Embrace
The Good Will Out
(DGC)
Although this is just their debut album, Embrace will no doubt draw a lot of comparisons to another British rock group: Oasis. While most of their songs stick to radio-friendly lengths and they don't seem to be trying to mimic the Beatles all the time, they do have some of the same qualities as that group who's know as much for their antics as their music. Hailed by NME and several other British magazines as one of the top 20 albums of the year, The Good Will Out is one of those albums that brings back ones faith in lush, symphonic rock and roll.
While the group didn't really catch on in the United States (then again, quite a bit of good music doesn't, it's really no fault of the album. Most of the tracks on the 14 song effort have that building sing-along quality that can't help but get stuck in your head. The fairly standard drums, guitar, bass lineup is sprinkled with horn and string bits that add to the depth of the tracks and the singing isn't as whining as Liam's. Overall, it's a catchy, good album from a group who will probably make more noise in the future.
Rating: 7.25
