:en:Traffic and Weather

While previous Fountains of Wayne albums saw lead singer Chris Collingwood and bassist Adam Schlesinger write songs separately then arrange them with the rest of the band, initial work on their fourth album saw them trying a new approach in which they wanted to get guitarist Jody Porter and drummer Brian Young more involved by jamming together at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York. While it yielded many ideas, it didn't result in any finished songs.{{cite web |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/60003/fountains-of-wayne-get-busy-on-new-album |title=Fountains Of Wayne Get Busy On New Album |publisher=Billboard|date=2006-01-18 |accessdate=2019-01-04}} In the end, "Strapped for Cash" was the only song developed from the Bearsville sessions, as the band reverted to their usual methods.{{cite magazine |url= https://www.billboard.com/biz/articles/news/1179058/allmusiccom-folding-into-allrovicom-for-one-stop-entertainment-shop |title=AllMusic.com Folding Into AllRovi.com for One-Stop Entertainment Shop |last=Bruno |first=Anthony |date=February 28, 2011 |magazine=Billboard |accessdate=June 15, 2013}} However, Collingwood was suffering from depression and alcoholism during the making of the album. As a result, he only penned three songs for it — "Fire in the Canyon", "Hotel Majestic" and "Seatbacks and Traytables" — while Schlesinger wrote the rest.{{cite web |url= https://www.ultimate-guitar.com/news/interviews/fountains_of_wayne_frontman_on_new_cd_i_didnt_bring_a_lot_to_the_table.html |title=Fountains Of Wayne Frontman: 'On New CD I Didn't Bring A Lot To The Table!' |first=Amy|last=Kelly |publisher=Ultimate Guitar |date=2007-04-26 |accessdate=2019-01-04}} (In a Lennon/McCartney-like arrangement, the writing of each individual song is still credited to both Collingwood and Schlesinger, even though both in fact write separately. However, for this album, the publishing credits tell the story — all songs are published by Schlesinger's company Vaguely Familiar Music, except for Collingwood's contributions, which are published by Collingwood's company Monkey Demon Music.)

Describing their process for the album, Schlesinger said, "We'll bring a song in, then Brian will come up with a feel for it, cut a basic track, then we'll spend a lot of time with Jody experimenting with different guitar parts. On this album more than any, you can really hear Jody's playing and the incredibly wide range that he's capable of."{{cite web |url= https://www.mixonline.com/recording/fountains-wayne-365815 |title=Fountains of Wayne |first=Heather|last=Johnson |publisher=Mix |date=2007-04-01 |accessdate=2019-01-04}}

The song "Someone to Love" includes backing vocals from former Smashing Pumpkins and Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur,{{cite news |date=2007-01-19 |title=Fountains Of Wayne ready new album |publisher=NME Online |url= https://www.nme.com/news/fountains-of-wayne/25938}} "Fire in the Canyon" contains backing vocals from the Candy Butchers' Mike Viola, "Seatbacks and Traytables" features former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist James Iha, and "Strapped for Cash" features trumpeters Ronnie Buttacavoli and Scott Wendholt; the former trumpeter also plays on "Yolanda Hayes".

{{Album ratings

| MC = 68/100{{Cite web |url= https://www.metacritic.com/music/traffic-and-weather |title=Traffic And Weather by Fountains of Wayne |website=Metacritic |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1score = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{Cite web |url= https://www.allmusic.com/album/traffic-and-weather-mw0000478043 |title=Traffic and Weather Review |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |author-link=Stephen Thomas Erlewine |website=AllMusic |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev2 = Alternative Addiction

| rev2score = {{rating|4|5}}{{Cite web |url= http://alternativeaddiction.com/Review/352 |title=Album Review of Traffic and Weather by Fountains of Wayne |website=Alternative Addiction |language=en |access-date=2018-05-08}}

| rev3 = The Austin Chronicle

| rev3score = {{rating|3.5|4}}{{Cite news |url= https://www.austinchronicle.com/music/2007-04-13/465107/ |title=Review: Fountains of Wayne |last=Beets |first=Greg |date=2007-04-13 |work=The Austin Chronicle |access-date=2018-03-31 |language=en-US}}

