Product Description

Fountains of Wayne turn self-conscious alt-rock geekdom into an unassailable art form on their second album UTOPIA PARKWAY. They combine classic power-pop song structure with a knack for the killer hook and an endless supply of self-referential lyrics detailing the lives of East Coast hipsters growing up in the postmodern age. Perfect pop harmonies, ringingguitars and the occasional synth sweep (for retro new wave credibility) match lyrics about "playing in a cover band" and taking "the N train down to Coney Island".
It quickly becomes plain that the outsider edge of the songs comes fromthe fact that the songs' characters are kids from the 'burbs who enter the city in search of deliverance, or at least relief from boredom. This scenario's apex is reached on "Laser Show", about driving into New York City's Hayden Planetarium to see Pink Floyd and Metallica laser shows. God bless those who write about what they know.

Track Listing

1. Utopia Parkway
2. Red Dragon Tattoo
3. Denise
4. Hat And Feet
5. Valley Of Malls
6. Troubled Times
7. Go Hippie
8. Fine Day For A Parade
9. Amity Gardens
10. Laser Show
11. Lost In Space
12. Prom Theme
13. It Must Be Summer
14. Senator's Daughter

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #63207 in Music
• Number of discs: 1

Amazon.co.uk Review
Loads of New York bands have written songs about their home towns. Few, however, have focused on the suburbs of the City That Never Sleeps: the tree-lined streets populated by commuters and shopping malls that make up much of New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island. This is the world of disaffected youth, the "gee-whiz" America of Frank Capra films colliding with the suburban nightmare of Amityville (which is, after all, a town on Long Island). Utopia Parkway is, in effect, a concept album about the world that's just a short train journey from Manhattan yet an eternity away from big city life. Songwriting duo Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger--the creative forces behind the Fountains Of Wayne--treat their subject with humour and dignity, singing about the lives and dreams of the suburbanites who populate their songs against a backdrop of soccer moms and high school proms. Moreover, the songs are flawless gems of guitar-driven pop perfection, like Teenage Fanclub at their best, running the gamut from fine to fantastic: from the rocking single "Denise" to the vintage pop of "Laser Show" and "The Valley Of Malls" to the witticisms of "Red Dragon Tattoo" ("Now I look a little more like that guy from Korn"). Utopia Parkway is a knowing portrait of a neglected aspect of American life and--most importantly--a perfect pop album. --Robert Burrow

Customer Reviews

fountains of wow
In my opinion its probably the best FoW album - just pipping the first.
Theres not too many rock out songs Denise probably the only real song of this type but its a great tune. If Troubled times had been written by a boy band it would have been number one for weeks - Amity gardens, Fine day for a parade and Prom theme are also stand-out tracks on the slower side. Special mention is given to the title track and Red dragon tattoo.
Others I didnt particulary like are Lost in space - not very catchy in my opinion and the same goes for Valley of malls.
I was hoping for a few more guitar driven power-pop type tunes along the lines of Radiation vibe or Please dont rock me tonight but in general its a more sentimental gentle album and when all said and done its a great collection of songs.

Superb - well worth all the five-star reviews
I've only just acquired a copy of this album, though it's been on my 'wish list' for ages - and it lives up to all the plaudits, five-star reviews and critical acclaim. It's one of those albums I'm going to enjoy getting to know better and better, but it's already a favourite!

The wonderful title track (which opens the album), the superb 'Red Dragon Tattoo' and 'Lost In Space' are the songs already buzzing around my head, but I don't think there's a duff track on here.

I think the FoW website suggests that they have another album on the way - at one time it was assumed that they'd split up - and I hope this turns out to be true...

Prom Theme - The Most Beautiful ELO Hommage ever
I always read Beach Boys being the main influence of Fountains of Wayne. But how about ELO? Weren't Fountains of Wayne the band who covered 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head' on their CD-single 'Sink To The Bottom'? And 'Prom Theme' definetely is the most beautiful, most touching and heartfelt ELO-Hommage I've ever heard! Thanks very much for this one, guys! I love your 'Prom Theme' to death, and I love ELO to death! And because of you, Mr. Schlesinger, obviously being a musical soul-brother of Jeff Lynne, I will check out all your work. But 'Prom Theme' will hardly be beatable as my favourite.