You’re entitled to your view of course, but since I’m pretty sure late teens-20 something kids don’t know what “It’s Book Review and Face The Nation time” means, you’re completely wrong about this part.It's kiddie rock. Rock lite. A collection of guitar songs aimed at the late teen/ early 20 something American kids.
Scary how similar we re in our music listening. My wife and daughters regularly comment that the music I listen to is "wrist-slasher" stuff.As I’ve said before I like FOW, I bought their first album when I was going through my Power Pop period with the likes of Marshall Crenshaw and Mathew Sweet.This album is a progression from the first two albums.It shows off their song writing ability and the fact they can switch styles, albeit tongue in cheek easily.I like Chris Collingwood‘s voice, the production, the witty lyrics, the musicianship and the variation in tracks, like the Cars tribute and the Oasis pastiche, which I think is a piss take of a band who blatantly copied the Beatles Lol.
its a very good easy listening album that’s mostly upbeat and doesn’t take itself seriously which to me ,as mostly I listen to melancholic and depressing music,or so my wife tells me is a refreshing change.
8/10
Whilst there's a certain sheen to this album, I can't imagine for the most part it was written with teenagers in mind.You’re entitled to your view of course, but since I’m pretty sure late teens-20 something kids don’t know what “It’s Book Review and Face The Nation time” means, you’re completely wrong about this part.
It makes a lot of semi-sardonic, semi-wistful observations about teenagers and young people generally. It’s very obviously is aimed at the generation older than they are, which the FOW guys of course are. Not a strong observation from Bimbo there, though I share his perspective about records going on a journey being appealing. But this can be and is too.Whilst there's a certain sheen to this album, I can't imagine for the most part it was written with teenagers in mind.
I feel like I just got reprimanded by my teacher. :)Everybody's entitled to their opinion but by heck, these two reviews are harsh.
I agree that there isn't a cohesive theme to this album, and for that reason, it could never qualify as great, but what they have done across multiple genres is pretty catchy. I like more thoughtful, deeper stuff, but pulling off a memorable 3-minute pop song is no mean feat, and they've done that several times here. Cohesive it isn't, but it's certainly doesn't lack variety and only the attempt at country doesn't work for me.
Anyway, each to their own.
Must try harder.I feel like I just got reprimanded by my teacher. :)
Not at all. Everybody is free to give an honest opinion. At the same time, I would hope that everybody is free to offer counter points when people mark an album so low (or high).I feel like I just got reprimanded by my teacher. :)
Ha ha, yes we seem to be Rob ,and from the sound of it our taste in wives lol.Scary how similar we re in our music listening. My wife and daughters regularly comment that the music I listen to is "wrist-slasher" stuff.
Also, I mentioned Matthew Sweet in my review of this album because some of the guitars and chroruses remind me so much of him. As. direct result, I have been giving him a listen again and it was great to change my modus operandi for a week. I only have two Matthew Sweet albums, but I may consider nominating one of them on here somewhere down the road.
Yes I know of The Thorns. Can’t remember whether I listened to the album.Ha ha, yes we seem to be Rob ,and from the sound of it our taste in wives lol.
ive not listened to MS for a long time , he was in a band and called ‘The Thorns’ with Shawn Mullins who I also like which ,if haven’t heard,is worth listening to.
I think I can guess which one you’d nominate.
I’m surprised that folk are marking it as high. It’s light likeable stuff but bloody hell 8 out of 10?Not at all. Everybody is free to give an honest opinion. At the same time, I would hope that everybody is free to offer counter points when people mark an album so low (or high).
Much as a I enjoyed “Stacey’s Mom” - which is a pure slice of pop - if the rest of the album would have been like the first three songs, I would have been marking it a lot lower. But for sheer variety - most of it played exceptionally well, I’m surprised that people would mark it so low.
Yeah I too I'm surprised at the high scores, its ok music but it doesn't seem to mean a lot and is seemingly derivative ...a bit like bubblegum music whatever that is.I’m surprised that folk are marking it as high. It’s light likeable stuff but bloody hell 8 out of 10?
that kind of score should be reserved for unbelievably good pop albums like er, like.....bat out of hell ;-)
Bat out of Hell a steady 4 from me.I’m surprised that folk are marking it as high. It’s light likeable stuff but bloody hell 8 out of 10?
that kind of score should be reserved for unbelievably good pop albums like er, like.....bat out of hell ;-)
If it’s likeable, why shouldn’t it be an 8?I’m surprised that folk are marking it as high. It’s light likeable stuff but bloody hell 8 out of 10?
that kind of score should be reserved for unbelievably good pop albums like er, like.....bat out of hell ;-)
Me too mate, I would still only score it 5 or 6 though. The problem is scoring. as soon as you try that you run into all sorts of conflicts.If it’s likeable, why shouldn’t it be an 8?
