Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

The Good: We get to hang in a suite! The Bad: It’s not really our side of town… The Ugly: Trying to get an Uber to pick our asses up… I can see how someone who appreciates laid-back R&B, or Neo Soul, or whatever this is called, really likes this album. Production wise, the sounds come through very well on my studio monitors, so good job there mr producer man. But, I have to say this, the damn album just drags on and on and on and on… Back in the ‘80s, oh so many years ago, I listened to Otis, I listened to Aretha, I listened to TTD and Prince, and Jorge MIguel who had Soul and R&B on his album Faith… and what did they all have in common? They mixed things up… One moment you are getting ready to slowly gyrate the hips, next thing you know you are jumpin’ up and down… This album, this album is a non-stop let’s pretend we are cool and slow and sexy and whatever… BORING. So, sorry Mr Maxwell, I am not going to hang at your urban suite no mo’ 2* for production’s sake

It was alright. Not really into R&B but nothing sounded bad. All the songs were kind of the same but was decent background music

Dull with a capital D. Didn’t mind the intro but the next couple of tracks were bland. Didn’t really progress from that. This kind of R&B is too smooth for me. 1.7.

Definately a "Lets Get It On" Problem here, and this isn't even close to being as good as that album. I did like some of Wah Wah Watsons guitar work, but nothing else really.

This is not my jam. I find it too sleazy. The man has feelings, I get that, but the expression is very wet and sleazy. 2 of 5.

GOING IN: No strong feelings LISTENED WHILE: evening walk around town with dog FAMILIARITY: New to me SKIP RATE: Gave up entirely REPLAY VALUE: Once was plenty DISCOVERY CURVE: Slow burner this one ALBUM ARC: Pretty even, consistent VERDICT: Fair enough BODY'S VERDICT: Statue mode FAVOURITE TRACK: My Rating: 2 Some say "smooth", I'm verging on "oily" can't quite wash it off.

Basiquito, no me llena.

Vibes , δε ξερω ακριβως τι ειδος θεωρειται παντως σιγουρα ταιριαζε με το να διαβαζω απο πανω ΒΟΧ

I'm no R&B aficionado - actually, I know fuck shit all about the genre - but I think for the genre, this album might be ok? But I don't think I fuck with this, or to it

Nothing memorable but my niece and I saying that this is like people of colour being sexy.

The Urban Theme - 5/5 Welcome - 3/5 Sumthin' Sumthin' - 3.5/5 Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) - 4/5 Dancewitme - 3/5 ...Til the Cops Come Knockin' - 4/5 Whenever Wherever Whatever - 2.5/5 Lonely's the Only Company (I&II) - 3/5 Reunion - 2.5/5 Suitelady (The Proposal Jam) - 3/5 The Suite Theme - 2/5 ...Til The Cops Come Knockin' - 3.5/5

An album so full of silky sex and I still didn't finish.

Not unlistenable by any means, smooth R&B that did at times feel like my ears and mind were being violated. Unlike R&B of the 60s and 70s, this doesn’t seem super sample-able, and the music just sort of blends together into a big ol pile of meh.

There are definitely things about this album I like. I enjoy Maxwell's voice and there are some great grooves. It did get tedious though. Most of these songs are way too long. Favorite song: Whenever Wherever Whatever

Never been a huge Maxwell fan. Seemed like he was just copying others before him. Don’t get me wrong, it’s good music, just not revolutionary.

★★½

eh

Hold music. Easy to listen too at first but then just got boring

This isn’t the 90’s music I’m looking for. Why is this on the list? Da fuck?!

What is this? The soundtrack to Cinemax after midnight????

I think the author of the 1,001 albums book lost his virginity to this album....that's the only reason it's included.

This was an interesting listen, but I don’t feel like aged super well.

Perfectly mid sexmusic. I'd rather be listening to Thievery Corp, though.

Pretty dull affair with little deviation or conviction. It was smooth and listenable in places but far too long.

Porn music made by narcissists

Yaaaaawn. It's far, far, far too smooth for me. I just don't care about any of it. He can sing nice, and it's not unpleasant to have on I guess, but really, I just think I'm missing something.

I think I got an STD listening to this

This is really smooth nu-soul, very samey throughout, and it's over an hour long. Pretty dull stuff to my ears: bland and strangely unemotional.

Nicht so meins, erinnert an Marvin Gaye.

Kinda...eh. Not really my style, maybe too mellow.

More let's get it on for those who couldn't get enough of let's get it on. Heck the guitar player is called wah wah Watson and he clearly didn't steal his moniker. Time for your dutch lesson everyone: this is a "neukplaat". A record people have sex to.

Overproduced nonsense for cocktail bar background music. Heard before ❌️ Listened this time ✅️ in part, turned it off Revisit ❌️ Why? ★★☆☆☆ (3/10)

This is not for me. Not bad, I just can't care about it.

Sounds like a standard-issue 90's R&B record to me, not sure what makes this list-worthy.

Won't return to this one - not terrible but just not inspired to listen to it again.

