I know Embrya's been out for a while now, but still, I felt I had to give Maxwell madd props. Recordings like these only come once in a lifetime. I dont blame anyone if all other Maxwell albums pale in comparison to this one or if Maxwell himself can't top this. The entire cd is sensual, stylish and spritual all at the same time. Major standouts for me include tracks 00, 01, 02, 03, 09. I scarcely know the lyrics to the songs but Maxwell's employ and arrangement of the drums, bass guitar, trumpets and other instruments is very richly textured.Īll the songs sound different from one another but they segue fluidly into each other. It is like bathing in melted chocolate, milk or pearls. If you've been been like me, getting by materially and haven't had much by way of luxury, then this cd is for you. It is what it is, by itself, alone and unmatched. Rebecca Wallworkįirst off, I take it as a personal insult when this type of music is classified as soul or neo-soul or whatever. 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. 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. 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). "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. Not only is Embrya a sublime summer soundtrack, it's a groove masterpiece from start to finish. 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. 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.
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