Fountains of Wayne’s second album, 1999’s Utopia Parkway, was my first introduction to the band. I heard the fabulous song ‘Denise’ on a compilation album that came with a music magazine and I was instantly hooked.
For some reason I thought they were a Christian rock band. I think I was confusing them with Jars of Clay. But when I picked up the album I realized that I was completely off base (not that there’s anything wrong with Christian rock bands… it’s just not the sort of thing I want to listen to). Thirty seconds into ‘Red Dragon Tattoo’ I knew I’d found a new band to add to my list of favorites.
Utopia Parkway is a concept album about the adolescent life of outsiders orbiting New York City. Schlesinger grew up in New Jersey and Collingwood in Pennsylvania, and they capture the suburban experience beautifully in songs both funny and sweet.
The aforementioned ‘Denise’ and ‘Red Dragon Tattoo’ are about luckless guys pining over cool chicks. ‘The Valley of Malls’ describes a trek to an outlet mall in search of a “half-off sale” when there’s “so little time for so much to try on.” ‘Laser Show’ puts you in the planetarium seat tripping out to Pink Floyd:
Down to the Hayden Planetarium
We’re gonna space out to our favorite tunes
We’re going straight to the dark side of the moon
Oh yeah we’re going to the laser show
‘Prom Theme’ is a fascinating, schmaltzy number that perfectly satirizes the sort of music normally chosen as a prom theme while managing to strike a poignant tone by the end. I wonder if any schools have had the good humor to actually choose the song as their theme. I’m going to quote the lyrics in full even though it’s not the Song of the Day because I love what they do here:
The moment soon will pass
We’ll go our separate ways
We’ll vanish in the haze
We’ll never be the same
We’ll forget each other’s names
We’ll grow old and lose our hair
It’s all downhill from there
But tonight we’ll reach for the stars
We’ll rent expensive cars
And dream our dreams
Of a perfect night
And we’ll sing our prom theme
Here we are at last
We’re running out of gas
The air is getting thick
The girls are feeling sick
We’ll pass out on the beach
Our keys just out of reach
And soon we’ll say goodbye
Then we’ll work until we die
But tonight we feel like stars
We’ll play our air guitars
Cause we’re eighteen
It’s a perfect night
To sing our prom theme
I could have chosen ‘Prom Theme’ as today’s SOTD but I didn’t want to pass up the chance to highlight ‘Troubled Times,’ one of my favorite Fountains of Wayne songs. This is a straight-up heartbreak song about the one who got away and it really showcases FOW’s gift for melody and a soaring chorus.
Were you reaching for attention, hoping she would notice you
Collecting bottles and thrown-away cans
Like she was returnable
One day would refill your hands
How she loved you, all you imagined
Fit so well into you plans
Maybe one day soon
It’ll all come out
How you dream about each other sometimes
With the memory of
How you once gave up
But you made it through the troubled times
Pining away every hour in your room
Rolling with the motion, waiting ’til it’s opportune
Sitting there watching time fly past you
Why do tomorrow
What you could never do
How she loved you
All you imagined
All the shit you put her through
Maybe one day soon
It’ll all come out
How you dream about each other sometimes
With the memory of
How you once gave up
But you made it through the troubled times
And it takes a lot of nerve to ask how she is doing
Start with a weak foundation, you will end in ruins
The way the days and hours pass you’ll never understand
Falling like rain through your hands
Maybe one day soon
It’ll all come out
How you dream about each other sometimes
With the memory of
How you once gave up
But you made it through the troubled times
Meet Me In Montauk 
Great song. They do manage to create that wonderful mix of whimsy and poignancy in song after song. Their lyrics are often funny, always incredibly specific and often all the more powerful because of those traits. I may just have to share today’s song.,..
How cool is this?!
I love seeing what bands and songs inspire other artists. My estimation of both Dar Williams and Fountains of Wayne just soared.
Williams actually recorded this song on her most recent album as well. She wrote something in the liner notes about how she loves this song because you can tell the singer/writer really believes things might work out… optimism in the face of sadness.
Very good song. I’m really not familiar with this album, but, clearly, I should be.