Debut albums rarely arrive with as much expectation as
Embrace's
The Good Will Out -- in Britain, at least. Arriving after the massive success of
Oasis and
the Verve,
The Good Will Out was perceived as the heir apparent to the lad-rock throne. One listen to
The Good Will Out illustrates why -- the group ingeniously combines the anthemic hooks and monolithic roar of
Oasis with the sweeping aural majesty of
the Verve. That alone makes the album a bracing listen, but
The Good Will Out doesn't quite have enough substance to compete in the big leagues.
Danny McNamara simply doesn't have the charisma of
Liam Gallagher or
Richard Ashcroft, and his songs aren't as immediate or memorable as
Noel Gallagher's or
Ashcroft's. That's not to say they're bad songs -- on the contrary, they're quite good, and they're performed passionately. It's just that in comparison to their peers -- who really are their influences, as well -- they lack that certain magic. Nevertheless,
The Good Will Out illustrates enough promise and panache to make it a first-rate debut. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine