Embrya
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Description
The bass line of the opening track is the first sign, and the smooth funk of the second track confirms it: On Embrya, Maxwell has done it again. Sophomore efforts don't always fare well, especially when an artist is still riding high on the accolades of a debut, but Maxwell has managed to take the exquisite soul of 1996's Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite and, without sacrificing any of its verve, turn it into something far more sophisticated. Not only is Embrya a sublime summer soundtrack, it's a groove masterpiece from start to finish. "Luxury: Cococure," the first single, like "'Til the Cops Come Knockin'" before it, is only the slightest taste of the treasures waiting to be devoured. If you're looking for lush ballads, skip to "Matrimony: Maybe You," the haunting "Know These Things: Shouldn't You," and the sensual slow jam "Gravity: Pushing to Pull" (and yes, nearly all the tracks are subtitled like this). They may not be as yearning as those that detailed his weekend-long tryst on Hang Suite (Maxwell knows better than anyone just how far a little restraint can go), but these tracks are gifts on their own. Put them together and you have an album that does nothing but elevate Maxwell's impeccable reputation as the man who breathed life back into the soul of R&B. --Rebecca Wallwork
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2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:
Not his best seller...Monday, March 21, 2005
...but still a cracking album. Here Maxwell blends his usual style of smooth and sophisticated songs with a distinctly latin vibe. His vocal range is outstanding and very much up to the job in hand. This is an interesting experimental album in which soul, funk and r+b have a comfortable flirtation with smooth latin salsa's and bosa nova style influeneces.
Maxwell singing in Spanish is also a delectable highlight.
The style I think stopped this album fitting the mainstream but it is a worthy album nonetheless.
1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Maxwell is a GENIUS!!!Thursday, March 17, 2005
I truly love this cd. You can tell through his music that he knows true musicianship. The metaphors that he uses throughout his songs are deep and the instruments in the back are divine. If you like jazzy kinda funky music you'll enjoy this also.
1 out of 8 people found the following review helpful:
WHAT?Friday, November 26, 2004
I LIKE MAXWELL BUT
THIS ALBUM WAS BLENDED
TOO MUCH YOU
CAN BARELY
TELL THE SONGS APART
FROM ONE ANOTHER
THAT'S WHY I GAVE IT
ONE STAR IF ONLY
THERE WAS SOME DIVERSITY
HERE WITH THE TRACKS I WOULD
HAVE GIVEN IT 5 STARS.
2 out of 2 people found the following review helpful:
I love EmbryaWednesday, November 10, 2004
Get this CD.....you won't be disappointed! If you love Maxwell then this is a great CD to have. It never leaves my car. This isn't a "skip around" CD. All of the songs are good.
1 out of 1 people found the following review helpful:
Wonderful, Beautiful, Great!!!!!!!!Friday, October 01, 2004
I Love, Love, Love Maxwell and for the life of me I can't understand why people are saying this isn't a Great CD. I love it more than Urban Hang Suite. My favorite tracks are "Everwanting", "I'm You", "Drowndeep", Know These Things" and "Each Hour". This is definitely a romance and mature CD. I'm always waiting for a new Maxwell CD.