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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Embrace come up trumps, May 11, 2006
Few bands polarize opinion quite like Embrace. To their fiercely loyal fanbase Embrace are big-hearted saviours of British pop, to their detractors - plodding, melodramatic also-rans. Even Embrace's harshest critics though, would have to concede that this band are survivors.
Embrace debuted with 1997's The Good Will Out and became an overnight success, they lost ground with 1999's Drawn From Memory, and despite being a stronger effort 2001's If You've Never Been was barely even noticed. At this point, seemingly lost in the musical wilderness, I figured Embrace had had their day. Against the odds though, they made a great commercial comeback with 2004's aptly titled Out Of Nothing. This album was a fine return in many ways, not least because it changed the bands fortunes. Even so, something about this new material didn't click for me. Out Of Nothing felt a wee bit like a hollow victory.
Two years on, and this time around it doesn't just sound right - it feels right. This New Day is simply the winning formula of everything the band do well without anything they don't, and as a consequence it's Embrace's stongest most cohesive effort to date.
Spirited opener 'No Use Crying' sets the album off at a cracking pace and sounds like a real statement of intent for a band fighting to remain relevant. It's a great start - but there's better to come. 'Nature's Law' begins worryingly like a certain Richard Marx ballad I've forgotten the name of (selective memory) before transforming into something altogether different - a sturdy, uplifting tour de force and an early highlight. Next comes the melodic punch of 'Target', and if you are looking for an example of what Embrace sound like when they really hit their straps - this is it. This song doesn't just 'hit the target' it absolutely nails it. The pulse-quickening rock of 'Sainted' calls to mind classic Echo & The Bunnymen whilst also easily surpassing anything off of that bands last album. The pace then lets up a bit for the obligatory monster ballad 'I Can't Come Down' (this sets 'Gravity') which will no doubt be coming to a radio sation near you. It's nice - though far from my favourite here.
Much of the latter half of This New Day sounds like what Coldplay were trying to achieve with X&Y, only better. That mightn't sound like much of a recommendation given Coldplay's current (and possibly slightly unfair) standing in music critic circles, but it does illustrate just how much Embrace have come on in two years. 'Exploding Machines' in particular, comes across less like a Chris Martin cast-off and more like Coldplay in top gear, whilst 'Celebrate' is another of those effortlessly glorious pop tunes that Embrace manage to knock out from time to time - a real career highlight..... I love it.
In striving for pop perfection, Embrace have finally turned in the album they've always threatened to make - a big, anthemic, hook-filled, all-inclusive pop record - and unashamedly so. If you've liked Embrace's music in the past then you'll love this one, and if you haven't - This New Day is the perfect place to start.
A record to open yourself up to entirely.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfection, August 11, 2006
No Use Crying is one of the most uplifting songs I have ever heard, bottom line. The opening is just perfect, guitar and drums leading into an explosion of strings and more guitar, followed by an infectious vocal melody by Danny McNamara dropping in. And when you throw in the epic chorus and driving middle 8, it makes one of my favorite Embrace tracks ever.
The piano intro to Nature's Law, which was the first single off of This New Day, is almost as catchy as its choir-backed chorus. But what makes the song is its middle 8, sung by Richard McNamara (lead guitar), and the lead-in back to the chorus backed by goosebump-causing strings.
Target, the third song, is to be the second single off of This New Day and for good reason. All that needs to be said is that the chorus in this song is THE CATCHIEST ONE EVER. Add to that the driving force of the song provided by Mike Heaton on drums emphasizing the upbeat and a wonderful string arrangement and lyrics, and you get the best song on the album.
The next track, Sainted, is introduced by a dark 80's guitar riff and beat, and the verse by Danny is equally dark. And then the song builds into the first chorus, and you know that this song is great. The guitar solo after the middle 8 (which is itself outstanding) is crazy good. Overall, one of the best things that Embrace have ever done, just because of the concept.