Really gorgeous and lush production that is also utterly forgettable. It’s unfortunate but it’s true - there’s just little to no substance here as it feels like a copy of better and greater artists. It’s a blech listen, and while I might be proven wrong sometime I just don’t get any good vibes from this. I’d rather sit with Marvin Gaye, Al Green or Curtis Mayfield.

zzzzz

Boring. It all sounds the same middle of the road barely better than Muzak to me.

Maxwell sexing everywhere and now everything is pregnant. Are you happy now Maxwell? Are you happy now?

"I grew up in a small town. What about me seems ‘urban’ to you?" - Stanley Hudson

Ah yeah, it’s sexy time. Time for Maxwell’s Method of Making Women Moist and it’s… ungodly boring. I don’t mind some mid to late 90’s R&B, but this album is one-note as hell. Honestly, if you’re not at least on second base by Ascension, don’t bother going to the ballgame. It doesn’t really get any better. Well, actually, the album kind of slows down for Whenever Wherever Whatever and Lonely’s the Only Company and it actually felt like it was getting better. Like “there we go, that’s more like it” territory. Then, it got boring again. Honestly, if the songs had just a trifle more variety, I probably would have liked this one. But unfortunately, it’s bloated. And nobody wants to have sex when bloated. Favorite track: Whenever Wherever Whatever Other hits: Lonely’s the Only Company, Sumthin’ Sumthin’, Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder), The Suite Theme

Just not feeling this

This album was so disappointing. These reviews made it sound like it was going to be hyper sexy. Sadly, I was not hard AT ALL while listening. SO SAD also it was boring

Does nothing for me. I have nothing against it, but I switched it off far sooner than albums i disliked more.

Was not my favourite. The instrumentals were nice but it was very intimate which is not a genre that I like too much.

This album is not for me, nor is it for anyone not actively shooting an adult video.

Smooth jazz

Nah.

There's nothing wrong with it. I think the reviews are being dramatic; I did get a laugh from a good few of them though. It's not really my bag, it's too slow, and R&B mostly sounds the same, but it's not terrible. It didn't make much of an impact either way. Bit dull. I suggested I contextualise it by having sex, but my fella needed a poo.

Nothing about this stood out in really any sort of way. Having never heard of him, I was surprised that Maxwell is as well regarded as he is, but I suppose that's more a reflection of the types of music I do (and don't) pay attention too. The sound definitely borrows from early R&B which I respect, but feels a bit like some of the soul is missing. It's very polished but what's left has no edge. I can see that if you were a fan of ultra smooth R&B you would probably like this album, but it's really not my jam.

This is super smooth, funky, sexy R&B. Maybe a bit too smooth and sexy. It feels like the sonic equivalent of soft core porn. It’s honestly a bit too boring for me

Not my thing, if had stuck with the funk I think it would have worked better for me, bit long.

Just all quite one note. Too smooooooth for me I’m afraid. Maybe with more variation. I don’t know 🤷‍♂️

I liked it for a while. Cool smooth soulful jazz sound. But then it just kept going and going and got more boring along the way. On the fence 2/3.

Meh not my cup of tea, it all literally sounded like one song too!

Not for me at all, it's not bad, but not for me.

Not for me. 2/5

Mouais musique d’ambiance 2 étoiles

Maybe this is a good album for it's genre? This isn't my thing. I'm not a fan of smooth, slick, highly produced soul music.

Finally, an entire album of music to sleep with older women to. I guess every good list of all the most important albums ever made needs at least one good Skinemax soundtrack...???

Didn't know "love-makin music" was an actual genre...but it appears we have found it.

It's R&B Muzak.

Started off good but it's just all the same

This is about as good as you can do R&B...and it's still just not for me for casual listening. It's a shame

This app os shiting me now. I entwr notes and then come back or rate and the old notes appear. Anyways. Nwver heard of this guy before. Album started with a jazzy instrumwntal that had mw wondering whethwr it would be an easy listening album, a lofi west coast hip hop album. Second track opened with a singer aounding like Michael Jackson. It aettled into a funky r&b rhythm. Was thinking there are aome great individual parts that i really like, like the bass on sumthin sumthin, some nice lercussion but oftwn suspet its a sample or drum track. Probably not an album id come back to again amd again but might dip into for funk or r&b type ideas if i were a muso, but overall not aomething i would generally go for. Theres some hilarious bits like til the cops come knocking - gonna take you intk the room, lock you up and love for days, we’re gonna be rocking baby, til the cops come knocking…. I think this album was written almost as a romance movie soundtrack, the insteumwntal titlw track, boy meets girl, dance in club, bang, break up, reunite, guy proposes, closing credots outro music. If you could give half stars i might gove this 2.5 for the concept. But this app wont allow so 2.

Boring

Not too bad

I'd rather listen to this than some of the rap and hip hop I've had on this project, despite the creeper lyrics (lock you up and love for days - ewww) but still not something I'd revisit.

I didn't mind the opening instrumental, but the rest of this is a kind of smooth mid-90s R&B I can't stand (probably largely because no girls wanted to dance with me to songs like this).

