"Make me crazy
Don't speak no sound
I want you to prove it to me in the nude..."

Maxwell sets the tone of his highly anticipated album, BLACKsummers'night, with his perfect falsetto on the opening lines of the first song, Bad Habits. The nine-track album is the first of a trilogy slated for release during the course of the next three years. BLACK follows Maxwell on a journey of lust, love and loss, accompanied by a real band (no over synthesized, studio generated beats here).

The singer has touted the album as one full of "love making music" and Stop the World finds Maxwell telling his lover, "let the world rage outside, 'cause when I'm with you the world stops for me."

But if Maxwell is caught in the throws of a passionate affair in Bad Habits and Stop the World then Cold, with its opening kick drum and horn sequence, explores the complexities of a relationship when the world begins to spin again. "Global warming ain't got nothing on this chick she's not to play with" the singer says of a woman so extraordinary he can't believe she could love him.

The album's first single "Pretty Wings" is one of the most beautiful break-up songs ever written. "Your face will be the reason I smile, but I will not see what I cannot have forever. I'll always love you," he croons. Who knew letting go of love could sound so sweet?

For all his smooth talking Maxwell still can't seem to keep the the girl. In Love You he declares his affection to a Houdini-esque character who "disappears and reappears", only to leave, or tease him, once again in Playing Possum.

Maxwell does not sing a single note on the closing track Phoenix Rise. The song is a jazzy instrumental determined to get you on your feet. It's a lovely song, but after the 8 year hiatus, it would've been nice to hear Maxwell sing a line or two on the last track of the already too short album.

Long time Maxwell fans will no doubt be satisfied with this attempt. If all goes according to plan, the rest of the trilogy, SUMMER and NIGHT, will be released in the next two years.

BLACKsummers'night is in stores today, July 7, 2009.