Reviews (page 3 of 7)
Not really my thing but he is good at what he does.
It's chill, easy to listen to. I'm trying to be more present in the moment and spend less time rushing around, living in my head. This type of music helps with that. As another reviewer said - the songs aren't in a rush, they are unfolding.
Reveal thoughts: Hell yeah! I love(ed) this album! So, this is an interesting one. I went into it thinking it could be 5 stars - I listened to the shit out of it back in the day. Now though…it doesn’t hit as hard. It magnificent for what it is, and I remember when Neo-Soul was my jam, and this album was/is Neo-Soul royalty! But this is the first album that has made me think about how different I am now. I’m not saying it isn’t good - it’s really good! But it’s more like 3.5 good instead of 5 star good. A little boring, maybe? I think it’s one of those things I need to be in the mood for, versus there being a time where this *was* my mood. Like I said, it’s probably 3.5 stars, but it’s so much better than many albums I’ve given 3 stars, it’s getting a 4.
Sexy music. Made me wish I had a gf.
Funky!
that's good romance music
Albums like this are why I'm doing this project. Never would have listened to this album otherwise but I'm glad I did. A pleasure for the ears
Silky smooth. Will check out Maxwells other albums
Great vocalist. Basic rhythm. Great overall? No.
Hit or miss tracks on this one
Groovy tunes
Have already spun this record many many times. Love the sound of the singles and the production credits of one of Sade's producers helps round out the sound but something's missing in the full product. Theres an infectiousness to the singles that's lost in the full product. Bedroom music can sometimes be background music. Both a compliment and an insult
What a nice album! Hits just the right spot for me. Really funky, nice basslines, lots of electric piano and nice guitar fills. What is there not to like? I just found the album overall nice to listen through. Strongest songs are probably 'Urban Theme', 'Sumthin' Sumthin' and 'Ascension', but the thing I missed the most was a real banger that clearly stands out and you can put on repeat. Luckily all songs are just nice to listen to, and I can definitely see myself put on this whole record when working or something.
very very vibey
Cooles Album mit chilliger Musik. Der Interpret kommt auf meine Beobachtungsliste
I think that there is something to be said for an album that has a fully formed concept of what it wants to be and executes that vision flawlessly. Now, clearly the vision that Maxwell had for this album was Midnight Love-era Marvin Gaye (which I typically do not enjoy), a little bit of Prince, and sounds leaning a little closer to Kenny G than I’m typically okay with, but dammit did he hit his fucking mark. It is hard to dislike an album that does what it sets out to do this well.
oooooooooooooooooooooooo okayy, this is something special. This is some real nu-wave funk, and i LOVE it, im sitting here just absolutely grooving to this album. What an incredible voice maxwell has, what infectious funky beats he can make, this is truly a treat to listen to this album for the first time ever. The only downside is some of the songs just go on for a little too long, i dont think any song should come close to the 7 minute mark, thats overstaying your welcome just a little bit. After finishing the album, some of the songs arent as good lol. But still this album is a banger! Fav Song:Dancewitme (but honestly the first 5 songs of the album are all fantastic) 4
Went into this album having never heard of Maxwell. I was pleasantly surprised- a neo-soul album with a lot of jazz influence. Maxwell's voice is pleasant and powerful- he has an impressive range. The instrumentation varied from dominant to supportive. Overall a solid album- good songs but did drag a little but at parts (sometimes a little too sappy for me). I could see this being a great weekend morning album
Delicious Bass!! Such a horno album lol some ballads and nice songwriting
Music that feels effortless and so expertly crafted at the same time. Its simplicity throughout can make it blend in, but it's truly a great soothing listen
Super solid album. Good grooves. Nice flow.
Smooth, soulful, never boring.
Ein bisschen Funk, ein bisschen Soul und R&B
I have never heard of this artist before now, having listened to, and enjoyed a lot, this album im inclined to find out more and listen to other albums of theirs. A mellow and laid back vibe I got right into if from the first track.
Pretty cool. I like it. Nice mix of genres.
7/10. It gave me Michael Jackson vibes. It had a nice, mellow, and groovy vibe, but it was a bit too underwhelming for me personally. :)
Smooth tunes for romancing. Maxwell has an incredibly lush voice.
I enjoyed this album Good vibe and seems really talented
"Ascension" was already a favorite. R&B classic, not something I'd listen to very often but quality.
This album took me to a fancy seafood dinner, then never called me again.
A suprise great r&b record!
first listen super smooth bedroom vibes
Tolle ruhige Musik
No surprise one of the guys behind Sade is part of Maxwell. Great album. Definitely a "new" artist to explore.