Started big, i had high hopes! Then i dunno, it just lost me

Good if you want to listen to some horndog do a Michael Jackson impression for an hour.

Not my style, this was incredibly boring and overlong to me. 2/5

This is an album you put on during sex, and for no other reason.

Fades into the background for me, but is smooth enough. It did start to wear on me after a while. Whenever wherever is soooo boring. I think I like it in parts, but some didn't work for me. 2.5/3

Was kinda busy listening to this, forgot it for the most part. Not really my kinda jam anyway Will I listen to again: 0%

At times sounded like Simlish elevator music, and despite some very smooth production, it all felt a bit uncanny valley with what sounded like all those programmed beats. (Perhaps this distracted from Maxwell's voice, which is clearly good)

Yuck Favorite songs: Sumthin' Sumthin', Welcome, The Urban Theme Least favorite songs: Lonely's the Only Company (I & II), ...Til the Cops Come Knockin' 2/5

Thankfully Til the Cops Come Knockin was on this album twice

Elevator porno music 2/5

Dieses Album wurde in den Jahren 1994 und 1995 in mehreren Studios aufgenommen – darunter Electric Lady, RPM, Sorcerer und Chung King in New York sowie CRC Studios in Chicago. Maxwell ist US-amerikanischer Sänger und Songwriter. Das Album bewegt sich im Genre zwischen R&B, Neo-Soul, Soul und Retro-Soul – mit einem warmen, reduzierten Groove. Besonders bekannt und stilprägend sind Stücke wie „Sumthin’ Sumthin’“, „Ascension (Don’t Ever Wonder)“ und „…Til the Cops Come Knockin’“, die alle eine subtile Sinnlichkeit und klare emotionale Atmosphäre vermitteln. Die Musik wirkt durchdacht und aus einem Guss, vermischt zeitlose Soul-Elemente mit Jazz-Funk-Anleihen und legt dabei Wert auf musikalische Tiefe statt auf Effekthascherei. Persönlich empfinde ich die Tonalität als angenehm unaufgeregt – die Stimme von Maxwell entfaltet eine behutsame Verführungskraft, die emotional nahekommt, ohne laut zu werden. Die Atmosphäre des Albums ist getragen von Romantik und musikalischer Ruhe, die sich wie ein roter Faden durch die Songs zieht. Die Produktion wirkt sorgfältig arrangiert mit einem klaren, zurückhaltenden Klangbild. Ein knappes abschließendes Urteil: Das Album überzeugt durch ruhige Eleganz und hält seine Richtung konsequent – eine feingezeichnete, stimmige Einführung in Maxwells musikalische Welt.

- It's alright but definitely not my kind of music - Better than some of the other albums I've had so far but definitely not the best I kind of enjoyed this album but it was definitely not my favourite. I would probably never listen it it again but it was alright.

this starts off pretty strong; the instrumentals and production are fantastic. that said, theres a time and place for this type of album and my desk at work aint it. additionally the songs feel very repetitive the more you listen. its great for what it is, but outside of that context i dont think id ever listen to this album from wish.com prince again.

Os caras estudam. pesquisam e desenvolvem tecnologia de áudio, pra daí depois vir um sujeito e gravar uma faixa inteira com chiado para soar vintage. Deu até um ruim! Sobre o álbum, como um todo: um representante do movimento neo-soul dos anos 1990, que pode ser resumido a "mais um disco de gemidos". Entediante e sem graça. Fraco!

A posthumous release apparently, given that he died in 1991 after falling overboard from his yacht. I wonder what his children are doing now?

Normalizó, guay para una terraza chill out

Bang bang Maxwell’s urban hang suite came down.

I kind of remember Maxwell with his fabulous hair and jawline. Apparently those are the most interesting things about him. There is nothing memorable here. It is boring though I will concede the musicianship is competent. It’s not sexy either. Mission failed. 2.5

Ku godt have skåret 20 minutter! Nogen virkelig gode funk-numre, men de helt stille numre bliver for kedelige, sys jeg

Started ok, but I just grew bored, or even irritated by it very quickly.

My two takeaways from this album: 1) Maxwell has sex 2) Maxwell wants me to have sex 2/5

It's ok, but I don't understand funky music with a potential groove that makes the mistake of using a drum machine. It sucks the soul right out of it. -1 star for all the drum machine usage.

This was really just -ugh-

relaxing. I could listen to this as background music.

I did not use a private spotify session for this one and I had no idea what I was getting into. I loved that first track, groovy and jazzy, wah wah on the rhythm guitar, but then it got very r and b and I started losing interest.

Too damn sexy.

somehow I missed this guy. I'm cool with that.

It's like elevator music if someone was shooting a porno in there. I enjoyed some of this but mostly it made me feel seedy.

Not really interesting.

Not bad, just not for me.

Pretty boring album. Some nice listening here for sure but nothing that will keep me coming back 5/10 Favourite: Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) Least Favourite: Lonely's the Only Company (I & II)

soul mit viel schmalz - fast schon triefend.

