Unlimited Streaming
Listen to this album in high quality now on our apps
Start my trial period and start listening to this albumEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
SubscribeEnjoy this album on Qobuz apps with your subscription
Digital Download
Purchase and download this album in a wide variety of formats depending on your needs.
Maxwell's ambition was one of the appealing qualities of his debut, Urban Hang Suite, especially since very few of his contemporaries were attempting to expand the boundaries of contemporary R&B. However, blessings can be curses, and that very ambition gets the better of Maxwell on his second album, Embrya. Loaded with pretentious song titles ("Gestation: Mythos," "Arroz con Pollo," "Luxury: Cococure"), the album bogs down in its own sophistication and his desire to make deep, serious music. Like Terence Trent d'Arby -- whose Neither Fish Nor Flesh offers a frightening parallel to Embrya -- Maxwell wants to be so much more than just another soul crooner, but his gifts become obscured the more he pushes them forward. To be sure, Embrya is far from a washout. Maxwell does have a remarkable voice and he can write really good modern soul songs -- it's just that he has a tendency to think that's not enough and then he overstuffs his songs with ideas that lead nowhere. With a little more focus, Embrya could have been an impressive second step. As it stands, it's a bit of a sophomore stumble, albeit one with promising moments.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
You are currently listening to samples.
Listen to over 100 million songs with an unlimited streaming plan.
Listen to this playlist and more than 100 million songs with our unlimited streaming plans.
From CA$ 10.83/month
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Glen Marchese, Engineer, Mixing Engineer - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programmer, Saxophone, Mixing Engineer, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programmer, Saxophone, Mixing Engineer, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Composer, Lyricist, Guitar, Keyboards, Co-Producer, Programmer, Saxophone, Mixing Engineer, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Musze, Composer, Lyricist, Producer, Keyboards, Programmer, Mixing Engineer, Synthesizer, Performance Arranger - Gloria Agostini, Harp - Reggie Hamilton, Guitar, Bass - Tom Coyne, Mastering Engineer - Bashiri Johnson, Percussion - Mike Pela, Assistant Producer, Mixing Engineer - Gerald Tarack, Violin - Matthew Raimondi, Violin - Veronica Salas, Viola - Daniel Sadownick, Percussion - Stuart Matthewman, Guitar, Keyboards, Programmer, Saxophone, Baritone Saxophone, Synthesizer - DARRELL SMITH, Engineer, Keyboards, Programmer, Synthesizer - Gene Lake, Drums - Maxwell, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Vocal - Clark Gayton, Trombone - Greg Moore, Guitar - Russell Gun, Trumpet - Chris Apostle, Project Coordinator - David Blumberg, Performance Arranger - Ian Dalsemer, Assistant Engineer - Kerri Griffin, Drums - Carl Carter, Bass - Susan Poliacik, Cello
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Album review
Maxwell's ambition was one of the appealing qualities of his debut, Urban Hang Suite, especially since very few of his contemporaries were attempting to expand the boundaries of contemporary R&B. However, blessings can be curses, and that very ambition gets the better of Maxwell on his second album, Embrya. Loaded with pretentious song titles ("Gestation: Mythos," "Arroz con Pollo," "Luxury: Cococure"), the album bogs down in its own sophistication and his desire to make deep, serious music. Like Terence Trent d'Arby -- whose Neither Fish Nor Flesh offers a frightening parallel to Embrya -- Maxwell wants to be so much more than just another soul crooner, but his gifts become obscured the more he pushes them forward. To be sure, Embrya is far from a washout. Maxwell does have a remarkable voice and he can write really good modern soul songs -- it's just that he has a tendency to think that's not enough and then he overstuffs his songs with ideas that lead nowhere. With a little more focus, Embrya could have been an impressive second step. As it stands, it's a bit of a sophomore stumble, albeit one with promising moments.
© Stephen Thomas Erlewine /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 12 track(s)
- Total length: 01:02:38
- Main artists: Maxwell
- Composer: Various Composers
- Label: Columbia - Legacy
- Genre: Soul/Funk/R&B R&B
(P) 1998 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Why buy on Qobuz...
-
Stream or download your music
Buy an album or an individual track. Or listen to our entire catalogue with our high-quality unlimited streaming subscriptions.
-
Zero DRM
The downloaded files belong to you, without any usage limit. You can download them as many times as you like.
-
Choose the format best suited for you
Download your purchases in a wide variety of formats (FLAC, ALAC, WAV, AIFF...) depending on your needs.
-
Listen to your purchases on our apps
Download the Qobuz apps for smartphones, tablets and computers, and listen to your purchases wherever you go.