Ik ben geloof ik zwanger geraakt door dit album. Mijn god, wat een pure sex is deze muziek haha. Super vibey, super trage R&B, echt een beetje de blauwdruk voor alle R&B van het jaar 00. Je merkt dat dit nog iets meer jazzy is en Maxwell heeft echt een geweldige stem. Wat een pure porno is dit album, echt geweldig hahaha Enig minpuntje is dat het een beetje inkakt in het midden en dat niet elk nummer even lekker is, maar ook de mindere nummers zijn nog steeds Smooth jams met een hoofd letter S. Godsamme, ik glijd van mn stoel hier, 4 sterren. FAVO: The Urban Theme, Ascension, Dancewithme, Whenever Wherever Whatever, Lonelys the only company, The suite theme
I thought this album was very chill while also managing to stay musically interesting. I enjoyed this one, but probably wont go back to listen to it very often. Reminds me of the Superfly soundtrack which I also enjoyed.
Fance elevator music
Too smoooth for me
Equal parts slow burn funk groove / hotel lobby music
Still a great album. Neo-soul. Supersmooth. Just short of 5 stars.
Sexy AF
I owned this album when I was in college. Damn, did it make me sophisticated. Funny thing - 28 years does not dull it. This album is lighting a fire, undoing the top button, and breaking out the bubbly. This is SWANK.
I've called Prince's albums "horny", but they're horny with reckless abandon, caught up in the moment. These songs sound like they're horny in the, "planning all day and waiting at home with roses, candles and a bath robe on" type way. It's great, it's smooth. I have one complaint that the guitars remind me of the muzak the Weather Channel would play, but I'm curious how much of that is just being exposed to that first than not. Still, anyone else want some champagne? Favorite tracks: "Dancewitme", "Lonely's The Only Company"
I wonder how many kids were born because of this album.
I like the way this album draws you in and then just keeps the jams rolling with that beautiful outro. Fave: ...Til the Cops Come Knockin'
Smoooooove. It all blends together, but that's absolutely the point, right? This is music to put on when you want to maintain a certain mood but don't want your attention pulled away from whatcha doin'... 😏 Weirdly I gave Sade's "Diamond Life" 3, but this feels like a 4 to me for much the same schtick - I think that probably just comes down to being in a more receptive mood now that I was then. Fave tracks - Uh, I dunno, "Dancewitme" maybe? "The Suite Jam" for that sultry outro? As mentioned, it's not about individual tracks with this one...
Are you ready to groove because that is what this album is dedicated to.
Very smooth, I don't get all the hate in the other reviews. This is my first album after a two-week hiatus, and I'm not upset.
Impossibly smooth. I’m giving this four stars instead of five because I will never be as smooth as Maxwell and I resent him for it.
super smooth. chill
"Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite" is the debut album by American R&B singer-singwriter Maxwell. The music is mellow and groove-based with elements of jazz, funk, smooth soul and quiet storm. This album along with D'Angelo "Brown Sugar" and Erykah Badu's "Baduizm" helped shape the "neo soul" movement of the late 90's. Maxwell largely wrote and produced the album himself with Peter Mokran and Stuart Matthewman assisting in the production. It is a concept album with a romance cycle as the theme. The album was critically acclaimed as a departure from the mainstream, hip hop-oriented R&B. Commercially, it hit #37 in the US and #38 in the UK. Vinyl noise and a wah-wah guitar open "The Urban Theme." A jazzy and groovy instrumental which leads into "Welcome." This is funky, smooth and chill. Maxwell has a nice tenor and is crooning. He meets his woman in a chance encounter. "Sumthin' Sumthin'" ups the funk with a tight groove and prominent bass. He's showing her his affection. "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" continues the chill funk mix and throws in a gospel vibe. He adds a falsetto into the mix. "...Til the Cops Comes Knockin'" slows things down. This very soulful reminding me of Smokey Robinson. Maxwell is gettin' down to business as he is going to lock his woman up and they'll.....til the cops come. "Suitelady (the Proposal Jam)" wraps the cycle up as he purposes to his lady. It's a gentle, soulful ballad. Wah-wah guitars and very 70's sounding. This is album is chill, funky, groovy, easy listening and romantic. Maxwell has a nice tenor voice. The music does remind of Marvin Gaye, Earth, Wind & Fire and the Commodores. This a really good album which I think mostly everyone would like to some extent.
