In Review:

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tail frenzy, theres not much else going on. There is no face beneath the glitter, the mask is the identity, and the soul is the candy-coating once you crack the surface, you find nothing on the inside. Not so with Fountains of Wayne! In the early 2000s, Stacys Mom became the anthem of soccer moms everywhere. In that brief, three minute phenomenon, listeners were introduced to c h a ra c t e r s w h o m t h e y c o u l d visualize and relate to and identify with because there was a depth and detail that transcended the hook. On their latest album, SKY FULL OF HOLES, the band has elevated their already respectable storytelling dexterity to a lofty plateau of mythical finesse. Thirteen tracks of jangling bliss return honor and respect to the craft of writing verse. To break it down, a Fountains of Wa y n e s o n g i s a n e v o c a t i v e description of a specific time and location that features a distinct and memorable individual in an easily

Fountains Of Wayne SKY FULL OF HOLES Yep Roc Records

Pop music has always been a bit narcissistic. In many cases, a pinch of narcissism is the actual fuel for the fire that makes the artists star burn so brightly. But much of the current Pop takes that practice to the extreme and gets caught in a vicious Paris Hilton circle that essentially proclaims just two things: Look at me because Im famous and Im famous because you look at me. It goes round and round and beyond the dog-chase-

Songwriters Monthly - July 11, #138 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly

recognizable situation. The story u n f o l d s n a t u ra l l y f r o m t h o s e elements and feels very real. The hook, melody and arrangement are catchy, but its the verses that offer the development and dimension. Ultimately, the listener cares about t h e c h a ra c t e r s b e c a u s e t h e y recognize something in those vignettes and feel a connection. For instance, The Summer Place is an absorbing tale of a woman plagued by intriguing peculiarities. She seeks an escape, but isnt quite sure where to find it. The solace (and curse?) of The Summer Place is that it offers memories that last a lifetime. However, like many Fountains of Wayne songs, there is no hard and fast ending. The plot is set in motion, but the outcome is often left up to the listener to determine. In the poignant Action Hero, we meet a man who has just lost his keys, yet despite the chaos of his familys cacophony, he remains focused on his task at hand and never gives up his search. Though perpetually reoccurring mundane trivialities define his world, in his mind he is an Action Hero. Even

when the odds are stacked against him, he stands proud and fights to save his world. SKY FULL OF HOLES has all the breakfast club charm of Men Of A Certain Age, but it also has a wry bite. Theres a snarky, indifference present in both the writing and the vocals. The youthful sense of wonder seasoned by the confidence of wisdom shades the album with an appealingly aloof hipness. A R o a d S o n g d e l i v e r s t h e quintessential clich touring artist love song with an inspiring inventiveness that combines the absurdities of touring with a lukewarm, road-weary profession of passion. Richie And Ruben is yet another gem. This story features two bumbling swindlers who fail at every step yet somehow manage to wind up doing just fine. SKY FULL OF HOLES is a solid work. Fountains of Wayne has managed to get every single detail just so delightfully right on this album! Highly recommended! www.fountainsofwayne.com.

Songwriters Monthly - July 11, #138 http://www.scribd.com/SongwritersMonthly