It would be quite tempting to write "Tinted Windows" off as a guilty pleasure, given the direction that Taylor Hanson and James Iha's respective careers have gone over the past decade. And sure, Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Schlesinger has a knack for writing simple, catchy, 60's ish melodies that sound as if they could have come right out of a jam session by the Beatles, the Monkees, or the Beach Boys. But these songs are strong all the way through, with hooks big enough to beach a whale - and the band works up just enough steam and energy to make each song worthwhile. The two obvious highlights of the set are "Can't Get a Read on You" and "Without Love," but there are ahost of other songs, such as the hit single "Kind of a Girl," that are not to be dismissed, either. Occasionally, the band members' colors shine through ("We've Got Something" sounds like Hanson performing a Cheap Trick song), but for the most part, these guys venture a bit from the formula of their past hits with their original bands, and unlike many of the other bands out there who try to make records like this one, Tinted Windows comes up with more than a few hooks to make the whole experience worthwhile. With supergroups, it is usually all-or-nothing. And for the most part, Tinted Windows gets it all right, and when they don't, they still get by on their tight melodies and energetic, fun performances.
When was the last time you heard a brand new record that actually sounded FUN? If you miss those days, this one will make you smile.