embrace.

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unless i'm goin nuts i can't see any embrace threads at all.
before coldplay they were pretty much considered the great white hope. they had that northern-accent-working-class thing goin on too for added '4 real' appeal, but having warmed up (2nd to last on the bill) for bowie at glastonbury 2000, it all seemed to hit the skids.
no mention of them for a long time since. the 3rd album was a let down, but they still have a massive fanbase, and a little digging into the archives of the music press, depite the odd kicking (for reasons unspecified) actually reveals 9/10 albums, 'best gig of the year' reviews etc all over the place. they *looked* like they were going to be massive. one of the most extreme reactions to any gig ever seen was for them @ sheffield leadmill in 1997, wherein danny n had to keep pleading with people to, basically stop screaming during the quiet bits. their track 'blind' off the first e.p. is one of the great 'holy shit what's that ?' guitar tracks of the 90's, the perfecto remixes get a hammering at my house, they were a fck sight better than history judged them and now ?

http://www.nme.com/news/107116.htm

well i for one am expecting good things and the big career revival. good on em. listen without prejudice people !

― piscesboy, Monday, 22 December 2003 16:36 (twenty years ago) link

the only embrace i'd consider listening to is ian mackaye's pre fugazi band

― leigh (leigh), Monday, 22 December 2003 16:39 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.ilxor.com/searchresults.php?board=2&q=embrace&mode=threads

I'd actually forgotten about them 'till this popped up, I must admit. I didn't like them much - the singer was really flat, even worse than bbby gllsp, which is an achievement of sorts, I suppose.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Monday, 22 December 2003 16:45 (twenty years ago) link

I remember the first time I saw an ad for an embrace album in a magazine. I was thinking, "Why would Ian MacKaye put that group back together?"

It was only later I found out how bad this version of embrace was (later calling them a "faceless britpop outfit" on this very board).

― Johnny Fever (johnny fever), Monday, 22 December 2003 16:49 (twenty years ago) link

They were terrible, almost as bad as Coldplay.

― C-Man (C-Man), Monday, 22 December 2003 18:16 (twenty years ago) link

They were largely terrible, although "Hooligan" really impressed me.

― person#0 (person#0), Monday, 22 December 2003 18:23 (twenty years ago) link

the music has aged really badly. i was a big fan around the time of their album, now i can't imagine ever bothering to listen to it again. the singer's voice really is as bad as everyone said.

― the surface noise (electricsound), Monday, 22 December 2003 23:39 (twenty years ago) link

i liked get back to what you know, still think it's sort of ok

― pete s, Tuesday, 23 December 2003 00:00 (twenty years ago) link

Uergh.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 01:05 (twenty years ago) link

There are bugger-all threads cos they'd completely stopped mattering by the time ILM got going. I still stand by that dozen or so songs that are great, but unless the new material is totally mind-blowing then I've had more than enough.

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 01:14 (twenty years ago) link

oh god, this lot. my brother has an album by them - "Drawn from Memory". it's very poor - a flat vocalist singing boring songs. they made a lot of unfeasibly bold claims about their own greatness. if they'd been modest, they mightn't have become a figure of fun so quickly. or maybe that confidence was what got them some success in the first place. who knows or cares?

"but unless the new material is totally mind-blowing then I've had more than enough..."

New material?!!!! Good God, they can't still be making records! who on earth would pay money to hear such a thing?

actually, i once did, so i can't complain really. i liked "come back to what you know" so i bought the single in a second-hand shop. i think i still have it.

― weasel diesel (K1l14n), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 01:33 (twenty years ago) link

I'll make you a CD, kilian. If you like...

― Nick Southall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 23 December 2003 01:36 (twenty years ago) link

three months pass...

Working with Youth is a fucking good idea.

― Absolutely not Sick Nouthall because I'm sworn to secrecy (Nick Southall), Monday, 19 April 2004 12:24 (twenty years ago) link

The band drink in the bar of a hotel I sometimes have to stay in. I ain't an embrace fan, but overhearing the line "We've got most of the album written, but Danny has to write the big hit single" made me shudder.

