Embrace

These guys were probably one of the first bands that I got a bit more involved with. I first got into them about the time when they released their first single 'All You Good Good People' on Fierce Panda and I saw them as part of what I think was the NME Carling Premier tour in 1997 (which possibly had the Longpigs and Travis on the bill).

Anyway, I thought they were great and at the time I was doing my PhD in Bristol and was spending a lot of time working with computers and this was when I first got into using the internet. I eventually started to put together what turned out to be (I believe) the very first Embrace fansite just about the time when the other McNamara brother J was putting together the first official site. It was nothing special but it got a lot of attention including (from what I remember) a mention in Q magazine! It was a great time and there was a nice small community using the web in its early days and I had great fun updating the website. The first proper release was the Fireworks EP and it was absolutely amazing. A couple more singles and then an album 'The Good Will Out' followed on from that and with every release they set their sights high (to steal from one of their lyrics). I really loved the slow, acoustic ballads but they could do massive torch songs too which were quite wonderful.

After leaving Uni I didn't keep up the website but I kept listenig and buynig the music although in my eyes (and ears) nothing quite matched that first album. They've now released five albums and I think the last one 'This New Day' was a real return to form. The band's official website is well put together but what slightly disappointed me when researching some facts for this piece is how poor the quality of fansites is out their for the band.

For more information:
Embrace on Wikipedia
The Official Embrace Website

Essential Listening:
The Good Will Out
Fireworks: The Singles 1997 - 2002