Re: Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite

William Michael Dwyer (bdwyer@grove.ufl.EDU)
Mon, 16 Sep 1996 11:43:15 -0400 (EDT)


On Mon, 16 Sep 1996, Paul LaVigne wrote:

> I finally got my hands on "Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite." i love it....
> I'm surprised no one's here has brought it up yet.

It has been mentioned on the list a few times, going back to when it was
realeased because I had it on my "wish list" for quite a while and then
bought it several months ago.

> I wish I could review the rest, but they're all more of a "slow jam" R&B
> feel, and basically
> I'm sick of slow jams. They're good songs, all very well put together, but
> the lyrics border
> on stock-slow jam catch phrases here and there. Luckily he doesn't sink into
> the pit we're
> stuck with these days.

This production is the first since Barry White's stuff in the 70s to
produce a "sexy, romantic" feeling that seems to penetrate to the
core--and it does this with those slow jams and rumbling base line.
Barry's low-rumbling "narration" at the beginnings of songs did it in
those days. The only problem I have with this album is the track with the
lyrics "until the cops come knockin'," which sounds a bit lame.

bil
bdwyer@grove.ufl.edu