R&B, nicht der übelste, aber nicht meines

That’s a modern Barry White schmoozin it in the bedroom for an hour with some smooth soul. Songs were very similar, standout is Til the Cops Come Knockin’. Liked the Suite(s) finish. (2.3*s)

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite is a mixed bag of a review. On the one hand Maxwell absolutely nailed the execution on assembling a 90's R&B album. It sounds like a prototype for everything in this genre that came out during this period, some of which got airplay on MTV. It's got all of the expected smooth R&B tropes in soft electronic beats, sensual groovy bass, silky vocals laden with romantic themes, etc. On the other hand it's a genre that just isn't that interesting or engaging beyond a single song. Even if these are all effective R&B songs I just don't care to listen to an album of them. This album may have worked if it was slashed in half in terms of playtime, but by the end it had become a redundant mess of sappy songs. All in all its not a bad product, it may even be a fantastic product for somebody, it's just not one that I personally need/want. 1.83 stars stars

Genre: Shopping at TJ Max, sexually oooo Artist: At TJ Max, sexually yeaaaaa Rating: TJ MaXXX mmmmmm

Definitely not for me. Couldn't make it past 4-5 songs.

Unimpressive.

Not a phunking phan of this stuff. Not offensive for the most part, but boring and unoriginal. I found nothing special about this. 2/5

This album was like the music you hear while waiting when calling your insurance or standing in an elevator. Very slick but why is it on this list? 2-3 stars, rounded to 2

Theoretically I'd bang my wife to this music but in reality that's unlikely to ever happen. Having it on though at least wouldn't decrease the chances of getting some that something like death metal would. So there's that and your mileage may vary as they say. The guy can sing and there's some grooves here but its just not my jam

Till the cops come knockin Album pesado con canciones muy largas

Muy aburrido

This was not good.

The mixes are really good and clear. The vocals are great. There's one problem, and that is that the album is largely forgettable and kinda just blends together with itself. Sometimes that's not a bad thing. A great album usually has some sort of cohesiveness between each different song that pulls it all together. This album doesn't have that, it just kinda all mushes together without distinction.

If I came over for a hang and this was playing, I'd leave immediately. And then spend my evening researching what sex offender list they were on.

2.5

Okay…I listened and I don’t have to listen again.

Brings back memories of that time in the mid to late '90's when the '70's R&B groove and disco permeated everything for a couple summers. I hear a lot of this influencing artists like Justin Timberlake and backing tracks and bass lines that were super heavy in Dr. Dre 2001. The songs tend to run together after a bit. I'm not sure that's a bad thing in this case though. Otherwise there isn't much to recommend here.

Sounds like the music you think you put on for sex in the 90s. I don't like it

So smooth it slipped right out of my brain without leaving a mark

The instrumental tracks were ok as background music, but the vocals ruined the other tracks

Not my thing though not as terrible as I had expected I suppose. Far too smooth and generic sounding, all sort of blended into an indistinguishable sickly mush.

Too much cheese.

Smooooooooooooooooooth! It was fine as background music, but largely forgettable.

liked it, not too memorable though

It's definitely chill beats to urban hang to i fell well asleep. The first few songs were promising and then it kind of became take that album tracks idk. I guess its maybe a very good version of what it is and the bass is standout but idk I'm not bringing a girl back to my student flat in the 90s so this was mostly lost on me sorry. I can't stress how asleep I fell.

Meh, not my cup of tea.

The first track is what you get if you combine all the r&b loops in garage band

This album was pure 90s slow jam. Don’t really know what to say as it’s not my type of music. It was okay but not overly exciting.

This album is described as a concept album about adult romance, from Maxwell's personal experiences ... Oh boy! This album was not really my cup of tea overall. The album was going okay from the beginning as I was just trying to groove with it ... until the Cops came knockin'. After that, the album became a bit sappy like an old tree in early summer, and I just started to tune out. The first three tracks were probably the best, but I don't see myself listening to this again.

Kanske inte svindåligt men det är ett riktigt sömnpiller.

Low-key R&B

I can appreciate the style of music but a full hour of soft bedroom genre while I'm working just didn't hit for me.

Liked it as background music but would find it a bit samey to listen to on its own

Big disappointment. First few tracks had me really excited for the rest of the album. But then it just kinda slowly, and I'll admit, sensually, decayed into relatively generic baby-making music. 2/5 because I really liked the first two tracks. Only reason it's not a one.

Not as sweaty or as horny as D’Angelo, not as articulate or manly as Babyface. At least he didn’t commit crimes like R. Kelly, or Michael Jackson for that matter. Nice guy finishes third.

This was smooth but very same-y. An entire album meant to have sex to.

Meh. I didn't mind it at first, but 3 tracks in and I'm over it. This definitely has a place and time, but here and now is not it.

Fine as background sex music, but really nothing of value beyond that

I enjoyed this more than I was expecting. There's a lovely groove going off throughout. He came close to giving me the horn. It sounds like Backstabbers being played at the wrong speed for most of the album.

some interesting beats that can't keep my attention for an hour

After the first track, I thought this was going to be a modern jazzy instrumental type album that you’d hear in an upscale restaurant and I think I would’ve liked it better that way. The lyrics are pretty generic 90s R&B, I only made it about halfway through, got bored and turned it off.

