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Out-Of-State Plates Image
Metascore
70

Generally favorable reviews - based on 14 Critic Reviews What's this?

User Score
8.3

Universal acclaim- based on 7 Ratings

  • Summary: This 28-track, two-disc compilation culls radio performances, demos, and other previously unreleased tracks from throughout the band's history.

Top Track

I Want an Alien for Christmas
This year for Christmas There's something I'd really like So if you're up there somewhere Santa Please don't bring me another bike I don't need any... See the rest of the song lyrics
Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 14
  2. Negative: 0 out of 14
  1. Entertainment Weekly
    83
    Essential listening, especially for those who only know "Stacy's Mom." [15 Jul 2005, p.73]
  2. All of the bands calling cards are present—they’re just scribbled down on the back of a phone bill, rather than printed out professionally then laminated.
  3. [The] consistent quality belies any notion of the extraneous.
  4. Q Magazine
    70
    There's... plenty for the merely curious to enjoy. [Aug 2005, p.142]
  5. Barring a few notable exceptions, these are the songs that either weren’t good enough or didn’t fit into any of the New Jersey-based group’s proper releases.
  6. Out-of-State Plates is a ragged collection of hits and misses that will satisfy FOW completists, while being of intermittent interest to recent converts or general power pop fans.

See all 14 Critic Reviews

Score distribution:
  1. Positive: 5 out of 5
  2. Mixed: 0 out of 5
  3. Negative: 0 out of 5
  1. MickO
    Aug 18, 2005
    9
    This CD is certainly a mixed bag, compared to FoW's usual inspired standards of pop songwriting. But hey, that's expected on this This CD is certainly a mixed bag, compared to FoW's usual inspired standards of pop songwriting. But hey, that's expected on this sort of kooky collection of out-takes, B-sides and covers. Overall, the album shows that FoW continue to be masters of cheeky and fun guitar pop, while also having an ability to evoke heart-aching melancholy. The undoubted highlight for me is the new song 'The Girl I Can't Forget'. This song has got to be one of the most perfectly written, most joyous pop tunes I have heard for a very long time, and it alone is worth the price of the CD. It also earns the whole album a good rating from me ! Expand
  2. JoelE
    Jul 26, 2005
    8
    Girl I Can't Forget makes it onto my short list of perfect pop songs. The other new tunes are very good. The others are fairly hit and Girl I Can't Forget makes it onto my short list of perfect pop songs. The other new tunes are very good. The others are fairly hit and miss, but almost every one has SOMETHING that makes listening a pleasure. Expand
  3. MusicMaven
    Jun 30, 2005
    7
    This one is for the fans. It's two discs at a nearly a single disc price, full of b-sides, covers, and unreleased material. There's This one is for the fans. It's two discs at a nearly a single disc price, full of b-sides, covers, and unreleased material. There's several diamonds in the rough (my current favorite: "I'll Do The Driving"), a few near-misses, and a couple of clunkers. Sure it's not as consistent as their albums, but there's a lot to love for power pop fans. Newbies should start with the proper albums. Expand
  4. Gazcomsat
    Jul 12, 2005
    7
    I really like Foutains of Wayne. Welcome Interstate Managers was their best album to date in my opinion. With this in mind I was looking I really like Foutains of Wayne. Welcome Interstate Managers was their best album to date in my opinion. With this in mind I was looking forward to a new Cd by the band considering it must be a year since their previous release. Whilst I don't mind this new compilation Cd, I hope it's not been released instead of a new studio album. Sure, it's good value for money and has allowed me to obtain the one or two tracks I didn't have from the singles etc but ultimately, it's not a patch on the newer stuff. The new single "Maureen" is good as is the other new song "The girl I can't forget" but by the bands own admission, most of the other songs have been put onto Cd because they "All had to be put somewhere". All in all, good value for money but there's better FoW albums out there. Expand
  5. EkimS
    Jul 6, 2005
    7
    If viewed as a followup to "Welcome Interstate Managers", this could be seen as a big disappointment. However, taken as a collection of If viewed as a followup to "Welcome Interstate Managers", this could be seen as a big disappointment. However, taken as a collection of leftovers, its pretty good. The two discs could have been edited to 1 for a stronger collection, but seeing as it sells for a 1 disc price, worth the investment for power pop fans. Expand