alexis
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 447
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Post by alexis on Nov 22, 2007 3:49:37 GMT
I hear nothing but Beatles in these guys - love 'em! I've only got one album, "Welcome Interstate Managers", but I hear they've put out a new one a few months ago, maybe for Christmas!
Only thing that could be better is the lead vocalist could be a bit more powerful like John, or smooth like Paul, but hey, you can't have everything.
Their chords are what do it for me, and of course being guitar-oriented pop with lots of almost subliminal harmonies.
Does anyone else here listen to these guys?
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Post by The End on Nov 22, 2007 8:55:47 GMT
Yes, very much so!
I'll post a few tracks in the "influences" section later.
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alexis
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 447
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Post by alexis on Mar 15, 2008 1:25:07 GMT
I just bought and have been listening to their latest, Traffic and Weather. Have you heard it, TheEnd?
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Post by The End on Mar 15, 2008 1:53:04 GMT
No, I haven't got that album yet - any good ?
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alexis
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 447
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Post by alexis on Mar 15, 2008 2:44:12 GMT
Well, I'm afraid to pay attention to my initial impressions after a few listens ("Well, it's not really doing it for me like 'Welcome Interstate Managers' did"), since it took me a few weeks of listening during short car rides before the last album became one of my favorite. I didn't want to prejudice you by offering my opinion if you hadn't had a chance to hear it yet, but you asked!
The word that comes to mind when I listen to it is "Almost!". That seems to apply to individual songs, and the album as a whole.
There are a few moments, mainly the occasional chord/key change, and clever wordsmithing that are outstanding.
Like I said, I hesitate to put the album down too much, because I'm almost positive that I was saying about the same thing at about the same time after I bought WIM.
If you buy it, let me know what you think. In my mind it IS worth buying if only for those few chord/key changes and words!
Thanks -
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Post by The End on Mar 15, 2008 3:29:16 GMT
Cheers for that :-) Luckily, I am seldom swayed one way or the other by reviews - so please don't worry in that regard I'll try and download a few tracks before I dive in!
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alexis
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 447
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Post by alexis on Mar 15, 2008 14:47:43 GMT
Fave tracks so far:
1) Strapped for Cash 2) Blue Subaru 3) This Better Be Good
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 18, 2008 18:24:14 GMT
I hear nothing but Beatles in these guys - love 'em! I've only got one album, "Welcome Interstate Managers", but I hear they've put out a new one a few months ago, maybe for Christmas! Only thing that could be better is the lead vocalist could be a bit more powerful like John, or smooth like Paul, but hey, you can't have everything. Their chords are what do it for me, and of course being guitar-oriented pop with lots of almost subliminal harmonies. Does anyone else here listen to these guys? The first time I heard Fountains Of Wayne was when they released 'Stacy's Mom' from 'W.I.M.' and MTV played the video that seemed to be on a continuous loop! Round about that time there were a few power pop bands making quite an impression (Blink 182 and Green Day to name two) but the harmonies of F.O.W. really struck home with me. I love 'W.I.M.' and it's on my CD player in the car right now. I take your point about the chords but I try to listen at them as a band in their own right rather than trying to hear Beatles. Does that make sense? Of course the comparisons are bound to be made. 'Subliminal harmonies' just about hits the nail firmly on the head. Have you heard 'Utopia Parkway' which (I think) is their second album? More raw and pacey than the last two but it's worth hearing. The title track is quite amazing (to these ears anyway) and, as a taster, here it is. You may be able to relate to the lyrics if you play in a band [music]http://www.filefreak.com/pfiles/46211/01%20Utopia%20Parkway.mp3[/music]
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alexis
I'll Be On My Way
Posts: 447
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Post by alexis on Mar 19, 2008 1:00:33 GMT
I hear nothing but Beatles in these guys - love 'em! I've only got one album, "Welcome Interstate Managers", but I hear they've put out a new one a few months ago, maybe for Christmas! Only thing that could be better is the lead vocalist could be a bit more powerful like John, or smooth like Paul, but hey, you can't have everything. Their chords are what do it for me, and of course being guitar-oriented pop with lots of almost subliminal harmonies. Does anyone else here listen to these guys? The first time I heard Fountains Of Wayne was when they released 'Stacy's Mom' from 'W.I.M.' and MTV played the video that seemed to be on a continuous loop! Round about that time there were a few power pop bands making quite an impression (Blink 182 and Green Day to name two) but the harmonies of F.O.W. really struck home with me. I love 'W.I.M.' and it's on my CD player in the car right now. I take your point about the chords but I try to listen at them as a band in their own right rather than trying to hear Beatles. Does that make sense? Of course the comparisons are bound to be made. 'Subliminal harmonies' just about hits the nail firmly on the head. Have you heard 'Utopia Parkway' which (I think) is their second album? More raw and pacey than the last two but it's worth hearing. The title track is quite amazing (to these ears anyway) and, as a taster, here it is. You may be able to relate to the lyrics if you play in a band hi arthurlee - THANK YOU for posting that tune! You know how sometimes there is just magic in a moment, and you know that it's nothing controllable, or avoidable? Well listening to Utopia Parkway just now was one of those times. Really, it's an awesome track. I'd gone a bit off FOW a bit after this last album, but now by golly I'm going to go buy that Utopia Parkway album (the other songs are pretty good too, right?)! I do play in a cover band, and the words really are even more awesome than I think they would be otherwise. They are almost Dylan-like in their ability to paint pictures lyrically. What an awesome band - thanks again!
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Post by The End on Mar 25, 2008 12:42:27 GMT
Love that track! Thanks for posting Arthurlee! How about these two tracks written by Adam Schlesinger (of Fountains of Wayne).... He won an Oscar nomination for this... [music]http://www.fileupyours.com/view/165347/Thing.mp3[/music]
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Post by The End on Mar 25, 2008 12:44:29 GMT
And I absolutely love this track - I wish he (or Fountains of Wayne) would record it!
This is heavily featured in a fairly recent film - can you name the male vocalist? [music]http://www.fileupyours.com/view/165347/Back.mp3[/music]
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Post by Bobber on Mar 25, 2008 14:46:52 GMT
Sounds a lot like Klaatu as well.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2008 18:22:54 GMT
And I absolutely love this track - I wish he (or Fountains of Wayne) would record it! This is heavily featured in a fairly recent film - can you name the male vocalist? I know the song is from the film 'Music & Lyrics' and it's called 'Ways Of Love' (I think). At times, the male vocal sounds like Robbie Williams but I'm sure it isn't. I know Hugh Grant was in the film ('cos it's recently been on Sky Movies!) so, unless some famous singers have released it, I would hazard an unlikely guess at Mr Grant. Lovely song btw.
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Post by The End on Mar 26, 2008 0:27:50 GMT
You are quite correct Arthurlee! The male vocalist is the actor Hugh Grant!
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