Favourite track: Till the Cops Come Knockin' - something warm and nostalgic about this kind of soulful 90s RnB.
After the first song I was real hyped about the rest of the album. Turns out that was the peak for me. This album proves that sometimes being too smooth can be a negative.
This is smooth and groovy and supremely easy to listen to. Awesome bass on it. "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" is a standout. Gets a little bit samey by the end, but not bad at all.
My half-serious theory about this album is that it takes place entirely in Maxwell's mind; none of these women are real, or at the very least they aren't women he's ever spoken to beyond just a "you're welcome" while holding the door at Starbucks or something. Also, the shoes on the cover are his. I mean, I'm not sure how much I *really* believe that, and at the same time it would be a fair explanation for the relative lack of actual eroticism on display here. This is never unpleasant, and there are a few moments of genuine passionate depth (most notably "Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)" and "The Suite Theme"). And yet even there Maxwell comes off as desperate, seemingly popping the question mid-coitus on the former track and then begging her to stay and say yes on the latter. On most of the rest of the tracks he just sits and pines after women who either don't know he exists or do know and don't care. *This* is your seducer-king? But the real tell here is Maxwell's occasional lapses into Biblical language, the "highest of the highs" and "no man can tear asunders" and the like. He's a youth group kid, now with adult physical equipment but still with all the unresolved sexual hang-ups that come from a million sermons about petal-less flowers and chewed gum. No wonder this album feels oddly scrupulous; no wonder he's using the word "anniversary" about a hookup that happened a week ago ("Welcome"). As a onetime callow youth of the Church myself, I can empathize. But as an adult more at peace with my own urges I want to gently encourage him to relax and perhaps see a therapist.
I found the cohesion of this album remarkable. It’s a total “vibe” record that sustains a mood for its entirety and that’s saying something. It’s very musical for an album meant to showcase a singer which I like. They don’t really seem to focus on the voice as an instrument for at least the first few songs, then he finally sticks the tip in on …Til The Cops Come Knockin’ which is pure R&B glory.
Some of the music is genuinely funky and well produced, but I’m just not a fan of Maxwell’s voice or the over abundance of slow jam tracks.
.5 stars
Not bad. The instrumental tracks were the best part but I still enjoyed the whole thing.
3.5
Smooth enough and listenable but very dated and not that ear-catching. Won't revisit
Thoughts before listening: Neo-soul from the 90s. I remember Maxwell being a pretty big deal at the time. I don't recognize any of the track names on here (why am I seeing the back of this album btw?), but something tells me I've heard some of this. Review: So the bar code and tracklist are on the front of the album? Weird. Anyway, this is okay. I liked the first track with its, smooth cool instrumental r&b. Once the whisper singing vocals and sex jams kick in for the rest of the album, I'm less interested. I can still dig the jazzy musical vibe, but the whole package just isn't for me. So this is good music with kind of cringey vocals and gets 2-stars.
very smooth
banger?
3.5
Ok bopping my head, let's go. Interesting album art, I love how it defies expectation by looking like the back of a CD instead of the front. Nice change of pace from the rest of these albums, and worth including in the digital collection, if only for music to hug and kiss to.
The real stat we need to know for this album is how many children it spawned.
Extremamente smooth. Suave e descolado. Certamente foi uma novidade na década de 90 um disco de neo-soul R & B que não apelava para ornamentações do Rap. Hoje em dia, essa qualidade é nula, não agrega em muita coisa. Mas o que envelheceu perfeitamente bem mesmo foi a instrumentalização fenomenal providenciada pela banda de Sade. Os grooves rítmicos desse disco são deliciosos. Ótimo baixista. Por mais que este seja um disco agradável e sensual, infelizmente, eu achei ele longo demais. Deve ser bom pra colocar o CD e fazer amor com uma bela moça, mas pra ouvir sozinho acaba desgastando. 4/5
4/7
There is a narrow range of neo-soul I like and this is not in it.
definitely the cause of a lot of pregnancies in the 90s
Smoooooth
If it was shorter, it’d be 5
Not a lot here that I really liked. It was mellow and a little boring.