Ooh, I bought this one when it came out (or shortly there after). It was a big departure from my normal punk, thrash, and metal purchasing profile but this and D’Angelo’s Brown Sugar record are part of my mid to late 90’s R&B/soul collection. Some of the jazz elements that I thought were so cool in the 90’s don’t seem as innovative now as then but still a solid, smooth and silly listen
Passer fantastisk med en rolig lørdag
Surprisingly good
hmmmm ça serait de la bonne sexy musique pour Magic
This is definitely going on the sex playlist like I don’t know if I’ve even gotten a steamier album than this besides that Marvin Gaye album. It’s also pretty good to listen to high apparently with all the jazz bits. First songs is the standout for me.
Elite r&b. The Wurlitzer-rhodsy chords just glide through this whole album creating a masterclass in atmosphere. Perfect amount of crooning. Punchy yet subtle basslines. Wonderful
I enjoyed this smooth funkiness here. A little sumthin' sumthin'...
Not my go-to genre but a sweet mellow groove today.
Calm background music.
Cool, funky, and smooth as silk. I admit I'm a sucker for slow jams but this album, that I'd never heard before, was right in my wheelhouse.
They didn't lie, that cat CAN soul
Like an updated Let’s Get It On, UHS is a successful nu soul album, funky and laid back, not overburdened by artifice and Maxwell is a fine, emotive singer. Side note - the MTV unplugged version is pretty good too - during recording every single person fell pregnant to Maxwell’s music.
iets nieuws
I love this album. Very funky. "Funky sex music" as Jack has said. Very fun and easy to listen to and everything in terms of the backing tracks and cocals are all really good. His voice in moments reminds me of Micheal Jackson.
Smooth R&B.
A bit dated now, but I love the funk elements, and the cohesiveness of the theme.
Some great funk, and some cheesy porn music too
This had a cool vibe with a bit of funk. Good for background music
I'm very simple. When I listen to R&B, I want it to be as conventional as possible. Maxwell has all of the '90s R&B tropes in this debut, and that's exactly what I love about it. Because there are times when you gotta ask, why the need to mess with a good thing? Sometimes ice cream is better without chocolate syrup, sprinkles, or peanuts. Just the basics. My only qualm is that it gets a little stale by the end of it. Two or three tracks could be trimmed down and this would be a lot better. Standouts are Welcome, Sumthin' Sumthin,' Dancewitme, ...Til the Cops Come Knockin,' and Suitelady.
Smooth and sensual. The perfect babymaking record.
3,8
relaxing to listen to, good voice
This is the most aptly named album ever. If I ever host an orgy this is the only playlist I need.
Excellent chilled Soul Album
Cool bgm
Another one I bought at the time attempting to be cool and sophisticated, after rave reviews from a friend (see: D'Angelo). Now that I have transcended such vanities I'm glad to hear it again, plenty of good jams to be nodded along to. Gets a bit sparse at the end, but I'm not sure the intended listener(s) are supposed to be paying too much attention at that point. *OLD MAN RANT WARNING* I scanned the lyrics and was pleased to discover not a mention of money nor a brand name to be found. If this was made today it would probably be littered with fatuous Gucci/Louis Vuitton/Dollar Tree brags (and don't come at me quoting "He's The Greatest Dancer"; that's a neat rhyme!). The '90s were so much classier Have a 4*, Maxwell: Hang Suite>Silver Hammer
This is classic R&B. You can hear the earlier influences of jazz and rock. Very 90's
So Chill so shwagged out, killer rainy day sexy time album.
Had not heard this before. I vaguely knew of the artist, but hadn’t really heard any of his music before. I really enjoyed this. And, I think I will be listening to it quite a bit. I love the note he had where he said, he wanted to make an album where you put it on, and you’re good. You’re good. He’s right.
Súper interesting
Funky and soul. I really like it.
A smooth as fuck concept album about being sexy and falling in love.
I should go back
Very smooth music that is great for making babies to. It's not weighed down by styles of it's time compared to some other neo soul music of the 90s.
Tolle Chillmusik mit ein wenig Sax und Slap Bass.
This album just straight up hits. Just a straightforward R&B album with melodies and grooves that hook you in on the first listen. It's a light 4 for me. While everything sounds good, the album could be a little tighter. The penultimate track, and cops knockin are fine. Great vibe but I didn't attach to them.
Great groove. If you’re looking to get close with your significant other, this would be a great option
Bass
A landmark 90s neo-soul release that stands along the likes of D'Angelo, Erykah Badu, and Lauryn Hill. I could hear him in 2010s pop like Frank Ocean. It's a really strong record with modern production that still holds up today, utilizing elements of funk (Sly, Marvin Gaye), smooth jazz, and downtempo. The first half is energetic and funky, full of strong memorable hits and impressive displays. The second half is mellower, and besides "Lonely's the Only Company", nothing really stood out to me. It felt derivative of other 90s R&B pop, but it was better with the strengths of the production and coherency. Nevertheless, I did enjoy it all, even if I did space out in the last few tracks.
