Customer Reviews

Tinted Windows

5 star:		(26)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

a history of power pop condensed into 36 minutes. if you don't understand it, or are comparing it to some of the current bands du jour, you're part of the a.d.d. generation that doesn't have a clue. you have to be aware of the influences. follow the trail that led them here. appreciate the beauty of what's being presented to you. i picked it up on a whim, not sure what to expect. haven't been able to stop listening to it. will be forcing others to buy their own copies. this is joy, pure and simple.

I wasn't sure if this would live up to my expectations. First it's a Supergroup. Which in most instances suck. This doesn't. Second, I'm a big fan of all the artists involved and the sum of all the parts could have easily let me down. But it doesn't. Not even close.

I got the cd and put the windows down in the car and turned it up and it was perfect. Perfect summer rock. Very AM Radio on a few of the tracks. It hit me exactly as I would have hoped and wanted. The first single is the best. But that by no means implies that the rest is a let down.

As for sound & style, well It leans more to Cheap Trick's early work more than anything. But a couple of the songs could be slightly more rocking Hanson songs with some fuzzy guitars. But overall it's a very 70's era power pop sounding cd. And it does rock. It's meant to be played loud. And I did.

I'm lucky enough to be seeing them at the Double Door in Chicago next week. And I'm truly pleased that this cd is as good as it is.

I have read some critic reviews and a few remarks I can agree with...the lyrics are not as fun as a Fountains cd. But I think 2 things, one it needs to be listened to at least 3 times to get the hooks and 2 it needs to be played loud. It's a fun cd.

From a first-cut listen to this disc (got it in the mail yesterday) and reading the other reviews already posted on this page, it seems pretty clear that the listener's level of appreciation for this album will depend very highly upon how much enjoyment he or she derives from the genre of power pop.

"Power pop" is an area of rock n roll that has been around for a long time. It used to be a mainstay of the rock sound, starting in the 1960s with the maximum-three-minute hooky tunes written by The Beatles, The Who, The Byrds, etc. Big Star picked up the mantle (and added a unique and modern twist) in the early 70s but did not elicit nearly as much widespread attention. By that point, the listening public had largely moved on. Since that time, power pop has resurfaced again and again, often merged with other genres such as New Wave (in the late 70s/early 80s, with bands such as The DBs and The Plimsouls) and alt-rock (in the early-to-mid 90s). Fountains Of Wayne, Sloan and Teenage Fanclub are three of my personal favorite power pop bands and typify the current approach to the sound. It could also be argued that the Jonas Brothers are power pop revivalists as well, and as such are bringing the genre some heightened visibility. I doubt that power pop will ever go away so long as there's a heart-broken but ultimately good-natured teenager out there who knows a few chords. After all why should it? At its best, power pop is warm and exuberant, catchy and very, very fun. I happen to love it and always will.

So that's enough for context, on to the album itself.

The pleasures of this disc are all on the surface. Basically, it's a bunch of hooky songs about girls and relationships, with big ringing chords and harmonizing back-up vocals. Think "Eight Days A Week" but updated for the Post-Milleneal era. Or, Fountains Of Wayne without the sarcasm and cultural commentary. In other words, good clean fun meant for beach parties and driving in the hot summer sun. It doesn't sound like the work of a "supergroup" so much as a bunch of guys in a good garage band cutting loose. That ultimately is its charm. I tend to find this sort of thing very enjoyable, although it's not something I will be likely to listen to unless I am in the mood for it. In other words, it scratches a very particular kind of musical itch. If you, like me, crave a power pop fix now and then (or perhaps more often), this CD is for you.

I hesitate however at giving this even a 4-star rating (I am feeling generous today) because of one thing - the lyrics. With Fountain's Of Wayne's Adam Schlesinger on board, I was expecting a little more of his trademark wit to shine through. However, this material is pretty dumbed-down. Not one song is even a little bit subtle or interesting lyrically. Perhaps that was the idea, but ultimately I think that's where this effort falls a bit flat and doesn't have the memorable, compelling feel of a Fountains Of Wayne disc.

So all in all a fun listen and definitely recommended with the following caveat: for power pop fans only!

This was an odd/never-heard-it purchase for me & I was very pleasantly surprised by how great this CD sounds considering: a) Most "supergroups" suck, b)If they don't they gradually implode like Velvet Revolver or Audioslave did, c) I was never a Smashing Pumpkins or Fountains of Wayne fan & truly despised anything Hanson-related, d) I could care less what "rock critics" have to say. BUT......The positive review in the NY Daily News & the fact I do love "power pop" (The Raspberries/Squeeze/Cheap Trick/The Smithereens) got me curious about this project & I was really pleased I took the chance & ordered this.

Read a few reviews in reputable mags about this band and CD. Am a big fan of Fountains of Wayne, and cannot understand why they are not received better. Picked this CD up, and found it quite enjoyable. Reminded me a lot of Big Star, and The Raspberries. Really enjoy the songs on what would have been the second side of the album. "Without Love,""Cha Cha,""We Got Something,""Nothing To Me,""Doncha Wanna""Take Me Back" are all great little pop songs, and what's wrong with that. Unfortunately, won't get much radio play. "Kind of a Girl," great tune to kick things off. One complaint: NOT LONG ENOUGH. Hope to hear more from Tinted Windows.

I love this band. Fun music by great musicians. Bun E Carlos really holds this group together.

When I bought this, I didn't expect much from it, but was wondering what a lineup such as this would create.

What they did create was some of the best (but mindless) pop I have heard since I first discovered the group "The 88". There is no better album to have in your CD player on a hot summer day rolling down the highway.

In the first week I listened to this album 10 times (made easier by the short running time). It takes a lot to get tired of these songs. Brilliantly done.

This album is absolutely one of the best! Every song is fun and contagious. Taylor Hanson, Adam Schlesinger, James Iha, and Bun E. Carlos come together to form one hell of a band.

If you want some good old fashion fun pop music to put you in a good mood then this is the CD for you. Place this in you car's CD player, pop down the top, head to the beach, and make this a part of your 2009 summer soundtrack.