Dire
The warble of “reuuUuUuUnion!” Ooooofffff that was smooth.
Nice beats and mellow vocals. This was good driving music and easy to zone out while listening. I was looking forward to it but was surprised I liked it as much as I did.
mewo meow meow meow meow too smooth
Smooth cool and tasty. Not regular rotation material but never bad when it comes around.
On a pas été autant blessed depuis Steve wonder
So smooth, so sexy, so effortlessly cool. Seem to remember this being an absolute game changer at the time, but the years/copyists seem to have diluted it a bit.
This was a whole vibe. Sensual, gorgeous, moody. That voice is unreal, like silk. Felt so supremely 90s, like I was a fly on the wall of a late night blue film. Exuded just enough sensuality to make you feel some time of way and hope that no one could hear you listening to this art.
Slidin off my chair at work kinda smooth
If you are looking for the ultimate "no-skip" R&B album to set a mood, this is it. With its live horns, rich Rhodes piano keys, and Maxwell's effortlessly smooth vocal delivery, Urban Hang Suite remains a timeless, essential masterpiece of modern soul music.
Amazing Neo soul, so sexy
Didn’t expect to enjoy it as R&B is a bit of a blind spot musically for me. There is some excellent production going on here, pretty smooth stuff. It runs a little too samey at times for me but there’s a lot here to enjoy: 3 stars
Smoooth but a bit dull
Solid from Maxwell
Too bland and overproduced for me. With most of the songs, I was waiting for something to happen, some sort of progression, but it never did.
Kinda background sexy…didn’t really tickle my pickle enough.
This faded into the background so quickly. Oddly dated. Good bass twang though.
soul, very groovy
Very pleasant.
3/10 (Mid-90s/contemporary) R&B is not my favorite genre - it's just too downtempo for me, with nothing to draw my interest. This album is no exception. I spent the whole time just wishing it would end so I could do something else with my ears. I understand why others might find this album appealing (it's kind of sexy/groovy in its slowness, giving Motown/disco vibes), but the painfully long, dull songs make this album not for me.
It’s very smooth doin’ it music, but this type of stuff does nothing for me.
I became pregnant 82 different times while listening to this album
Garbage
It was nice
Maxwell - Maxwell’s Urban Hang Suite ⭐️ Skillful enough I guess, but this type of music is not of any interest to me.
Ah, mid-90’s sexy time music… best track was the opener.
smooth 3.5
This started out as hopeful with the opening track, then got progressively slower and boring. Not a genre I typically dig, but sometimes an element or two will stand out. Just not here.
I really didn't know what to expect coming into this, to be honest. If I had to make a guess, I genuinely thought I would dislike this, but I didn't really have a clear reason why. But I couldn't have been more wrong. This is one of the most beautiful albums I have ever listened to, from start to finish. This is beautifully written, performed, and produced. I adored the vocals, the lyricism, and most of all the instrumentation. I think that usually this is slightly too long for a top-to-bottom kind of listen, but I was absolutely pulled into this album from the start, and to be honest, I'd have been fine with it being even longer. 'The Urban Theme' was a really lovely way to open this album, setting the mood without even having to use vocals. Beautiful. I can't leave out how brilliant the vocals were though... I know I mentioned I enjoyed them, but they were absolutely gorgeous throughout. Favourites: Welcome Sumthin' Sumthin' Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
Really smooth R&B, like really really. Might as well be the soundtrack to a porno. It kind of meanders a lot and doesn't really try to put forth many regular songs. Doesn't really need to though. It sounds good and fits a certain vibe really well.
Phenomenal R&B
Like it 3/5
3/5. Maxwells Urban Hang Suite is a concept album and that concept is having sex. some extremely well produced R&B that dodges a lot of the trappings that other 90’s R&B fall into. That being said, it definitely drags a bit at times, there’s some songs that could easily lose a minute or two and not lose much of value.