I’m enjoying these conversations because they underscore a theme I’ve brought up before in the prog discussions — good music doesn’t have to be important or complicated. In fact a lot of now-considered-great pop music isn’t either of those things. That’s what I think, at any rate.
I like this in part BECAUSE it’s uncomplicated, eminently listenable across nearly every song, cheerful and witty, and completely unconcerned with its own importance.
Was I being serious or ironic?Bat out of Hell a steady 4 from me.
Yes fair point. I surprised myself giving it an 8 and here's my thought process.I’m surprised that folk are marking it as high. It’s light likeable stuff but bloody hell 8 out of 10?
that kind of score should be reserved for unbelievably good pop albums like er, like.....bat out of hell ;-)
To me that’s grading on a curve. The genre here is pop music. Don’t understand why we’d draw a genre distinction between this and King Crimson. I do understand why we’d draw a distinction between this and Pantera or Bob Marley and the Wailers or Wu-Tang Clan or Kraftwerk.Me too mate, I would still only score it 5 or 6 though. The problem is scoring. as soon as you try that you run into all sorts of conflicts.
my thought process kind of goes - what genre is this music fit best? - what groups typically Make music in this genre? - what music did those groups make and how does this compare? - what’s 10 in this genre? Where does this music compare? Allocate score.
I enjoyed the album, found it just as you said but in comparison with my impression of the best music in that genre written by say, Brian Wilson, Paddy McAloon or a raft of others, it’s a 5.
you may have an entirely different way of rating it and I’m sure it is just as valid. I was simply giving a counter view to the one Rob gave.
Although I liked SOME of King Crimson (and Genesis), I enjoyed this Fountains of Wayne album a lot more.To me that’s grading on a curve. The genre here is pop music. Don’t understand why we’d draw a genre distinction between this and King Crimson. I do understand why we’d draw a distinction between this and Pantera or Bob Marley and the Wailers or Wu-Tang Clan or Kraftwerk.
You make the point well. We are all subjective and different. For me to Score an album 8 it would have to compare favourably to ones I would place in my top 100 or so. This album, whilst pleasant, wouldn’t come close to that.Yes fair point. I surprised myself giving it an 8 and here's my thought process.
I'd only heard the one song before and liked it without feeling I ever had to hear it again. When I heard the first three songs, I though, right, this is 5-6 territory - nice enough but, like you said nothing like the best in the genre.
But what followed really surprised me - one minute I think I'm listening to the American version of Busted and then they roll out these slower more interesting songs with some nice jangly guitars plus harmony vocals. So now I'm thinking, I might give this a 7.
But that was before the last few songs, and I think most of us agree it's like listening to an Oasis tribute band. But to be fair, those songs are as good as a lot of the Oasis songs. Just to be clear, I like Oasis' first two (I mean three - thanks to BH for making me listen to The Masterplan) albums, but they are no way near my top 20. Oasis would probably just about make my top 50 artists. But on this album, "Bought for a Song", "Supercollider" and "Elevator Up" had me wanting to listen to them again.
The fullness of time might show I've been a bit giddy giving Fountains of Wayne an 8, but it's an absolute rock-solid 7 at worst. The fact that I didn't expect to like it so much really helped, which is where the additional point came from. Despite the fact that I try not to, I can't help but have pre-conceived notions about whether I'm going to like or dislike every single album that is nominated on here. I liked the Micheal Stearns album a lot more than I thought I would but conversely, the Drive-By Truckers should be right up my street, but I found Southern Rock Opera was way too long and didn't have enough great songs - yet I rated both those two albums a 7.
Relative scoring is a difficult balance but I've played Welcome Interstate Managers through three times and listened to a few more a fourth and fifth time. If that's not worth an 8 then I don't know what is. I think this is an unbelievably good pop album without qualifying for a 9 or 10.