Customer Reviews: Read 16 more reviews...
 Post MT February 1, 2005
11 out of 11 found this review helpful
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.
The first ever emo record? November 15, 2001
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
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.
 IMHO, best of all Dischord offerings May 29, 1998
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
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!
The roots of EMO.... December 31, 1999
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
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.
Best emo band ever April 6, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
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.
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