Fountains of Wayne - Utopia Parkway

Fountains of Wayne's second album is somewhat of a new thing under the sun: Pet Sounds for '90s Jersey high schoolers. Main-men Adam Schlesinger and Chris Collingwood litter these songs with cultural references (Pink Floyd laser shows, tattoos, Puff Daddy, lavender Lexuses, "You Dropped a Bomb on Me"), but their "Valley of Malls" is saturated with as much bittersweetness as that of Adam Sandler's wedding singer. The pop-savvy Schlesinger--who also puts in time as a member of Ivy and wrote That Thing You Do!'s title song--is wiseacre enough to dub a touching ELO tribute "Prom Theme," but when the album ends with one of the kids falling for "The Senator's Daughter," it feels as openhearted as when Brian Wilson puzzled over why he just wasn't made for these times. --Rickey Wright Amazon.com

An interesting record

This was FOW's 2nd record and you can tell why the public didn't react with a purchasing fervor. It doesn't have what you would call "singles" all over it. That however, is not a bad thing at all. Utopia Parkway shows us a band well into its own clever writing style. A bit of pop rock, witty lyrics that both have and poke fun, and great musicianship. I'm glad to have this in my collection as one of those secret records that most of my friends don't even know exists. Enjoy. September 28, 2007

I love this CD!

This is a great CD. There is not one song that I do not like. It has this 70's sound to it. I love to listen to it over and over again. My favorite song is Dragon Tattoo. June 4, 2007

Parkway to Pleasure

The second (and probably least appreciated) album by Fountains of Wayne. Although there are not many chart toppers here (mainly due to the album's softer tone), I found the album very enjoyable, although if I had to pick a single FoW album to own it would be their self titled debut. Chris and Adam continue to write lyric that make me laugh (who else would you hear "We've driving.. through the Valley of Malls" from?) and put them to tunes with varied (from the psychedelia of Go Hippie to the electronica of Denise) melodies. Favorites include Red Dragon Tattoo, Troubled Times (one of prettiest relationship ending songs I think I've ever heard.. Almost make you want to break up all over again), and The Senator's Daughter. August 26, 2006

Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album

One of the few perfect pop music albums made in the past 25 years. If there was a college class on how to make a pop record, Utopia Parkway should be the primary textbook.

There are no filler tracks on the album. Zero.

Great melodies. Great hooks. Sly little songs like Denise, Laser Show, and Lost in Space don't wear out their welcome. They come in like a cool, refreshing breeze and are gone in less than 2½ minutes. Never does this album drag. A few semi-serious songs will make you think, like the nostalgic Prom Theme. Mostly FoW is about having a good time, describing ordinary life with wit, in a perfect musical context. They know exactly when to use acoustic guitars, electric guitars, a cheesy synth, or a soaring string part.

Fountains of Wayne are able to express genuine pity in songs like Go Hippie and Fine Day For A Parade, but even here their sense of humor and intelligence never flags. Hippie contains a classic guitar solo that recycles every stereotypical riff and effect from the psychedelic era and spits it out in one minute. I love it! You will smile with recognition and thrill to the beauty of it.

Sometimes it is easier to list an album's flaws than its strengths. Honestly, after a dozen listens to Utopia Parkway, I can't find any flaws. If pressed, I would say that lead vocalist Chris Collingwood's voice is slightly thinner and weaker than on FoW's latest studio record, Welcome Interstate Managers, but for this type of music, it is hardly necessary to have the chops of a Billy Joel or the power of a Springsteen to pull it off. And Chris does, in spades.

Red Dragon Tatoo
It's just about on me
I got it for you
So now do you want me
With nothing to prove
Will you be my honey
Oh yeah
In you I confide
Red dragon tatoo
I'm fit to be dyed
Am I fit to have you?

This chorus from the second song on Utopia Parkway sums up the humor, simplicity, and cleverness of Fountains of Wayne. Like Interstate Managers, Utopia Parkway's songs are written from a middle-class suburban perspective. And what's wrong with that? FoW are us. Arguably this is a better album than their latest and more famous Welcome Interstate Managers, but really both albums are five star efforts. Don't be in the dark about this great band. July 26, 2006

Catchy Happy Guitar Pop

Utopia Parkway shimmers with the accomplished song writing that Fountains Of Wayne are famous for. With a Beatles meets Weezer sense of harmony and melody and lyrics with the kind of sense of humour and play on words purveyed by the likes of Ween and They Might Be Giants. There are serious ditties too but the majority is straight up fun. It is up beat, immediate and catchy and if that is the way you like your pop then buy this album. If you like things a bit more experimental or gritty this is not for you. October 10, 2005

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