Oddly, my #6 album of 2003 might be even higher on this list if it were a few songs shorter. Fountains of Wayne’s Welcome Interstate Managers starts off with a bang but ends up fizzling out.
But, oh, what a beginning! The first six tracks (‘Mexican Wine,’ ‘Bright Future in Sales,’ ‘Stacy’s Mom,’ ‘Hackensack,’ ‘No Better Place’ and ‘Valley Winter Song’) make up one of the greatest runs I’ve ever heard. Smart, hooky power pop peppered with a couple of melancholy ballads, that stretch is a display of pure songwriting genius by Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger.
The rest of the album is fine, though unremarkable, and the record overstays its welcome at 16 tracks. One exception is ‘Hey Julie,’ a mini masterpiece that lifts the back half of the album.
The band released two more albums before splitting in the early 2010s. Schlesinger, sadly, died earlier this year due to complications from COVID-19.
Waitin’ for my bus to come
Seven scotch-and-sodas at the office party
Now I don’t remember where I’m from
I think I had a black wallet
In my back pocket
With a bus ticket
And a picture of my baby inside
And if I make it home alive
I’m gonna get my shit together (together)
Cause I can’t live like this forever (forever)
You know I’ve come too far
And I don’t wanna fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah) yeah yeah
Headin’ for the airport on a misty morning
Gonna catch a flight to Baltimore
Try to kill an hour with a whiskey sour
If there’s time I might have just one more
I gotta do some quick readin’
For the big meetin’
But my head is spinnin’
And I can’t quite open my eyes
As long as I don’t have to drive
I’m gonna get my shit together (together)
Cause I can’t live like this forever (forever)
You know I’ve come too far
And I don’t wanna fail
I got a new computer and a
Bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah) yeah yeah
I had a line on a brand new account
But now I can’t seem to find
Where I wrote that number down
I try to focus, I’m starin’ at the screen
Pretendin’ like I know
What all these little flashin’ lights mean
Oh yeah
I gotta do some quick readin’
For the big meetin’
But my head is spinnin’
And I can’t quite open my eyes
I gotta get my shit together (together)
Cause I can’t live like this forever (forever)
You know I’ve come too far and I don’t wanna fail
I got a new computer
And a bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah)
A bright future in sales
Yeah yeah (yeah yeah) yeah yeah
Meet Me In Montauk 
For those who may not be as familiar with FOW (I’m looking at you Peg 😜), I give you their “mini-masterpiece” for your listening pleasure:
Very nice thank you 😊