Fountains of Wayne - Utopia Parkway [Bonus Track]

Title: Utopia Parkway [Bonus Track] Artist: Fountains of Wayne Release Date: 4/6/1999 Re-Released On: 5/25/2004 Label: WEA International, Atlantic UPCs: 9325583001888, 766482910045 Genre: Rock Styles: Alternative Pop/Rock, Alternative/Indie Rock, Indie Pop Moods: Giddy, Earthy, Gleeful, Playful, Quirky, Theatrical, Bittersweet, Fun, Reflective, Amiable/Good-Natured, Energetic, Humorous, Summery, Springlike Total Copies: 0 Members Wishing: 1 Number of Discs/SwapaCD Credits: 1

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

Year Type Label Catalog # 2004 CD WEA International 30018 1999 CD Atlantic 780934

No other editions were found for this album.

There's no denying that Fountains of Wayne know how to craft a great pop record. They know how to write a hook, they can pull of mild rockers and sweet ballads with equal aplomb, and they write melodies that feel like half-forgotten favorites. They have all the elements of a classic power pop band but they suffer from that peculiar '90s ailment -- detachment. For all their flair, talent, and craftsmanship, the band doesn't really dig deeper than the surface. Of course, that doesn't mean they make bad records, and their second album, Utopia Parkway, if anything, is every bit as good as their fine debut. All the songs immediately make a connection and all of their melodic attributes simply strengthen with repeated listens. However, those repeated listens reveal that Fountains of Wayne don't have a lot to say. That's not a cardinal sin in guitar pop, since most bands simply recycle the same lovelorn themes, but the Fountains choose to have fun with cliché, throwing in goofy asides even in their ballads. Throughout the record, they seem like the well-read, pop culture-saturated kids who sat in the back of the classroom, cracking jokes that only they could understand. Depending on your view, this either enhances the fun or keeps the record at a distance, because if you don't share their disdain for hippies, laser shows, proms, malls, and bikers, it will be a little hard to sing along with those glorious melodies. For some, this may be a minor point, but consider this: emotional depth is what lifted Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend to classic status and what keeps Utopia Parkway from truly soaring, despite its many virtues. [This version of the album includes bonus material.] ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Name Credits Brian Young Drums, Percussion Chris Collingwood Guitar, Keyboards, Producer, Vocals, Photography Conway Kuo Strings Craig Kallman A&R Frank Olinsky Art Direction Garo Yellin Strings Gary Maurer Engineer Jody Porter Guitar, Vocals John Siket Engineer, Mixing Joseph Cultice Photography Kris Woolsey Handclapping Mike Denneen Mixing Ralph Farris Strings Ron Sexsmith Vocals (Background) Steve Yegelwel A&R Vlado Meller Mastering