I Can't Come Down...is Embrace doing really well at one of the things they do really well. Yes, it is a ballad. An absolutely superb ballad. And savor it, because it's the only one on this album (I personally do not consider Nature's Law a ballad). The bass by Steve Firth guides the song, and a beautiful string arrangement again floats through the background. And the middle 8 is one of my favorite parts of any Embrace song ever, including the heartwarming guitar solo that comes immediately after it. This song is just beautiful.
Celebrate, introduced and driven by Mickey Dale's piano, is one of those songs that you play and it just goes by and you have no idea what just happened. It packs so much beautiful music into such a short time that it's actually astounding. The chorus is so incredibly catchy and uplifting that the it makes me want to jump up and down every time I hear it. Just an amazing piece of music.
Exploding Machines is just...it's just wow. That's all it is. The guitar is perfectly crafted and mysterious and dark. The music is loud and brash yet also subdued in all the right places. And it has my all-time favorite CRANK THE MUSIC NOW part in any Embrace song, just after the middle 8. It should also be noted that Embrace have probably never sounded more TOGETHER as a band than just after that middle 8. Another highlight is Richard's "Exploooding Machiiiines!" part at the very end. Just amazing.
When I first heard Even Smaller Stones, I thought to myself, "Embrace are doing tribal music now?" Until the nasty guitar came in and just wreaked havoc. Then, I understood. It wasn't about, uh, tribes. It was about pure, unadulterated anger. It's the harshest song Embrace have ever done, and the guitar solo near the end completes the package. Perfectly packaged brutality.
The End Is Near is so epic that it makes me want to go fight a war every time I hear it because it puts me on top of the world. The lead-in piano is backed by screaming guitar after a few seconds and then the song changes completely, into an inspiring verse backed by solid drums. And then - the chorus happens. And then it fades. And you want it back. But then the verse starts again, and so you go along with it, hoping for just a little more of that - chorus! And then a different version of the same chorus! Just Embrace doing what they do best, another wonderful epic.
At first, I didn't get This New Day, the title track of the album. I just didn't get it. I always got the great keyboard and guitar at the beginning, but for a while, I didn't get it. Now I get it. This is one of the best things Embrace have ever done. It's dark, and warning, and filled with despair. And yet, it has that tinge of hope, that maybe, just maybe, you can go on. There's a part that leads into the end where the guitars and drums reign free. And that end is one of the most powerful things Embrace have ever done. "Make them see it, see you mean it, break the ceiling, beat these demons, just keep dreaming, keep on breathing, fight these feelings." And it's not the kind of ending that leaves you at peace. It makes you want more. And so you press play again, and start the whole album over. It's just that good. Oh, did I say good? I meant that it's absolutely perfect.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Consistent Offering From Embrace, September 21, 2006
Embrace's follow-up to their successful comeback "Out of Nothing" is filled with anthems and is far more upbeat than its predecessor. "No Use Crying" kicks off with U2-style riffs and the classic Embrace anthemic-feel. The first single off of this album was "Nature's Law," a good hit-worthy track that is plagued by a clichéd piano riff and melody. One of the best tracks is the second single, "Target." The verses sound Keane-like, the chorus is uplifting, and the music matches the lyrics "Everything is possible, it's beautiful."
My favorite track is the nearly overly sentimental "I Can't Come Down." This song has the markings to become one of the best rock ballads of the year. The piano, strings, introspective lyrics, and soaring guitar riffs blend together perfectly as the lone ballad on the album. "Celebrate" is a catchy tune, but it starts to sound too much like other Embrace anthems. Embrace definitely has a style, but it is at times like these that it becomes too obvious with certain tracks. "Exploding Machines" is amazing only because of the excellent guitar riff and pounding breaking at the two minute mark. The last two tracks of the album are good and listenable, but not memorable.
"This New Day" is a good album and Danny's vocals are as consistent as ever. However, consistency may be the problem with this album. Though there are a few standouts, some of the other tracks sound too similar to each other or to other Embrace songs, casting them as unmemorable and undistinguishable songs at the end of the day.
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