I’m don’t know how to articulate it, but “Radiation Vibe” really captures that mid-90s/GenX/Slacker mindset. It still sounds amazing, and is built for signing along to.
Utopia Parkway’s “Denise” is probably my favorite. There’s a line that goes “she works at Liberty Travel” that really got my attention. That sort of niche reference is really rare, and it told me this was a band to follow (and get a lyrics sheet for).
Thanks for checking it out! They constantly include these very specific details that give their songs this amazing additional layer of storytelling. It's also part of the reason that they're often described as "quirky" or "think-y".
Strangely enough, this is my 3rd favorite FOW album, after the first 2.
As a fellow FOW fan, you might be interested to know that I've been breaking down the albums in their catalog in excruciating detail on my podcast. We've done the first two, and the next one up is this one, of course. The name of the podcast is "You Could Be My Aramis", seek it out if you'd like to hear enthusiastic gushing and analysis of the first two FOW albums.
Picked this one up late in the evening my last ever purchase before Tower Records went away, and prepared to drive until I finished it, so off I went down to 18 and back over the hill. The lyrics for Mexican Wine still blow me away "that was the afternoon her heart went", (my disappointment with the video we'll ignore), and Bright Future in Sales to me had a Wings-y feel to it. Stacey's Mom of course rocked with all the Cars/Cheap Trick energy it could handle, but Hacksensack was a heartbreaker. He's never gonna see her again, is he? I got the swan song vibe, too as a lot of the record is sad, even Hung Up On You (their manager should have forced Dwight Yoakam to record it, it woulda been huge). Overall, it's a great record as it's stuck with me thru good times and bad times ("Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont") The concert at the Crocodile a few months later? Mind bogglingly good! The concert at EMP? Spectacular!! The last show on the Traffic and Weather tour? Honestly surprised we ever saw Sky Full of Holes. And now one of the best writers in pop history is gone, we should have appreciated them more while we could.
Layers upon layers in those songs, for sure. And lyrically one of the best bands ever. They really were an amazing band that deserved more attention than they got.
My favorite track is "Bright Future in Sales."
"Headin' for the airport on a misty morning
Gonna catch a flight to Baltimore"
Man, I know that feeling, catching a flight for a meeting later that day, not being fully prepared.
Great song. Really relatable!
I’m don’t know how to articulate it, but “Radiation Vibe” really captures that mid-90s/GenX/Slacker mindset. It still sounds amazing, and is built for signing along to.
Utopia Parkway’s “Denise” is probably my favorite. There’s a line that goes “she works at Liberty Travel” that really got my attention. That sort of niche reference is really rare, and it told me this was a band to follow (and get a lyrics sheet for).
Thanks for checking it out! They constantly include these very specific details that give their songs this amazing additional layer of storytelling. It's also part of the reason that they're often described as "quirky" or "think-y".
Great write up Steve!
Thank you for checking it out!
"Supercollider"
Strangely enough, this is my 3rd favorite FOW album, after the first 2.
As a fellow FOW fan, you might be interested to know that I've been breaking down the albums in their catalog in excruciating detail on my podcast. We've done the first two, and the next one up is this one, of course. The name of the podcast is "You Could Be My Aramis", seek it out if you'd like to hear enthusiastic gushing and analysis of the first two FOW albums.
You just gained a new listener! Thanks for the heads up.
I honestly don't think I can pick one, because the album works so well as a whole. "Little Red Light" is a jam, though.
It is kind of a trick question...but DAMN do I love LRL! Thanks for checking it out.
Picked this one up late in the evening my last ever purchase before Tower Records went away, and prepared to drive until I finished it, so off I went down to 18 and back over the hill. The lyrics for Mexican Wine still blow me away "that was the afternoon her heart went", (my disappointment with the video we'll ignore), and Bright Future in Sales to me had a Wings-y feel to it. Stacey's Mom of course rocked with all the Cars/Cheap Trick energy it could handle, but Hacksensack was a heartbreaker. He's never gonna see her again, is he? I got the swan song vibe, too as a lot of the record is sad, even Hung Up On You (their manager should have forced Dwight Yoakam to record it, it woulda been huge). Overall, it's a great record as it's stuck with me thru good times and bad times ("Sometimes I think I might just move up to Vermont") The concert at the Crocodile a few months later? Mind bogglingly good! The concert at EMP? Spectacular!! The last show on the Traffic and Weather tour? Honestly surprised we ever saw Sky Full of Holes. And now one of the best writers in pop history is gone, we should have appreciated them more while we could.
Layers upon layers in those songs, for sure. And lyrically one of the best bands ever. They really were an amazing band that deserved more attention than they got.