With its characteristically detailed look at the pop-cultural detritus in a miserable late-night rest stop, "I-95" first appears to be just another Fountains of Wayne-ian look at someone's mundane, loveless existence.

NPR: Fountains of Wayne: Long-Distance Dedication

His stumble follows on the heels of last year's failure, "Ghost the Musical, " with songs by mega-songwriters Dave Stewart (half of the Eurythmics) and Glen Ballard, and 2008's "Cry-Baby, " with songs co-written by a member of the pop group Fountains of Wayne.

WSJ: Pop songwriters find excitement in stage musicals

More recently, Fountains of Wayne's "I Want an Alien for Christmas" and Saint Etienne and Tim Burgess' "I was born on Christmas Day" (Saint Etienne being seasonal serial offenders having also covered Billy Fury's "My Christmas Prayer") are perhaps the best options for alternative ears.

CNN: The insider's guide to Christmas music

Fountains of Wayne's massively hooky power-pop songs have made it a critical darling, landed the group in the Top 40 (for 2003's ubiquitous "Stacy's Mom"), and even spawned one of the most spot-on musical commentaries in recent years: Robbie Fulks' "Fountains of Wayne Hotline" lays the band's formulas bare in hilarious fashion.

NPR: Fountains of Wayne: Long-Distance Dedication