― ___ (___), Monday, 19 April 2004 15:49 (twenty years ago) link

Knowing the guys as I do I'd imagine that was said in jest. And even if it wasn't, wouldn't it be fine for a hip hop or pop or dance act to say something similar?

― Absolutely not Sick Nouthall even though you may think so (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:46 (twenty years ago) link

bands have no damn idea which of their own songs would be a hit and which wouldn't anyway

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 07:50 (twenty years ago) link

This is laregly true, Jim.

― Still not Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:02 (twenty years ago) link

ha ha ha ha ha ha ah ahahahahah ha haa haaha... embrace... ha hahahaha.a..

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:13 (twenty years ago) link

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/~bpantano/GIFS/laughing.gif

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:15 (twenty years ago) link

You're the headbanging one, eh Doomie?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:20 (twenty years ago) link

Nice to see you nicked that jpeg off Jon Williams too.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:21 (twenty years ago) link

oh stop it the pair of you.

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:22 (twenty years ago) link

He only does it cuz he luvvs me.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:22 (twenty years ago) link

I think that might count as entering UNSAFE SPACE

― the surface noise (electricsound), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:22 (twenty years ago) link

Oh dear.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:25 (twenty years ago) link

embrace make me laugh!

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:25 (twenty years ago) link

Anyway, terrible though Embrace were, they at least had some comedy value WHICH IS MORE THAN CAN BE SAiD FOR RIALTO, EH?????/

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:26 (twenty years ago) link

argh mind-meld x-post!!

― Pashmina (Pashmina), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:26 (twenty years ago) link

The Libertines make me

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:26 (twenty years ago) link

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:27 (twenty years ago) link

you good good people - listen to me!

http://www.andrew.cmu.edu/~bpantano/GIFS/laughing.gif

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:28 (twenty years ago) link

Precisely how old are you? Aren't you like 34?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:29 (twenty years ago) link

nope, way younger than that!

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:29 (twenty years ago) link

32?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:30 (twenty years ago) link

younger.

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:32 (twenty years ago) link

But you're older than, say, 13?

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:33 (twenty years ago) link

anyways, i thought that this was supposed to be about embrace? come back to what you know, nick. ha haa.a..

― doomie x, Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:34 (twenty years ago) link

Awful tune. Always hated it.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:37 (twenty years ago) link

i have always loved embrace's big sweeping ballads, just because the singer so patently isn't up to the job of matching the melodies, and this vulnerability is very touching to me.

― stevie (stevie), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:39 (twenty years ago) link

I love 'em when they're loud and vainglorious. And when they do lovely shiny summery pop tunes.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:41 (twenty years ago) link

My favourite Embrace moment was when they did The Good Will Out at Glasto 98, with that horrible faux-Hey Jude 'nah nah nah' chorus at the end. I saw it on telly after the festival, and before that end bit kicked in, singer bloke shouted "sing it!" and held is mic out to the audience. And no one sang. He'd been waiting for that moment all his life, and fell flat on his face. Arf!

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 08:57 (twenty years ago) link

Schadenfreude is most unbecoming on you, Matt.

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 09:14 (twenty years ago) link

I'm sure matt will be relieved, that that made you not want to be coming on him, now.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 09:18 (twenty years ago) link

???

― Sick Nouthall (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 09:22 (twenty years ago) link

come back to what you know.

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 20 April 2004 10:09 (twenty years ago) link

one month passes...

I'd revive this to mention that their new single has been written by Chris Martin, but nobody cares. The label (almost) made them do it.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 11:23 (nineteen years ago) link

no! what?!!

― piscesboy, Wednesday, 16 June 2004 12:59 (nineteen years ago) link

It's a tune he wrote a while ago and gave to Embrace cos he thought it was more them than Coldplay. I've heard a evrsion of Martin doing it solo w/piano which is... dull. I'm reliably informed that Embrace's version has "hair on its knackers". Fourth album out on 13th September.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:12 (nineteen years ago) link

Chris Martin fancies himself as the British Linda Perry.

― edward o (edwardo), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:15 (nineteen years ago) link

He does, doesn't he? Jamelia, Embrace, Ash, The Streets...

