Every Maxwell studio album, and there have only been five in 20 years, is treated like an event of great musically historical significance. The neo-soul forefather's latest, blackSUMMERS'night (Columbia), is no exception. Arriving seven years after its predecessor BLACKsummers'night, the 12-track disc doesn't vary much from the formula that's so appealing and enduring, including drawing on the influence of the late Prince. Maxwell looks towards club play with the soulfully sexy "All the Ways that Love Can Feel," which could benefit from just the right remix. Maxwell makes intriguing use of organic beats to drive home his message on "The Fall" and "III." Retro soul and neo-soul blend throughout, and are especially spellbinding on "Fingers Crossed," "Of All Kind" and the improvised-in-the-studio "Lost."
The perversely prolific R. Kelly is the excessive polar opposite of the reserved Maxwell. Even after having his name linked to various sexual scandals, Kelly doesn't rein it in. Instead he serves up the unappetizing The Buffet (RCA). Kelly should have his poetic license revoked for calling the embarrassing recitation that opens the disc "The Poem," following it with "Poetic Sex," a song that includes the line, "My lyrics got a big dick, and I just fucked the shit out of y'all." Keepin' it classy, Kelly. If you aren't too nauseated to continue listening, then you'll probably be able to stomach junk such as "Let's Make Some Noise," "Sextime" and "Get Out of Here with Me." Kelly zips his fly long enough to perform the vintage vibe of "All My Fault," the only song worth hearing.
Life on Earth (eOne/MyBlock), the new studio disc from Musiq Soulchild, is something of a disappointment. With the exception of the Stevie Wonder-ful "Change My Mind," the uplifting soul-pop of "Alive and Well," the JoiStaRR duet on "Part of Me" and the spacey title track, the album is generally a bore. One indistinguishable song after another makes life on earth as dull as dirt.
A Curtis Mayfield for the 21st century, Bilal is back with the exceptional In Another Life (eOne/Purpose). As forward-looking as he is respectful of his roots, Bilal effortlessly conjures modern and retro soul, often in the same song. Teaming up with acclaimed producer Adrian Younge, Bilal has made his most thrilling and evocative album. Beginning with the ominous "Sirens II," In Another Life is a musical journey through time and textures. Both Marvin Gaye and Prince are summoned on "Pleasure Toy." The Kimbra duet "Holding It Back" delights, and "Bury Me Next to You" brilliantly brings the disc to a close.
The country is still reeling from the deaths of two African-American men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, at the hands of white police officers. The chorus of the title track of Ben Harper & The Innocent Criminals' new album Call It What It Is (Stax), "call it what it is/murder," a tragically timely blues number that mentions Trayvon Martin, Ezell Ford and Michael Brown by name while calling out "government, policing, hard times, oppression, racism, fear, suffering," could be the unintentional anthem of the summer. "How Dark Is Gone," "Finding Our Way," "Bones" and "Dance Like Fire" convey similar sentiments.
Admit it, the first time you heard the song "7 Years," you thought, "Who could that brother be who is singing?" When you found out that it was Lukas Graham, a bunch of white guys from Denmark, you shook your head. Still, you have to give the band credit for sounding so convincingly blue eyed-soulful. Most of Lukas Graham's eponymous Warner Brothers disc does a spectacular job of sounding as black as it wants to be. Take "Mama Said," which samples "It's the Hard Knock Life" from Annie. There's also a bit of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata interpolated in "Better Than Yourself (Criminal Mind Pt. 2)." But it's the sung-rap of "Happy Home," classic R&B vibe of "Drunk in the Morning," the Motown-y "Strip No More" and the bluesy "Funeral" that give the album its soul credibility.
On Stereotypes (Universal Classics/Deutsche Gramophon), violinists Kev Marcus and Wil Baptiste of Black Violin take classical and soul to a whole other level. The 11 originals and one cover (Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Walk On By"), most of which are sung by Baptiste, are examples of the ways in which different musical genres can coexist. Singer Melanie Fiona provides the vocals on "Send Me a Sign," and jazz pianist Robert Glasper can be heard on "Stay Clear." On Everything's Beautiful (Columbia/Blue Note/Legacy), Glasper reimagines Miles Davis tunes with collaborators Bilal, Stevie Wonder, Laura Mvula, Erykah Badu, King and Ledisi.