1.6 Too smooth for my tastes

smoother than a rock that's been sitting at the bottom of a river while much better music flows all around it. nothing here of note. favorites: the urban theme

Not terrible but not my thing. Was going to give it 3 stars, but the songs are too long.

Not bad, but very oldhead R&B

Starts pretty good but damn it drops off HARD

A lovely, soulful, smooth voice. However, poured over the same beat for an hour is borderline soporific. I honestly didn't mind it as background music at the gym, found myself caressing the dumbbells. I might even listen again, if I was feeling particularly pimpy. But I would never admit to it.

Never heard of this guy, but his hang suite sure is smooth! Not really for me though although I didn't mind it in the background.... Not a soul fan particularly I did notice a song that seemed to be about locking someone up and not letting them out until the cops come knocking though? Is that meant to be sexy? I'm not down with that Maxwell 2

It’s just a retro pastiche of soul, funk, and (apparently) porn music. I’m not sure why this should be on the list when you could just include more the superior source material.

idk if it's been my MOOD but just none of the albums are hitting right now...

Sexy as hell but music to put on when there are more important things to be getting on with ;)

This was very well produced. But it sounded like a pastiche of better music from the ‘70s, and the lyrics were comically cliché.

I mean, it sure was smooth. Definitely, definitely smooth. And 100% 90's. I didn't hate it, I can at least put my hands on the table and say that. I enjoyed Maxwell's vocals, it's obviously a very sensual album created for one thing and one thing only and the smooth, funk beats are fun... for a while. And then you realise, for most of the album, it's the same. Over and over again. One song blends into another and I kept losing track of when one song ended and another began. This album could have done with shaving off about 15-20 minutes of run time and maybe I'd have forgiven it for that but it's an hour of the SAME SOUND. Listen, I get it. When you're getting down and dirty, you're hardly paying attention to the music you're playing and if there is one thing this album does it create a vibe. It transports you to some dimly lit lounge, half empty on a Tuesday evening. The imagery it creates is pretty powerful. But when you are listening to it at 9am on a Monday in your office job, it doesn't quite have the same effect. In fact, I started writing this review before it ended, thinking it would at least be over by time I type all of this but I'm still only half way through the second last song. The sax was fun, though.

So smooth, it might put you in a trance... or just straight to sleep.

Sex: The Album. If 'Dick in a Box' were a real song it would be on here. It's a little smoother than I like, but the funky notes are pretty good

Echt echt echt nicht meins ich fand das bisserl langweilig

I'm thinking this is a case of an album aging particularly poorly, but this album just sounds dated and cheesy as hell, which is what I imagine happens to most sensual "bedroom" R&B music (Marvin Gaye excluded). The funky record scratch type guitar sound (someone help me here. I dont think its a flanger, whats the pedal used for the guitar sound that comes out right away in the first song, assuming it is an effects pedal?) just dates this album so hard. Also comes off as a bit elevator-music or dentist music-y at times. But even still, I've listened to much better neo soul before (D'Angelo's Black Messiah is fantastic, and D'Angelo is a much better singer), so even for the genre, disregarding how poorly it's aged, it's still not good IMO.

Hypothesis: whatever genre you happen to dislike, you will think there's way too much of it as you work your way through the 1001+ albums in this project. I've seen people complain that there's too much electronica. Too much post-punk. Too much Bowie. It's not Maxwell's fault that he helped me form this hypothesis, as I reacted to his music with "WTF, more R&B?!" but I did not enjoy the listening experience. For me, the project has too much R&B. Sorry, Maxwell; it's not you, it's me.

I get it, I get it, you have sex. Thanks for sharing that information over and over again via songs that mostly sound the same and are all about a minute too long (unless you're having sex to them, in which case they're about 3 minutes too long). I don't normally have a problem finishing, but I just couldn't make it all the way through this album.

Smooth but boring after awhile.

I made love to this album. To clarify, I didn’t make love listening to this album but to an actual physical copy. I didn’t have a choice.

Aggressively dull.

This was a good listen, but gave me too much bedroom vibes. Not really my cup of tea. Also there's a few songs on here my mom always used to listen to, so I'll take that how I see fit.

# Album Name: Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite # Artist: Maxwell # Rating:2/5 # Comments: Have you ever seen that movie from 2010 called devil? Where they are stuck in a elevator before being brutally killed. Well imagine that with this album on the speaker before going to hell. Sadly, thats as good as it gets. The tracks are pretty boring. Very samey. Disappointing considering the quality of the musicians. Lots of funk on this album. Its like melted butter. Super smooth. I felt it could have been better. I definitely did not need to listen to this for 60 minutes. # Top Tunes: None # Would I listen to it again? No

This is probably what someone listened to if they had sex in an elevator in the 90s

I like funky smooth music, but I felt like Maxwell was into sexy times far more than I felt comfortable with on this first date.

Not really a fan of R&B

It was kinda boring.

