| | Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite CD Maxwell Discography of CDs
 (7 Customer Reviews)
MAXWELL'S URBAN HANG SUITE was nominated for a 1997 Grammy Award for Best R&B Album.
Welcome to Maxwell's, where the groove always flows and love fuels all. Eschewing the slicker tendencies of contemporary R&B, Maxwell joins young turks D'Angelo and Tony Rich in looking back to the aesthetics of '70s soul for inspiration. Opening and closing with instrumentals ("The Urban Theme" and "The Suite Theme"), URBAN HANG SUITE is knee-deep in wah-wah guitar, funky Rhodes piano and lush, atmospheric sounds that evoke silk sheets and champagne.
Although Al Green and Marvin Gaye are obvious touchstones, Maxwell avoids vocal theft, instead appropriating the way those singers inextricably meld their music and their sensuality. The breathy quiet-storm sax that closes out "Welcome" is as much a part of the sexual vibe as the sinewy funk and propulsive rhythm of "Ascension (Don't Ever Wonder)." Oozing with sensuality, URBAN SUITE is a soundtrack for an evening of romance.
Recorded at Electric Lady, RPM, Sorcerer and Chung King, New York, New York; CRC, Chicago, Illinois.
Personnel: Maxwell (vocals); Stuart Matthewman (guitar, saxophone, bass); MUSZE (guitar, keyboards, drums, programming); Wah Wah Watson, H (guitar); Eric Friedlander, Rufus Cappadocia (cello); Kevin Batchelor (trumpet); Vincent Chauncey (French horn); Clark Gayton (trombone); David Gamson (keyboards, programming); Amp Fidler, Federico Pena, Itaal (keyboards); Mike Neal, Gary Foote, Jonathan Maron (bass); Gene Lake, P.M. (drums, programming); Bashiri Johnson, Karl Vanden Bosshe, Gregory Marsh (percussion).
Producers: MUSZE, Stuart Matthewman, P.M.
Award Winner
Rolling Stone (12/26/96, p.186) - "...evokes the prodigious bedroom electricity of FOR YOU-era Prince. You can also hear plenty of MFSB, Barry White and Marvin Gaye on the record....Maxwell massages his influences deep into the pink-satin folds of URBAN HANG SUITE'S cozy grooves..."
Entertainment Weekly (4/5/96, p.80) - "...While he can't yet claim the throne occupied by Marvin Gaye, he smooths hip-hop's and soul's edges, proving that black dance music doesn't automatically mean ghetto culture." - Rating: B+
Q (6/02, p.134) - 3 stars out of 5 - "...One of the very best R&B records of the '90s..."
Vibe (3/96, p.132) - "...[Maxwell's] style calmly fluctuates between cool jazz and ballad-heavy R&B....MAXWELL'S URBAN HANGOUT SUITE is a refreshing detour from hump-bouncin' '90s R&B."
Village Voice (2/25/97) - Ranked #20 in the Village Voice's 1996 Pazz & Jop Critics' Poll. Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite Music | List Price | $8.99 (You save $0.14) | | Category | Rock/Pop Albums, R&B CDs, Pop, Rap, Urban Soundtrack, Soul/R&B, Contemporary R&B | | Label | Columbia | | Orig Year | 1996 | | All Time Sales Rank |  1956  | | CD Universe Part number | 1089308 | | Catalog number | 66434 | | Discs | 1 | | Release Date | Apr 02, 1996 | | Studio/Live | Studio | | Mono/Stereo | Stereo | | Engineer | Mike Pela; PM; Ed Tuton | | Personnel | Bashiri Johnson
Wah Wah Watson
Maxwell - vocals
Federico Pena
Hod David - guitar
MUSZE - guitar, keyboards, drums, programming
Stuart Matthewman - guitar, saxophone, bass
Clark Gayton - trombone
Matthew Raimondi - guitar
Darrell Smith - guitar
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Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite Songs Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite Music Review Average Rating: (4.7 out of 5 stars)   List All Reviews Wonderful!!
The CD is great and so is he!
Submitted by Michelle (New Orleans, LA, USA)
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 The man is smooth!
Maxwell's album provides the background music to a relaxing night in alone or chilling with your partner.
A mixture of urban soul and laidback funk. A little something for everyone.
Maxwell is an underrated artist who deserves a some recognition for his approaches to new innovative music.
Enjoy!
Submitted by a reviewer (London, England) 
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Unique!
It is just me or is he like a modern Marvin Gaye? I've seem him on TV a few times, outside of his videos and he really reminds me of Marvin Gaye. They way he dances and works the crowd (especially the women) into a frenzy, yet he does it in a way different from the usuals like R.Kelly etc. In addition to that he also has true vocal talent. His sound/style is unique and yet he is quite versatile. For example listen to any of the first 8 songs and then listen to "Reunion" or "Suitelady (The Proposal Jam)" and there is a profound difference, and amazingly he pulls it off with great brilliance. Such a smooth mix of "R&B/Soul" as this will be appreciated by any true "music" lover!
Submitted by Marcusj_j (Aurora IL)
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This is a great album, not Maxwell's finest, but it is definitely up there. He is very good lyrically here, and doesn't just spit out the same sounds that are so much a part of mass produced R&B music today. Very individualistic and bold for a debut album.
Submitted by Justin (Idaho)
Was This Review Helpful? Yes No Best R&B album of 1996. Collector's Item!
What impresses me most about Maxwell is his band! I listen to mostly contemporary jazz and I think he has one of the best bands in the entire music industry period! The last track is an unbelievable ballad(instrumental) that will blow you away.
Submitted by percyjohnson28269 (Charlotte NC, USA)
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