More less
The way I feel about this album is similar to how I felt about the D'Angelo album. Its a bit one note, but when that note is sung with a voice a smooth as Maxwell's I can't complain too much. I just happen to like the D'Angelo album a bit more. Also I find the lyrics to "Till the Cops Come Knockin" more concerning than sexy. 3.5 rounded up to a 4/5
The Urban Theme - 3/5 Welcome - 3/5 Sumthin' Sumthin' - 4/5 Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - 5/5 Dancewitme - 3/5 ...Til the Cops Come Knockin' - 5/5 Whenever Wherever Whatever - 3/5 Lonely's the Only Company (I & II) - 3/5 Reunion - 3/5 Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) - 3/5 The Suite Theme - 3/5 Average score: 3.5/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Cool neo soul ot neo funk or rnb or something... something. I dont really know what it is but all I know is its good. Every song is good. Lots of sex jams thats for sure. But some great bass lines and great grooves. Im a simple man. If it grooves it grooves. Guy seems like a pretty unique and singular voice. When I went to see the recommended tracks after it was alot of just him. Seems like a one of a kind guy. Id say he pretty much is. Im less into alot of the slower stuff but only a little bit. Its all good stuff. 2 thumbs up
I probably wouldn’t listen to this routinely but I really enjoyed it.
A little samey but pretty vibey
It was enjoyable overall but honestly i didn’t pay a lot of attention. Might listen again sometime. High 3
Today is set to be the hottest day on record in Ireland. Thirty-four degrees. We're not able for heat like this. We're just not set up for it. Sure, we can go on holiday to the south of Spain for a week or so and bask in the glorious heat while we slow-roast ourselves until fully cooked. But when we're trying to work, go about our daily chores, and keep two double-coated golden retrievers from overheating, we're just not built for it. This is not the soundtrack I want for a day like this. The whole album feels like a parody of the kind of music a hapless character in an awkward comedy puts on when he's planning some sexy time with his date. Like it was made by a horny teenager in the hope that it'd help him get some action. The opening instrumental, "The Urban Theme," sounds like a kid who's just got their first wah pedal and is trying out every '70s trope they can think of. "Welcome" has some stanky funk sounds, but the vocals are a bit too close to George Michael for my liking. "Sumthin' Sumthin'" is irritating, and not just because of the way he says the word "schumtin'." "...Til the Cops Come Knockin'" could easily be mistaken for a kidnapping scenario rather than a song about business time: “Gonna take you in the room, sugar / Lock you up and love for days / 'Til the cops come knockin’”. Dark stuff. And that's what every song is about. Cringey lyrics about lovemaking, or, as Maxwell might put it, a little schumtin' schumtin' 'til the cops come knockin'. Ugh. I'm working from home. On a day this hot, I'm either sitting outside in the garden under a parasol, squinting at the glare on my laptop screen, or I'm inside with every window and door wide open, desperately trying to circulate some cool air through our incredibly warm house. So I'm listening to this on headphones. Out of embarrassment. Not because I'm a prude (although I kind of am) and want to spare my neighbours the suggestive lyrics. I'm listening to this on headphones out of embarrassment because it's terrible.
mid
This style just isn't my sort of thing unfortunately. Ended up being a bit of a drag to get through; a rare miss in a list full of hits. Despite that, I did like a couple of the tracks in particular: Dancewitme Lonely's the only company
vibes
This album was a nice reminder that I actually DONT hate contemporary r/b. I just hate boring r/b that don’t try anything bold and interesting. It’s the last one I got was the D’Angelo album brown sugar. And while I could acknowledge that it was a smooth and relaxing album I just found it to be so wildly boring and “safe”. Nothing about it had variety or change in tone. Thankfully this album brought a lot more to the table. I do think the opening track got my hopes up alittle cause I thought the whole album would be whimsical. And it definitely is only whimsical at moments, but I also really liked the songs “Dancewitme” and “til the cops come knocking”. On the second listen I also liked the song “sumthin sumthin”. But as a whole it did leave me bored at moments but it would usually have something to grab my attention. Probably one of my favorite r/b album on the list so far.
this album has no personality
Meh its alright fun and good bit not to die for
very smooth, enjoyable listen. 4/5.
Music to work in a fancy coffee place to. Made myself an espresso and had a great time.