Yeah just way too cheesy 90s vibe

I was a teenager in the 90's and I've never heard of this. I'm not even sure what type of people were listening to this. The first track was interesting, the second lost a little with the introduction of the vocals. By the end everything had blurred together into a forgettable mess. This is decent if you're hearing one song, but a whole album is too much.

Nothing special

1. "The Urban Theme" 3,5 2. "Welcome" 2,7 3. "Sumthin' Sumthin'" 1,9 4. "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)" 2,5 5. "Dancewitme" 2,3 6. "...Til the Cops Come Knockin'" 2,1 7. "Whenever Wherever Whatever" 1,4 8. "Lonely's the Only Company (I & II)" 1 9. "Reunion" 1,1 10. "Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)" 1,4 11. "The Suite Theme" (ends at 6:00; hidden track at 12:06) 1,3 Average 1,93

Pleasant and inoffensive enough, but I didn't need an hour of it. It certainly isn't an album you need to hear before you die, though it is representative of a lot of shit that fills up airtime on smooth radio stations and pumps noise into shops, cafés and bars. Whatever. It was clearly meticulously and skilfully recorded and produced, so I won't give it 1 star. I'm going to listen to Einstürzende Neubauten to counteract all this bouba with some kiki. The review "Bang bang Maxwell's Urban Hangsuite" from 6 Nov 2024 made me laugh.

It’s like background music. Like, no opinion either way. Forgettable.

Didn't like it, didn't dislike it, not sure what makes it top 1000

I appreciate it, but it didn't resonate with me. It was soothing and blended into the background.

90’s R&B is not my favorite…

not bad but very same-y after a certain point.

Funky, jazzy soul. Had some rather enjoyable moments.

Like being bathed in warm treacle.

Middling background music. 2.5 stars

Every song on the album starts the same. Track one is promising but by song two it’s clear that Maxwell is going nowhere fast with this one.

Music to fall asleep to. Also perfect for elevators.

Unfortunately not my kind of music.

Liked it to start with but got old quickly.

I came into listening to this one not knowing what I would expect. the first half, it wasn't really my thing but it was listenable enough and didn't mind it. the second half was slower and was even less my thing. if you like sensual r&b, you'll probably love this. for me, it felt more like I was a background character in a porno.

I was into the first couple of songs and the cops song, but then the rest is just the same so it gets a bit boring. Smooth is fine, but all the time?! I looked at the lyrics and they're like basic level smooth talk BS--where's Marvin Gaye when you need him?

Til the cops come knocking eh? Dodgy. Slickly produced and all but this vibe is not for me.

Artiste inconnu. Quelques lignes de basse intéressantes, mais l'album sera vite oublié. C'est une musique d'ambiance, pas désagréable, mais sans rien de remarquable. Les morceaux sont un peu trop long, et assez répétitifs. Aucune envie de l'écouter de nouveau. =>2/5

RnB is not my thing and this was no exception. "Till the cops come knocking" felt like a scit with its bordering to awful lyrics. Other than that it just passed me by.

funky smooth jazz. 4? unless it really impresses me. I should enjoy this more, 2 or 3 I think if it stays this elevator.

Rollo.

Not my type of music

Too smooth. Nothing to hold on to.

This album must be a great soundtrack to amazing sex I, however, am a bald, overweight man in his 40’s and therefore have limited use for it

I like this more than the hip hop oriented R&B. But it’s still miles away from Prince and Marvin Gaye.

Good bit of R&B.

The music isn’t bad, but also nothing at all stuck out to me positively. “Till the cops come knocking” made me think about p Diddy. So….

I thought I was going to love this album after the opening song "The Urban Theme", but fell off pretty quickly once the singing started. I thought we were about to experience an awesome funky acoustic track that I could put on in the background while cleaning the house. The vocals lost me though. They sound like a Michael Jackson knockoff singing slow love songs. I wish I could get the tracks without the vocals.

Boring R&B. 2 stars

Few songs in and already getting that same vibe as hanging at a department store with my Mom growing up. It's not offensive but I also hate it. Actually liking Dancewitme. The rest is kinda all blending together but like the sax occasionally too. I think I mostly just don't really like this type of R&B.

This album got me pregnant and I don’t even have a uterus. 1.64

So smooth. Would only be smoother if it had some saxophone.

1.7 1x catchup on 9/27 -- decent enough R&C just not my thing

This is baby making music.

Not bad. Soulful, sultry, smooth. And a little bit underwhelming. Added 4 funky tracks to the 1001 Experience Playlist

George Michael or what? Just solid background music for me🤷 2,5

I didn‘t get it.

Too fucking smooth for me baby.

Absolute balls

Not my vibe, though if it is, it's probably pretty good.

Not doing anything for me. Sounds like Sephora music.

Limited enjoyment.

Please stop trying to rizz me up!

It’s not awful, but it’s just not my kind of music. Too “crying” singing for my taste.

Let's make some boring elevator music, but make it more sexual. 2 stars

Loungy.

Not for me thanks

way too sexy and way too long!!!

Got to song 7, got bored. I'll try to finish this, but, I'm just not feeling this one.

Chill jazz, not my thing.

