Fountains of Wayne

Though it doesn't have the sugar-sweet genius of Welcome Interstate Managers, Chris Collingwood's keen aptitude for writing with sharp wit makes this record as clever as it is catchy. There's nothing too challenging about the music -- most tracks bounce between teen-movie pop rocks and shuffling ballads -- but the formulas seem fresh through Collingwood's winning characters. Meet Yolanda Hayes ("Yolanda Hayes"), the DMV clerk lookin' good under fluorescent lights, or Seth Shapiro ("Someone To Love"), the malcontent food industry lawyer, and just try not to fall in love.

The big problem with anointing Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger the great
standard-bearers of modern pop song is that there's no one else like them. Really, who?
Max Martin? John Mayer? The Blur guys when they got along? If Fountains of Wayne
resemble anyone, it's Randy Newman, who also escapes contract work with tunefully
insouciant albums now and then. Difference is, Newman sounds as sour as he is,... More >

The big problem with anointing Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger the great standard bearers of modern popsong is that there's no one else like them. Really, who? Max Martin? John Mayer? The Blur guys when they got along? If Fountains of Wayne resemble anyone, it's Randy Newman, who also escapes contract work with tunefully insouciant albums now and then. Difference is, Newman sounds as sour as he is, while Fountains of Wayne don't let on. Here they fail to provide the elusive novelty follow-up to "Stacy's Mom," but nonetheless invent many dandy new ways not to be in love. Two lonely young professionals don't-meet cute (she beats him to a cab in the rain); anchorpeople reveal their undying mutual attraction to fans awaiting the ballscores; a single proves so jaded she'd rather move back to Canada than pursue true romance with a Lichtensteinian in Bowling Green. Wasted potheads, doomed gamblers, and, oh yes, touring musicians also make their appointed rounds. On the rare occasions when love does rule, it's nine hours away on I-95 or has just lost its luggage. But with that DMV clerk they might just have a chance. You'll hope so. (Grade - ****)