Fountains Of Wayne Utopia Parkway (180GV)

8 (out of 10) - "...Fountains Of Wayne are a '90s version of the one-hit-wonders in That Thing You Do, whose theme Schlesinger wrote. They're modern-rock nebbishes, as intimidated by all the pop that's come before them as their protagonists are by TriBeCa..."
"[A] masterpiece of acutely detailed ennui."
"...If distance equals comedy, these guys aren't so far removed from their own youth that the narrative teen focus comes off as unduly ironic sociology. And Oasis would give up a week's worth of pints for any one of these pop hooks, though they'd never manage the humor or warmth." - Rating: A
3 out of 5) - Good - "...[UTOPIA PARKWAY] blends Beach Boys harmonies with mildly discordant guitar feedback reminiscent of Jesus & Mary Chain at their most restrained....endearing..."
4 (out of 5) - "...a collection of influences and styles spanning the history of pop - from surf music to psychedelia to punk to new wave....Each of UTOPIA PARKWAY's songs sound both instantly familiar and uniquely unforgettable..."
"...an album with an unerring focus on three-minute pop songs and timeless melodies. You'll hum a handful of tunes to yourself in idle moments hours after first hearing them, and there are plenty of witty lyrics to tickle your funny bone when you go back for more listens..."
4 stars out of 5 - "...From pensive love songs to odes for childhoods brought up in housing projects...it's all really rather wonderful..."
Ranked #2 in Mojo Magazine's "Best of 1999"
"...The beauty of these songs, quite apart from the apt, insidious melodies are that they're witty without being clever-clever..."