Wall of Soundz

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Wall of Soundz
Wallofsoundz-brian.jpg
Studio album by
Brian McFadden
Released23 April 2010
Recorded2009–2010
Genre Electropop, dance-pop, pop rock
Length42:17
Label BMF Records, Island Records
Producer Robert Conley, Brian McFadden, Kevin Rudolf, Matt Squire, Wayne Rodrigues
Brian McFadden chronology
Set in Stone
(2008)		Wall of Soundz
(2010)		 The Irish Connection
(2013)

Wall of Soundz is the third studio album from Irish singer-songwriter, Brian McFadden. [1] It was released in Australia on 23 April 2010. [2] The album debuted on the ARIA Albums Chart at #27, its highest peak to date, and spent only three weeks in the ARIA top 50. [3] The album produced McFadden's second Australian number one single, "Just Say So", which features American rapper, Kevin Rudolf and gained a platinum accreditation, [4] as well as the second single, "Chemical Rush" which peaked within the ARIA top 15. [5]

Contents

Background and development

Wall of Soundz was originally going to be released as a side-project that McFadden embarked on with American songwriter and producer Robert Conley, known for his work with Australian singer Darren Hayes, but both decided that due to the variety of tracks, McFadden should release it as his third solo album. [6] McFadden and Conley spent over eighteen months writing songs together for the album in Conley's studio on Sydney's Northern Beaches. In an interview with Access All Areas, McFadden said, "A new solo album would have taken another two years to write. So Rob and I sat down and we decided that this was my new solo album – it was exactly where I was musically and made perfect sense". [6] McFadden also spent time in Los Angeles working on the album, and this is where he met up with American rapper, Kevin Rudolf, who provides guests vocals on the song, "Just Say So". McFadden explained, "I loved Kevin’s hit Let it Rock. It was good to see Kevin put his own twist on it, he did things I’d never think of doing. He’s got his own mind when it comes to records, he’s a musical genius." [6]

The album also features a collaboration with Amy Meredith lead singer, Christian Lo Russo, on the song "Not Now". At the time, Conley was working on the album with McFadden, he was also working on Amy Meredith's debut album, and introduced Lo Russo to McFadden and wound up duetting on the track. [7] Joel Chapman, the guitarist from Amy Meredith, co-wrote the song. [8] McFadden also collaborated with his fiancé Delta Goodrem on the song "Mistakes". In an interview with Music Theatre Australia he explained, "I wrote Mistakes after the album was finished, but it turned out so well Rob and I made it fit with the rest of the record. When Delta heard it she wanted to sing on it." [8] McFadden also stated in the interview that Wall of Soundz is the best album he's ever done. "I know people always say the same thing on every album 'This is the best album I’ve ever done' but for me this is definitely the best album I’ve ever done. This is the most excited I’ve ever been about an album. I haven't been this excited since the first Westlife album. It feels like a fresh start musically. It doesn't feel like just another Brian McFadden album and I love that." [8]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
The Age Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svg [9]
The Sydney Morning Herald Positive [10]
The Border Mail Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svg [11]
SX NewsNegative [12]

Upon its release, Wall of Soundz received generally mixed reviews from critics. Kylie Northover of The Age gave the album 3½ out of five stars and stated "McFadden has dispensed with the boy-band balladry – for the most part – and enlisted American producer Rob Conley to create some safely synthesised commercial dance beats over which he can croon." [9] Andrew Murfett of The Sydney Morning Herald gave the album a positive review saying "The new album marks a shift from traditional pop-rock to a more electronic sound. Full of AutoTune and effects, the sound is very 2010." [10] Garrett Bithell of SX News gave the album a negative review and stated "Unfortunately the material on offer here is very generic electro-pop, filled with so much auto tune McFadden’s vocals are often quite indistinguishable". He then went on saying "Overall this is disappointing, but then again my expectations weren’t high." [12]

Singles

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Just Say So" (featuring Kevin Rudolf) Brian McFadden, Robert Conley, Kevin RudolfRobert Conley, Kevin Rudolf3:18
2."Chemical Rush"McFadden, Anthony Egizii, David MusumeciWayne Rodrigues3:42
3."Not Now" (featuring Christian Lo Russo)McFadden, Conley, Lo Russo, Joel ChapmanRobert Conley2:55
4."Sign of the Times"McFadden, Tim James, Antonina Armato Matt Squire 3:14
5."Mr. Alien"McFadden, Wayne Rodrigues, Andrea RemandaWayne Rodrigues4:05
6."Love Transfusion"McFadden, Conley, Egizii, MusumeciRobert Conley3:43
7."Less Talk"McFadden, Conley, Egizii, MusumeciRobert Conley3:36
8."Mistakes" (featuring Delta Goodrem)McFadden, Jez AshurstJez Ashurst3:44
9."Kickin' Around the Love"McFadden, ConleyRobert Conley3:17
10."Now We Only Cry"McFadden, ConleyRobert Conley2:48
11."When You Coming Home"McFadden, Conley, Egizii, MusumeciRobert Conley4:36
12."The Smile Song" (hidden track)McFadden, ConleyRobert Conley3:11
iTunes Store deluxe edition bonus track [14]
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
13."Take a Bite"McFadden, ConleyRobert Conley3:19

Charts

Chart (2010)Peak
position
ARIA Albums Chart 27 [3]

Release history

RegionDateFormatLabelCatalogue
Australia 23 April 2010 [2] CD, digital download Universal Music Australia 2737633

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References

  1. ↑ Brian McFadden (17 April 2010). "Brian McFadden – Take A Bite – Brian McFadden – 'Wall of Soundz' Album Stream! – Take 40" . Retrieved 17 April 2010.
  2. 1 2 Brian McFadden Wall of Soundz The Music Shop Retrieved 23 August 2010
  3. 1 2 Hung Medien (9 May 2010) Brian McFadden – Wall Of Soundz australian-charts.com – Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  4. 1 2 ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2010 Singles Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA). Retrieved 23 August 2010
  5. 1 2 Hung Medien (27-06-2010) Brian McFadden – Chemical Rush australia-charts.com – Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  6. 1 2 3 Brian McFadden unleashes Wallz Of Soundz www.accessallareas.net.au – Retrieved 2010-09-25.
  7. ↑ Cameron Adams (8 July 2010) Amy Meredith are trying again and doing it right this time Herald Sun . Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  8. 1 2 3 Brian McFadden – Music Theatre Australia Entertainment www.musictheatreaustralia.com.au – Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  9. 1 2 Kylie Northover (30 April 2010) Brian McFadden: Wall of Soundz album review The Age (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  10. 1 2 Andrew Murfett (23 April 2010) Brian McFadden Album Review The Sydney Morning Herald (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  11. ↑ Brian McFadden – Wall Of Soundz – Music Reviews The Border Mail (Fairfax Media). Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  12. 1 2 Garrett Bithell (3 May 2010) Brian McFadden: Wallz of Soundz sxnews.gaynesnetwork.com.au (Evolution Publishing). Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  13. ↑ Hung Medien (25-04-2010) Brian McFadden feat. Kevin Rudolf – Just Say So australian-charts.com – Retrieved 2010-09-27.
  14. ↑ iTunes – Music – Wall of Soundz by Brian McFadden. Itunes.apple.com (23 April 2010). Retrieved 2013-06-28.
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