FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE

30 days to A Sky Full of Holes: The Summer Place

Fountains of Wayne is back! Best known for 90s hits Stacy’s Mom, Mexican Wine, Red Dragon Tattoo and Radiation Vibe, the band (viz Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young) releases its first album since 2007′s Traffic and Weather. Now signed to the Yep Roc label, the band’s eagerly anticipated 5th LP – A Sky Full of Holes – will be released on 2nd August.

To celebrate this occasion, Power of Pop will be reviewing the album, one song at a time, over the course of the next 30 days. We begin at the beginning (of course) with the opening track, The Summer Place. The song opens with the sound of acoustic guitars and a clean electric guitar riff/hook as the band settles into the groove of delivering gorgeous hooks and melodies. It’s almost as if the band is returning to basics (remember the charm of that wondrous debut?) but informed by fifteen years of maturity and experience.

And that’s what hits you between the eyes, as Collingwood sings, “She’s been afraid of the Cuisinart since 1977…” and launches into this breezy tune with disturbing undertones – a contrast that suggests songwriting of the highest order. What a brilliant way to begin a new album! Check out the video below of the band performing the song live sometime in 2009.

Official Site