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Fastball spreads across all genres
Album from ‘The Way’ hitmakers tries to move forward with questionable results
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Also by Amber Hammen:
- Latest Pete Yorn CD goes 'Back' to his roots (July 5, 2009)
- MadHatters: Area a cappella review (April 26, 2009)
- OK Go to rock WASB event (April 23, 2009)
- Fastball spreads across all genres (April 15, 2009)
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In 1998, Fastball hit it big with the single “The Way,” off the album All the Pain Money Can Buy, and since released three more albums. This week, the band’s fourth album, Little White Lies was released in stores and is overall quite different from their hit single.
The album begins with some catchy guitar in “All I Was Looking For Was You” that draws the listener in and continues on through an alternative, borderline indie sound with interesting harmonies and combinations of guitars and keyboard. Most of the songs also give us the familiar voice we heard in well-known songs like “The Way” and “Out of My Head” that is nice to hear, and it is often paired into harmonies that, like the album, have their ups and downs.
Songs like “The Malcontent (Modern World)” are similar to “The Way,” while “Angelie” is far different and frankly not up to par. There are also many interesting harmonies at play here, and most are pleasant (“Always and Never” is a good example). However, the problem the album runs into is it hasn’t found the sound it wants to settle on — it sounds all over the place.
There is a lot of variety here, and while some is nice to have, it needs to be taken in moderation. If someone were to listen to the songs separately, they would almost certainly not be able to place them all on the same album by the way they sound. This variety makes it difficult to classify Little White Lies into one genre, and the closest a person could get would most likely be just generic alternative rock, and let’s face it, that is not nearly specific enough. Some of the album sticks with the alternative style that could be seen in the Fastball’s earlier music, but some is reaching out for something different, as can be seen in “We’ll Always Have Paris (Everyday All of the Time)” and “Angelie.” Parts of the album are representative of the band’s alternative sound, but the problem is it isn’t constant nor coherent.
In the end, the album has the different kind of sound that is something we haven’t heard before, and the songs are something you can tap your feet to. However, none of them really stand out as being exceptional. Listeners who were fans back in the ’90s may have mixed feelings because the overall sound really strays away from songs like “The Way.” However, that is not necessarily a bad thing and the album is easy to listen to.
Bottom line: If someone listened to Little White Lies, they most likely would not enjoy the whole album since some of the songs are very different compared to others. People who want to listen to the album in depth may just be better off listening to clips of the songs on iTunes and buying the few that really stick out to them instead of spending the 10 bucks on the entire CD.
3 stars out of 5.
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Amber Hammen ROCKS! Great reviews.
Don’t you mean bad review?
Thanks for the review. I appreciate that you took the time to listen to the record and write about it. However, I suggest that you listen again.
Fastball’s “Little White Lies” is one of the best new records to come out in years. You talk about the variety of music on the album as if it were a bad thing. So it can’t be classified into any one genre. So what? Who cares about genres? What’s wrong with being just great rock ‘n roll? It doesn’t fit into your definition of “alternative rock?” Oh, well.
Give it another spin and you’ll see that this little gem is not a return to the 90’s, nor is it today’s “alternative rock.” It is, quite simply, Fastball. Those who have followed this band over the last few years know what that means. Great songs. Great musicianship. And great rock ‘n roll music.
Hey. Although I think “Little White Lies” is amazing and anyone who loves good, old-fashioned Beatle-esque pop rock would go nuts for it, I appreciate your opinion and your time writing this review. Hey, any press is good press, right? I’m glad people know the record is out there. One teeny thing - this is Fastball’s fifth album, not fourth. They’ve had “Make Your Mama Proud,” “All The Pain Money Can Buy,” “The Harsh Ray Of Light,” “Keep Your Wig On” and now this one. If “Keep Your Wig On” is the one you missed - listen to it! It’s amazing. Then again, I love Fastball. Thanks again for the review.
It’s actually “The Harsh Light of Day” but good try… I have to say this is one of the best albums I’ve heard in a long long time. This is a promising year for music, starting last fall with The Dandy Warhols and Travis both releasing around the same time. We’re due for a Green Day, a Wilco, and a Radiohead. This said, I’m glad Fastball has made such a great record. I do admit this was the album I’ve been waiting for since 1999, after spending a year getting to know (and practically memorize) their first two albums, “Make Your Mama Proud” and “All The Pain Money Can Buy.” This is their best record, hands down, and if released in 2000 we may have had Fastball remain on the top of the charts. However, it’s better late than never. I’m glad they’re making music they are proud of, and every fan could be proud of.