Utopia Parkway

For the street, see Utopia Parkway (Queens).

Utopia Parkway
Studio album by
Fountains of Wayne
ReleasedApril 6, 1999
StudioStratosphere Sound, New York City
Genre
Length45:35
LabelAtlantic
Producer
Fountains of Wayne chronology
Fountains of Wayne
(1996) 		Utopia Parkway
(1999) 		Welcome Interstate Managers
(2003)
Singles from Utopia Parkway
  1. "Denise"
    Released: March 8, 1999
  2. "Red Dragon Tattoo"
    Released: May 1999
  3. "Troubled Times"
    Released: August 1999

Utopia Parkway is the second studio album by the American rock band Fountains of Wayne. It was released by Atlantic Records on April 6, 1999. The album peaked at number 23 on the US Heatseekers Albums chart. It is supported by three singles: "Denise", "Red Dragon Tattoo" and "Trouble Times".

Background

The album was written by Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger with the intention of emulating albums with a strong thematic story inspired by its surroundings, such as Muswell Hillbillies by The Kinks and Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen. According to Schlesinger, "When we were teenagers, we liked listening to Kinks records because we'd never been to England, and we got a sense of what it was like to live there. We really wanted to make a record that felt whole. We intentionally didn't include a few good songs because once we started picking up on the thematic connections, we wanted to stick with it." Collingwood added, "It had to do with reaching a level of maturity where you realize your own life is worth singing about. We spent so much time glamourizing bands like the Kinks, but what they were singing about was just everyday suburbia in England. There's this realization that you don't have to sing about Kensington for it to be worthwhile."[1]

In terms of musical direction, the band opted to evoke songs and bands that had an ubiquitous nature when they were younger. According to Schlesinger, "Musically, the stuff on the record is like picking through all the songs that people our age weren't about to avoid growing up. It could be Loverboy, Steve Miller, the Cars, Journey. You don't even know if you like it or hate it; it just pops into your head. Sometimes when we're arranging a song we all remember something at the same time so we'll throw it in there. It's not even really conscious."[1]

Collingwood's songwriting contributions on this album - including "Troubled Times", "A Fine Day for a Parade" and "Amity Gardens" - tended to be more serious than Schlesinger's. According to Collingwood, "I think I was a little panicky after the first record as being perceived as a novelty band. So I was trying to move away from making jokes on this record. That's why my contributions are more dismal."[2]

This is also the first Fountains of Wayne album to feature guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young, who joined the band after Collingwood and Schlesinger had finished recording the debut album almost entirely on their own. According to Collingwood, "The new album was definitely recorded more like a band. We had been touring with them for over a year after making the first record, and it felt like second nature when we made the new record and it sounded the way the band sounds. The progression from the first record to the second was so gradual that I didn't really notice until I went back and listened to the first album and realized it really didn't sound like a band."[2]

Recording and production

The album was recorded at Stratosphere Sound in New York City, produced by Collingwood and Schlesinger. According to Young, the band went into the studio and "make a better record than the first." He also described the sound of the album as "more mature" with an "interesting vibe production wise."[3]

Cover

The album is named after a major street that connects the neighborhoods of Utopia and Beechhurst in the Queens borough of New York City, and its street sign is featured on the album cover.[4] According to Schlesinger, "The name is so evocative. It ties in all these different places and characters because there's such a sense of longing about it."[1]

Release

The album's lead single "Denise" was released on March 8, 1999.[5] The song performed moderately well on the Billboard charts, peaking at number 34 on the Alternative Airplay chart.[6] "Red Dragon Tattoo" was released in May 1999, as the album's second single.[7] "Troubled Times" was released in August 1999, as the album's third and final single.[8] The band also released a six-track EP of the single in Japan.[9] Each single contained B-sides, which Collingwood said, "There's a lot of pressure to put non-album tracks on the singles. I don't mind. It's a good opportunity to put out stuff that's embarrassing and painfully bad."[2]

