Fireboy

For other uses, see Fireboy (disambiguation).

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]

Fireboy
Studio album by Grant McLennan
Released	1993
Recorded	Paradise Studios, Sydney, Platinum Studios, Melbourne
Genre	Alternative rock
Length	52:42
Label	White Label[1]
Producer	Dave Dobbyn
Grant McLennan chronology
Watershed (1991) Fireboy (1993) Horsebreaker Star (1994)

Critical reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
Calgary Herald	B+[7]
Robert Christgau	[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

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

• 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")