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Fireboy

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Fireboy
Studio album by
Released1993
RecordedParadise Studios, Sydney, Platinum Studios, Melbourne
GenreAlternative rock
Length52:42
LabelWhite Label[1]
ProducerDave Dobbyn
Grant McLennan chronology
Watershed
(1991)
Fireboy
(1993)
Horsebreaker Star
(1994)

Fireboy is the second solo album by Grant McLennan, a member of the Go-Betweens.[2][3] It was released in 1993.[4] In the album's liner notes McLennan said the songs were for Gloria Swanson, Kenneth Slessor, Brett Whiteley and Dean Martin. Produced by Dave Dobbyn, it was recorded in Woolloomooloo.[5] The first single was "Surround Me".[6]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Calgary HeraldB+[7]
Robert Christgau(2-star Honorable Mention)(2-star Honorable Mention)[8]

Trouser Press called the album "a near-perfect convergence of observant, passionate words and jangly, surging tunes."[9] The Calgary Herald wrote that McLennan "sings with conviction [and] poetic insight."[7]

AllMusic wrote: "If there are hints of older rock styles here and there, McLennan's singing in particular still has the sharp, modern edge that helped make the Go-Betweens great, all while not losing his trademark warmth."[10]

Track listing

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All tracks written by Grant McLennan, except where noted.

  1. "Lighting Fires" – 3:36
  2. "Surround Me" – 3:55
  3. "One Million Miles From Here" – 3:45
  4. "The Dark Side of Town" – 3:46
  5. "Things Will Change" – 2:45
  6. "The Pawnbroker" – 8:12
  7. "Whose Side Are You On?" – 3:09
  8. "Fingers" (Grant McLennan, Dave Dobbyn)– 3:34
  9. "Signs of Life" – 4:23
  10. "The Day My Eyes Came Back" – 4:08
  11. "Bathe (in the Water)" – 3:30
  12. "When I Close My Eyes" – 1:24
  13. "Riddle in the Rain" – 6:29

Personnel

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  • Grant McLennan – vocals, guitars, tambourine, maracas
  • Dave Dobbyn – guitars, keyboards, backing vocals
  • Ian Belton – bass
  • Pedro Bull – organ, piano
  • Michael Barclay – drums, backing vocals
  • Penny Flanagan – vocals ("Surround Me", "Bathe")
  • Julia Richardson – vocals ("Surround Me", "Bathe")
  • Karin Jansson – vocals ("The Dark Side of Town", "Things Will Change")
  • Mae Moore – vocals ("Bathe")
  • Nicky Ferguson – vocals ("Lighting Fires")
  • Stephen Hurley – organ ("Bathe")

References

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  1. ^ Forster, Robert (14 August 2017). "Grant & I: Inside and Outside the Go-Betweens". Omnibus Press – via Google Books.
  2. ^ "Grant McLennan Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ Mathur, Paul (6 March 1993). "Fireboy by GW McLennan". Melody Maker. Vol. 69, no. 10. p. 29.
  4. ^ Buckley, Peter (20 September 2003). "The Rough Guide to Rock". Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Wilson, Bridget (21 May 1992). "PRINCE TAKES SHINE TO SOME LOCAL TALENT". Eastern Herald. The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 5.
  6. ^ Kearns, Lisa (2 April 1993). "Dancing towards oblivion". News. The Age. p. 10.
  7. ^ a b Muretich, James (4 April 1993). "G.W. McLennan: Fireboy". Calgary Herald. p. C2.
  8. ^ "Robert Christgau: CG: Grant McLennan". www.robertchristgau.com.
  9. ^ "G.W. McLennan". Trouser Press. Retrieved 20 September 2022.
  10. ^ "Grant McLennan - Fireboy Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.