Dreary lounge music
Nine-hundred and fifty-eight albums into this project. This is 🎯easily🎯 the worst If this is "sexy music" hand me a wimple and sign me up to the nearest nunnery.
Sensational.
I can’t make up a reason
It’s a no. The genre I most struggle with. Not for me. 1/5
Huh. I've been listening to a lot of albums I've never heard of in a million years lately. I'm getting the impression that this is either a jazz album or a film soundtrack when going off of the cover. Off the top of my head, the only film soundtracks on the list are Shaft, Superfly, The Virgin Suicides and the Shalimar/College Girl compilation album (erroneously listed on this site as just Shalimar). Three of those four albums were for films released in the 70s, so I think it's unlikely for this to be a soundtrack. Jazz it is. Nope, soul and contemporary R&B. I like to think I was at least somewhat close with my prediction. Anyways, this album was solid. I'm far from an enthusiast of soul/R&B, so I like to think it carries extra weight when I say I was impressed by this album. While the crooning sound hasn't really worked for me on the other soul albums where it features, the greatest asset that this album has going for it is its production. The deep, intricate sound gives the music an isolated, nocturnal and boxed-in feel which uplifts the intimate songwriting and aids the vocal performances. The "urban hang suite" theming of this album is quite genius as a result. Such a location fits the sound of this album like a glove. Speaking more on the music itself, it's solid. There's a nice, thick bassy sound which is constantly present on this album, and the funk-influenced saxes, basses and soft percussion mesh with the sound quite nicely. Other embellishments, like the acoustic guitars, harps, synths and triangle are welcome where they appear. The rare moments of silence and space are also put to good use, enhancing the nocturnal atmosphere of the album. As briefly touched upon earlier, the vocal performances and songwriting of this album are highly adept. The slow rise and fall of these performances complement the weightless sound of the instrumentals in addition to being solid on their own. Overall, this was a solid album. It's burdened a little by its sheer length as well as my own interest in this style of music, though it's solid all the same. Book time. Based around one of Maxwell's real relationships. A frontrunner in 90s neo-soul. "Sumthin' Sumthin'" was co-created by Leon Ware, who co-wrote Marvin Gaye's "Let's Get It On". Wikipedia says this album was largely co-written and produced by Maxwell. It wasn't an immediate success, though it found momentum when the album's second single became a hit. Maxwell became a sex symbol, apparently. Widely regarded as Maxwell's best release. It garnered a glowing reaction from critics and has received enduring acclaim in the years following release. His successive releases weren't as successful with the critics, though the reaction was still generally positive. The album performed modestly in the handful of countries where it charted, usually peaking in the 30s - 40s. It made the year-end charts in America in both 1996 and 1997, being the 151st and 94th best-selling albums of those respective years. Yeah, this album seems to have earned its stripes. I cosign this inclusion.
Very smooth neo-soul with some great tunes, but I feel like you could trim 30 seconds from almost every track and wouldn't really lose anything, even with the lush instrumentation. These types of sex jams aren't really my genre, but I can respect the craft here.
So chill and laid back that it irritated me at the beginning. However, the longer I've listened, the better it felt, up to a point where it actually felt pretty good - I could easily imagine listening to that on a relaxing, summer day with nothing to do. The only problem is that all the songs are extremely forgettable. Three stars from me, but if I factored how forgettable they are, it would have been two.
Intimate music to say the least. Listened to the 2021 remaster.
I am going to try to make my review rating more clear. 1) Hate it. Offensive and bad for us (really rare) 2) Not for me 3) Okay 4) Like it a lot 5) Love it. Really outstanding and vital (really rare) About Maxwell: Really digging this. Nice mellow vibe. Seductive. Dancewitme gets the Irony Award for this year. Music for your recliningest reclining chair.
Started strong, fell into a cool groovy pocket, then it slithered into tedium and by the time "Reunion" hit, I was no longer enjoying myself.
Yeah, this was all right. pretty chill and smooth. nice arrangements.
absolutely perfect soundtrack for my Friday night in the kitchen. Jen reminded me we had this on our ancillary list but I can't remember my review.
