Album Review: Utopia Pkwy by Fountains of Wayne

"I've been saving for a custom van." "She drives a lavender Lexus." "They drive in winnebagoes from the Everglades." "Soccer moms drive minivans." "We'll rent expensive cars." "You're along for the ride." Down Utopia Parkway. And who doesn't want to go there? There, songs are short, sweet, snack-pack panegyrics to travel agents, laser shows, summer and proms. After their self-titled debut album Fountains of Wayne (which featured the radio hit "Radiation Vibe") was hailed as one of 1996's best albums, the winsome songwriting team of Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger returns with a14-track album about being either lost or on the go. It is fed with the Byrds, Simon and Garfunkel, Steve Miller, Devo, the Cars; it is dished out with lush harmony vocals, broad keyboard textures, generous acoustic guitars, rich percussion tracks, even string, and delightfully subtle twists of sounds. Fountains of Wayne are hip, well-bred and deft at slinging pop culture saturation through suburban rockers, witty ballads and sincere lovesongs with equal flair. The lyrics are sometimes distant, but that does not detract from an album of tightly-crafted pop.

"And then we'll head back home on the L.I.E."