Utopia Parkway

Amazon.com
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

People
The CD is a fountain of melody, harmony and hooks. And the lyrics live up to promising titles like "The Valley of Malls."

Utopia Parkway,Fountains of Wayne,Atlantic / Wea,Alternative Pop/Rock,Indie Pop,Jangle Pop,Pop,Pop Underground,Popular Music,Power Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop

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Utopia Parkway

Average customer rating: I love this CD! Parkway to Pleasure A Pop Classic Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album Catchy Happy Guitar Pop

Utopia Parkway Fountains of Wayne Manufacturer: Atlantic / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Jangle Pop | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop General | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Pop Rock | Pop | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Alternative General | Alternative Rock | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music 4-for-3 Alternative Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Pop | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Rock | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fountains of Wayne Welcome Interstate Managers Out-of-State Plates Traffic and Weather Drunk Enough to Dance ASIN: B00000IFW1 Release Date: 1999-04-06

Tracks:

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

Amazon.com

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

Customer Reviews:

I love this CD!.......2007-06-04

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.

Parkway to Pleasure.......2006-08-26

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.

A Pop Classic.......2006-08-20

The more I listen to Fountains of Wayne, the more they amaze me. Intelligent, witty, and catchy songs, and they can play, too. Who do these guys think they are? The Beatles?

Member of a rare species: the perfect pop album.......2006-07-26

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.

Catchy Happy Guitar Pop.......2005-10-10

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.

Average customer rating: Their best work to date, plus a bonus track Pure Pop For Now People!

Utopia Parkway (+ Bonus Track) Fountains Of Wayne Manufacturer: WEA International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B00000J7L3 Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

1. Utopia Parkway
2. Red Dragon Tattoo
3. Denise
4. Hat and Feet
5. Valley of Malls
6. Troubles 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
15. I Know You Well [*]

Album Description

Asian edition of sophomore album, originally issued in 1999, includes one exclusive bonus track, 'I Know You All'. Atlantic.

Album Details

Features Bonus Track 'i Know You Well'. Ron Sexsmith Guests on a Track.

Customer Reviews:

Their best work to date, plus a bonus track.......2007-03-28

This album shows a wide range of lyrical and musical talent -- a talent for whimsy and humor, sympathy, melody, harmony, and rich production that overlays guitars, keyboards, and vocals into a beautiful pop soundscape. They can rock out too, as on Go Hippie and Denise. I suppose one could say it is a little lightweight, but writing the pop music equivalent of The Wall is not Fountains of Wayne's forte. It is what it is.

The Asian import adds a beautiful romantic bonus track, I Know You Well. It is not a throwaway song -- it stands equal in quality to the rest of the album.

The sound of the import, on my system, seems to be tilted more toward the midrange and bass, with a bit less zing in the high frequencies. That's not necessarily a bad thing. The USA release is a little on the bright side.

Pure Pop For Now People!.......1999-08-23

Better late than never! The best band of the 90's has arrived. All the best 'B' bands - Bay City Rollers, Beach Boys, Beatles, Blondie - rolled into one! Definitely my pick for the album of the year. And I just secured myself a ticket to see them here in the fall! Brian Wilson, who I just saw last month, will be tough to top, but if anyone can I expect the Fountains will. Delicious blend of Power Pop, old New Wave and sixties styled melodies. Pure pop for now people, indeed.

Average customer rating: "Maybe One Day Soon It'll All Come Out..."

Utopia Parkway Fountains of Wayne Manufacturer: Wea International ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Power Pop | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rock | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0002547OS Release Date: 2004-05-25

Tracks:

1. Utopia Parkway
2. Red Dragon Tattoo
3. Denise
4. Hat and Feet
5. Valley of Malls
6. Troubles 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
15. I Know You Well [*]

Customer Reviews:

"Maybe One Day Soon It'll All Come Out...".......2004-12-21

Fountains Of Wayne have produced several underappreciated gems--"Denise," "Stacy's Mom," "Sink to the Bottom"--but the one I could forget only with years of intensive electro-shock therapy is "Troubled Times," a candied little ballad on the "Utopia Parkway" album. "Troubled Times" features one of the most Ebola-like melodies EVER. One, at the most two, exposures to it and you're done. The thing will stick to your cerebral cortex faster than your girlfriend's phone number.

But it's not like the words in the song are irrelevant. It's just that they fit the melody in a way that just seems right, like an olive in a martini. The song has to do with the inarticulate passions of love and the heart-quickening secrets of desire that can never quite be expressed right:

"Maybe one day soon/
It'll all come out/
How you dream about each other sometimes..."

It's a feeling almost emblematic of youth, the almost unbearable roller-coaster combination of two intoxicating emotions: your desire for someone and the agonizing realization that maybe, just maybe, they might desire you back. Yet none of this would matter a whole lot without that melody, which does to the lyrics what a French chef can do to a couple of eggs.

We've all been victimized by melodies so sickly sweet and juvenile, we can't escape their echoes (I won't mention "The Brady Bunch" theme song ... Doh, shouldn't have done that). The answer to such a scourge isn't no melodies. Find Fountains of Wayne, and you'll see the answer is more melodies. This album is a MUST-HAVE, if only for "Troubled Times".

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Rap Music

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