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStarStar[10]
Alternative Press4/5[11]
Entertainment WeeklyA[12]
Melody MakerStarStarStarStar[13]
MSN Music (Expert Witness)A−[14]
NME5/10[15]
Pitchfork5.1/10[16]
Rolling StoneStarStarStar[17]
Spin8/10[18]
USA TodayStarStarStar[19]

Utopia Parkway was named an "Album of the Week" by People in 1999 upon its release,[20] but received mixed reviews from music press with some claiming the album showed the band "lacked depth"[21] while others declared it a "masterpiece from the moment you first hear it".[22]

Stephen Thomas Erlewine of AllMusic stated, "All the songs immediately make a connection and all of their melodic attributes simply strengthen with repeated listens."[10] Entertainment Weekly gave the album an A grade rating, remarking, "If distance equals comedy, these guys aren't so far removed from their own youth that the narrative teen focus comes off as unduly ironic sociology. And Oasis would give up a week's worth of pints for any one of these pop hooks, though they'd never manage the humor or warmth."[12] Sarah Zupko of PopMatters described the album as "sort of guilty pleasures" praising the music and lyrics.[23] Russell Hall of Wall of Sound felt that the record was "slightly more sophisticated" than their debut album, stating, "With songs as impeccably crafted as these, why distract with anything other than tried-and-true rock and roll topics?."[24] Edna Gundersen of USA Today said the band "may have paved a shortcut to fame with the madly melodic neo-pop on Utopia Parkway."[19]

David Stubbs of NME wrote a mixed response for the album, feeling that it was "too clean, too neutral, too dry," and musically "they unfortunately convey the all-American blandness of which they sing, blending R.E.M., Nirvana, Simon & Garfunkel, The Eagles."[15] Brent DiCrescenzo of Pitchfork also wrote a mixed review, calling the album "boring," but praised "Senior Prom" as the album's highlight.[16]

"Red Dragon Tattoo" was featured prominently throughout the Stephen King mini-series Kingdom Hospital.[25] The 2008 Dar Williams album Promised Land includes a cover of "Troubled Times".[26]

Commercial performance

The album debuted and peaked at number 23 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart.[27] Dropped by Atlantic after sales failed to meet expectations, the band had a growing dispute with the company after it put no effort into promoting the album's single "Troubled Times".[28] The album sold 67,000 copies by November 2003.[29] As of April 2020, it sold 90,000 copies in the United States.[30]

Track listing

All tracks are written by Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger.

Utopia Parkway - Standard Edition
No.TitleLength
1."Utopia Parkway"3:09
2."Red Dragon Tattoo"3:32
3."Denise"2:32
4."Hat and Feet"3:03
5."The Valley of Malls"3:23
6."Troubled Times"3:39
7."Go, Hippie"3:58
8."A Fine Day For a Parade"4:13
9."Amity Gardens"3:11
10."Laser Show"2:24
11."Lost in Space"2:19
12."Prom Theme"3:09
13."It Must Be Summer"3:19
14."The Senator's Daughter"3:44
Total length:45:35
Utopia Parkway - Japanese Edition
No.TitleLength
15."I Know You Well"3:26
Total length:49:01

Personnel

Fountains of Wayne
Additional musicians
  • Ralph Farris – strings on "Prom Theme"
  • Conway Kuo – strings on "Prom Theme"
  • Ron Sexsmith – backing vocals on "A Fine Day for a Parade"
  • Garo Yellin – strings on "Prom Theme"
  • Kris Woolsey – handclaps on "Red Dragon Tattoo"
Technical personnel

Charts

Chart performance for Utopia Parkway
Chart (1999) Peak
position
Australian Albums (ARIA)[31] 163
UK Albums (OCC)[32] 115
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard)[33] 23

