SICK | Maxwell's Fall Tour Dates

The crooner has announced his North American dates. Chrisette Michele and Common will be joining him throughout. Thank you very much Soulbounce. Tickets available Aug. 14th through LiveNation.

• Friday, September 25 - Toronto - Air Canada Centre
• Saturday, September 26 - Detroit - Joe Louis Arena (without Common)
• Monday, September 28 - New York - Madison Square Garden
• Wednesday, September 30 - Richmond - Richmond Coliseum
• Friday, October 2 - Washington DC - Verizon Center
• Saturday, October 3 - Philadelphia - Wachovia Spectrum (without Common)
• Monday, October 5 - Atlanta - Phillips Arena
• Tuesday, October 6 - Charlotte - Time Warner Cable Arena
• Thursday, October 8 - Chicago - United Center - this is my B'Day
• Friday, October 9 - St. Louis - Scottrade Center
• Monday, October 12 - Dallas - TBA
• Tuesday, October 13 - Houston - Toyota Center
• Friday, October 16 - Los Angeles - Hollywood Bowl
• Saturday, October 17 - San Francisco - TBA

'09 | BLACKsummers'night, Maxwell

Take a break from your scavenger hunt for Michael material to be blessed with what will be one of the best R&B albums of the year. Yesterday Maxwell released the highly-anticipated BLACKsummers'night, his first studio album since 2001's Now. The nine-track set envelopes listeners to a sound of R&B from the past, similar to the work of Al Green who Maxwell honored in his comeback performance at last year's BET Awards. On the push of the first single "Pretty Wings," a somber swan song to a lost love, Maxwell works effortlessly to evoke such emotion and honesty in his lyrics that current R&B has missed. In "Cold" he urgently describes the woman whose frozen his heart on top of warm horns. And with "Fistful of Tears" he tackles the lamenting compromises it takes to keep a relationship's love alive. Even the ending instrumental "Pheonix Rise" is electrifying, signaling the return of a true artist and the return of R&B music to the fullest. No featured rap artist or auto-tune.

New New | "Smile" video

Via Nah Right The video for one of my fav tracks this year. As bis as Maxwell is right now, we couldn't get him in the video? Chemical Warfare July 7th.

New New | Flashback

Two R&B giants of the 90s return with new albums for us lacking genuine love music. First its the 'Same Ol' G' Ginuwine with A Man's Thoughts. This is G's first album since '05's Back II Da Basics. The album's first single, "Last Chance," debuted a few weeks ago and featured LisaRaye and Tyrese. The next set of material comes from falsetto-voiced Maxwell. His "Pretty Wings" has been gettin heavy rotation. Coming fresh off a tour in '08, he's prepping BLACKsummers'night for June.

8709 Special | the Return

R&B may be given a boost of adrenaline this year with the return of Maxwell. All were stunned when the newly shaved man appeared to pay tribute to Al Green @ the BET Awards. His new album BLACKsummer'snight is slated for an '09 release. Here is the first single..."Pretty Wings." Shout out to TSS. And here is one of my favorites by the mellow-falsetto-voiced singer.