UMC
Striding confidently into the gap left by The Verve’s implosion, Embrace’s debut was one of the great post-Britpop albums, with strong ballads everywhere you look. It lived up to the hype, and the likes of Fireworks and All You Good Good People remain essential singalongs. The cartoon artwork hinted the band wanted to vary the mix second time around on Drawn From Memory, with guitarist Richard McNamara taking over vocals on quirky, Gomez-ish lead single Hooligan. The musical adventurousness baffled the public, and third album If You’ve Never Been tried far too hard to repeat the terrace anthem formula. It remains easily Embrace’s worst record to date. Finally back on vinyl after over 20 years, the first two are well worth investing in; while If You’ve Never Been is strictly for collectors.