Disco de Embrace: “Drawn From Memory”

This is the second album from Embrace and it is wonderfull! It contains melodies and upbeat rock songs. Danny and Richard have done well at making a masterpiece. Track 1.The Love it Takes-Stunning Melody with a brilliant voice and laid back voice. 5/5 Track 2.Youre not Alone-One of the releases from this album. The percussion works wonderfully with Danny McNamara's voice. 5/5 Track 3.Save Me-Fabulous acoustic intro with very catching lyrics and snappy tune. 4/5

Track 4.Drawn From Memory-Title track with superb Piano intro and very lazy vocals. 5/5 Track 5.Bunker Song-Instrumental with good gutiar riffs but a bit of a waste of time. A bad break in a good album. 1/5 Track 6.New Adam New Eve-One of the best beats on the album with superb vocals. 5/5 Track 7.Hooligan-Stunning tune with Richards vocals to match. Check out 1.17 into it it rocks. 5/5 Track 8.Yeah You-Best tune on the album with gutiar riffs to stun even the best players. 7/5 MAGIC! Track 9.Liars Tears-A must for chilling out in the sun with laid back vocals to thrill. 4/5 Track 10.I wouldnt wanna happen to you-Good song with a very catchy tune. 5/5 Track 11. I Had a Time-Very slow with faint vocals 3/5

CHECK OUT THE VIDS FOR HOLLIGAN AND SAVE ME! This album is a must for fans of their debut album. See Ya.

I was a fan of Embrace's first album and so was expecting big things from DFM. I wasn't disappointed. This is brilliant stuff. They have really broadened their sound with this album. There are less string-orientated ballads and Oasis-esque rockers, these have been replaced by a real variety ranging from sparse acoustic songs, (Liar's Tears) to psychedelic rockers. (New Adam New Eve) Despite the changes the lads have still managed to produce a beautiful, love-themed record. Songs like "The Love it Takes" and "I had a Time" maintain their epic sound, while the title track is one of the finest ballads you'll hear this, or any other, year. Forget Oasis, Get over the Verve, definitely ignore Korn/Limp Bizkit, Embrace make being miserable more uplifting than it has ever been.

With their debut album "Good Will Out" in 1998, Embrace represented a different vein of Britpop, one far more introspective and less optimistic. Having once claimed they were better than Oasis and Verve combined, they are actually a perfect combination of both. They have mastered the sweeping, orchestral ballads of Verve, but also possess the energetic guitar and superior songwriting of Oasis.

"Drawn From Memory" never received a US release, most likely because their first album, which did, hardly made a dent. The Britpop phenomenon which wonderwalled the US in the late 90s had diminished by the 2000 release of this album. This album was far different, though, and if given the chance I think it would have bowled over the adult alternative Matchbox Twenty lovers of the US.

It is different because is more racous, less solemn. It contains the best hard rock offerings that pop music can offer with "Yeah You", "New Adam New Eve", and "Bunker Song." Embrace has already shown that they had an edgier sound with "All You Good Good People," but this was the first time their songwriting was actually edgy. This album also contains less orchestration and is more stripped down, which allows the songs to sweep on their own merit, without the aid of a string section. There are still some tried-true Embrace orchestral ballads such as "You're Not Alone" and "The Love it Takes." But these ballads are paired with fun, funky songs such as "Hooligan" and "Save Me."

In their second album, Embrace change dramatically from their mainly ballad first album, and move on to create a multi-tonal masterpiece. This album has songs for every mood, and it is successful in these different tones. I recommend this album for the first time listener over their first album, and their third ("Drawn From Memory"). This is the best album to introduce someone to Embrace because it has a range that isn't on their other two albums, and truly displays their songwriting talent.

Embrace is a superior Britpop band. After venturing into the staples of this style such as Oasis, Verve, and the Manic Street Preachers- Embrace is the obvious next choice for your collection.

The extra tracks to this album are "I've Been Running" and "I Can't Feel Bad Anymore." To get these tracks you risk paying an additional 20 or so dollars, which they are not worth. B-sides are alterates for a reason, and they are some exceptions to this rule, but very few. "I Can't Feel Bad Anymore" is the same solemn, regretful ballad that could have been found on "Good Will Out" but it offers no new revelations, insightful sorrow. If you loved "Good Will Out" you will love "I Can't Feel Bad Anymore" but it's just the same old, same old. "I've Been Running" is a similar story. My advice is to save your money, the import version will be expensive enough.

If you still want to blow 20 bucks, then a *much* better B-side choice for this album are the "Save Me" remixes, which improve upon the album version, which is too stripped down to really break out to its groove potential. The remixes are nothing short of amazing, and unlike most remixes you can actually distinguish from one another. These are available on the "Save Me" Pt. 2 single. Go for those instead.

Embrace have grown a lot from their first debut LP "The Good Will Out" which was good but overrated and wasn't a solid album (I found myself listening to select tracks). With "Drawn From Memory" they prove that they aren't just a band of hype and can grow. Their sophomore album has won a cynical fellow like me over.

The album opens with the glorious shiner "The Love It Takes" which sets the tone of the album. "You're Not Alone" has a great trumpet section and builds up to a glorious moment. "Save Me" which I'm surprised wasn't a big single shows the band doing something happy and fun with the chorus-rock sound. "Drawn From Memory" has a beautiful unforgettable piano opening and starts out slow which then gets louder. "Bunker Song" is a regular average guitar instrumental. "Hooligan" is a silly song that can get annoying but still works. "Yeah You" shows the band trying to be a bit rebel and my god the good positive christian boys say the s word. "Liars Tears" is a slow moving bittersweet song that takes awhile to get into. "I Wouldn't Wanna Happen To You" is the best song on the album since the first four tracks. "I Had A Time" ends the album on a beautiful tone.

Overall I'm dead impressed and shocked. I think it will be one of the best of the year 2000.

When I first listened to it, I thought it fell short of "Good Will Out."

I now, after 5 or so rotations, think it's better. While "Good" had a better headline song in All You Good...., this new one is top to bottom a much better record. One of the better ones to come out this year (just wait for Catherine Wheel, though, that one could be the best).

Enjoy.