Amazon.co.uk Review
Embrace's early comparisons to
Oasis now seem hopelessly optimistic and
Fireworks, their collection of singles to date, seems to be an attempt to draw a line under this period and start afresh. Judging by the newer songs here, such as the gorgeously delicate "Wonder", they've already started this process, shifting focus away from the band--who have always been oddly bland and forgettable--and onto the songs. Like James, Embrace are a group that have released some cracking songs that you always attributed to someone else. From the Britpop inflected "All You Good Good People" to the playful kazoo and
Beta Band shuffle of "Hooligan", the McNamara Brothers certainly know how to write an incandescent melody and, aside from the woeful misadventure of their "Three Is A Magic Number" cover, it's hard to find fault with what's here. Whether a singles collection is really an admission to the turgid dross of their album fillers remains unclear, and these aren't songs that are going to change the world, but they provide a pleasing backdrop to the world ticking on.
--Ben Johncock
CD Description
Singles compilation from the Huddersfield post-Brit Pop band who became a chart act in 1997. Their sound has often beencompared to their predecessors Oasis and The Verve. The singles 'All You Good Good People', 'Come Back To What You Know', and 'My Weakness Is None Of Your Business' were all top ten singles in the UK.