Review Summary: Christian Walz returns with a soul-influenced pop album that has, undeservedly, gone unnoticed.
Christian Walz's self-titled debut slipped under the radar of many back in 1999 -- even in Sweden, his home country. It wasn't a great success, although the two singles gained some publicity. And rightly so; they brought some fresh air into the mainstream music world in the form of soul-influenced pop. The kind that surprises you and feels like it has an element of depth, compared to the usual radio music. Unfortunately, the album was ridden with tracks where they either bordered too much on the generic pop sound, or tried to force the soul vibe down your throat. It was basically a "hit-and-miss" situation in the sense of balancing the two genres and finding the right spot. On the other hand, his debut showed a lot of potential for Walz as a songwriter and a vocalist. To have his ability to come up with catchy melodies, and his unique voice, as a 20-year-old was very impressive. Five years later in 2004, he released "Paint By Numbers". Walz is a bit older and more experienced this time around. And it shows: his sophomore album was going to generate several hit singles, "Wonderchild" being on of them.
Everything seems to be improved in some way or another on "Paint By Numbers". The soul-pop combination feels natural, the melodies are even more infectious than before, and the album provides a consistent listening experience. Instead of opening safe, like on his eponymous debut, Walz decides to immediately make it clear what kind of album this is. "Hit n' Run" shines with attitude, swagger and already proves that this is going to be better than anything before it. The intro features clean guitars that perfectly embodies the improved soul-influenced sound Walz is going for. Rather than feeling strained, it helps bring that depth to the song. "Hit n' Run" is followed by the quirky, almost funky, "No No". It starts with a beat that sounds like something out of a hip-hop song. In the background you can hear a subtle guitar riff that make it sound funky. The verses consist of two people talking where one of them is unable to say anything other than no. At first it sounds strange, and one might be inclined to skip it. But don't; the chorus is fantastic and completely redeems the unusual nature of the song. "No No" can therefore be hard to listen to at first, but it is a great song. Third track "You Look All The Same" is slightly more pop-oriented. The soul element remains, it's just not as prominent in this one. Its chorus sounds like the usual radio pop song, while the verse compensates with a moody melody that sounds more like the previous two songs. Not one of the stronger songs, but it still reaches the bar set by "Hit n' Run". "Paint By Numbers" is off to a great start.
Probably the biggest flaw of Walz's debut album was that the ballads were all tedious and there were too many of them. With cliché-ridden lyrics they set the album up for a downfall. This isn't the case on "Paint By Numbers". Songs like "Never Be Afraid Again", the second single, is an honest piano ballad with a memorable melody and -- again -- a depth to it. The piano, the strings, the occasional electric guitar; they all contribute to make the song interesting. Walz's vocal performance is great as always and his sense for good melodies is still there. After this run of four great songs, we arrive at the only dip in quality on the album: "Sunday Morning Breakup". The title alone gives an unpleasant impression and the song isn't much better. It's a soul-blues number that fails to impress. Walz's aggressive vocals are impressive, but not enough to even out the rather average song. "Sunday Morning Breakup" doesn't reach the lows that can be found on "Christian Walz", although it doesn't reach the highs of this one either. After this minor road bump we're once again blazing down the highway with "Maybe Not". The song is a welcome return of the soul-pop sound and features a great verse and an exploding chorus. As one of the stronger songs on the album, it maintains the momentum that was brought in motion by the first four tracks. And to increase the momentum even further, "Maybe Not" is followed by "Wonderchild".
If you're reading this, there's a great chance that you've heard the hit single "Wonderchild". Upon its release it became extremely popular -- especially in Europe. It's arguably the best song Walz has ever written and is a great example of what a talented songwriter he is. The falsetto that he has learned to master (and use carefully) makes for one of the most catchy choruses you'll ever hear. "Wonderchild" is instantly recognizable with its palm-muted guitar riff and Walz's unique voice asking the question:
"How you gonna breathe if you're underground?" The song eventually segues into "Die"; another ballad that does its job well. Then we have "I Will Let You Down" which is among the best songs Walz has ever written. It has a clever vocal melody and a great chorus, a recurring theme on "Paint By Numbers". Two slower songs ("Red Eye" and "Missing You") end the album on a high note. They may not be the most original songs lyrically, but they fit the role well and are pleasing to the ears after the high-paced ride that is "Paint By Numbers". Walz second attempt at perfecting the soul-pop sound ends in success, and turns out to be a hidden gem in the mainstream pop jungle.
Recommended tracks:
"Wonderchild"
"Hit n' Run"
"Never Be Afraid Again"
"I Will Let You Down"
"Maybe Not"
