another one of my Fountains of Wayne threads

[Czech]

The weather's getting nice, so it's time for me to fall back into my perennial power-pop groove, and so should you! Why this band had to settle for one-hit wonder status years after their prime while those hackneyed shitheels in Weezer got so much unwarranted attention, I'll never know, but the first two albums and the b-sides compilation are requisite soundtracks for all your summer driving, summer jogging, summer [verb]ing, whatever.

Who else is a fan besides me and Kamala? I'm thinking of crafting a playlist or two for us all. Maybe split it up between the really bright upbeat stuff (Maureen, Amity Gardens, Radiation Vibe) and then the "darker" (strictly relative) stuff (She's Got a Problem, Troubled Times, A Fine Day for a Parade)?

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Funny that you created this thread a few days after there was a (false) rumor that they were breaking up. I caught them on their acoustic tour last winter and they played four songs off their "upcoming" album and IIRC they were uncharacteristically dour.

I may be the only one but I'd put Welcome Interstate Managers up there with the first two albums and maybe even slightly ahead of Utopia Parkway. Traffic and Weather was a bit of a letdown but still had 4-5 good songs. I honestly can't say they've recorded an album that was less than decent and at the very least, haven't recorded anything as disastrous as Weezer's output in the past five years. Way I look at is both bands' had long hiatuses in the late '90s/early '00s. If they had both stopped in '99, I'd just put FoW slightly ahead but add in the past ten years, it's no contest. If FoW has anything, its consistency. They may never match the debut but they'll always periodically release decent shit.

 

[Czech]

Utopia Parkway is slightly ahead of the s/t for me. I guess I like that darker stuff, though the debut does have "She's Got a Problem" so I dunno.

If they broke up, I wouldn't care at all, and it'd be for the better. Much like Ben Folds, their well is dry.

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

I wouldn't be surprised either if FoW did actually break up. They looked kind of glum during aforementioned show last year and it's been a good 15-16 months since it and I haven't heard anything else about the new album. I guess they're just busy with side projects.

Maybe it's just the apologist in me talking but I think Ben Folds is someone who has another good album in him if he finds a better filter for his ideas. His last album was way too quirky by a millionth. Then again, Songs For Silverman was bland Adult Contemporary pablum. I still think it's best if he becomes a bargain basement, Gen X Randy Newman and focuses on writing songs for kids movies.

 

[Cerebus The Aardvark]

Why this band had to settle for one-hit wonder status years after their prime while those hackneyed shitheels in Weezer got so much unwarranted attention, I'll never know,

Because Weezer was "popular" due to their first album, even though Pinkerton was the only really good thing they've done. It's quite apropos that Rivers Cuomo hates that album.

Regarding FoW, they're alright. I haven't heard a ton of their stuff, but what I have heard was perfectly acceptable and unoffensive. Maybe that's another reason for the above; they're in no way polarizing, and seem to be one of those quintessential "middle" bands.

Of course, I could be (and usually am) totally wrong.

 

[Precious Roy]

Teenage Fanclub

Teenage Fanclub - Metal Baby

The Posies

The Posies - Definite Door (1993)

I've never listened to any Fountains of Wayne, but something tells me they're a little bit too gay for me

 

[Precious Roy]

Way I look at is both bands' had long hiatuses in the late '90s/early '00s. If they had both stopped in '99, I'd just put FoW slightly ahead but add in the past ten years, it's no contest.

Ok, admittedly I've never heard anything from Fountains of Wayne besides Stacy's Mom, but according to wiki they put out an album in 96 and an album in 99. Without even listening to them I know that neither one of them is going to be as good as The Blue Album. Pinkerton is mad overrated (at least it used to be, I have this sense that the popular opinion might be catching up at this point), but I find your opinion highly unbelievable on the strength of Weezer's first album alone. If either Fountain of Wayne album was that good I would know someone who's a fan of them or at least have come across this opinion somewhere on the internet before today.

Fuck, now I'm actually motivated to listen to this band. But not that motivated. Czech, make me a mixtape!

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

First album is as good as The Blue Album, second album is better than Pinkerton (which I agree is overrated). I've got somewhat of a contrarian opinion regarding most things related to popular music though.

 

[Sesquipedaliantique]

I actually prefer Pinkerton to the blue album by a fairly wide margin. The debut's great, but a lot of the songs sort of blend into each other and 'Only in Dreams' drags on for far too long. At least the weaker moments on Pinkerton (all two of them!) are short and painless.

Of course, this is coming from a major 'Weezer 'pologist' who loves the red album almost as much as those releases, so take it for what it's worth.

 

[Kinetic]

The first Fountains of Wayne album is really fun, loose power-pop. I wouldn't personally put it in the same league as the first Weezer album, but it's definitely an enjoyable listen and was a real favorite of mine as a teenager. Utopia Parkway is mostly bland MOR pap and really isn't worth the trouble for anyone who hasn't heard it before. "Denise" should have been a bigger hit, though. It's basically "Stacy's Mom" without the goofy lyric and overt Cars influence.

edit: Now listening to "Denise" for what could be the first time since 1999. I take back that thing about this not sounding as Cars-influenced. Still good, though!

 

[Precious Roy]

MOR?

 

[Cackling Co Pilot Kamala]

Middle of The Road.

 

[Czech]

I don't think "MOR pap" is totally fair, but that's just me.

http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?qn3myg3jnmn

Here's a playlist for Precious Roy and anyone else who's interested. 26 songs over 80 minutes, but there's no "Stacy's Mom." Five from the s/t, seven from Utopia Parkway, two from Welcome Interstate Managers, and the rest are b-sides & rarities. Fits right on one CD for your summer driving needs!

 

[Czech]

Elsewhere in the land of power-pop, I'm listening to this one this morning. For shame, I forgot all about how good this one is, especially "The Concept."

 

[sbofn]

I'd also recommend Tinted Windows self-titled debut and (yes, really) Josie and the Pussycats soundtrack. Both feature absolutely fantastic songs by Adam Schlesinger of FoW.