Fountains Of Wayne: Sky Full of Holes

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Fountains Of Wayne
Sky Full of Holes
(Yep Roc Records)

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I guess I have an affection for Fountains of Wayne, seeing as they were named after an outdoor garden store about five miles from my house.  But I’m way too old to be a big fan of this new music all the kids are into.

Still, Sky Full of Holes, the band’s first album since 2007, is damn good fun.

Opening with two acoustic-driven tunes, “ The Summer Place” and  “Richie and Ruben,” I hear lots of that Oasis-via-60’s-British-band influence in singer Chris Collingwood’s voice, but “The Summer Place” trades on some great sardonic lyrics. There’s a nice piano from Adam Schlesinger on the funky “Acela,” which features some truly inspired drumming from Brian Young as well. We’re back from more acoustic on the slightly sad “Action Hero,” which might be the most completely realized tune on Sky– it’s really good, with Jody Porter’s electric truly adding some understated poignancy. “A Dip In The Ocean” pops along, again featuring the band’s good backing vocals (they even sound like the Beach Boys at times).  “Cold Comfort Flowers” has a great riff and “Road Song” is lifted from the usual of this ilk with some great piano playing. There’s a nice country feel (and better sounding vocal) on “Workman’s Hand,” a big pop sad expanse on “Hate To See You Like This,” and an attempt at some really serious commentary on the last tune “Cemetery Guns,” which has a very solid lyric and nice march-like roll.

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