Maxwell returns with "BLACKsummers'night"

There are times when I need to listen to something a little more soulful. Most of the songs I listen to amp me up or just have a good upbeat sound. But what about the more mellow times? Something to listen to as you unwind for the day or just to relax in general. Maxwell is one of those artists that come to mind. and now he has a new album coming out.

Maxwell's first album in nearly eight years, "BLACKsummers'night," is headed for a big debut next week on the Billboard 200 chart. Industry prognosticators suggest the Columbia set could move anywhere from 275,000 to 325,000 in its first week. The R&B singer's last offering, 2001's "Now," opened at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 with a career-high 296,000 copies sold according to Nielsen SoundScan.

-Keith Caulfield

One of my major influence, as far as music taste, jumped on it as soon as she heard. She was actually a little disappointed. We both listened to soundbites from the album and she noticed some of the track had a more jazzy feel than previous songs. I actually like some of them, but I agree, I kind of sway to the older sound, the more mellow r&b soul. Nevertheless, the decision is always left to the listener.

Here are two songs from Maxwell, the first is the first single from "BLACKsummers'night", and the second is my personal favorite - oddly enough it is a Kate Bush cover.