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Wednesday, 16 June 2004 13:26 (nineteen years ago) link

Skipping 119 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

I am leaving the country.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 18:34 (eighteen years ago) link

Ne*Yo?

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 18:35 (eighteen years ago) link

Even I'm not mad keen on the single. It's a grower, but there are at least 8 MUCH better songs on the album.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 18:38 (eighteen years ago) link

god did *i* start this?

fck. embrace were a different proposition when they weren't around.

― piscesboy, Tuesday, 21 March 2006 19:42 (eighteen years ago) link

ahh some classic moments on this thread

― electric sound of jim (and why not) (electricsound), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 22:44 (eighteen years ago) link

ha ha, classic in the 'embarassing' sense.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 22:58 (eighteen years ago) link

There's a little, no, a large part of me, that would be very very happy if Embrace got a #1 single and Coldplay never did.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 23:04 (eighteen years ago) link

Damn right.

I actually think they'll slip to three or four come Sunday, but it'd be nice.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 23:06 (eighteen years ago) link

Gravity slipped 5-7 from the middies, so yeah.

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 23:08 (eighteen years ago) link

even the MacKaye Embrace isn't that great.

― senseiDancer (sexyDancer), Tuesday, 21 March 2006 23:36 (eighteen years ago) link

And so iTunes has malfunctioned causing entire swathes of Embrace singles sales to be lost, and thus handing the #1 spot to Ne*Yo. CONSPIRACY.

― Dom Passantino (Dom Passantino), Friday, 24 March 2006 12:25 (eighteen years ago) link

It's going to be interesting. Apparently I get thanked in the album sleeve, which is nice.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Friday, 24 March 2006 12:31 (eighteen years ago) link

And so iTunes has malfunctioned causing entire swathes of Embrace singles sales to be lost, and thus handing the #1 spot to Ne*Yo. CONSPIRACY.

Have we ascertained The Lex's whereabouts when this malfunctioning happened?

― edward o (edwardo), Friday, 24 March 2006 12:37 (eighteen years ago) link

He probably owns one of their cds.

― Brigadier Lethbridge-Pfunkboy (Kerr), Saturday, 25 March 2006 16:52 (eighteen years ago) link

Number 2 is still pretty good going for a band that was sunk 2 years ago. And that every cunt on ILX hates!

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Sunday, 26 March 2006 17:23 (eighteen years ago) link

So I sought this("Nature's Law") out yesterday, hoping that this left-field massive from the lumbering has-beens-if-they-ever-were was as good as Stereophonics' "Dakota" was. On first listen I thought, Pointless. Big and absolutely lacking a hook. I should probably just delete this now. (And I NEVER delete.)

Today it randomly shuffles up, and I absolutely fall into it, like a chasm I couldn't have missed if I'd just taken my eyes off the sky. Weird. Not that I am ready to defend its classic-ness yet, but perhaps it's not rubbish.

― Mitya (mitya), Sunday, 26 March 2006 19:54 (eighteen years ago) link

sick's righteous anger always seems a put-on.

i don't much like embrace. even the bluetones are probably better.

― keyth (keyth), Sunday, 26 March 2006 21:02 (eighteen years ago) link

They've been chosen to do the official World Cup song. This should be interesting.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 05:40 (eighteen years ago) link

"All You Goal Goal People"

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 05:41 (eighteen years ago) link

nothing is interesting!

― RJG (RJG), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 05:52 (eighteen years ago) link

But they will sing a song to make your neighbors to the south smile and bob their head as they watch football. Why must you be so full of hate, RJG?

― Ned Raggett (Ned), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 05:55 (eighteen years ago) link

Someone joked on their forum that tickets for the sold-out Barrowlands gig they're doing soon are going on eBay for £1 each now.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 05:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Congratulations Southall! You got thanked in the liner notes of a crappy band and wrote the liner notes to a crappy B-side compilation by the crappy band! Now leave us alone.

