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Embrya

Embrya

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Artist: Maxwell
Label: Sony
Category: Music

List Price: $11.98
Buy Used: $2.48
You Save: $9.50 (79%)

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New (37) Used (38) Collectible (2) from $2.48

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars 216 reviews
Sales Rank: 4271

Media: Audio CD
Discs: 1
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.2
Dimensions (in): 5.6 x 5 x 0.5

MPN: 68968
UPC: 746468968222
EAN: 0746468968222
ASIN: B000007T1A

Release Date: June 30, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days

Tracks:

  • Gestation: Mythos/Everwanting: To Want You To Want
  • I'm You: You Are Me and We Are You (Pt. Me and You)
  • Luxury: Cococure
  • Drowndeep: Hula
  • Matrimony: Maybe You
  • Arroz con Pollo
  • Know These Things: Shouldn't You
  • Submerge: Til We Become the Sun
  • Gravity: Pushing to Pull
  • Each Hour Each Second Each Minute Each Day: Of My Life
  • Embrya

Similar Items:

  • Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
  • Now
  • Maxwell Unplugged
  • Brown Sugar
  • Love Jones: The Music (1997 Film)

Editorial Reviews:

Amazon.com
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


Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Love in all her disguises...   October 28, 2008
Kayama Bliss (usa)
What can I say? I love this man's music. He is truly a vessel for putting down the soulful peace and love/baby-making grooves.

He is always on rotation in our CD player and my personal playlist.

Mmmmm... Max!



2 out of 5 stars Very odd and obscure.   February 26, 2008
Dri the Complex Lonely (USA)
1 out of 2 found this review helpful

I don't even get what some of these songs are about. The single stood out most and there were maybe 2 other tolerable songs but the others left me lost.

I've been meaning to write this review forever but never got around to it. Forgot about it even. But then I started listening to Maxwell's "Til The Cops Come Knocking", came here to see the actual name for the CD it was on (couldn't remember) and kinda saw this CD right after his debut..

I was like, "OK. Time to speak my mind."

The sounds are very different and it will take you forever to understand what he's talking about on some of these songs.

I bought it for less than 7 bucks used but hey, that's cause I'm a fan of some of the songs he's done in the past (Til The Cops...Lifetime, This Woman's Work, etc...) and will always be a fan of his smooth vocal delivery.

Should have just purchased Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite...^_^

1.8 stars.

End Note: I like different, original music but this was like a Rubik's cube; impossible for me to solve and figure out!!



5 out of 5 stars Lush   December 12, 2007
LaDonnaNichole (OH, USA)
I didn't get into Maxwell or buy this CD until 2006. After enjoying his videos on VH1Soul I decided I wanted to hear more. I knew I wanted Urban Hang Suite and Now but I hesitated about buying Embrya. I'd read some negative reviews and it never got much airplay. I'm so glad I decided to hear it for myself. I believe that 99% of the negative reviews are because of the weird song titles and because it is not as funky as his debut. Play the entire CD once or twice and you will get past all of that and discover it for the lush romantic jewel that it is. The singles Luxury and Matrimony are feel good midtempo songs. Drowndeep is sensuous and sweet. Those are my favorite songs but this album has so much more to offer.


5 out of 5 stars deep soul   July 23, 2007
J. Y. TRASMONTE (S.F. Bay Area)
sensual, passionate, deep, dreamy, bubbly, exotic and sexy is what i can describe this album....( is that the reason why they call this neo soul ? )


5 out of 5 stars An Acquired Taste..   May 30, 2007
Jenks (Chicago, IL)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful

After his much hailed debut album, "Urban Hang Suite", Maxwell followed up with the less critically acclaimed "Embrya". Like its predeccesor, "Embrya" is a concept album, built around a theme or idea where each song is like a chapter in a novel. Essentially, this album is about birth/rebirth-the beginning of something new (the album cover illustrates this, as Maxwell appears as though he is in the womb). It continues where "Urban Hang Suite" ended and it's almost as if it is a sequel. Where "Urban Hang Suite" had Maxwell lamenting over lost love, "Embrya" finds him moving forward and finding new love. Many people just couldn't conceptualize this album-with its odd titled songs and varying music styles. Some critics dismissed it as self-indulgent. Therefore, album sales were a bit sluggish. In my opinion, I feel this album is superior to "Urban Hang Suite" and it is where my preference lies. The genre of music on his debut album pretty much stuck to the same format-there were elements of Funk, R&B and Soul, whereas, "Embrya" is more mellow and experimental branching off into different directions. There is a bit of reggae, hawaiian and what some refer to as "New Age" or "World Music". Being a fan of Sade, I enjoy the blending of varying music styles. Maxwell is no philosopher; many of the lyrics deal with love and eroticism (topics he seems to have pretty much mastered) and there is an element of spirituality ('Submerge: Til We Become The Sun'). The album begins with 'Gestation: Mythos/Everwanting To Want You To Want' and ends with 'Embrya' (a play on the word "embryo") which sounds almost like an ultrasound. I really can't pick a favorite song on this album, as I love them all. Some highlights include, 'Know These Things: Shouldn't You', 'Drowndeep: Hula' and 'Submerge: Til We Become The Sun'. While this album may not have been the darling of critics, it is an overlooked and undervalued album. Admittedly, it may be an acquired taste for some, but given a chance it will be appreciated as the lost gem that it is.

Used CDs

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Embrya (Category: Music )
Embrya (Category: Music )
Embrya (Category: Music )

Embrya - Maxwell (R&B) (CD 1998)
16 Nov 2008 at 8:07pm
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99 CENT CD ~ MAXWELL EMBRYA CD
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Maxwell - Embrya NEW CD
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MAXWELL (R&B) - EMBRYA - CD *NEW
29 Oct 2008 at 8:05pm
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EMBRYA CD NEW SEALED
6 Nov 2008 at 8:24am
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MAXWELL EMBRYA SEALED CD NEW
7 Nov 2008 at 9:58am
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MAXWELL- EMBRYA CD -NEW
11 Nov 2008 at 3:33am
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MAXWELL**EMBRYA**CD
11 Nov 2008 at 7:09pm
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MAXWELL (R&B) - EMBRYA - CD NEW
18 Nov 2008 at 8:46pm
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