This reminded me of Trammell Starks' music on The Weather Channel & I'm here for it. No joke, I'm into this. It's chill, jazzy, soulful, smooth & silky. I'll definitely listen again. 4 stars.
8/10. This was a delightful little surprise, I don't know that I'd heard of this guy, but this was a really chill album
Really smooth R&B, thought it would be a little more interesting based on the first song but not a bad album. 7/10
Quite smooth and likable, I can understand the appeal. Maybe a little too long but this is how I like my 90s R&B, more inspired by jazz and the classics than rap. B-
This might be the most I'm ever going to enjoy an R&B record. The production is stellar and Maxwell's vocals are incredible. The content is always sensual, rarely sleezy, and if he had cut 'Whenever Wherever Whatever' and 'Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)' this might have been a 5/5.
Low key, sexy, nice, a little boring
One of the more faithful reinterpretations of the mid to late 70s soul/quiet storm sound, Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is the equivalent of settling down after a long day, sipping red wine with a loved one and just laying back. It succeeds in willful seduction, in the kind of form that the older masters would perfect, and builds a world in which immersion is the only option. Perfect for late night vibes, which you need to stay for upon glancing the cover. Favorites: Welcome, Sumthin' Sumthin', Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder), Dancewitme, ...Til the Cops Come Knockin', Whenever Wherever Whatever, Lonely's the Only Company (I & II), The Suite Theme.
It was good easy listening. No songs I felt like skipping. Didn’t pay much attention to the lyrics so I probably missed out there. Solid enjoyable album.
a really lovely vibe. i especially enjoyed til the cops come knocking
I liked it. Interesting beats. Never heard of these guys, I was busy in 1996.
Nice chill out album.
Fiye
I enjoyed this
Was surprised by this album. Fantastic.
Smooth
Pretty good. Didn't know a lot before, but it's good jams. 4/5
smooth
Really great album. Fantastic to listen to as a whole.
Such a good album! I recently found out about it and love the vibe, the production. Don’t know this missed me for decades!
Sexy slow jams
This album felt like a long, warm hug Favourite tracks: Sumthin’ Sumthin’, Ascension, Til the Cops Come Knockin’, Whenever Wherever Whatever, The Suite Theme
I always had heard of Maxwell but he listened to him as much as any of the other r&b artist of the era. This album absolutely blew my expectations out of the water. "...Til the Cops Come Knockin'", "Ascension", "Whenever Wherever Whatever" and "Reunion" were all really great with the star of thr show being the first song I mentioned. Truly a great album I definitely could see myself coming back to this album a couple times a year. Like a 9-9.5/10.
Disciple de Marvin Gaye et de son mouvement désormais légendaire de l'ultra sexual pop, Maxwell vient très clairement avec l'ambition de nous baiser, et plus spécifiquement de nous baiser la gueule. Un pari que je juge réussit.
Really nice, relaxing!
vibes absolutely off the chart. production made everything sound so smooth it was crazy
Very chilled, very smooth, not much light and shade, but a pleasant soundtrack to a warm summer evening
A pretty great soul and R&B album. Fantastic bass lines. Not my usual genre, but this is well done!
This is one of the first albums of the 90s neo-soul movement, and I am quite partial. While still not yet showing the influence of J.Dilla (who, along with the playing of the Roots, marks the later works of the Soulquarians neo-soul recordings), I dig this. Wearing his influences (Marvin Gaye, Prince, Sade) on his sleeve, and roping in some collaborators from those artists, this is smooth, sexy and lush. I prefer the funkier tracks on the first half of the album (Urban Theme, Sumthin' Sumthin', Til the Cops Come Knocking), the back end of the album descends into slow jamz territory. I listened to this three times through in a row, and enjoyed it.
I see alot of Portishead and massive Attack, this is my kinda jam
It's perfect 3,5 for me. But unfortunately there is no half. So let's give it 4. It's nice album. I hope it will return favour during future listening.
The pinnacle of smoothness.
Smooth a l’os ahaha mais lecoute est bonne et le groove aussi 4
Another album I've never been exposed to before, but added a number of track to a playlist. "Neo Soul" and really tight musicianship.
An album that's made to have on in the background while hanging out in an urban suite, made by Maxwell... I can't complain, it's exactly what it says in the tin.
