Fastball was formed in 1994 by native Texans Joey Shuffield and Miles Zuniga along with So-Cal transplant Tony Scalzo. After “The Way” was released in 1998, Fastball moved to the big time and has been putting out quality albums ever since. After a four year break, Little White Lies is released today. One thing the band has kept up is the knack for coming up with great hooks that don’t leave your head. “All I Was Looking For Was You” is a textbook example of melodic rock with immediately accessible riffs and hand claps. The sweet harmonies are as tight as ever on “Always/Never” and showcases the bands mellower side. Another standout “The Malcontent (The Modern World)” is very reminiscent of “The Way” in song structure, and the lyrics are a scathing comment on the rock star life. The other tracks here are also fully engaging, including the title track “Little White Lies” and the European flavored “Angelie.” My favorite track here is the awesome instrumentation and arrangements on “Mono to Stereo” guaranteed to get your head moving to the beat. The approaches slightly change from track to track and keep things moving well, “She’s Got the Rain” is another gem, lead with a great piano rhythm. The band loosens up even more as the album moves forward, for example the part Stones, part Dylan-like “We’ll Always Have Paris” is rousing bar room guitar romp, with some nice harmony accents. This is a refreshing release that fans of Fastball will cherish, as well as newer fans that aren’t familiar with them. So yes, this is a highly enjoyable and recommended addition to your ipod playlist.
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Saw Fastball Tuesday night in Akron, OH and the new songs sound even better live. Check to see if Fastball is coming to your town and check them out. A gauranteed great night of rock and roll.