Does a band named Fastball ring a bell? They had a few hits at the end of the ‘90s, namely “The Way” and “Out of My Head,” which highlighted the Austin trio’s penchant for power-pop and melodic rock. They haven’t been able to maintain that commercial momentum of late, but Little White Lies, their first album in five years, shows that they’re still quite capable of writing pleasurable, catchy rock songs. The material on Little White Lies might not be very substantial, but Fastball’s commitment to ear-candy hooks can make for pretty enjoyable listening.
Two Songwriters, Similar Tendencies
Fastball have two principal songwriters – Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga – and the two men trade off on lead vocals. Not unlike another power-pop unit, Fountains of Wayne, this gives Fastball’s tunes extra dimensions – the different voices keep the album’s tracks from all sounding the same. Still, there are certain qualities that bind the songs together. First, breezy accessibility is always the main priority – 11 of the 12 cuts on Little White Lies are less than four minutes long, and none of them could be described as adventurous or experimental. Second, sing-along vocal melodies carry the album, an approach that recalls work from other ‘90s groups like the Rembrandts or Semisonic. And finally, the lyrical content tends to revolve around bittersweet themes of love lost or, in the case of “The Malcontent (The Modern World),” regret.Several Superb Songs
Because the tunes on Little White Lies share a love of modest songcraft and pleasing melodies, the worst you can say about the album’s weakest moments is that they too quickly fade into the ether. So instead, let us focus on the high points. The brokenhearted “Soul Radio” stretches out to an epic (for Fastball, anyway) four-and-a-half minutes, while the bouncy, keyboard-driven “She’s Got the Rain” hides its sadness behind a pretty melody. “The Malcontent (The Modern World)” is the closest Fastball get to suggesting their unhappiness at being forgotten by modern rock fans – of course, the verse “I hear my music on the radio/What’s that song from long ago they’re still playing/Is it saying anything to you?” could just be about a grumpy guy who prefers the music of his youth. And “We’ll Always Have Paris” feels like a more-muscular version of a Beatles song that could have been on Rubber Soul or Revolver. When Little White Lies doesn’t work, the songs simply feel terribly derivative – you can skip right by them without ever regretting your impatience.Fastball's 'Little White Lies' - Bottom Line
Little White Lies doesn’t contain a track as instantly dynamic as the band’s late-‘90s singles, probably guaranteeing that this album won’t be a major comeback vehicle for Fastball. But fans of catchy power-pop rock won’t care since Little White Lies is a veritable jukebox of diverting sing-along songs.'Little White Lies' – Best Tracks:
“The Malcontent (The Modern World)” (Purchase/Download)“We’ll Always Have Paris” (Purchase/Download)
“How Did I Get Here?” (Purchase/Download)
“She’s Got the Rain” (Purchase/Download)
“Soul Radio” (Purchase/Download)
Release date – April 14, 2009
Red Distribution
