Utopia Parkway
Encyclopedia
Utopia Parkway is a 1999 album
by Fountains of Wayne
, released through Atlantic Records. It was the follow-up to the band's 1996 self-titled debut
; like its predecessor, it showcases upbeat, power pop
music
.
Following this album, Fountains of Wayne was dropped by their label, Atlantic Records
, after sales failed to meet expectations. As well, the band had a growing dispute with the company after it decided not to release the song "Troubled Times" as a single.
Utopia Parkway is also the name of a major street that connects the neighborhoods of Utopia
, Beechhurst
and several other neighborhoods in the Queens
borough of New York City
. The street sign on the album cover is from this street.
, Adam Schlesinger
.
The album contains two fan favorite songs from the Fountains' live performances: "Red Dragon Tattoo," about a boy who gets a tattoo to impress a girl, and "Denise," a faux-grunge
power-pop confection where the songwriters show their intentionally bad and comic writing with "She works at Liberty Travel//She's got a heart made of gravel." "Troubled Times," originally written by Chris Collingwood
when he and Adam Schlesinger
were in a previous incarnation of Fountains of Wayne called Pinnwheel, is also a fan favorite. The rest of the album, excepting "Utopia Parkway," was less popular than the seven or eight concert-ready pop songs from their debut.
"Red Dragon Tattoo" was featured prominently throughout the Stephen King mini-series Kingdom Hospital
.
album Promised Land
includes a cover of "Troubled Times".
Album
An album is a collection of recordings, released as a single package on gramophone record, cassette, compact disc, or via digital distribution. The word derives from the Latin word for list .Vinyl LP records have two sides, each comprising one half of the album...
by Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne
Fountains of Wayne is an American power pop band that formed in New York City in 1996. The band consists of members Chris Collingwood, Adam Schlesinger, Jody Porter and Brian Young.-Early years:...
, released through Atlantic Records. It was the follow-up to the band's 1996 self-titled debut
Fountains of Wayne (album)
Fountains of Wayne is the self-titled debut album of power pop group Fountains of Wayne, released in 1996 through TAG Recordings, Scratchie Records, and Atlantic Records...
; like its predecessor, it showcases upbeat, power pop
Power pop
Power pop is a popular musical genre that draws its inspiration from 1960s British and American pop and rock music. It typically incorporates a combination of musical devices such as strong melodies, crisp vocal harmonies, economical arrangements, and prominent guitar riffs. Instrumental solos are...
music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
.
Following this album, Fountains of Wayne was dropped by their label, Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, after sales failed to meet expectations. As well, the band had a growing dispute with the company after it decided not to release the song "Troubled Times" as a single.
Utopia Parkway is also the name of a major street that connects the neighborhoods of Utopia
Utopia, Queens
Utopia, a neighborhood located in the New York City borough of Queens is bordered by Utopia Parkway to the west, 188th Street to the east, Union Turnpike to the south, and 73rd Avenue to the north. It adjoins the neighborhoods of Jamaica Estates, Hillcrest, and Fresh Meadows. The neighborhood is...
, Beechhurst
Beechhurst, Queens
Beechhurst is a neighborhood in the northeastern part of the New York City borough of Queens. It is on the northeastern side of Whitestone, Queens, New York, near the East River, north of the Cross Island Parkway and between the approaches to the Throgs Neck and Whitestone bridges.Parts of the...
and several other neighborhoods in the Queens
Queens
Queens is the easternmost of the five boroughs of New York City. The largest borough in area and the second-largest in population, it is coextensive with Queens County, an administrative division of New York state, in the United States....
borough of New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. The street sign on the album cover is from this street.
Track listing
All songs written by Chris CollingwoodChris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
, Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
.