Выдавливание подростковых слез. Вообще решил впервые прочитать что-либо про альбом и понял, что это бессмысленно ведь мнение от прослушивания не изменится. "Эталонный" неосоул, мне показался наискучнейшим. Не смотря на потрясающую аранжировку очень точную продуманную элегантную и красивую. Все портит скучный одинаковый безэмоциональный вокал. Может быть первая песня покажется реально цепляющей, но все последующие - нет. В конце альбома от слова baby будет подташнивать, а сонливость это кредо данного альбома. Я совершенно не понял жанр неосоул и конкретно этот альбом, очень жалко аранжировку там могло быть что-то потрясающее, даже просто инструментал был бы волшебным решением, оценка 2/10.
Favorite track(s): Sumthin' Sumthin', Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder), ...Til the Cops Come Knockin', Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
It's smooth I guess. An album's worth of songs about getting it on.
This has a good, sorta soul-esque, beat And the vocalist feels like Marvin Gaye, but all in all its just an ok album.
nah
Super smooth sex songs. I often wonder who actively chooses to listen to music like this, as it's the epitome of 'background' music. That being said, it's a really nice listen and I did enjoy it more as it went on, it's just not something I'll listen to again.
I knew this was going to be dog sh*t within .2 seconds of it starting. It's the music Action Man f*cks to. I actually think that, had he lived longer, Jim Morrison would've ended up doing sh*t like this, self-important juvenilia. There's a part with a repeated wah pedal stab that sounds like Zippy from Rainbow (he was kind of like Elmo but for p*ssies, for young or non-UK readers) interfering with himself.
enjoyable jazzy r&b, will listen again
Neo Soul lo llamaron pero poco tenía de nuevo. Coincidió con buenos recopilatorios de smooth soul, con el final del revival del Acid House (mucho más interesante, y para muestra cualquier disco de Brand New Heavies) y con dos discos mucho mejores como fueron D'Angelo's Brown Sugar y Erykah Badu's Baduizm. De este lo mejor es el primer tema, y además es instrumental. La triada inicial es elegante y entra a la primera: Wellcome y Sumthin' Sumthin'. Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) fue la llave del éxito, un temazo con mucha clase. El resto está bien, pero lejos, demasiado de los dos gigantes ya citados. Lauryn Hill está a años luz. Cogió el testigo de Terence Trnet D´Arby, Lenny, Seal, y con una producción muy fijada en los discos de Marvin Gaye, además de una imagen cuidada... arrasó. Por ahí hubo cosas mejores como The Roots, Common, James Poyser, J Dilla, y siguiendo con India.Arie, Alicia Keys, Aloe Blacc, subiendo el nivel con John Legend o Leon Bridges hasta lleghar a joyas como las de Sharon Jones, Amy Winehouse, Frank Ocean, o Kiwanuka.
Super chilled R&B - not great for a morning run, but still very good. Favourite track: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)
This is some refined, quality, unproblematic R&b from a dude with nothing but soul and love in his heart. He definitely feels like you're having dinner for two in a loft and there's no one else in the world.
Sexy.
Nice classic soul revival style here; Funky and sexy. Sometimes sounds like it is straight out of the late '60s or early '70s, which I intend as a strong compliment. I'm not always wild about the production here, and the vocals can sometimes be too much, but neither are persistent and neither are dealbreakers for me.
The title describes the experience. Easy listen for a hang.
A little too smooth jazz for me.
..
R&B isn't my usual cup of tea, but good music is good music, so I always go in with an open mind. This one won't be getting any replays from me. From a production standpoint, it sounds really good, especially for 1996. But I'm giving this 2 stars because I found myself actively disliking and wishing to skip many songs (I always finish each album in full so I didn't). It's just the wrong brand of cheese for me.
No se si como definirlo. House lento, aburrido
Super-slinky soul/funk/R&B slow-jams. Sax, piano, funky bass, synths, drum machine, bongos, soul/funk vocals. A whole lotta smooth. "Whenever Wherever Whatever" deviates slightly as a percussionless and pretty guitar, piano, and vocals ballad. Put the needle down and just soak up all the groooovezzz.
