The Singles Jukebox

Sure, you can leave your sweater on the whole time, no worries.

[Video][Website]
[7.00]

Katherine St Asaph: I want to think what prompted Maxwell’s return to music was hearing DUNCE out somewhere and thinking “are you actually shitting me?”
[7]

Josh Love: D’Angelo stole all of Maxwell’s resurrected neo-soul genius shine and now 2009’s BLACKsummers’night has been shunted off to the side for the ignominy of not winning P&J. With a seven-year hiatus following his previous eight-year sabbatical, Mr. Rivera may not ever be as compelling a comeback figure as the Black Messiah, but “Lake by the Ocean” makes another strong case for good things coming to those who wait, particularly in the way Maxwell’s feathery vocals contrast with the sturdy melody. I can think of little higher praise to bestow upon a mere mortal this week than to say that this song would’ve been possibly a solid B in Prince’s catalogue.
[8]

Alfred Soto: As effortless as a slow tongued smooch with a beloved, the piano and drum groove makes a hash out of “comeback” blather. I mean, who cares about “evolution” when Maxwell keeps refining his steez? The title alone is a killer.
[9]

Micha Cavaseno: My old nemesis and his trash falsetto high-notes has returned, and there can be only one… but in the meantime, I’m just reviewing his single. I don’t quite understand the stutters in the drum programming for the chorus; maybe he thinks they’re clever and experimental, a funny little blemish in the blandness of his production here. Didn’t this guy used to have Stuart Matthewman for records? Now he’s got… what exactly is this? The Muzak Militia? This isn’t even babymaker music, its infantile, regressive, and puts you off to bed to never wake up.
[1]

Edward Okulicz: The WAY Maxwell STRESSES certain WORDS in this CHORUS makes him sound more desperate than anything, like someone’s going to choke on something by the end of the story. It shoots for effortless smooth and cool, but that either happens or it doesn’t. Still, there’s enough slick signifiers in here that some sexy time at a LAKE by the OH-cean does sound like a nice prospect. This was a [6] until I dimmed the lights a little and pretended I was taking myself out on a dirty weekend.
[7]

Brad Shoup: My wife just texted me that she was done with work, and I thought I texted back “still blurbing” but I actually texted “still blurring” so she texted “like Robin Thicke” and I think I get Maxwell now.
[7]

Thomas Inskeep: When it comes to smooth R&B, no one a) does it as well, and/or b) makes it look as effortless as Maxwell. The man oozes romance, not just in his lyrics, but in his singing (especially his singing), arrangements, musical accompaniments. Maxwell’s records sound like what most people would likely like to hear from their lovers: the tone and tenor of romance, of devotion, of sweet love. “Lake by the Ocean” is perfect dreamy amor.
[10]