Pretty soulful early rnb well made, some of the lyrics felt generic and sappy but overall it's really well produced and performed
HL: "Ascension", "Til the Cops Come Knockin'", "Sumthin Sumthin", "Whenever Wherever Whatever" -Unfamiliar with Maxwell prior to today - Something (sumthin) about some prior neo-soul / quiet storm albums I've heard made me think I was pretty ambivalent towards those genres. However I quite liked this -It was kind of a strange vibe mellowing out to this while walking through busy downtown streets. - reading now that some critics describe the Suite as derivative of its influences; eh. While I'm not refuting that, it uses the freshest ingredients from EWF and Marvin Gaye d̶i̶s̶h̶e̶s̶ records **** March 14, 2023
Just a good groovy album, I'm just a sucker for some good bass. I also love hearing some tight envelope filter on "Dancewitme". I enjoyed this a lot more than I was expecting too. Great way to end my night.
This was actually really nice, very groovy and chill
Uuh niin kotoisaa kuin voi vaan musiikki olla. Lämmintä ja rentouttavaa. Ja kovin tanssittavaa myös! Tämä on tietty turvallisempaa ja yksipuolisempaa kuin vaikka D'Angelon musiikki ja levyn jälkipuolisko jää siksi vähän piippuun. Sanotaan kuitenkin varma 4/5.
Súper smúþ R&B. Mjög næs. Algjört Maxwell'n'chill!
❓❓
mood sexy grand mere (maxwell + tricot)
This is a very sexy album. 90s R&B bit with that 70s house band tightness. It drops towards the end, but I was very happily surprised that this was as good as it was!
The songwriting is a little bland, but this album grew on me. The production here is superb; one of those albums that you'd use to demonstrate your expensive CD hi-fi in the 90s. It also sounds like this is where Justin Timberlake got a lot of his ideas.
Chill easy listen, liked it a lot
very smooth. easy to listen to, mellow aber nicht boring
So extremely awesome. A bit too long but man. Smooth.
Smooth and Funky
Smooth and soulful with really good musicianship. I especially like the bass lines throughout the album. I could see this as an album Marvin Gaye might have made.
4.2 - Sexy mood music that draws heavily from the best R&B of the 1970s (Barry White, Marvin Gaye, Shuggie Otis...), performed exceptionally well so it sounds sophisticated and not kitschy or derivative. I especially love the synths on "Urban Theme", the slap bass on "Sumthin' Sumthin'" and the lush orchestration on "Lonely's the Only Company." A gentle and romantic journey from start to finish.
Old school funk and soul. Nice.
Taki Stevie Wonder
Smooth
3.6⭐️
Very fun album. I jammed to this all morning. Very smooth and felt a little ahead of its time in some ways. I feel like I've heard some of these beats in current songs. I'll be down to hang with this album!
90’s cheese aside it was a surprisingly smooth and good album
Rating: 7/10 Best songs: Ascension, Dancewithme, Til the cops come knockin, Reunion
Solid
Feels wacky having this be the second album after Herbie Hancock's Headhunters today. This guy is smooth and with a silky upper register. Til The Cops Come Knockin' is a song that drips.
I am so down with music that makes you sexier – not just feel sexier, but actually be sexier and enhance your performance, too. Just buttery smooth and awesome. Neo-soul forever.
This was a remarkably smooth album. This neo-soul record had tinges of contemporary R&B, funk, and a lot of jazz. The influence of Marvin Gaye especially could be felt. I also heard some Michael Jackson-esque vocal delivery patterns. Overall Maxwell very successfully brought these elements together in a sharp departure from the hip hop centric R&B of the mid 90s.
A super-smooth soul album. Incredible production and I could see myself putting it on when I'm in the mood, though it does wash over me a bit without any memorable or stand out moments.
An undeniably smooth album that is very easy on the ears. I liked this one quite a bit.
pretty good
Du bon R'n'B/soul qui se laisse écouter tout seul. Crée une bonne ambiance détente ou pour créer un mood avec un.e partenaire.
Better than I expected - really pretty groovy
Jazzy and smooth
The Urban Theme made love to my ears and I never looked back Saved: The Urban Theme, Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)*, Lonely's The Only Company (1&II), Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)
A pretty smooth album, for sure, 90's neo-soul at its best. Will get back to it.
Ahhh que chabochito .
I have no idea how this dude managed to produce two #1 hits in my lifetime and not ring a bell for me at all, but I enjoyed listening to this album. After a catchy opening it felt a bit slow for a while, but the album definitely grew on me once I hit "Whenever Wherever Whatever" and "Lonely's The Only Company".
