Super Secret Double Awesome Japanese Import B-Side Collection by Brandon Wiard

"To Someone I Know", a collection of his own songs and some co-written with his old bandmate, was independently released in November 2001. In lieu of having a band he performed his arsenal of songs with just an acoustic guitar and a golden throat. To date he has opened for such national acts as Mason Jennings, David Dondero, Mike Viola, Hey Mercedes, Clem Snide, Joseph Arthur, The Church, The Divine Comedy, Ours and many others. He has already toured both coasts, playing at such venues as The Knitting Factory in Hollywood, CA and Grammyfest (a Grammy's sponsored gig) at Maxwell's in Hoboken, NJ. He has just been asked to play the 2004 Midpoint Music Festival in Cincinnati, OH, Dewey Beach Music Fest in Dewey Beach, DE

M.E.A.N.Y. FEST 2004 in New York, NY, The Mid-Atlantic Music Conference in Charlotte, NC and The Midwest Entertainment Industry Conference in Lexington, KY.

His new album, "Painting A Burning Building" features members of Ozma, The Singles, The Verve Pipe, Saturday Looks Good To Me and Blues Traveler, among others. 2 songs from the album were in the top 1500 for the 2004 Billboard Songwriting Competition.

It is the result of two years without food, sleep or rational thought.

Lush indie-pop intended for tight-fitting headphones and attentive listening.

It also sounds pretty good cranked-up on a shitty car-stereo.

As witty as he is sincere, Wiard's songs will break your heart and then offer to drive you home.

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"He could have continued to grow slowly and safely, but instead he dove in head first, and came out with a fantastic album that ought to put him on the map."

Pitchfork Media review of "Painting A Burning Building"

by Joe Tangari

Rating: 8.1 (highest rated that day)

"Top notch all the way."

Aiding & Abetting review of "Painting A Burning Building"

"...nice production work throughout and the kind of intent that should entice fans of rendered pop that's attentive to life's most common flaws and feelings."

All Music Guide review of "Painting A Burning Building"

by Johnny Loftus

3/5 Stars

"...it's the surprises he throws in along the way that make "Painting a Burning Building," such an aural pleasure...in a good, Brian Wilson kind of way"

Ann Arbor News review of "Painting A Burning Building

"...a pop-music singer-songwriter of a caliber that defies both his youth and his quiet nature..." -Ann Arbor News full-page article entitled: "Wiard For Sound"

"...building a bridge between the singer-songwriter genre and British-sounding indie pop-rock...but Brandon Wiard does it more convincingly than in most cases."

Past & Present review of "Painting A Burning Building"

4/6 Stars (DENMARK)

"...bright and breezy slice of pop that contains as much melody as a Hershey bar contains life-threatening levels of sugar, you won't consume any better than this."

Glory Daze review of "Painting A Burning Building"

4/5 Stars (NEW ZEALAND)

"...acoustic guitars, violins, piano, electronic sounds, indie-rock fuzz guitar and purely stellar songwriting to create a sound not unlike Jason Falkner or Ben Folds."

Real Detroit Weekly show preview

"...Rilo Kiley in their 'Takeoffs and Landings' days but if Jenny Lewis was John Mayer. And rocked harder...I'm surprised I haven't heard this on the the radio before."

Sound The Sirens review of "Painting A Burning Building"

"From its ballads to its rock 'n' roll romps, the album has nothing but good intentions to make you feel a little misty-eyed, but mostly ready for life and love."

Cloak & Dagger Media review of "Painting A Burning Building"

"Ann Arbor's hardest working pop singer-songwriter...songs that run the gamut of pop-rock emotion with a similiarly idiosyncratic brand of lyrical craftiness."

Real Detroit Weekly review of "Painting A Burning Building"

by Matthew Stern

3/5 Stars

"Songs like 'Miss Michigan' will not just give warmth to the CMJ crowd but also to those casual observers of pop flare."

Smother.net review of "Painting A Burning Building" (Editor's Pick)

"Painting A Burning Building only confirms what I knew all along, Brandon Wiard is a masterful songwriter who isn't afraid to take chances in the studio,

chances that are bound to pay off."

The Pit Monthly (Flint, MI) front-page article entitled: "Wiard For Success"

"Painting A Burning Building is a stunner-hook laden and sincally 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 Spotlight cover story

"WOW! Love when these great CD's arrive out of the blue---never heard of Wiard, but we`re hoping all you will soon be 'hep' to this impossibly ambitious and catchy affair. Fans of Matthew Sweet, The Lemonheads, The Candy Butchers, classic Elvis Costello and Teenage Fanclub pay attention, please. Wiard has a firm grasp on melody and orchestration but there is song-after-song of sucker punch surprises with felicitous, wholly satisfying hooks laying the foundation."

NotLame.com review of "Painting A Burning Building"

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