Fountains Of Wayne - 'Welcome Interstate Managers' (S-Curve / Virgin)
4/5
By: Joshua K
Distressing news: that arbiter of lad culture, 'Maxim's Blender', has given this album five stars. An unexpected recognition of subtlety and intelligence that left rockfeedback speechless and shaken.
So really, there was only one thing to do. Convene music-loving friends from the Fountains' namesake town - Wayne, New Jersey - to get their unbiased opinions on the power-poppers' melodic third LP. (Note to the trainspotters: yes, the band is really from the town neighboring Wayne; but never let geography get in the way of good copy. Besides, rockfeedback doesn't actually know anybody from Montclair). Herewith, their thoughts and reactions...
Things admittedly begin a bit shakily, with feelings split about the opening trio of songs, 'Mexican Wine', 'Bright Future in Sales' and 'Stacy's Mom'. Some listeners quickly embraced the 'beat and guitar licks that scream 80's rock ballad' while others couldn't stomach the overly-sugary tone.
But from these 'possibly too clever' blasts, the record quickly settles into a consistently enjoyable groove. Overall, our guest-critics responded to the 'poppy hooks and universally-accessible storytelling,' a 'familiar sound that distils what's enjoyable about rock bands into one concise package: lyrics that span wit, self-consciousness and heart, paired with music that's catchy without being annoying.'
They reacted to the Fountains' ability to effortlessly mix tunes one wouldn't hasten 'to blast in my car' with a host of weighty topics. In fact, like their compatriots in Nada Surf, songwriters Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger tackle 'hometown nostalgia' and 'dashed adolescent dreams', the 'silent despair' of suburban living, and the desire to escape (see 'Peace and Love', in which the lyric about moving to Vermont to 'open a bookstore or a vegan restaurant' prompted one panelist to exclaim, 'Right on! That f**king commute makes you want to be anywhere but here!').
Furthermore, when the band aren't rocking they evoke a beautifully maudlin sound in tune with the lyrical content... Especially apparent on the back-to-back 'Valley Winter Song' and 'All Kinds of Time' - possibly the two most beautifully 'achy' tracks on offer and distinct LP -ighlights.
What, then, did our little focus group reveal? That the heathens at 'Blender' were right, proving the old (cough) maxim that it's better to be lucky than uncivilised. And, more importantly, that 'Welcome Interstate Managers' is a very good record, indeed.
Special Thanks to the 'Friends of Wayne': JS, JJ, JB
Artists in this article: Fountains Of Wayne
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