This music is downright erotic
Wel dit was aangenaam! In het begin zeker 5 waardig maar daarvoor is het net iets te lang en viel het wat plat naar het einde toe
Apparently Maxwell is credited with establishing the neo-soul genre, and I always think that's so cool when an artist starts a musical trend. I really enjoyed this album...it got a little repetitive to my ears after a while, but his voice is heavenly, and the songs were cool.
I remember this being released and a huge buzz around it but not much else - it just wasn't the right time for me to appreciate it... ...as opposed to now: wow - this just hits all the right notes (sure, pun intended). Smooth in the best ways but for me it is rarely boring - tremendous production and musicianship. It took everything I liked about the best Marvin Gaye but this is better - just the right doses of edge that Marvin rarely ever had (e.g. angular guitar lines on "Dancewitme"). Also point of note: while Maxwell the "singer" is clearly the feature here, the music is the big standout for me - the album starts with a great instrumental which sets the tone that this will be not just a vocal album. A great album for its genre, which while not ever going to be my favourite/daily listen it is so well-crafted that it's a keeper. 8/10 4 stars
Perfect album as the weather is heating up, lol. For some reason I feel like driving through a busy city on a Saturday night with my windows down.
No idea how to describe, but I thought that this is a great album full of underwhelming individual songs. I overuse "vibe" but that's what it is, it's a overwhelming feeling of goodness permeating my daily life. Very pleasant
Immediately feelin this, neo soul, bit like D'Angelo, but Stevie Wonder-ish but more smooth. Feels classy, decent chill tunes. Tailed off a bit in the middle and at the end, went a bit wet. Start was still real decent tho. 4/5.
quite calming :))
Pretty cool and sexy, Maxwell is just a classic classy guy with a solid voice. Hard to be mad at him
Very smooth. I've heard Maxwell before, but never listened to this album.
Lounge at its peak. Whole thing drips with sex and innuendo in a hilarious way. Would never get away with this on a first date.
Very nice
Great R&B.
Fuck amazing. Smooth when it needs to be smooth, grooves when it needs to groove, and a couple bangers along the way. And it only gets better the longer you listen. “Urban Theme,” “Dancewitme,” “Whenever Wherever Whatever,” “Suitelady,” and “The Suite Theme” are gems.
smooth 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.
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 ⭐️⭐️⭐️
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
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.
Music to work in a fancy coffee place to. Made myself an espresso and had a great time.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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)
Sexy.
The title describes the experience. Easy listen for a hang.
Didn’t really gel with me. Sounded really 80’s in its production, which is pretty much a turn off for me
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'
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!
Rating:★★★
Better than expected - some great playing.
Pretty solid jazz. Nice listen.
I feel like I found the root of so many songs I've heard before!
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.
not offensive to the ears
Ótimo pra trabalhar! Vibezinha gostosa, relaxada
Decent enough — thought I might like it better as it went along. 2.5 rounded up.
Day866 - i was feeling pretty good about this album until “til the cops come knockin”and it was all downhill from there
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
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
Smooth lounge
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.
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.
2,5
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
Some real baby making music.
Standouts The Urban Theme Welcome The Suite Theme
Very mellow vibe.
*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
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
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.
güzeldi tiramisunun kremasına benziyo
It’s cool. 3 stars
I enjoyed this, way more than I thought I would. I will come back to it.
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!
Glemte helt av at jeg hørte på denne, den bare rullet og gikk i bakgrunnen. Det er helt ålreit, dette.
It was tolerable, listenable RnB music. I've never heard of this guy before but it seems he was quite the big deal in his day. Given that I don't particularly like the genre, a 3 is quite a high score. I'd consider listening to more of him.
Meh, wasn't feeling this groove today. Devil's pie is tits tho RIP
I wish I liked this a little more! In comparison with the other neo-soul pioneers I feel like his influences are just a little too worn on his sleeve and the songwriting is just a little too sleepy. But it's still really nice and I could see myself raising the rating on this with time and more listens.
Pościelówa, która skutecznie odstraszyłaby mnie od łóżka. Stereotypowa gładka, zmysłowa muzyka, która nudzi się po trzech utworach. 5/10
I wanted to enjoy it, it never really reached me but in another universe I could see how it could somebody’s favorite
3.5 Nice chill album
Pretty nice R&B groove for the background
3+
An extremely solid basis for an album, but I wish it had a couple of big songs in it and I’d love it. I love its name though. Im going to be calling everything my urban hang suite from now on.
Smooooth. Sex music from the 90s. Unfortunately, it really sounds like the 90s. Dated. Not bad, but not something I'll be reaching for.
