Concert Recommendation: Fountains of Wayne, Brighton Music Hall, August 12 & 13

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I just finished my third music theory class. My professor praised mywork on my final project, asking if was my first composition. Iexplained that I had only composed for assignments in my music theoryclasses. I've been aware that I'm perfectly capable of writingsomething that meets the criteria for an assignment but have absolutelyno idea about its aesthetic values: it's correct, but is it any good? Ihave my doubts.

Then I came home and listened again to Sky Full of Holes,the new album by Fountains of Wayne. My rudimentary composition skillswill never match their ability to craft hooks. The new album isn'tquite as heavy on them as some of their previous releases, but theband'sentire body of work is overrun with them. They will showing off theirhooks in a pair of Boston shows, one electric, one acoustic, thisweekend. They will also be showing off their other skills: thespecificity of their lyrics, Jody Porter as their secret weapon addingmuscle on guitar,and a general sense of playfulness with theirpresentation.

I'm not fretting over not matching their compositional skills since Ican compensate with other expertise. I've reviewed the new album forCDHotlist:New Releases for Libraries. I'msurprised that otherreviewers have failed to comment on the change in perspective, thatthey are now writing about people well into adulthood, which Iparticularly appreciate as someone who is well into adulthood myself.

Fountainsof Wayne play the BrightonMusic Hall, 158 Brighton Avenue,Allston, MA, 617-779-0140, with Nicole Atkins at 9:00 p.m. on Friday,August 12 (electric) and Saturday, August 13 (acoustic).