Now

Critics heaped exuberant praise on Maxwell’s third album upon its release in 2001, but not without dissing his previous efforts. Embrya, despite its strong commercial success, was written to be “gratuitous” in comparison to Now’s “more grounded” approach. For Maxwell, though, I don’t believe he necessarily intended to pivot away from the ambitious high concept style of Embrya in pursuit of sales — he was simply ready to explore new frontiers. The earliest glimpses of Now appeared on Maxwell’s MTV Unplugged set from 1997, in which he debuted a cover of Kate Bush’s “This Woman’s Work” that predated the polished studio version that would reappear as the penultimate track. Every great singer-songwriter seems to have a muse that inspires them to keep pushing. (For Prince, a lifelong love of Joni Mitchell would continue to appear in his work.) Maxwell seemed to have Bush on his mind as he switched from a more contemplative mode into smooth and sensual pop, proving himself as an adaptable auteur on the level of the person he effusively praised before performing her signature song. History would eventually catch up to Embrya and it would get the second look it deserved, but Now probably also deserves a re-evaluation for being equally brilliant and not a simple “return to form.”