Ekstremt smooth R&B. Noe jeg potensielt hadde digga for ti år siden, men rimelig langt unna min nåværende musikksmak. Greit å spare til senere babyproduksjon. Top 3: Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder), Dancewitme, …’Till The Cops Come Knockin’
Some stuff here that slaps, but other stuff that leans a little too far in the direction of nineties R&B for my taste. The year after D’Angelo’s debut, which is in another league.
Damn that’s smooth. Some great instrumental work here.
Corny 90s VHS Porn Intro: The Album! (⌐■֊■) This flavor of R&B is about the farthest thing from my day-to-day listening taste, but its legacy as a transformational R&B record cannot be denied, as it catapulted Maxwell into sex icon status and was significant in ushering in the neo soul movement of the late 90s/early 00s.
some good songs, but a bit too backstreet boys for my taste
SEXY
Great album
Finally, some R&B. Besides D'Angelo, I don't know very many R&B artists from this time, so I was glad to have the opportunity to learn a bit more (although a few of the songs were already saved to my Spotify library, so maybe I've heard this album already). It was a breath of fresh air to finally get a vocalist whose voice is actually pleasing to listen to. I enjoyed the songs that had strong rhythmic parts in the bass and guitar the most. The album started to lose me just a little bit in the second half with all of the slower tracks, but overall there was a lot of artistry and skill on display.
I started off thinking this would probably be a 4 (outside shot at a 5) but, especially as I listened through it a second time, I had to give it a 3. One way of thinking of it is: would I want to own this? (Or, to put it another way: would I want to come back to this?) If it's a strong yes, then probably it's a 4, if not a 5. But this one (although it had some good tracks, and decent overall quality and concept) just didn't really grab me, so I think I'd have to rate it as a 3. Favorite track "Till the Cops Come Knockin."
this sounds like stereotypical sex music. did this album define that stereotype? I think it achieves what it wanted to. The grooves are groovy To me, music for sexy time has always been and will always be corny
It's good, but I almost can't remember anything of it already.
A very well made, recorded and produced album that sounds really good. That said, I didn't feel anything special while listening to it. Also, too long-winded.
enjoyable
Decent neo soul. Fizzled out a bit
Very sensual, but not my kind of jazz I’d listen to a lot
I have never been a huge Maxwell fan, but I also have not sought out his work or listened to an entire album. I do love neo-soul and so this sound is right down my alley. There are other artists I prefer to Maxwell, as I love the sound of his music but really don't know if the songwriting is on par with the other sounds in my ears. It tended to blend into the background a bit for me overall, though it is not because I didn't enjoy the music, as it just seemed to have a lot of "sameness," especially towards the end. This is a big album for those neo-soul and there is a lot of sexiness here. My favorite songs: The Urban Theme Sumthin' Sumthin' Ascension ...Til the Cops Come Knockin' Reunion
So smooth I don't remember listening to it. Good background music, I guess.
The first jam on this record - FIRE. The rest of it...not really my thing. 3 stars for the funky vibe though.
Tribe is one of the best. RIP Phife Dawg
3/5
Let’s get dowwwwaaaam baaabay 🕺🏻. There’s an element of this that feels almost like a parody of sex music. I did jump into the groove a few times throughout the record. And I respect the playing/production of the record. This gets 3 stars from me, but 10 bow chica bowwowwwwwwnns
I was glad to get the context from the Wikipedia article that this album is an important predecessor to later greats of the Neo-soul movement, otherwise I'm not sure I would've given it much consideration. I can definitely hear the influence in those later records, although I also understand why this album is not as popular as others that came after it. It has some cool parts here and there throughout, but a lot of the vocals are pretty lacklustre, and it doesn't have a lot of the rhythmic interest of later examples of Neo-soul.
holy shit this shit is so fucking smooth i feel like my physics homework would be extra easy if im listening to this while doing my physics homework last semester cayse its so smooth that i think that friction would just go fuck itself 3.5/5
This was pretty decent but didn't feel groundbreaking. I wouldn't consider this an albums that someone has to hear before they die
Nice mellow record. Smooth on all fronts.