Sounds like every other smooth jazz venture.

Not a fan.

Too smooth for me. I like it a little bit rough.

Such an incredibly boring album

Great sound questionable lyrics

Pas por moi

Don't know why I have to listen to this before I die. It's not unique, it's not even remotely interesting. The only thing going for it how well produced and engineered it is, so only Music Production students will get anything out of this. It's not bad music, just incredibly bland and forgettable.

Music to makes babies to Det er flødekaramel, smurt ind i créme brûlée og overhældt med heavy cream. Lækkert for ørene men også pisse kedeligt.

This guys got a great voice and some great production but the album just drags

Ugh more smooth jazz. Not my thing. 2

Gear: DCA ÆON 2 Noire Artwork: merkwürdiger Winkel zur passend wenig subtiler Suggestion Mix: gleitet smoooth von einem Ohr zum anderen Musik: 👉👌 Wertung: 🍆🍆/5

I mean, I think it's pretty solid for what it is, but what it is is an unabashed sex album, every single song was a 5 minute sex jam, and for listening outside of that context it really got repetitive and a little uncomfortable quick. 2/5

Rollo.

A mood, just not mine.

Another album which I never knew existed. When I saw the title displayed my mind went straight to The Beatles Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Which is odd because whilst The Beatles is about violence and murder this could not be further removed. Any potential exterminator would certainly nod off to sleep listening to this. In the past I would have instantly dismissed this type of music but my recent new found love of slow piano led female voice jazz R&B did mean I gave this a lot more attention. There were bits of laid back jazz in and amongst which I found acceptable but overall there was nothing to rival Sade or Patricia Barber, to name but two favourites of mine. Perhaps an unfair comparison but for me this album did not measure up to the type of R&B which I have recently got into. Not saying a bad album but not for me. 2/5 25/4/24

Yawn. Wake me up if my head drops into my soup.

Rollo.

Not for me

Seemed fun for a couple of tracks. Gets boring fast. Too samey and makes me feel slimy when I listen to it. 2.3

It's ok, inoffensive and smooth. Reminds me of so many other bands across the years just like this. Why aren't they on the list?

meh, not really my thing

It was alright. R&B isn't a genre that really speaks to me, so this album faced an uphill battle.

If I were single and I had managed to bring someone home with me after a night on the town, and it was 1996, and I happened to have this LP I would totally put it on, or if I was the dj at a trendy upscale cocktail lounge in a major metro city I would pepper my IHEART90s Playlist with some of these mid tempo easy listening r&b tunes. Otherwise, meh.

too smooth

Predictable R & B. Nice and smooth for a sultry evening. Not for me.

R&B. Not my cup of tea.

The Urban Theme 3 Welcome 3 Sumthin' Sumthin' 2.8 Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder) 2.8 Dancewitme 2 …Til the Cops Come Knockin' 2.5 Whenever Wherever Whatever 2.4 Lonely's the Only Company (I & II) 1.7 Reunion 1.9 Suitelady (The Propasal Jam) 1.7 The Suit Theme 1.4 Score: 2.29

This is a really REALLY smooth album. It's easy enough to listen to. It didn't really leave any kind of impression, though; it just faded into background music for me.

I feel like I need to take a shower and clear my browser history.

I guess I don't like R&B.

Tasteful soundtrack for some full bush soft core

This is not my jam but for this type of album it's good.

I wanted to like it more than I did.

I don't think you can accuse this album of having any rough edges. It's a soulful jazzfest throughout. To the point that it might be a parody album, I can't really tell.

The first half I was on board with. Then the second half just felt like a repeat and I became bored. 2.5/5

Nettes Kaffeehaus-Lala nach Moho-Style

This album is another case of something just not designed for me. I'm sure in the right setting this would probably be a bit better, but for me I just can't get invested. Is it smooth? Yes. Great production? No doubt. But is there anything making me come back? No, I don't think so. Not to mention I'm not into exaggerated love songs so yeah this ain't it for me.

If you like this seek out Ellis beggs and Howard, homeland. Quite liked this but there's better.

Another album in this list that I can understand why it’s on here, but just doesn’t speak to me. Some good instrumental pieces and good soul beat. But it didn’t connect.

Dance slow choo-choo train back and forth Frictionless, depthless and lubricative Cut to soft-focus pecs and boobs Makes me want to slumber

I liked the beginning but it drifted off and got a bit too ‘boy band’ towards the end

I thought it was a bit bargain bin Prince, and if I want that I'll just listen to later era Prince. Also felt a bit voyeuristic listening to it knowing that it was probably millions of couples' sex album

Sex jazz. 2/5

Its sounds alright but all the songs blended together for me. its also really long. Not really my genre but I don't knock those who enjoy it.

Chanteur américain de R & B. A pavé le chemin pour le neo soul. C'est très lover comme album. Respect pour le style, mais c'est pas trop pour moi.

Didn’t stand out to me, especially considering D’Angelo was making music around the same time

I remember this cover from my days working in the record store. What a simple, classy cover. If the album underneath it sounds anything like this, I'll love it. I mean... eh? I dig the concept of it but, man - this just never got its hooks into me. Smooth jazz. Too smooth maybe.