| rev4 = American Songwriter

| rev4score = {{rating|3|5}}{{Cite web |url= http://americansongwriter.com/2007/05/fountains-of-wayne-traffic-and-weather/ |title=FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE > Traffic and Weather |last=Gallucci |first=Michael |date=2007-05-01 |website=American Songwriter |language=en-US |access-date=2018-05-25}}

| rev5 = Entertainment Weekly

| rev5score = B+{{Cite magazine |url= https://ew.com/article/2007/03/30/traffic-and-weather/ |title=Traffic and Weather |last=Collis |first=Clark |date=2007-03-30 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev6 = MSN Music (Consumer Guide)

| rev6score = A{{Cite web |url= http://robertchristgau.com/xg/cg/cg2007-09.php |title=Consumer Guide: September 2007 |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=2007-09-01 |website=MSN Music |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev7 = Pitchfork

| rev7score = 3.0/10{{Cite web |url= https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/10047-traffic-and-weather/ |title=Fountains of Wayne: Traffic and Weather Album Review |last=LeMay |first=Matt |date=2007-03-28 |website=Pitchfork |language=en |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev8 = PopMatters

| rev8score = 8/10{{Cite web |url= https://www.popmatters.com/fountains-of-wayne-traffic-and-weather-2496146990.html |title=Fountains of Wayne: Traffic and Weather |last=Vrabel |first=Jeff |date=2007-04-01 |website=PopMatters |language=en |access-date=2018-03-31}}

| rev9 = Rolling Stone

| rev9score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine |url= http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/13967089/review/14010851/traffic_and_weather |title=Fountains of Wayne: Traffic and Weather |magazine=Rolling Stone |accessdate=2007-04-25 |url-status=dead |archiveurl= https://web.archive.org/web/20070407151432/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/13967089/review/14010851/traffic_and_weather |archivedate=April 7, 2007 |df=mdy-all }}

| rev10 = Stylus Magazine

| rev10score = D−{{Cite web |url= http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/fountains-of-wayne/traffic-and-weather.htm |title=Fountains of Wayne - Traffic and Weather |last=Cohen |first=Ian |date=2007-04-02 |website=Stylus Magazine |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080223083829/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/fountains-of-wayne/traffic-and-weather.htm |archive-date=2008-02-23}}

}}The album was met with moderate commercial success and generally favorable reviews. It reached #97 on the Billboard 200 albums chart,{{cite web |url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r1024534|pure_url=yes}} |title=Traffic and Weather: Charts & Awards |publisher=allmusic }} and the song "I-95" was named #54 in Rolling Stone's{{'}}s list of the 100 Best Songs of 2007.{{cite news |url= https://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/15 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071215210725/http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17601363/the_100_best_songs_of_2007/15 |url-status=dead |archive-date=December 15, 2007 |title=The 100 Best Songs of 2007 |publisher=Rolling Stone |date=2007-12-11 }} Blender described the album as having "more witty tales of confused young people caught between destinations".{{Cite news |url= http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2391 |title=25 Reasons to Love '07 |date=January–February 2007 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080212070708/http://www.blender.com/guide/articles.aspx?id=2391 |archive-date=2008-02-12 |publisher=Blender}}

All tracks are credited to Chris Collingwood and Adam Schlesinger.