Ascencion (Don't Ever Wonder)
Didn’t really gel with me. Sounded really 80’s in its production, which is pretty much a turn off for me
2/5 https://rateyourmusic.com/release/album/maxwell/maxwells-urban-hang-suite/ This gets a big ol’ NOT FOR ME stamp from me. Can recognize the singing quality, but it’s so hella boring. The entire album is made to fuck, but I’d just get bored.
Feels like Sade male experience… and I don’t really like it
Sumthin' Sumthin' had a great groove to it, same goes for Ascension. I loved the rolling bass line at the start of ...Til the Cops Come Knockin'
Chill, moody, sensual. I feel bad that I was at work and not sipping coffee in a cafe downtown during a rainstorm.
Struggled to finish this, it just feels really repetitive and it never hits a distinct high point. Just keeps on pushing with little to say. I had to finish this in 3 separate sittings as I just felt very bored by it, and the length of the album is a big factor in that. Some parts are nice, more towards the front of the album. But nothing really stuck with me, struggling to remember anything distinct about it. Fav Track: Whenever, Wherever, Whatever
6/2/26. Not my typical taste in music but a solid record, feels like a good example of 90s soul. First time diving into Maxwell!
Very much not my thing. I’m sure it’s a great album if it is your thing. But not for me
Rating:★★★
YEAAS THE SMOOVEST OF JAMS
Really groovy. I can’t quite give it a five as I think the actually thought and writing is a little lackluster, and the repetitive track doesn’t carry it
Better than expected - some great playing.
absolute banger! love you can hear (pause)! best musical adult love album. sades producer worked on it aswell. listened to the album 2 times in a row that day😵💫
If you listen to this, you definitely listen when you’re getting busy with that special someone. Not my style but I can see the talent in the music.
No nyt on tosi smoothia ja chilliä, pää nyökkyy. Maukkaat basso groovet. Alkupuoli oli menevämpää, aika funkkiakin mutta loppupää sit rauhallisempaa RnB. Tykkäsin alusta enemmän. Mut tosi tunnelmallista kokonaisuudessaan. Parhaat: The Urban Theme, Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder), The Suite Theme
Pretty solid jazz. Nice listen.
I feel like I found the root of so many songs I've heard before!
Only one memorable song in the bunch
Maxwell is not responsible for the increase of partner's sex appeal while listening to this album. Maxwell cannot be held responsible for the following: broken beds, pregnancy, missed phone calls, or torn clothing.
I'm not going to did their talent, just not my thing.
This just kind of flowed in the background. I think every song was about fucking but the album kind of roofied me.
Fabulous, deliciously smooth and consistently good throughout
not offensive to the ears
2,5. Наче й не те, щоб погано, але нудно
Ótimo pra trabalhar! Vibezinha gostosa, relaxada
Lovely and relaxing
Very chill. Very smooth. Great example of excellent soul.
The most boring, vanilla, generic shit I've ever listened to
1/10
Somehow this would be a soundtrack to making love. That used to be a thing didn't it? Can't imagine putting it on now, I think I'd just spend too much time laughing and wouldn't ever go at speeds fast enough to actually ejaculate.
No thanks
Viel toch mee, had verwacht dat dit helemaal niks voor mij zou zijn. Dit klopt wel enigszins door de falsetto's en gladde teksten. De productie maakt heel veel goed en is toch wel lekker. Soms wat jazz en funk maar over het hele almbum zit wel een fijne analoge groove. Het is ook vrij consistent album waardoor ik er wel er wel aan kan overgeven. Het is allemaal veel minder plat en meer gelaagd dan mijn vooroordeel, positief verrast.
Totaal niet mijn ding, mierzoete 90’s R&B. Heel glad en nat, en doordat ik er totaal niks bij voel maakt t dat ik het album erg saai vind. Als ik dan toch iets positiefs moet noemen; af en toe zit er wel een fijn/funky basje door
Decent enough — thought I might like it better as it went along. 2.5 rounded up.