― PB, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 10:53 (eighteen years ago) link

the football song may well be the worst song ever recorded!

i thought they'd split up ages ago. why have they not.

also, HA HA HA NE-YO GOT THE NUMBER ONE :D

― The Lex (The Lex), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 10:59 (eighteen years ago) link

I heard their single on the Mark Radcliffe show and it was pretty good. I liked the intro - nice atmosphere.

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 11:06 (eighteen years ago) link

It's like David and Goliath, only this time David won!

― edward o (edwardo), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 11:22 (eighteen years ago) link

Peopple are absolute fucking cunts.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 11:55 (eighteen years ago) link

fuck em, nick.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 11:59 (eighteen years ago) link

Yeah, you're right, Sean. But everytime some anonymous idiot like PB or some gloating child like Lex has a dig it fucking hurts. It's childish and pathetic, especially seeing as all the criticisms that get trotted out are exactly the sdame ones that have been used for 9 years and none of them actually make any sense next to the vast majority of the music.

I got thanked in the credits of my favourite band's favourite album and asked to write liner notes for their b-sides, which I love; I'm fucking PROUD of that.

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:05 (eighteen years ago) link

A remake of "Hooligan", maybe? It could do wonders for sales of kazoos...

― mike t-diva (mike t-diva), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:15 (eighteen years ago) link

x-post Nick - there's no reason why you shouldn't be.

Lex - your pop-kid act is as boring as it is predictable. You flounce into every guitar-band thread and say 'why does anyone like this, it's crap, buy J-Lo instead, guitars are nasty NYYAAAHH'. Jesus! Why do you bother?

― Dr. C (Dr. C), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:15 (eighteen years ago) link

I like how Nick starts off two and a half years ago with a sort of weary indifference to this band in their present state, and gradually becomes more defensive about them until he practically puts a bounty on the head of anyone who suggests that they aren't really very good

― DJ Mencap (DJ Mencap), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:28 (eighteen years ago) link

I don't know Embrace from Terris, really, what with being a Canadian recently imported to the UK. I know that they were more "interesting" in the past and are now essentially Coldplay-like indie. But I see nothing wrong with Coldplay-like indie, frankly, so long as it's good - and the one Embrace song I know ("Gravity") was cheesy but good.

But all that's irrelevant because yeah, Nick, it's totally fucking awesome that you've made some kind of faint mark on a band you love, and it's a testament to your writing but also to your passion. And I think that anyone who smears either of those things (regardless of what they think about the band) is daft, foolish and mean - in short, not someone I would want to have a conversation with.

― sean gramophone (Sean M), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:41 (eighteen years ago) link

That's cos all I felt about them two and a half years ago was weary indifference!

x-post - thanks, Sean.

Here's a couple of tracks off the new album for anyone who's interested.

http://s56.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=3E81P3DA5IJJR1K684SY3K2S4H
http://s53.yousendit.com/d.aspx?id=2CD57X6N6R7ML0BM3FG4T3MB14

― Sick Mouthy (Nick Southall), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 12:43 (eighteen years ago) link

Hope u didnt put up This New Day (the song) Sickmouthy cos its not very good. Even Smaller Stones...mmm...

― wootoo, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 15:24 (eighteen years ago) link

People on ILM making ill-informed digs at bands they don't like? Surely not. And hey - SHOCK HORROR - some of the Embrace defenders have done exactly the same thing on countless occasions.

― Matt DC (Matt DC), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 15:31 (eighteen years ago) link

they're pretty flacid, aren't they?

― gek-opl, Tuesday, 28 March 2006 18:02 (eighteen years ago) link

Yes, and mawkish and self-consciously "anthemic", but some of the stuff in here is a bit too ad hominem.

― jimnaseum (jimnaseum), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 18:04 (eighteen years ago) link

I agree screw the haters. People seem to forget that Embrace had two albums out before Coldplay debut.

Anyways I read your review Nick, nice on BTW, and now am looking forward to hearing this record. They are signed over here in the States and will be coming out one day.

