Customer Reviews

Embrace

5 star:		(15)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It isn't often that a band's existence can be explained so simply and clearly, but Embrace is one such case:

One of the several reasons behind Minor Threat's demise was that Ian McKaye was sickened by the hardcore scene he'd helped to create. By 1983 it had become insufferably conformist. Even worse, it had also grown to be intensely violent. Even though in many ways the motivation was positive, the release of energy at hardcore shows often resulted in kids getting physically hurt. Ian felt extremely guilty and saddened over it. When bemoaning this to HR of the Bad Brains, HR told him, "You started it." This is why Ian did Embrace. It was his attempt to undo the damage he perceived himself being responsible for. While Embrace didn't last long and crumbled an entire year before they released this album, Ian carried on his same sense of purpose in Fugazi in 1987, and he continues to this day.

For those of you who don't know, this CD is the first full-length release put out by Ian MacKaye after Minor Threat broke up, and if you were into punk in those days, it was definitely put under a microscope by those in the scene at the time. Most Minor Threat fans already had heard "Salad Days", so there was already a hint that the times were changing, but judging by the initial reviews of the Embrace record, not everyone was ready for it. Let me just say that Ian's voice is completely different when he sings rather than yells. A lot of people don't care for the "emo" Ian. Personally, I loved Minor Threat, I can't stand Fugazi except for one or two songs, but I like this record a lot. I was lucky enough to catch an Embrace show in DC, and they were really good. It's been a long time since this record came out, but I put it on last night, and it was still really good. As a previous poster pointed out, it does kind of lose the intensity a little bit near the end of side two, but there are some solid tracks, especially on side one, like "Dance of Days", "Building", and "Past". If you don't mind Ian's voice in Fugazi, you will most likely love it on this record. Those looking for something closer to Minor Threat will probably be disappointed, though. But keep an open mind, try the song samples here on Amazon, and you just might end up picking this up. Recommended.

Money

I can truly say
I don't give a f*ck about your money
Becasue it means so much to you
And all of your money
Why deos it mean so much to you?
You cite the land of greed
I'm taking about a world of need.
Money has nothing to do with the value of life!
But thats just common sense.

You call me up and talk about money
I don't want to hear any more
About money
Look at what people do
Trying to get their money
To buy the fantasy
Based on the book of the movies
Fortified cares, modified principles
Convience is the name of the game
Self-indulgence is the rule
There are no winners, we all lose
Thanks for nothing
You put yourself up for sale
You're all SOLD OUT!

Absolutely BRILLIANT, and thats just one song by Ian. This cd is one of the most heartfelt and pure genious albums I have come across. What I get from this song is a whole lot. Many of you can get your own perceptions from his lyrics. But this makes so much sense in a world soooo corupt, that emphasizes more what they look like and drive then being a good wholesome human being. Whatever you get out of this song is GOOD and should make you think. Thats what good lyrics make you do, right? Stand up for what you beleive in and don't let the corporate world push you around like a rag doll. Make a difference. Remember when you leave this life, you leave it as you came in, with nothing. So don't envy the wealthly and rich, there lives are sometimes worst than yours. Money distorts the truth.

You need this record today.

First of all, THIS is emo. Emo is not New Found Glory or Good Charlotte or anything like that. Emo is post-hardcore punk, with the same energy as hardcore, just tempered. It is intelligent music that always had something to say. It experimented. It didn't sound like pop.

The Embrace guys got it right. And so did Rites of Spring.

This is an awesome album for anyone who wants good music in that genre. Fans of Minor Threat or Fugazi probably already have this, but for those of you saying you're "so emo", you really need to have this.

In A world full of shallow,hopeless bands this record glows in my mind. Every time i put it in my record player I feel as though someone has handed me a Beautiful gift. Out of all of Ian Mckayes releases this one truly stands out in my mind as a classic. All these supposive emo bands would do good to stop and listen to this record. Its one of those records where you never would skip a tract, each song leaves you wanting to hear more. Ian's Lyrical geneious is the real clincher on this record, such lyrc's as "no more heroin death is not glamourous" and " I dont like party's they avoid the truth" "Please smile avoid unpleasant situations" show what real "EMO" is like. You truly can feel what emotions Ian is feeling in his songs

this album is the 3rd step for ian mackaye.first being the teen idles .then you know who!!!so after salad days ep where to go next?this is it teaming up with the music of the band FAITH(d.c) without his brother alec in the band you get this. its the meeting of two great bands.a great turn over album for dischord records making a new hard core sound(now its called emo)aint it strange how so many band in d.c play with everone else its kind of an imbreeding sound... its also like listening to the the end of harcore as we know it and taking a big step musically into a new world of cross over(or alternative)(or post punk)or( brit rock)or what ever we call it now. to sum it up it fits in your collection nicely after minor threat and before fugazi .only 4 stars because it is not quiet as good as either band..and doesnt quiet leave the impack as it did when i heard this a while back.thats not to say its better then most of the poser...of today!!!!!!!!

Along with fellow scenesters Rites of Spring, these guys virtually invented emo. Every song on this album brims with emotion without getting cheezy. This band's one album rivals any bands "best hits," each song is amazingly powerful and extremely catchy to boot. One listen and you'll have it on repeat singing all the lyrics. A MUST on anybody's list who is even remotely interested in the punk scene. A side note: For those interested, the book _All Ages Show_ by Beth Lahickey has an excellent interview with Ian Mackaye that focuses on Embrace and this era of DC punk music.

Everyone's heard of Minor Threat--but not many people have heard of Embrace...and it's too bad, because this album has some of the greatest lyrics Ian MacKaye ever wrote. Deep and brooding, but not syrupy or silly (like late 7 seconds records). I'm a Fugazi fan, but this is BETTER! The tunes take the Minor Threat sound to the next level. Buy it! "Building" is the theme song for our generation!

I don't intend to knock this record which I like very much, but 1985 is a bit late to say "first" emo record as in the review below. If you dig Fugazi/Embrace/Rites of Spring, check out Mission of Burma's "Signals and Calls" EP from '79 or '80. There's no doubt they had a huge influence on the mid-80s DC scene, yet seem like a footnote in history next to Fugazi who had a nearly identical style 10 years down the road. Whatevs.. just thought i'd inform the emo historians on a worthwhile purchase.

This is absolutely the beginning of emo and probably the best album in the genre. If you are one of those emo noobs that listen to all the new emo junk coming out, ie get up kids, etc.. you should try listening to this album. Ian kills it both lyrically and musically. Other suggestions: Dag Nasty, Wig out at Denkos/Can I say ; Turning Point ; Rites of Spring . Dischord Records deserves most of the credit for such an interesting style of music