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Rating: Mr. Scaruffi defines this band as the first American brit-poppers.
Songs like "Go, Hippie", the seventh, with a very Oasis-style sound might rightfully suggest this.
In reality, this band formed by the singer-guitarist Collington and the multi-instrumentalist Schlesinger carries forward a light and catchy sixties sound made of tracks that at first listen only have a pop flavor. They hide, and not even all that well, a great study of melodic American '60/'70 music with catchy choruses, very friendly sounds, and an enviable compositional variety.
The attempt to paint in watercolor hues the American province (even revealing its false myths and the underlying deceit of the AMERICAN DREAM) is truly splendid in "Utopia Parkway" which owes much also to the flower movement and the happier and less experimental psychedelia. If you don’t believe me, listen to Amity Gardens, the ninth track, then pick up any album by The New Pornographers and ask yourself how many times this record has been played on the stereos of the Canadian band that's now become the spokesperson of the more colorful revival-flower-power movement.
"Utopia Parkway" from 1999, a moderate success in America that went unnoticed here, is representative of the band’s sound and is, in my opinion, their best result. "Red Dragon Tattoo" and "Denise" are immediately enjoyable tracks that do not hide remarkable harmonizations and sound care, to the detriment of the lyrics, which, in Fountains tend to be a bit simplistic.
The other reviews you might find around always dismiss them as Beach Boys sound or unfortunate band, but I don’t believe a band’s success is determined by whether or not they are known overseas. Certainly, it doesn’t automatically make them Losers, who in fact are quite the opposite even in style. Meanwhile, here in Italy the Fountains of Wayne, mentioned in an episode of 'The 4400', have become a place: in one of the episodes a blonde girl invites one of the protagonists for a weekend at the fountains of Wayne where everyone would go for a concert...
A great album to listen to in the car at a significant volume when stuck in city traffic.
Tracklist and Lyrics
01 Utopia Parkway (03:07)
Well I've been saving for a custom van
And I've been playing in a cover band
And my baby doesn't understand
Why I never turned from boy to man
I got it made
I got it down
I am the king
Of this island town
I'm on my own
I'm my way
Down Utopia
Utopia Parkway
And while I'm waiting for my time to come (waiting for my time to come)
I'm gonna get a little shopping done (get a little shopping done)
I'll get some paper and a staple gun (staple gun)
And put my name in front of everyone
I got it made
I got it down
I am the king
Of this God damn town
I'm on my own
I'm my way
Down Utopia
Utopia Parkway
Gonna let my hair grow down my back
Gonna brace myself for the big attack
And they'll never know what hit them when it comes
03 Denise (02:33)
I know this girl named Denise
She makes me weak at the knees
She drives a lavender Lexus
She lives in Queens
But her dad lives in Texas
When she holds me
I can't help myself
Won't you tell me
Do you love me Denise?
Do you love me Denise?
Oh baby tell me please
I heard she used to be married
She listens to Puff Daddy
She works at Liberty Travel
She has a heart made of gravel
She controls me
She can't help herself
Won't you tell me
Do you love me Denise?
Do you love me Denise?
Oh baby tell me please
09 Amity Gardens (03:11)
Angel broke her wing
Oh, you poor thing
The hum of the motor gave way to
The tick tick ticking of the clock
And the rattle of springs
The Buick's in the drive
It's good to be alive
And if you knew now what you knew then
You wouldn't want to go home
Wouldn't want to go
If you knew now what you knew then
You wouldn't want to go to Amity Gardens again
It isn't very much, but
for now it's home
A room in the shadow of a funny-looking man
On the phone to the bank about a default loan
I thank you very much
Ta ta we'll be in touch
And if you knew now what you knew then
You wouldn't want to go home
Wouldn't want to go
If you knew now what you knew then
You wouldn't want to go to Amity Gardens again
Where you came from
And act like you tried
Cause somethings are better kept
Deep down inside
But you'rs not driving
You're along for the ride
Just checking out the scene
And taking in the green
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11 Lost in Space (02:20)
Have you seen that girl
With the strange look on her face
She's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Lost in space
She's in another world
Yeah, she's off in a distant place
She's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Yeah, she's lost in space
Yeah, she's lost in space
And I can't understand a word she says
And I don't know why she's such a mess
And I can't get through, no matter what I do
But I love her anyway
And she walks the Earth
But she's not from the human race
She's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Yeah, she's lost in space
Yeah, she's lost in space
And I can't understand a word she says
And I don't know why she she's such a mess
And I can't get through, no matter what I do
But I love her anyway
I try to talk to her
But it seems like such a waste
Cause she's a pretty little thing but she's lost
Yeah, she's lost in space
Yeah, she's lost in space
Yeah, she's lost in space
Yeah, she's
14 The Senator's Daughter (03:44)
Hockey teams have playoff dreams
Teenage girls read magazines
No one hears the desperate screams of the techno DJ
What does he say?
He say
Sha la la la la la
He say
Sha la la la la la
I'm floating away
On oceans of grey-blue water
I'm rising above
I'm falling in love with the senator's daughter
I'm floating away
On oceans of grey-blue water
I'm rising above
I'm falling in love with the senator's daughter
Crossing guards start traffic jams
Soccer moms drive minivans
No one sees the anchor man on the instant replay
What does she say?
She say
Sha la la la la la
She say
Sha la la la la la
I'm floating away
On oceans of grey-blue water
I'm rising above
I'm falling in love with the senator's daughter
I'm floating away
On oceans of grey-blue water
I'm rising above
I'm falling in love with the senator's daughter
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