Track Listing
1. Way, The
2. Fire Escape
3. Better Than It Was
4. Which Way to the Top?
5. Sooner or Later
6. Warm Fuzzy Feeling
7. Slow Drag
8. G.O.D. (Good Old Days)
9. Charlie, The Methadone Man
10. Out of My Head
11. Damaged Goods
12. Nowhere Road
13. Sweetwater, Texas
| Details | | Contributing Artists: | Poe, Rick Braun | | Producer: | Fastball, Julian Raymond | | Distributor: | Universal Distribution | | Recording Type: | Studio | | Recording Mode: | Stereo | | SPAR Code: | n/a |
Album Notes
Fastball: Miles Zuniga (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Tony Scalzo (vocals, bass, keyboards); Joey Schuffield (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Poe (vocals); Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick (cello); Doug Norwine (tenor saxophone); Greg Smith (baritone saxophone); Dennis Farias, Rick Braun (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Walt Vincent (piano); Bennett Salvay (electric piano); Kim Bullard (organ, keyboards, programming); Guy Fantasy (background vocals).
Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California.
"The Way" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or A Group With Vocal.
Fastball is nothing if not resourceful. They've obviously done their rock & roll homework, and their aural arsenal includes a wide range of influences they can call upon at will. The jangly "Fire Escape" comes off like a cross between Dylan's "All I Really Want To Do" and Dada's "Dizz Knee Land." The minor-key melodic twists and sarcastic bite of "The Way" suggest Freedy Johnston fronting Cake. "Better Than It Was" is prime power-pop, and could have been an outtake from the late, lamented Posies. The most impressive thing, though, is the way the band brings their inspirations to bear in a cohesive, original way.
Editorial Reviews
3 Stars (out of 5) - ...Fastball's two songwriters...are adept at taking well-worn chord progressions, riffs and melodies, and fashioning convincing, even exciting, new power pop....a gritty, trans-Atlantic mix...recalling the Who and the Replacements...
Rolling Stone (05/14/1998)
...The huge catalogue of influnces leaves them lacking an immediate identity but, ultimately, the sheer quality of their irresistable, singable songs provides it...
Mojo (02/01/1999)
3 stars (out of 5) - ...But beware: they could easily turn into this year's Hoootie & the Blowfish.
Q (11/01/1998)
...Fastball's unexpectedly crackerjack sophomore try is such a quantum leap forward from their mediocre, garage-y '96 debut, it's as if they progressed from the Hamburg Club to RUBBER SOUL in two years... - Rating: A-
Entertainment Weekly (04/17/1998)
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