Traffic And Weather
by Fountains of Wayne
  • Record Label: Virgin
  • Release Date: Apr 3, 2007
Metascore
68

Generally favorable reviews - based on 28 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 16 out of 28
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 28
  3. Negative: 4 out of 28
  1. Spin
    60
    It's like an alt-rock adaptation of a John Cheever anthology. [Apr 2007, p.87]
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  2. Hartford Courant
    60
    The everyday-ness of the songs makes them easily relatable, but, like a commute where traffic and weather happen on the 10s, the album starts to feel routine by the end.
  3. Prefix Magazine
    60
    The perfectly pleasant Traffic and Weather is inarguably diminished returns.
  5. Under The Radar
    60
    After such a lengthy break between records, the disappointing ratio of great-to-crummy songs is a mild surprise. Traffic and Weather could’ve been so much better. [#17, p.84]
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  6. Alternative Press
    60
    It's something they've done better before. [May 2007, p.158]
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  7. ShakingThrough.net
    60
    Without interesting stories to tell, it all feels like an empty-calorie exercise in vapid songcraft.
  8. The Guardian
    60
    There's a feeling that maybe it all comes a little too easily, and perhaps they would be best advised to think harder before committing songs to tape.
  9. Paste Magazine
    40
    The band simply reiterates earlier ideas less interestingly. [Apr 2007, p.54]
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Awards & Rankings

100
#100 Most Shared Album of 2007

User Reviews

All reviews »
User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 32 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 32
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 32
  3. Negative: 2 out of 32
  1. ParcoM.
    Aug 25, 2007
    9
    Not the best FOW album ever, but very solid, very enjoyable, and sticks with you, the way true FOW music should.
  2. JohnR
    Jul 6, 2007
    8
    How corny is '92 Subaru'? Barenaked Ladies heard it and said, "Wow, that's corny. Are they Canadian, too?" Hey, Fountains of How corny is '92 Subaru'? Barenaked Ladies heard it and said, "Wow, that's corny. Are they Canadian, too?" Hey, Fountains of Wayne, Ray Davies just called. He heard '92 Subaru' and says he wants his embarrassing '80s period back. Haha, seriously, '92 Subaru' aside, this is song-for-song every bit as satisfying as WIM. There's at least three masterpieces here ('T&W', 'New Routine', 'This Better Be Good'), and the rest is completely listenable and not completely disposable. 'Planet of Weed' is hilarious and kind of sweet -- I don't get the backlash against that song. And, OK, even '92 Subaru' scratches some dark, repressed .38-Special-adoring itch somewhere. Pitchfork hates pop music, that's all I can figure. Anyone who likes pop music will like this album, and like it repeatedly.… Full Review »
  3. TedR.
    Jul 3, 2007
    9
    Great power pop....songs I can listen to over and over again.
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