References

  1. ^ a b c Powers, Ann (July 9, 1999). "On the Streets of New York with Fountains of Wayne: Urban Minstrels With Roots in Suburbia". The New York Times. Retrieved January 4, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Jenkins, Mark (July 2, 1999). "Spotlight". Washington Post. Archived from the original on February 17, 2026. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  3. ^ "Fountains of Wayne". Kinda Muzik. May 22, 1999. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  4. ^ "Fountains Of Wayne Discuss Concept Behind 'Utopia Parkway'". MTV. April 27, 1999. Archived from the original on July 25, 2008. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  5. ^ Denise (UK CD booklet). Atlantic. 1999. 7567-84422-2.
  6. ^ Keith Caulfield (April 1, 2020). "Adam Schlesinger's Chart History, From 'That Thing You Do!' to Fountain's of Wayne's 'Stacy's Mom' & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  7. ^ Red Dragon Tattoo (European CD booklet). Atlantic. 1999. AT0067CD.
  8. ^ Troubled Times (European CD booklet). Atlantic. 1999. AT0074CD.
  9. ^ Troubled Times (Japan EP booklet). Atlantic. 1999. AMCY-7075.
  10. ^ a b Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Utopia Parkway – Fountains of Wayne". AllMusic. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  11. ^ "Fountains of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Alternative Press (131): 94. June 1999.
  12. ^ a b Willman, Chris (April 23, 1999). "Utopia Parkway". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on November 9, 2015. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  13. ^ "Fountains of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Melody Maker: 38. May 22, 1999.
  14. ^ Christgau, Robert (August 19, 2011). "Fountains of Wayne". MSN Music. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  15. ^ a b Stubbs, David (May 19, 1999). "Fountains Of Wayne – Utopia Parkway". NME. Archived from the original on August 17, 2000. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  16. ^ a b DiCrescenzo, Brent (April 6, 1999). "Fountains of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Pitchfork. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  17. ^ Kot, Greg (April 15, 1999). "Fountains of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on May 12, 2003. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  18. ^ Weisbard, Eric (May 1999). "Fountains of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Spin. 15 (5): 152–54. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  19. ^ a b Gundersen, Edna (April 27, 1999). "Taking a dreamy drive down 'Utopia Parkway'". USA Today. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved May 5, 2016.
  20. ^ "Picks and Pans Review: Utopia Parkway : People.com". People. Archived from the original on September 19, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  21. ^ Mike Bederka (July 18, 1999). "Fountains of Wayne, Utopia Parkway". Westnet. Archived from the original on June 23, 2002. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  22. ^ "Fountains Of Wayne: Utopia Parkway". Music.avclub.com. April 6, 1999. Archived from the original on April 6, 2020. Retrieved April 9, 2020.
  23. ^ "Fountains of Wayne, Utopia Parkway | PopMatters". www.popmatters.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2015. Retrieved January 17, 2022.
  24. ^ Russell Hall. "Fountains of Wayne - Utopia Parkway". Wall of Sound. Archived from the original on April 5, 2001. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  25. ^ Ken Tucker (March 3, 2004). "Kingdom Hospital". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  26. ^ Greg Quill (September 9, 2008). "Dar Williams: Promised Land". The Toronto Star. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  27. ^ "Heatseekers Albums: Week of April 24, 1999". Billboard. April 24, 1999. Archived from the original on March 28, 2018. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  28. ^ Thompson, Stephen (June 6, 2001). "Fountains of Wayne". The A.V. Club. Retrieved February 17, 2026.
  29. ^ Keith Caulfield (November 26, 2003). "Ask Billboard". Billboard. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
  30. ^ Keith Caulfield (April 1, 2020). "Adam Schlesinger's Chart History, From 'That Thing You Do!' to Fountain's of Wayne's 'Stacy's Mom' & More". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
  31. ^ "Fountains of Wayne ARIA chart history". ARIA. Retrieved January 11, 2026 – via Imgur.com. N.B. The High Point number in the NAT column represents the release's peak on the national chart.
  32. ^ "Chart Log UK: Adam F - FYA". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
  33. ^ "Fountains of Wayne Chart History (Heatseekers Albums)". Billboard. Archived from the original on November 15, 2022. Retrieved January 11, 2026.
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