{{Track listing

| title1 = Someone to Love

| writer1 = Schlesinger

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = {{-'}}92 Subaru

| writer2 = Schlesinger

| length2 = 3:13

| title3 = Yolanda Hayes

| writer3 = Schlesinger

| length3 = 4:01

| title4 = Traffic and Weather

| writer4 = Schlesinger

| length4 = 3:37

| title5 = Fire in the Canyon

| writer5 = Collingwood

| length5 = 2:47

| title6 = This Better Be Good

| writer6 = Schlesinger

| length6 = 3:04

| title7 = Revolving Dora

| writer7 = Schlesinger

| length7 = 2:42

| title8 = Michael and Heather at the Baggage Claim

| writer8 = Schlesinger

| length8 = 3:42

| title9 = Strapped for Cash

| writer9 = Schlesinger

| length9 = 3:31

| title10 = I-95

| writer10 = Schlesinger

| length10 = 3:08

| title11 = Hotel Majestic

| writer11 = Collingwood

| length11 = 3:28

| title12 = Planet of Weed

| writer12 = Schlesinger

| length12 = 2:46

| title13 = New Routine

| writer13 = Schlesinger

| length13 = 4:14

| title14 = Seatbacks and Traytables

| writer14 = Collingwood

| length14 = 3:31

| title15 = Sense Into You

| note15 = Japan bonus track

| length15 = 3:30

| title16 = You Gotta Go

| note16 = Japan "Tour Edition" bonus track

| length16 = 2:06

}}

;Fountains of Wayne

• Chris Collingwood — lead vocals, rhythm guitar, banjo
• Adam Schlesinger — bass, rhythm guitar, keyboards, backing vocals, production
• Jody Porter — lead guitar, backing vocals
• Brian Young — drums, percussion

;Additional musicians

• Melissa Auf der Maur — backing vocals on "Someone to Love"
• Ronnie Buttacavoli — trumpet on "Yolanda Hayes" and "Strapped for Cash"
• Scott Harrell — trumpet on "Strapped for Cash"
• James Iha — guitar on "Seatbacks and Traytables"
• Mike Viola — backing vocals on "Fire in the Canyon"
• Scott Wendholt — trumpet "Strapped for Cash"

;Technical personnel

• Arjun Agerwala — assistant engineer
• Michael Brauer — mixing
• Cliff Burnstein — management
• Rudyard Lee Cullers — assistant engineer
• Shauna Haider — artwork, design
• John Holbrook — engineer
• Eiji Kikuchi — photography
• George Marino — mastering
• Peter Mensch — management
• Geoff Sanoff — engineer
• Ken Weinstein — publicity
• David Wolter — A&R

All quotes from Adam Schlesinger.

• "I don't think anybody is counting on us for another one [Stacy's Mom Standard Hit] of those. I hope not."
• "As usual, there are a lot of songs about transportation and travel."
• "Our goal is 12 units, then if we hit 13, it looks like a runaway success."
• "(Billy Corgan) was busy putting that other Smashing Pumpkins reunion together while we were working on this Smashing Pumpkins reunion on our record."{{cite web |last=Pais |first=Matt |url= http://chicago.metromix.com/music/article/smart-cool-people-like/166958/content |title='Smart, cool people like it' | Metromix Chicago |publisher=Chicago.metromix.com |date=2007-08-31 |accessdate=2012-03-12 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120214010909/http://chicago.metromix.com/music/article/smart-cool-people-like/166958/content |archive-date=February 14, 2012 |url-status=dead }}

• "Someone to Love": "a little bit 'Eleanor Rigby'-esque, in that it's about these two lonely people living in New York. It has a disco-y beat, which is something we don't do a lot of. Melissa Auf der Maur sings backing vocals, and that's the first female vocal we've had since Dominique Durand from Ivy on the first album."{{cite news |url= https://www.billboard.com/articles/news/1055882/fountains-of-wayne-untangle-traffic-jams |first=Jonathan |last=Cohen |title=Fountains Of Wayne Untangle 'Traffic' Jams |publisher=Billboard |date=2007-01-18 }}
• "'92 Subaru": "It kind of sounds like The Doobie Brothers or Little Feat or something."
• "Yolanda Hayes": "About a woman who works at the DMV"

• "We had these grand ambitions to change our process, we went up to Woodstock and jammed, but in the end, only one thing from that session, 'Strapped for Cash,' turned into an actual song. For the rest of it, we went back to our usual method of writing on our own and bringing in a song to be arranged by everyone. Woodstock was good to get back together and loosen up, but I guess we're pretty set in our ways."

{{Reflist|2}}

• [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLaXmqUK9uo0V3TBZJDV5KA5JX7oUk1B0e Traffic and Weather] at YouTube (streamed copy where licensed)
• {{Metacritic album}}

{{Fountains of Wayne}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Fountains of Wayne albums

Category:2007 albums

Category:Virgin Records albums

Category:Albums produced by Adam Schlesinger