― BeeOK (boo radley), Tuesday, 28 March 2006 23:20 (eighteen years ago) link

I prefer Delta Goodrem.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Wednesday, 29 March 2006 15:58 (eighteen years ago) link

The Football Association's choice of band to record England's World Cup song has not been embraced by David Beckham, Wayne Rooney and co, according to media reports.
An unnamed source close to the squad told the Sun that England's bling-bling stars were "gutted" that clean-cut, middle-of-the-road indie band Embrace were chosen to pen their World Cup anthem, as they wanted a bad ass rapper instead.
Rather than drawing up a tactical masterplan to bring the trophy back to England for the first time since 1966, the players have apparently been spending a great deal of time in recent months deciding on the more pressing issue of who should record their tune.
And according to the insider, the consensus was for US hip hop impresario and part-time political commentator Kanye West, famed for his love of girls, god and glamour.
Imagine their dismay, then, when music consultant Chris Nathanial, who had been drafted in to choose the artist, chose to overlook Chicago b-boy Kanye and instead plumped for the somewhat more down-to-earth Huddersfield quartet.
"A leading music consultant was paid good money to make sure an artist was chosen who the players would respect and be willing to work with," the source told the newspaper.
"Kanye West got a resounding thumbs-up and moves were made to get him on board.
"The players were gutted when they found out the FA wanted to stay British and Kanye had been snubbed."
England stars Wayne Rooney, Ashley Cole, Rio Ferdinand and Wayne Rooney are all self-confessed hip-hop aficionados, while England skipper David 'Straight outta Leyton' Beckham named his two dogs after his favourite rappers Snoop and Puffy.
Ferdinand and Rooney are also currently working on a MC battle-based TV show, Hip Hop Idol.
Still, while the squad may be less-than-enamoured with Embrace, it could have been much worse.

Apparently, Rooney had been attempting to plug a rap joint recorded by the Manchester United star's cousin, James, entitled Dreams as the perfect rousing World Cup anthem, which fiancee Colleen McLoughlin thought was "brilliant". We're sure it was a masterpiece, Colleen.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/news-channels/entertainment-channel/england-stars-gutted-over-world-cup-song-$361875.htm

― James Mitchell (James Mitchell), Monday, 3 April 2006 16:21 (eighteen years ago) link

Kanye? As if!

V annoyingly patronising tone from the reporter.

― Konal Doddz (blueski), Monday, 3 April 2006 16:40 (eighteen years ago) link

Rooney's on record about a million times saying that Stereophonics are the best band in the world ever. That doesn't mean he isn't a "hip-hop aficionado", of course, but it should.

― Onimo (GerryNemo), Monday, 3 April 2006 18:08 (eighteen years ago) link

seven years pass...

Gosh I used to get angry.

― I can still taste the Taboo in my mouth when I hear those songs (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 January 2014 14:08 (ten years ago) link

Pretty surprised you called them your favourite band at one point.

Lex has not changed one bit has he?

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 20 January 2014 14:47 (ten years ago) link

As much as I (or anyone) has or had a favourite band, then yeah, it probably was them. In that I cared about and followed and was affected by their music more than anyone else. But then my relationship with them and their music has always been atypical, so there's no other artist who even comes close to being comparable.

― I can still taste the Taboo in my mouth when I hear those songs (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 January 2014 14:50 (ten years ago) link

Fair enough. I've never been a fan of them myself but I can see why having that relationship would make you feel like you did and express it the way you did on this thread. I Think when this thread started Mansun were probably still my favourite band (probably the last year after a good seven years of them being there) I still like those first two albums a lot but I can think of at least fifty bands I like more right now. Kind of glad I wasn't on a forum like this defending them back then, I'd probably regret a lot of what I said.

― Kitchen Person, Monday, 20 January 2014 14:59 (ten years ago) link

My housemate at uni loved Mansun.

― I can still taste the Taboo in my mouth when I hear those songs (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 January 2014 15:02 (ten years ago) link

Can I ask, without wishing to seem rude, how old you were in 2004?

― the Shearer of simulated snowsex etc. (Dwight Yorke), Monday, 20 January 2014 15:23 (ten years ago) link

24/25. I was in relationship hell for the first six months or so of that year, which isn't an excuse but is context.

― I can still taste the Taboo in my mouth when I hear those songs (Scik Mouthy), Monday, 20 January 2014 15:40 (ten years ago) link

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