- Release Info -------------------------------------------------------------- -
Artist: Alive In Wild Paint
Album: Ceilings
Label: Equal Vision
Playtime: 48:48 min
Genre: Rock
URL: http://www.myspace.com/aliveinwildpaint
Rip date: 2008-02-11
Street date: 2008-03-18
Size: 69.49 MB
Type: Advance
Quality: VBR kbps / 4410kHz / Joint Stereo
- Release Notes ------------------------------------------------------------- -
In fusing together transplants of Terminal and Goodbye Tomorrow, Alive In
Wild Paint's four members (frontman Travis Bryant, guitarist Matt Grabe,
bassist David Roat, and drummer Austin Wilson) are certainly no strangers to
the music industry. And while you might think this could grant carte blanche
access to success in the biz, the band has faced plenty of adversity on the
way to release their Equal Vision debut, Ceilings. Whether it be roster
shuffles, release date backpedaling, or even van theft, the guys still seem
to have somehow come out stronger on the other side. "We're at a very good
place, both musically and in our relationships with each other," says Roat.
Through it all, the collective's strong work ethic and perseverance has
prevailed, as David reminds us all, "You have to look at the big picture
though, and have faith that your hard work and creativity will have some
reward in the end."
So alas, while the turbulence leading up to the unveiling of Ceilings might
lend itself to a natural sort of anger or bitter undertone in the band's
music, Alive In Wild Paint instead so coolly convey a disarming sort of
tranquility. Centering around Bryant's breathy, angelic croon, the band
weaves together a set of calming expressions that are the perfect tonic to
relieve the stresses of everyday life. Whether it be in the dancing pizzicato
of the record's title track, the subtle, minimalist instrumentation on
"Traffic," or the haunting piano balladry of "Forecasting," Alive In Wild
Paint skillfully prove they have a handle on the softer side of things.
However, it is just as plain to see that the collective is far from a
one-trick pony. Discussing the work as a whole, Roat explains, "Ceilings is a
very diverse record, and I think that's a big highlight of the album. It
showcases our ability to demonstrate different sides of our songwriting." And
this is exceedingly evident in kind - the lush drama of "Crystal Selves," the
driving rock pulse of "Sleep With Your Soul In," the sweeping majesty of the
re-imagined "A Vespertine Haunting," or a host of others. The end result is a
record that is varied, yet cohesive - indeed the best of both worlds.
With Alive In Wild Paint hailing from sunny Arizona, and Ceilings being a
thoughtful expression of accessible indie rock helmed by mega-producer Mark
Trombino, it makes perfect sense to indulge in comparisons to Jimmy Eat
World's Clarity. And while the band acknowledges those parallels, their debut
draws from a much wider base than just its hometown heroes - Snow Patrol,
Counting Crows, Nada Surf, Radiohead, Blonde Redhead, The Cardigans. It makes
sense to take cues from such a broad spectrum of music's finest when making a
record like Ceilings - a record inspired by "the idea of creating songs that
could be in film." It's not a stretch, though, since the scope of Ceilings
succeeds in matching its ambition. You could say that is attributable to any
number of factors, but above all, it seems that the group has always remained
grounded in the importance of perseverance. Looking back, Roat reflects, "I'm
sure we all faced our own personal doubts and fears from time to time, but
our passion always outweighed any idea of giving up." And when listeners have
a chance to bask in the mastery of Alive In Wild Paint's debut, they couldn't
be happier it has come to fruition.
- Track List ---------------------------------------------------------------- -
01. Ceilings ( 4:10)
02. Crystal Selves ( 3:57)
03. God Save Me A Gun ( 3:08)
04. Anxious Disease ( 4:17)
05. II ( 4:11)
06. Traffic ( 3:13)
07. Sleep With Your Soul In ( 4:15)
08. Forecasting ( 6:02)
09. Everywhere, An Ocean ( 5:14)
10. Children Of Divorce ( 3:22)
11. Cold Spell ( 3:23)
12. A Vespertine Haunting ( 3:36)
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