| PAINTING A BURNING BUILDING’s charm lies within it’s chameleon like approach to songwriting/production. Songs like “Already In Amazement” (temptations of an “other woman”),
“Since You’ve Gone Away” (loss of friends/family/love) and “Moving On” (relationship’s end) lean more on the Cars-esque rock tendencies with squealing synth/chunky guitars. Then you have
the Costello-ed “I’ll Write These Songs” (generational gap), the soulful “Permanent Smile” (growing up), the Sebadoh-ed rocker “KMS” (office-crush) and the Old 97’s/Built To Spill thriller “Loose Women” (the title says it all). Once we arrive at the end of the disc things take a turn for the Brian Wilson. “Old Heartless Sun” (voyage gone wrong) is a proggish electro-sea chantey. “Second Story” (secret admirer) is a warm Wilco-esque tune that goes into a “KMS” reprise and then an extremely somber sound collage. “Seeing You In No Time” (train-wreck and suicide) is another proggish tune which goes into a “Since You’ve Gone Away” reprise and yet another atmospheric sound collage that ends the album. Hidden in the mixes on this masterpiece are members of Ozma, The Singles, The Verve Pipe, Blues Traveler, Saturday Looks Good To Me and The Great Lakes Myth Society.
"...a fantastic album that ought to put him on the map."
Pitchfork Media review of "Painting A Burning Building"
“Boy genius or master pop craftsman? Wiard is all of the above.”
AMPLIFIER Magazine review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"The man is malleable; he's whatever he wants to be."
The Big Takeover review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"...nice production work throughout”
All Music Guide review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"Deceptively appealing...”
Comes With A Smile review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"People who like good music will benefit from picking up this album."
CLAMOR Magazine review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"Top notch all the way."
Aiding & Abetting review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"...you won't consume any better than this."
Glory Daze review of "Painting A Burning Building"
"...purely stellar songwriting..."
Real Detroit Weekly
"Ann Arbor's hardest working pop singer-songwriter..."
Real Detroit Weekly
"Painting A Burning Building is a stunner-hook laden and sonically intricate,
while never obscuring Wiard's unusual melodies and heartfelt evocative songs...
12 tracks represent a singer and a songwriter of unusual depth and talent.
Ranging from lush sea chanteys to heart-shattering love songs,
the record exceeds the sum of its considerable parts."
Ann Arbor News |
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