Alive In Wild Paint- Ceilings.
Debut album from oddly titled Alive In Wild Paint, “ceilings” pretty much sets itself up for corny Magnolia, and ‘watching paint dry’ gimmicks. If a fair weather music fan, as soon as track one begins, I think you would pretty much start shouting the gags ASAP. It’s not your every day catchy combination really is it?
But it’s brilliant. It sounds like environmentally friendly music, harmless and inviting. The boys from sunny Arizona would struggle to offend in the first few tracks, as vocalist Travis Bryant warms the record nicely. It hits the genre of indie (or old indie without the likes of Wombats, Enemy and Hoosiers overstepping the mark) on the head.
Misinterpreted reminiscent tracks remind me of early Radiohead, Ocean Colour Scene and Embace. This may all sound very depressing to you, but fear not; Alive In Wild Paint are a lot less reliant on heavy guitar and bass than your alternate rock bands. “Anxious Disease” is one of my favourites, subtle yet passive.
It’s all actually very clever and I want to compare to so much I am yet to listen to. Because this isn’t my chosen genre of music, nor would I have ever claimed it to be; yet Alive In Wild Paint have well and truly awoken and widened my eyes with this one. You don’t have to own every Coldplay or Athlete album to appreciate it; but a soft spot for either of the above would be handy.
They aren’t trying to break moulds, shoot genre barriers with a rifle or spark controversy, that should have become evident from the moment you read band name and debut title; but expect something you probably didn’t first off.
One word of advice; don’t listen to it when contemplative, or heading into a depressive state. Because it will drag you further. The vocals can at time be deemed droney or tack by track repetitive and when suffering from severe ‘I won’t like this’ syndrome, or torrential rain, I’d avoid with a passion. Fortunate enough to find glorious sunshine beaming through my window, I could welcome ceilings with open walls. Pick your moments but definitely give it a go.