12/02/2026 *1. the urban theme - okay.. liking the start.. nice drums. like the scratchingsound and love! the saxaphone... oooo more saxaphone.... really lovely :) 2. welcome - not liking it as much with the vocals, but still reaallllly nice... bass is great. love the sax and the drums.... *3. sumthin sumthin - lovelovelove the drums at the start!!! the bass!! is this album just about sex? slap bass!!!! going on a bit too long towards the end, but really liked this one... lyrics are maybe a bit much for regular listening? *4. ascension (don't ever wonder) - liking the synths in the back. nice drums. bass is fantastic! *5. dancewitme - whispering? that bassss!!!!!!! horns are great!!! 6. ...til the cops come knockin - synth sounds in the back are a little dated and the sound is getting a bit much now... reminds me of a beegees song? how deep is your love?? like the siren sounds. *7. whenever wherever whatever - intro reminds me of the theme from the deer hunter? really sweet lyrics <3 8. lonely's the only company - the saxaphone is back!!! liking it! four mins in, getting a bit long now.... 9. reunion - like the beat drop... sounding a bit samey now... 10. suitelady (the proposal jam) - the lyrics???? waiting for this to end now... still nice but one hour of this is too much. 11. the suite theme - saxophone is nice :) dragging again... cringing a bit at some of the lyrics.... 12. ...til the cops come knockin - instrumental again? liked it :) went into this blind, didn't really know what to think except the cover reminded me of the music video for animal nitrate by suede?? not sure why, but reaaaalllly liked the start of this album, up to about track five.... after six, it started to drag a bit, with allof the songs sounding quite similar. maybe listening to them seperately instead of as an album would change my mind on the later songs? will relisten later!
fav song: sumthin’ sumthin’ smooth, groove, lounge 50/100
Not my thing to listen to music 100% designed to fuck someone. Some songs were genuinely good though.
This has some smooth grooves...but really seems like one big Booty Call.
This would go crazy if I listened to it while having sex in an elevator
This was solid. Just a bit repetitive
Not R&B that excites me. Too slow. It was pretty smooth which I liked
3/5
smooth and cool and super slinky. maybe its overexposure to the genre but didnt stand out to me or g massively
Très bon album pour procréer.
The opening of this album is really quite fantastic, unfortunately the tailend loses a lot of the smoothness and groove, instead going for a slower style I feel is at odds with the first half.
3,5 Highlights: Sumthin', Sumthin'; Till the Cops Come Knocking
bangers 👀
Okay, kind of soothing
Highlights: Sumthin' Sumthin', Dancewitme, The Suite Theme Lowlights: ---------------------- Very smooth. Almost cartoonishly so.
Man...I wanted to like this. It has all the elements that normally really do it for me - smooth sax, funky bass, and lofi background jazz qualities - but I was mostly just underwhelmed. Felt a bit too much like elevator jazz, and the music sounded dated too. 5/10
This album really passed me by quite ineffectually , it’s not awful, it’s not amazing, its solid background music. I’m sitting in a coffee shop reading a book etc etc 3.0/5.0 Best song: about halfway through there was a good one
2/3. Smooth, straightforward. A pleasing listen, pun intended. Having read these reviews, I’m not sure why some people expected literal sex music to somehow be challenging, jazzy, atonal? Would that be for the moments were you slip into the wrong hole?
The whole time I was measuring this against my opinion of D’Angelo and thinking about how it didn’t stack up. Then when D’Angelo came on autoplay afterwards, my opinion was validated. This is solid, but it is no D’Angelo.
This was a funky and fun listen. However all the songs sound just about the same so it tended to drag. 3/5
He has good vocals. Not really my preference and a bit of a long album. Good background music.
It dragged on but was solid musically
started off enjoying the funky vibe & sound, then after a few tracks it just got boring & repetitive. too much of the same sound & falsetto. was bored by end
It's hard to judge this album considering how little I've listened to R&B, but the singer had a great voice and the songs were relaxing, albeit a little repetitive at times. I suspect I'll have a more critical ear as this project advances and I listen to more examples. I did have some sexy dreams so I think that's one thing I took away from it. :)
I'll be honest, you probably won't catch me listening to this album again after this listening exercise, but of the Big 3 Neo Soul artists in the 1990s, I did enjoy this album more than DeAngelo's BROWN SUGAR or Erykah Badu's BADUIZM. The production and engineering URBAN HANG SUITE are top notch. The stories of yearning and romanticism feel personal and yet universal to everyone, and did not stray into the typical socio-political rants of the day, which, in my opinion, makes this album easier to revisit over time. A well designed album cover. It says everything you need to know while remaining classy and avoids the worst cliches of the RnB genre. So, what are the negatives? The album is a bit too long, and quickly the album starts becoming an indistinguishable balladeering blur. A bit more tempo and genre exploration would have been appreciated. Also, I remain unconvinced that any of the Neo Soul albums of the 1990s are essential listening. Favorites: "The Urban Theme" (I'm a sucker for instrumentals) and "Dancewitme".
Really lovely album with some great funky songs. Liked the laid back, smooth vibe of this one