Unsure what to make of this. Although the production is pure 1990s, the music itself hearkens back to artists like Marvin Gaye, early Michael Jackson and Bobby Womack (though I thought one of the songs was going to evolve into 'More Than Words'). No individual tracks landed for me, so I guess this is one of those albums that relies on creating an overarching atmosphere or impression. Sexy, smooth, late night, perhaps even a touch of quiet storm; it does this admirably, but play me one of these songs five days from now and I'll swear up and down that I've never heard it before.

Hotel lobby music!!

Good old fashioned 90’s Fuckin music, pretty boring tho

This is an entirely forgettable album for me; it’s not really that good, but it’s not so egregiously bad that it sticks in the brain on account of that. Sure, the soundscape is great, and Maxwell’s vocals are really smooth, but I can’t really tell you the difference between Track 1, Track 3, Track 8, or Track 11 off the top of my head, and that’s just not a good album experience for me. To me, it suffers from the same problems I had with Apocalypse Dudes & Trans-Europe Express: each track is either too similar or too long. They all sound nice, and I’m willing to give Maxwell credit if this album did indeed innovate and refine a genre like Wikipedia is claiming it did. But by the standards of 2024, I just don’t think it works for me. It’s still better than Apocalypse Dudes, but I actually don’t think I enjoyed it as much as Trans-Europe Express. I’m gonna stay consistent with my rankings of those and give this a 2.

Ahh… The soundtrack to the Nordstrom’s men’s department. I’m so glad I listened to this.

Greatly preferred the funky tracks to the sultry, soulful tracks.

Fine, I guess.

not in 1001

While fairly pleasant to listen to it felt like little more than elevator or hold music. While I don’t know enough about the genre to say it’s objectively bad I found very little to cling on to with this.

R&B and sensual music isn’t really my thing but I gave it a go. Some songs were ok but nothing I loved. Listen again: no Purchase for my collection: no Favourite Song: none

Little bit too much. After half of the album I got this creepy vibe that someone is hitting on me so I had to stop.

This was just kinda background music not much to call out. Was relaxing and could put you to sleep if you are not driving

Smooth r&b, but kinda boring to me. Not terrible overall. 2/5

I just found it boring. Probably the wrong genre for me.

Not for me. It's boring. I guess if I had the desire to have sex with the lead singer, it might've been different. But I don't, so I was just bored.

This didn't really do too much for me. Sometimes there were some moments that piqued my interest, but for the most part I found this too slow and repetitive.

Porn groove. Had one good song though

Meh. Next time I need to seduce someone in an elevator

Probably would've maybe been passable 20 years before. Wouldn't even make the top 1001 soul albums. Only in this list because some virgins think this is sex music. Shite.

p785. 1996. 2 stars Bland background music for hipster bars with no standout tunes. I hate this sanitised, washed out "R&B" with a loathing that goes beyond all understanding. Bonus point for classy production.

The actual music is fine. Don't get me started on Maxwell's lyrics...

Not a huge fan - though the singer has a good voice - just not my cup of tea

Such a bore to get through. The most bland R and B shit you’ll ever hear. I dislike it so much I think I hate R and B now. I guess this album is here because it represents the larger late 90s movement? Either way this album blows Rating: 2.0

This flavor of R&B often leaves a bit to be desired in my opinion. The drums are somehow robotic and dynamic-less, like they are a sample that is looped ad nauseam and have no live connection to the rest of the band. They are so strictly attached to a metronome that any signs of rubato are quickly and unconsciously shot down by all participating members. The often-too-loud bass guitar is a specifically designed point of interest but it's usually an unremarkable riff on loop that doesn't end up offering much besides being a focal point splash of paint on the canvas for a viewer/listener to say "What do I like about it? Uhh I like that one splash of paint" when they don't have anything else to comment on. The vocals are smooth and buttery but also passive, forgetful, and bland. It's meant to be in the background. It's meant to be on while you are cooking. It's meant to be on while you are having sex. That's cool, I get it. But I also like climaxing, and these tracks are too often devoid of climax. They linger, hang, and while their invitation seemed like a good idea, I'm left wondering when they are going to leave the party. They just keep taking microscopic sips of house wine, and short pulls from a borrowed clove cigarette. They just keep talking without actually saying anything. I'm trying to not hate on it so much but the heart knows what it wants. It's a low 2/5.

Porn music

Not unpleasant but worthy of a place on this list? Is it even notable among R&B?

It's too smooth for me. I just can't.

20th September 2023 Same as before catching up late on the drive home. Started promisingly with vibey soul but didn’t deliver overall. 2.5 if I could.

Brown-chicken, brown-cow for old people, and/or for comedic effect. As a matter of fact, this album plays in Young Sheldon. The scene when Sheldon figures out his dad's a 'breast man' after discovering his collection of JUGGS magazine.

How can something so smooth be so... boring? This is the album that launched and shaped the neo-soul renaissance of the late 90s?

Veers too much into smooth jazz territory for my liking.