OK...
so I got an advance of "Traffic and Weather" and have been scrutinizing it
thoroughly the last few days. In short...fans of Welcome Interstate Managers
won't be disappointed.

Most songs touch on the usual pop culture suspects with a solid power
pop backdrop. Songs like "92 Subaru" are offer more camp than metaphor...
but overall this is the FOW we know and love!  Like most of their previous stuff,
every song tells a funny story...from folks at the baggage claim, the lady
at the DMV counter, TV news anchors, etc. Like WIM touched on the trials
jobs/careers....."Traffic & weather" definitely has a pervasive travel theme.

Musically, the album is as slick as anything they've ever done. There are more
flourishes to be found...such as horns and elec. piano on the Chicago-esque
"Strapped For Cash". "92 Subaru" is this album's "Bright Future in Sales".
Lead single "Someone to Love" borders on synth-laden disco pop and is almost
too slick for its own good. Bright spots including the hypnotic pop of
"Revolving Dora" and a brilliant track called "New Routine" which blends the
best musical hook of the album to an engaging story of a relationship chain...all
in the course of three-and-a-half minutes. There's even the usual token
country-esque track ("Seatbacks & Traytables")

At their worst, Fountains of Wayne are better than most. It's too early to tell
for me if this album holds up as well as their rest, but it's certainly a contender
for the top 10 of 2007.

Jeff