- "Utopia Parkway" – 3:09
- "Red Dragon Tattoo" – 3:32
- "Denise" – 2:32
- "Hat and Feet" – 3:03
- "The Valley of Malls" – 3:23
- "Troubled Times" – 3:39
- "Go, Hippie" – 3:58
- "A Fine Day For a Parade" – 4:13
- "Amity Gardens" – 3:11
- "Laser Show" – 2:24
- "Lost in Space" – 2:19
- "Prom Theme" – 3:09
- "It Must Be Summer" – 3:19
- "The Senator's Daughter" – 3:44
- "I Know You Well" – 3:26 (Japan bonus track)
Personnel
- Chris CollingwoodChris CollingwoodChris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
– lead vocals, rhythm guitarRhythm guitarRhythm guitar is a technique and rôle that performs a combination of two functions: to provide all or part of the rhythmic pulse in conjunction with singers or other instruments; and to provide all or part of the harmony, ie. the chords, where a chord is a group of notes played together... - Adam SchlesingerAdam SchlesingerAdam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
– bassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
, keyboardsKeyboard instrumentA keyboard instrument is a musical instrument which is played using a musical keyboard. The most common of these is the piano. Other widely used keyboard instruments include organs of various types as well as other mechanical, electromechanical and electronic instruments...
, backing vocals - Jody PorterJody PorterJody Porter is an American musician. He is the guitarist of Grammy Award-nominated power pop band Fountains of Wayne. The band has released four major label albums, including Welcome Interstate Managers on Virgin Records in 2003, an RIAA-certified Gold LP. The album spawned the hugely popular U.S...
– lead guitarLead guitarLead guitar is a guitar part which plays melody lines, instrumental fill passages, guitar solos, and occasionally, some riffs within a song structure...
, backing vocals - Brian Young – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
Reception
Utopia Parkway was named an "Album of the Week" by People Magazine in 1999 upon its release, and got very good reviews in major media outlets.The album contains two fan favorite songs from the Fountains' live performances: "Red Dragon Tattoo," about a boy who gets a tattoo to impress a girl, and "Denise," a faux-grunge
Grunge
Grunge is a subgenre of alternative rock that emerged during the mid-1980s in the American state of Washington, particularly in the Seattle area. Inspired by hardcore punk, heavy metal, and indie rock, grunge is generally characterized by heavily distorted electric guitars, contrasting song...
power-pop confection where the songwriters show their intentionally bad and comic writing with "She works at Liberty Travel//She's got a heart made of gravel." "Troubled Times," originally written by Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood
Chris Collingwood, born in 1967 in USA, is a singer, songwriter, and founding member of the power pop band Fountains of Wayne. Collingwood's major influences are The Beatles, The Zombies, The Hollies, Aztec Camera, Squeeze, and Blue Öyster Cult....
when he and Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger
Adam Schlesinger is an American songwriter, composer and record producer. He has been nominated for Oscar, Tony, Emmy, Grammy , and Golden Globe Awards. He is also a winner of the ASCAP Pop Music Award....
were in a previous incarnation of Fountains of Wayne called Pinnwheel, is also a fan favorite. The rest of the album, excepting "Utopia Parkway," was less popular than the seven or eight concert-ready pop songs from their debut.
"Red Dragon Tattoo" was featured prominently throughout the Stephen King mini-series Kingdom Hospital
Kingdom Hospital
Kingdom Hospital is a thirteen-episode television miniseries based on Lars von Trier's The Kingdom , which was developed by horror writer Stephen King in 2004 for American television...
.
Cover versions
The 2008 Dar WilliamsDar Williams
Dar Williams is an American singer-songwriter specializing in pop folk.She is a frequent performer at folk festivals and has toured with such artists as Mary Chapin Carpenter, Patty Griffin, Ani DiFranco, The Nields, Shawn Colvin, Girlyman, Joan Baez, and Catie Curtis.-Biography:Williams was born...
album Promised Land
Promised Land (Dar Williams album)
Promised Land is a Dar Williams album released September 9, 2008 on Razor & Tie, the label that has released almost all of her albums. It was her first studio album in three years.-Track listing:...
includes a cover of "Troubled Times".