Embrace (English band)
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| Embrace | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Brighouse, England |
| Genres | indie rock, alternative rock, post-punk revival |
| Years active | 1997–present |
| Labels | Fierce Panda Records Hut Records Independiente Records DGC Records (US) |
| Website | http://www.embrace.co.uk |
| Members | |
| Danny McNamara Richard McNamara Steve Firth Mike Heaton Mickey Dale |
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- For the American punk band, see Embrace (American band).
Embrace are an English rock band from Brighouse, West Yorkshire. To date they have released five studio albums, one singles album and one b-sides compilation. The band consist of brothers singer Danny McNamara and guitarist Richard McNamara, bassist Steve Firth, keyboardist Mickey Dale, and drummer Mike Heaton. The group have released five studio albums – The Good Will Out (1998), Drawn from Memory (2000), If You've Never Been (2001), Out Of Nothing (2004) and This New Day (2006) – with a sixth in the works, expected to be released sometime in 2010.
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[edit] History
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Please help improve this article by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page. (December 2009) |
[edit] Early years: 1998-2002
After building a following through their EP releases, their debut album The Good Will Out was released on 8 June 1998 and went to number 1 in the British charts on 14th June 1998. It remains as one of their most acclaimed albums and has been certified 2x Platinum in UK and Platinum in Europe.
In 27 March 2000 the band released Drawn from Memory, which reached number 8 of the charts. However sales of their second album were stagnant, although the album was supported by an acclaimed tour, during which they were supported by then-fledgling Coldplay. Afterwards the band wasted no time and recorded their third studio album If You've Never Been, which was released on 3 September 2001. The album reached number 9 of the UK charts and was once again supported by an international tour, covering Europe, US and Australia.
Although the two albums were critically acclaimed their sales however were disappointing by comparison to the first album. Thus the band were dropped by EMI Virgin's Hut Records in 2002. Around this time frontman Danny McNamara became tabloid fodder due to a rumoured relationship with 90's pop diva Gina G. McNamara was also in a brief relationship with journalist Jayne Thompson.
[edit] Comeback: 2003-2006
They were signed by Andy McDonald to his Independiente Records label and produced a successful comeback album Out of Nothing, which reached number 1 in the UK in 2004. The 'comeback' single that preceded this album was Gravity, which had been written by Coldplay's Chris Martin and given to the band as Martin felt it sounded more like Embrace than Coldplay. Danny McNamara and Chris Martin had become firm friends after Coldplay had supported Embrace back in 2000 in Blackpool. The single was an instant hit, charting in at number 7. Coldplay have since re-recorded Gravity as a b-side for their single Talk.
The band's fifth studio album, This New Day was released on the 27th March, with the single Nature's Law being released the week before (and entering the Official UK Singles Chart at number 2). The album has been seen as a 'fresh start' by the band, with a new songwriting process in place, seeing the whole band contributing to the songs, not just the old writing partnership the McNamara brothers had previously enjoyed. This new technique certainly saw the band at its most productive, recording 24 songs in just nine days.[1]
Following their successful return with Out Of Nothing, the first single Nature's Law from This New Day entered the charts at #2 on 26 March 2006, providing them with their biggest hit by far. This New Day went straight into the charts at #1 and became their third number 1 album in Britain.
[edit] Recent years: 2007-present
The band played a new song live, "Heart and Soul," which is expected to appear on their sixth album (A live version of "Heart and Soul" is a b-side to "I Can't Come Down"). Danny claimed the band was not to split at the Hammersmith Apollo two days later, and then during each gig of their national tour, he repeated the statement. The band have been on break since finishing their Autumn 2006 tour, but have recently started writing songs for their next album.[2]
[edit] In other media
In March 2006, Embrace were chosen to record England's official football World Cup 2006 song, "World At Your Feet," which received its first radio play on 21 April 2006 on BBC Radio 1, to a generally poor reception among football fans, but to an overall positive reception from music critics. It was released on 5 June 2006 and entered the UK singles charts at #3 despite selling more copies than Nature's Law.[3] Danny McNamara and Steve Firth are both fans of Leeds United.
Although they are still relatively unknown outside of the UK, their single Ashes is one of the featured "EA Trax" on EA Sports's console-spanning FIFA Soccer 2006, and was also heard in the season two episode of Veronica Mars entitled "Normal Is the Watchword".
Furthermore, it was used on the BBC's Premiership football highlights programme 'Match of the Day' as the 'Goal of the Month' theme tune for the 2005-2006 season.[3]
Gravity was used as the theme for the ITV series Mike Bassett: Manager in 2005. The song "3 Is a Magic Number" has been featured on Swedish commercials. "Celebrate", from the 2006 release This New Day, has been featured in U.S. radio and television commercials for automaker Nissan in November 2009.
"Celebrate" can currently be heard as the backing track for the latest Nissan Year-End Clearance commercial in the U.S.A.
[edit] Covers
On Radio 1's Live Lounge, Embrace recorded a slower more melodic version of the D12 rap song "How Come". To great critical acclaim. It's also reported that Eminem himself is a fan of the adaptation.
[edit] Discography
- The Good Will Out (1998)
- Drawn from Memory (2000)
- If You've Never Been (2001)
- Out Of Nothing (2004)
- This New Day (2006)
[edit] References
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This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. (June 2009) |
[edit] External links
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