Remembering Adam Schlesinger and Tinted Windows

Adam Schlesinger wasn't supposed to die.

Schlesinger, one of America's finest power-pop songwriters known for his work with Fountains of Wayne and in film and television, was killed by COVID-19 on March 31. He was 52.

Obviously it's sad when anyone dies. And with COVID-19 ripping through the world, we're going to see a lot of death in the next few months. It's inevitable. But Schlesinger was not finished with this world or with his work. He just won an Emmy Award last year for his songwriting on the CW show "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend."

I keep wishing for a do-over, an extra life for Schlesinger and the many others who have already succumbed to COVID-19, as if we lived in a video game. They weren't supposed to die. This is a fluke disease causing fluke deaths; they don't count. But they absolutely do count, and the world doesn't care about my video-game, geek logic.

Schlesinger is gone, and with him a singular songwriting talent. Even if you don't know the name, you know the songs, whether it's the early 2000s Fountains of Wayne hit "Stacy's Mom," or the incredibly catchy, faux-'60s pop soundtrack from the Tom Hanks film "That Thing You Do."

But I'd like to talk about some songs of Schlesinger's you might not know. Back in 2009, Schlesinger unveiled the side project Tinted Windows, a glorious blast of diamond-edged power-pop hearkening back to the gooey melodies and razor-sharp guitars of bands such as Cheap Trick or The Shoes. To me, that's heaven on vinyl (or plastic, or digital ... whatever). Despite the quartet's short life -- it released a self-titled album in 2009 before virtually disappearing -- it might just be my favorite Schlesinger project.

Along with Schlesinger's songwriting pedigree, the group boasted a lineup that was at once head-scratching and genius. Speaking of Cheap Trick, the drummer himself, Bun E. Carlos, held down the rhythm section with bassist Schlesinger. James Iha, once and current guitarist for Smashing Pumpkins and A Perfect Circle, provided the required six-string crunch. And Taylor Hanson of Hanson served as frontman. That might sound like a ridiculous choice to music fans who stopped paying attention to Hanson post-"MMMBop," but the trio quickly grew out of boy-band mannerisms into a mature roots-rock outfit in the 2000s and 2010s that fully showed off the brothers' talents. Taylor, with his honeyed voice and heartthrob good looks, was the perfect frontman for Schlesinger's throwback to the glory days of big hooks and bigger guitars.

Despite band members teasing new material in interviews in the years since 2009, Tinted Windows never followed up its brilliant debut. The ever-busy Schlesinger started writing music for "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," Iha got back with A Perfect Circle and Smashing Pumpkins, Taylor returned to his brothers in Hanson and Carlos kept fighting and/or reuniting with Cheap Trick, depending on the week. And now one of the best albums of the 2000s will be forced to stand alone.

Rest in peace, Adam, and thank you for the amazing songs.