Welcome Interstate Managers (studio album)
by Fountains Of Wayne

From Brad1770 09/13/2021 09:38 | #273674

There’s is a recurring movie trope whereby the hero eventually realises they are and always have been in love with the nerdy geek next door. I pretty much feel the same way about Fountains Of Wayne, only understanding and appreciating recently how much they actually mean to me. Since “Radiation Vibe” through to ‘Utopia Parkway’, which has always been a permanent fixture on my all time albums list, and onto this one and beyond , FOW quite simply have been a regular joyful fixture in my world

Lyrically I believe this is their best album and look no further than these pearlers

“ He was killed by a cellular phone explosion
They scattered his ashes across the ocean
The water was used to make baby lotion
The wheels of promotion, were set into motion”
(MEXICAN WINE)

And

“ Now I see your face in the strangest places
Movies and magazines
I saw you talking to Christopher Walken
On my TV screen”
(HACKENSACK)

And of course the double / triple on tondre of “All Kinds Of Time” ( combining a football game with sexual tension is pure genius)

And the sheer variety of musical styles offered up here is really impressive. You’ve got Power Pop (“Bright Future In Sales”, “Stacy’s Mom”, “Little Red Light”, Bought For A Song”), beautiful ballads (“Hackensack”,”Valley Winter Song”), Country and Western (“Hung Up On You”), Pop (“Hey Julie”) and Brit Pop where they manage to out-Oasis Oasis with the Oasis-esque “Elevator Up”

Vale Adam Schlesinger 1967 - 2020

I love this album, but it is a bit too long. If Fire Island had been the last song, it would be as perfect an album as you can get. Favorite songs - Hackensack, Hey Julie, Little Red Light

This album reminds me of the time I used to work in an office....getting the train into the office listening to this album - it really summed up for me working in an office and the office environment. Now I no longer work in an office and have a job I enjoy I still listen to this album and it sends me into a mild state of panic....but in a kind of a good way!

Great album, surprised that not more of it's songs are popular. Best tracks: Mexican Wine, Valley Winter Song.