Lounge easy listening jazz. Niet mijn ding
Tranqui
Day866 - i was feeling pretty good about this album until “til the cops come knockin”and it was all downhill from there
This is too slick for my taste. Not really an expert in this genre, but it sounds not really outstanding in comparison to similar artist/releases.
Pretty chill, like smooth jazz ala hip hop. A few tracks were so-so, but I think I enjoyed the others enough to give the album a, “will definitely listen to this again,” rating.
Very smooth, and I think it's pretty good for what it is, but I was ready for it to be over before Maxwell was. 3.2
Pleasant. Well... sedated, like smoove elevator music, or getting anesthetized at the dentist. Somewhere between a Sade quiet storm and Prince dripping with musky, horny body sweat. Swerving wide into self-parody as if these guys were in turtlenecks and gold chains and 'It's not gay if it's a 3-way" on the track list. What really went off the rails was "lock you in a room and love you for days until the cops come knocking..." Kinda rapey.
Loved the early funky songs but it got more sensual r&b as the album went on which I didn't care for as much
Oh yeh, this is nice and chilled. Bit of a mixed bag though - I like the funkier tracks at the start, but soon descends into smoother cheesier stuff, and I'm not down!
Album 200. Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite (https://open.spotify.com/album/2k5YAxjmAD3DmYtmlrY64p?si=Bl_Kj1APTdO0AhmgToWLEw) — Maxwell (1996) Smooooooooooooth 3/5 No liked songs
rnb?? Idk what it was but it was AMAZING
This is ... divine! I don't quite know what to say but for the idea that this is indeed a fantastic find for me. It is likely to have eluded me because it escapes my typical genre picks, but this funk, soul, love song genre is outstanding. I actually love this album. Sad how somehow mainstream music, which is in-itself not anything bad or anything, but it excludes anything that is too... maybe genre specific? IDK... But this is like ... crooner music that is so smooth it works really really well! Yeah, this is so worth popping in as background at a quieter party or something, just to watch as people start to pay attention and groove.
So smooth I slipped on this album and hurt my back. Not recommended.
Never really listen to this style of music, but I really liked. I like the groove.
The urban theme - 2 Welcome - 3 Sumthin' sumthin' - 3 Ascension (don't ever wonder) - 2 Dancewitme - 2 ...Till the cops come knockin' - 3 Whenever wherever whatever - 2 Lonely's the only company (i & ii) - 2 Reunion - 3 Suitelady (the proposal jam) - 3 The suite theme - 2
Smooth lounge
didnt even finish it just not for me in the slightest its literally music made to be played when support puts you on hold
Pretty good stuff here overall
Overall Rating - 3.45/5 (6.91/10). R&B that's as smooth as good whisky. Definitely up my alley.
The smoothest album on this list so far. I instantly got in to the vibe and my mind just relaxed, turned off and started enjoying the music. Some songs that started a bit faster weren't my favorites but the added saxophone in them still made them something I wont skip in the future. Overall a great album and experience.
In theory this is the type of music I like, but it was all very samey. It gets extra points for very accurate cover art though.
8/10
Feels like Paula Deen melted a tub of butter and gently placed me in it
2,5
The slick intro "The Urban Theme" only slightly hints at what's on the rest of this album. True, the entire album is well produced with a shiny, groovy sound. But the intro is also highlighted by a sleek saxophone. Largely, that kind of bold instrumentation isn't present elsewhere. Instead, the songs ruminate on a single sound with subtle changes. The beginning songs are a bit groovy and funky, but around "Whenever Wherever Whatever" the sound becomes much smoother. That's where the album really starts to drag; without much to separate these songs it starts to feel like an album of one long song. Maxwell's vocals are great, this clearly influenced 2010 alt R&B, and these songs would be a great background for certain activities. But for a casual listen there's just not anything new here.
Best Track - "Sumthin' Sumthin"
Started well then went rapidly downhill into generic slow R&B and therefore became a bit boring. Made it all the way through though, so couldn't have been terrible.
