Frequently Bought Together
Product details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
| 1. Utopia Parkway |
| 2. Red Dragon Tattoo |
| 3. Denise |
| 4. Hat And Feet |
| 5. The Valley Of Malls |
| 6. Troubled Times |
| 7. Go, Hippie |
| 8. A Fine Day For A Parade |
| 9. Amity Gardens |
| 10. Laser Show |
| 11. Lost In Space |
| 12. Prom Theme |
| 13. It Must Be Summer |
| 14. The Senator'S Daughter |
Product Description
Amazon.co.uk Review
Loads of New York bands have written songs about their home towns. Few, however, have focused on the suburbs of the City That Never Sleeps: the tree-lined streets populated by commuters and shopping malls that make up much of New Jersey, Connecticut and Long Island. This is the world of disaffected youth, the "gee-whiz" America of Frank Capra films colliding with the suburban nightmare of Amityville (which is, after all, a town on Long Island). Utopia Parkway is, in effect, a concept album about the world that's just a short train journey from Manhattan yet an eternity away from big city life. Songwriting duo Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger--the creative forces behind the Fountains Of Wayne--treat their subject with humour and dignity, singing about the lives and dreams of the suburbanites who populate their songs against a backdrop of soccer moms and high school proms. Moreover, the songs are flawless gems of guitar-driven pop perfection, like Teenage Fanclub at their best, running the gamut from fine to fantastic: from the rocking single "Denise" to the vintage pop of "Laser Show" and "The Valley Of Malls" to the witticisms of "Red Dragon Tattoo" ("Now I look a little more like that guy from Korn"). Utopia Parkway is a knowing portrait of a neglected aspect of American life and--most importantly--a perfect pop album. --Robert Burrow
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Andy
Format:Audio CD
I've only just acquired a copy of this album, though it's been on my 'wish list' for ages - and it lives up to all the plaudits, five-star reviews and critical acclaim. It's one of those albums I'm going to enjoy getting to know better and better, but it's already a favourite!
The wonderful title track (which opens the album), the superb 'Red Dragon Tattoo' and 'Lost In Space' are the songs already buzzing around my head, but I don't think there's a duff track on here.
I think the FoW website suggests that they have another album on the way - at one time it was assumed that they'd split up - and I hope this turns out to be true...
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Following on from their self-titled debut, the New York quartet surpass all expectations with this fantastic album - more of the same Beach Boys harmonies, more of the same Beatlesesque melodies and clever,playful lyricisms, more of what sets them apart from the majority of American rock today. From the opening stomp of the title track, through the frazzled psychedelia of 'Go,Hippie' and pop-punk rush of 'Lost In Space', to the wistful piano balladry of 'Prom Theme', this is a superb second album from one of the States' most under-rated bands.
8 of 9 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:Audio CD
Utopia Parkway has to be my favourate CD of all time. If I was washed on to a desert island I would be clutching this album with one hand with my CD player in the other. Fountains of Wayne are so under-rated its not true. Yet everyone who I play the album to,love it. Pure gold, there is no better album for middle of the road american rock.
Would you like to see more reviews about this item?
›
Go to Amazon.com to see all 112 reviews
4.5 out of 5 stars
Were these reviews helpful?
Let us know
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
More magical melodic powerpop!
The Fountains Of Wayne. I just love saying their name. My favourite music is by ELO, Meat Loaf and Kate Bush. And now the FoW are up there. Read more
Published 4 months ago by P. Miller
5.0 out of 5 stars
Genuine genius
Geeky US alt-rock meets power-pop. Yes! Killer hooks & harmonies combine with Intelligent, wry, postmodern humour informed by life in the New York suburbs. Read more
Published on 15 July 2010 by Alister King
4.0 out of 5 stars
Utopia Parkway by Fountains of Wayne
I love this band. They're so musical & tuneful. They're like the 21st Century Monkees - that kind of tuneful - coupled with excellent lyrics that tell stories like Ian Dury used to... Read more
Published on 3 Oct 2009 by Bunty Brains
5.0 out of 5 stars
fountains of wow
In my opinion its probably the best FoW album - just pipping the first.
Theres not too many rock out songs Denise probably the only real song of this type but its a... Read more
Theres not too many rock out songs Denise probably the only real song of this type but its a... Read more
Published on 12 Dec 2006 by Martin Grace
5.0 out of 5 stars
Prom Theme - The Most Beautiful ELO Hommage ever
I always read Beach Boys being the main influence of Fountains of Wayne. But how about ELO? Weren't Fountains of Wayne the band who covered 'Can't Get It Out Of My Head' on their... Read more
Published on 3 Mar 2002 by Werner Bednarzik
4.0 out of 5 stars
Supreme return to form
An absolute belter of an album, 'Utopia Parkway' is one of those special works which seems to improve with every listen. Read more
Published on 27 Aug 2001 by "utterwasteoftime"
5.0 out of 5 stars
The five stars say it all.
After such a good debut album, I wondered how Fountains Of Wayne would fare with their second offering. The answer in my eyes is that they have produced a classic. Read more
Published on 9 Sep 2000
5.0 out of 5 stars
The ultimate Summer record
They probably get sick of hearing it, but Fountains of Wayne do sound a lot like the Beach Boys except, you know, with irony. Read more
Published on 30 Mar 2000
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
What Other Items Do Customers Buy After Viewing This Item?
Listmania!
|
|
Feedback
- Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
