The tunes review of what’s new

The MC Music Man takes on: Fountains of Wayne

By: Dustin Looney
Features Editor

Three years ago, Fountains of Wayne gained major recognition in the world of pop music with the release of their satirical hit single “Stacy’s Mom” from their third album, “Welcome Interstate Managers.” Earlier this month, they released their first CD featuring all new music since 2003.

For some unspoken reason, the new CD’s title is consistent with the other Fountains of Wayne (FOW) titles: they all share some obtuse connection to driving, this one being released under the title “Traffic and Weather.” The others were “Utopia Parkway,” “Welcome Interstate Managers” and “Out of State Plates.”

FOW has obtained a loyal following of fans due to their witty lyrics, which often relate a humorous, sometimes even poignant, story about everyday life. Having earned their props with “Stacy’s Mom,” FOW is becoming known for an uncanny ability to create music with heavy guitar and incredibly catchy lyrics and sounds which immediately draws the listener’s ear.

In a 2003 promo appearance on the Letterman show to introduce “Stacey’s Mom,” Paul Schaeffer told Dave that the group’s music was “hook laden.” I think that was Paul’s way of complimenting the band on its ability to get into your head.

FOW must take great pride in its collective ability to sarcastically capture a snapshot of everyday lives in a three- or four-minute song, as they usually take the viewpoint of some third-person character. In the past, they have written from the perspective of a kid who mows lawns, a traveling salesman, a frazzled office worker…even a football quarterback.

The brains behind the sharp music comes mostly from the band’s two original members, Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger who write all the music and lyrics and serve as the lead singer/guitarist and back-up singer/bassist, respectively. Along with Collingwood and Schlesinger are Jody Porter on lead guitar and Brian Young on drums. NPR once described the overall sound as “power pop,” and I cannot argue with that.

“Traffic And Weather” lives up to the high caliber of previous albums, but the group has clearly adopted a more sardonic approach to their stories. Perhaps this is reflection of the times and the group’s political leanings.

During a memorable appearance on Public TV’s “Soundstage,” Collingwood sported a t-shirt with a map of the United States and the single word “Whose” beneath it.

The new CD contains 14 tracks, and the following tunes are my personal favorites:

The CD opens, as do most FOW albums, with a catchy song which sets the tone for the entire album. “Someone To Love” is the first track on “Traffic and Weather,” and it tells a clever story about two lonely people, young lawyer Seth Shapiro and Beth McKenzie, who retouches photos for a magazine. The big city dwellers live seemingly ordinary lives and are looking to find “someone to love.” The song sets up the listener for the two lonely souls to meet each other in a happy ending, and the two yuppies eventually do find each other, but the unexpected happens. The last verse tells it all: “Seth Shapiro is tryin’ in vain/ To hail a taxi in the morning in the pouring rain/ Beth McKenzie sees one just up ahead/ She cuts in front of him and leaves him for dead.”

The third track on the album also relates a humorous, albeit happier, love story. It’s titled “Yolanda Hayes” and is about a girl who works “behind window B” at the DMV. The singer is a young man who gradually falls in love with Yolanda during his interminable wait in line. “Who can you trust with your love these days?…Yolanda Hayes.”

The fourth song on the CD is the title cut, “Traffic and Weather.” The characters are two TV anchorpersons who “belong together like traffic and weather.” When you cut through all the sexual innuendo, it’s up to the listener to ultimately decide whether the duo really belongs together.

Immediately following “Traffic and Weather” is a tune with a country music twist titled “Fire In The Canyon.” FOW shows off its diversity in this song and they include an abundance of clever phrases, such as “was it driving together, that drove us apart?” and the more philosophical “leave us to be born into a path straight and narrow/On every crooked road we travel down.”

Track eight is another humorous song called “Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim.” This song is unlike most other songs on the CD in that it is about two people who are already together and not lonely. Of course, FOW points out that nothing can be perfect, as Michael and Heather lose their luggage in the course of a long, long day. They have had enough, but they are still in love.

The tenth song on “Traffic and Weather” is titled “I-95.” This song is a slower love song about the state of Virginia and how “it’s a nine-hour drive from me to you south on I-95/ and I’ll do it ‘til the day that I die/ if I need to/ just to see you.”

The twelfth song on the CD has a unique sound and some atypical lyrics for FOW under the title “Planet of Weed.” I guess you could call it a sweet and mellow tribute to the 60s and smoking cannabis. “Oh baby, baby won’t you come with me/ Set your mind at ease/ Set your spirit free/ What a wonderful life we could lead/ Together, forever, life is better/ On the planet of weed.”

The CD concludes with “Seatbacks and Tray tables.” This song opens with an uncharacteristic but nice harmonica riff and tells about landing a plane in Oklahoma. The lyrics point out the humorous downside of flying in an airplane: “Suddenly I can’t feel my knees/Second-run movies/In-flight shopping magazines.”

“Traffic And Weather” was a much-anticipated CD for Fountains of Wayne fans. Many people thought their last CD, “Welcome Interstate Managers” was their best effort, and fans were curious to see if they could follow it up with another “hook-laden” album.

The new CD has actually received better reviews than any other FOW album, and I agree with the critics in that it is solid and adds to an already impressive body of work. “Traffic and Weather” has many typical FOW elements, and for the most part the songs are catchy and funny and will get your toe tapping after just one listen. For readers who are not familiar with the group, I also strongly recommend their earlier albums.