Absolutely enjoyed this, love wah-wah
Favorite Tracks: The Urban Theme / Dancewitme Rating: 1.8 I listened to the Remastered 2021 versions in lossless with headphones. Album sounds great; the production is excellent and lush, huge soundstage, lots of cool little effects and touches. Solid instrumentation too, some funky slap & pop baselines, cool jazzy drums. Maxwell's voice is just aight for me, and some of these are just too cheesy (skipped ...Til the Cops after about 3 mins, and Lonely's the Only Company even faster). The back half of the album really dragged. Overall I liked the funk, less so the jams.
I'm starting to question the entire premise that there are 1001 albums I *must* hear. Still, this was better than Kanye West.
This represents an important genre - one that everybody should hear. Easy, accessible grooves, nice aesthetic, chill/relaxed vibe. At the same time, these attributes make music like this tremendously unremarkable. Nothing stands out to me about this. I will probably forget everything about this album, including the name and artist. But that doesn't change the fact that I like and enjoy it. ------------------------------------------------------- With that said, I don't really know how to grade this. It's a pleasant listen. It could be a gateway drug into neo-soul if you're in the right headspace, it could go completely unacknowledged while you flip through the rack of casual tops in a department store, it could accompany the conception of your child, who knows. It could be anything to anybody. I guess that ultimately makes it the definition of average.
...Til the Cops Come Knockin'???
Great listen, very enjoyable debut R&B album with a modern and retro vibe
Chill
3/5
There's some good beats here but it's all kind of samey standard R&B fare. None of it came off as essential or exceptional.
Some real baby making music.
Standouts The Urban Theme Welcome The Suite Theme
pretty solid r&b album notable : till the cops come knocking 3.5/5
some banger funk highlights: the urban suite, welcome, ascension, til the cops come knockin 3.5/5
Very mellow vibe.
Silky smooth R&B ... not my thang.
Chill Balearic sundown vibes. I like.
*1996. *Soulful R&B - chill, interesting music. Would be great as instrumental only, but I'm not a big fan of his voice. It's a light Pinot Noir but the music needs to be paired with a full-bodied cab. RATING - 6/10
This album is for someone. I don't know who, but it's not me. If I'm gonna listen to a 90s R&B album, it would probably have D'Angelo's name on it. Even if it was a Maxwell album I chose to listen to, it wouldn't be this one. I was thinking, "I don't know if its fair for me to rate it". But the album started out with a Muzac song and that is just plain unforgivable.
I’ve always thought about R&B as innocuous background music. This doesn’t change that view. Some interesting beats but that’s about the only notable feature to me.
Smooth aesthetic, beautiful sound. Great in the background or on a drive, could deep dive more but it was a good listen.
Well that’s about as smooth as it gets. Not bad
Too much sex.
I started listening to this and thought how good funk sounds. The longer I listened the more I wondered if this was anything especially well done. Once I was done I gave it a relisten because I was surprised how much my enjoyment waned over the course of the listen. After the second listen I feel the same. This is alright.
It's smooth, its funky, I have so little experience with this kind of music. I've danced to music like this, it's fun. The problem is I don't have a great scale to measure this against, but this seems like a solid album.
Muy buen disco, como para escucharlo tranquilo, buenos ritmos de R&B. Totalmente recomendado
bao
5.5/10
Beautifully chill, languid music, just real easy to listen to. Okay, it’s smooth jazz from the mid-90s, sure. But it has more flavor than a million of those nothing, yacht-jazz lifeless bops that overtook the airwaves. Maxwell makes it sound pretty delicious.
Smooth and jazzy r&b. The first song was a really funky instrumental that I loved and the next few were pretty good too, but the tracks felt progressively slower and more like ballads as the album went on.
Just not my thing
güzeldi tiramisunun kremasına benziyo
J’ai trop aimé, la vibe et tout
It’s cool. 3 stars
I enjoyed this, way more than I thought I would. I will come back to it.
Nah, this is just bad and bland. Some redeeming qualities in good melodies here and there, but I really wanted just to give it 1/5
Good music... but not for me.
This was pretty fucking smooth.
Very smooth. So smooth it almost turns uninteresting at times, yet very pleasant to listen to!
nice jazz r&b album