Customer Reviews

The Harsh Light of Day

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

One would be surprised listening to both Fastball's new album "Harsh Light of Day" and their debut album "Make Your Mama Proud". They've managed to evolve from those alternative, garage rock days to this album, which is full of somewhat retro, Beatlesque pop that is hard not to like. The songs aren't perfect, but there's nothing wrong with catchy. "You're an Ocean" is definitely a winner, and the arrangements on all songs help the medicine go down, since the vocals aren't quite top notch. But Fastball still shakes it up enough to keep you listening with both the guitarist and bassist singing lead. If you liked "All the Pain Money Can Buy", this album is just the next step for Fastball; so, I'd definitely recommend it.

WOW, this is a great album! It's hard to express how impressed I am by it... As much as I hate comparing bands to the Beatles (cuz everybody seems to compare bands to the Beatles these days), I'd have to say Harsh Light of Day would have fit in quite nicely between Rubber Soul and Revolver. Listening to Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga, I really can't help but think of Paul and John. The songs are just so darn melodic, and the 2-part harmonies are simply stunning. The straight rocker tunes are great, and the guitars parts a bit reminiscent of the classic 60's sound, yet still retaining their own sound. Quite lovely.

While I loved The Way from Fastball's first album, I'd have to question their choice of singles following that, including the latest off this album, You're An Ocean. I liked You're an Ocean, but it just doesn't seem representative of the rest of the album, as did their previous singles for All The Pain Money Can Buy. While I suppose they fall into the Pop-Rock category, I think they're a bit more edgy than say, Matchbox 20, and not quite so pop sounding as Vertical Horizon.

Well, here's my breakdown:

1. This Is Not My Life: Awesome. Great Miles Zuniga rock opener. Uses that cool mono-stereo thing like they did in The Way. Very cool.

2. You're An Ocean: Tony Scalzo. Pianos are great. As far as the song goes, I actually think this is one of the weaker tracks on the album. Again, I question why they chose this as their first single.

3. Goodbye: A nice little mid-tempo Miles song. Even throws in that Beatles falsetto "hoo!"... haha... great guitar solo.

4. Love is Expensive and Free: Tony. Beautiful song. Great orchestration. I wish I could write a song like this. Awesome chord progressions. For me, starting with this song, this is where the album really kicks off...

5. Vampires: Miles. Nice picking guitars... the music on this one is sweet... has a cool oboe (at least i think it's an oboe) solo...

6. Wind Me Up: Awesome Tony Scalzo melody on this one... again, just like McCartney! Wicked tempo change in the middle of the song.

7. Morning Star: Tony again. The harmonies, guitars, and melodies on this one just make me think Revolver. Now that's high praise!

8. Time: Miles. Nice guitar bits for the guitar lovers (like me!). At this point I'm really starting to get a feel for Tony and Miles' different styles.

9. Dark Street: Miles. Another great song with a sweet melody. I love the background vocals on this one. It's like the deeper you get into the album, the more Beatlesque it gets.

10. How Funny It Fades Away: Amazing 2-part harmonies most of the way through. Sweet mellow guitars... hard to describe the feel of this song... melancholy, maybe?

11. Don't Give Up On Me: Miles. Great Texas feel to it.

12. Whatever Gets You On: Miles. Sweet acoustic guitars. Sweet song. Nice way to end the album.

ON LIMITED EDITION ONLY:

13. The Way. A live version.

14. Emotional. Miles. Kind of a generic rocker, but lots of loud guitars. I can see why they left this one off the regular version.

15. Love Doesn't Kill You. Another nice little Tony tune. Has a real light feel to it.

I normally don't write such long reviews, but this was such a great album, I felt like it derserves so much more attention than it got! Go buy it already!

Honestly, I can't say enough for this AWESOME cd. This has been said in other reviews, but Fastball does have a sound that can be described as Modern-Day Beatles. All of the songs have their own character and all speak directly to my heart. I know it sounds corny, but I have a close relationship with this cd, now. It is amazing how greatly this band matures with time. I will leave you with this: Buy It!!!!!!

Once again I'm very late in saying what should be said. This is easily one of the hundred greatest rock albums ever. Fastball is THE greatest band you never heard of. Most people hear their songs on the radio and think they're hearing someone else. They think, Oh that's an Elvis Costello song or Tom Petty or Eagles but it Fastball. The way you tell is it's usually better.

This album shows there songwriting genius. Luckily someone already committed the sacrlege so I will reiterate it. Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga are the Lennon-McCartney of this era. There's not a single false note on this album. Every song is brilliantly clever without being pretenious in anyway and where as almost every band, even the great ones, try to unsuccessfully break out of their one sound and represent as many different genres as possible, Fastball does succeed and seemingly effortlessly.

Often the best movies and songs take time to warm up to and many that are immediately accessible wear thin fast. All the cuts here have the amazing trait of being immediately accessible and never wearing thin. In fact their songwriting has the trait of sounding familiar but not like some other song. It's called great songwriting. Become familiar with the two greatest tunesmiths working today and if you get the chance to see them live make sure you don't miss it.

This album is a ten out of five. You can't go wrong buying any Fastball album though.

I absolutely love this album. All the songs are great to listen to and I know almost all the lyrics by heart. This is a great band. I was hooked with their music when I bought "All the Pain Money can't buy." That album also had great songs, but this album has unforgettable songs. From start to finish, It's great. These songs are great pick you up after a hard days work, which is what "Funny how it fades away" says. They undeniably have a Beatlesque sound from songs like "Goodbye" and especially "Love is expensive and free." The way the lead guitarist, Tony Scalzo, and the bass guitarist, Miles Zuniga, alternates lead vocals is what makes both albums great. I also recommend getting the limited edition of this album which has a great live recording of "The Way."

And it's apparent on "The Harsh Light Of Day" their newest collection of songs about love. This group has a certain maturity that comes through in their music, and lets it be known on this album. All of the songs have depth, musically and lyrically and it's a CD that will keep you coming back to uncover some more of the hidden treasures that make up "The Harsh Light of Day". These guys were obviously "schooled" by the forebearers of classic rock n roll, and if you have any inclination towards classic rock, you will enjoy this CD a lot!! Very well done.

Fastball could be a throwback to 10-15 years ago, when bands actually matured and improved album after album. When compared to their previous releases, "The Harsh Light of Day" is a lot more consistent. There is still some filler on the album, but the gems far more than make up for it.

At its best, Fastball delivers really well crafted pop music. Although the Beatles influences are present and clearly audible, they are filtered through the best of 80's pop (think "Imperial Bedroom" or "Punch the Clock" era Elvis Costello, Squeeze and Crowded House).

Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo mostly write about relationships. They can be bitter and angry as in "Love is Expensive and Free", looking for redemption as in "Dark Street" or cleverly tongue in cheek as in "You Are an Ocean". But what distinguish them is the musicality. Their best songs are rich in memorable hooks, supported by impeccable harmonies and a solid production. The guest musicians include Brian Setzer (from the Orchestra and the Stray Cats), keyboardist Billy Preston (who played with the Stones and the Beatles) and Michael Ward from the Wallflowers.

I'm not going to lie to anybody, and I still say that this album is the greatest of the year 2000! Also, it seems to be the most solid of follow-up albums we've seen in the past years, such as Third Eye Blind and Matchbox Twenty (don't get me wrong they all were good, but other bands fell short of Fastball this year). Fastball's two singer/songwriters Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga have been called this generations' own Paul McCartney and John Lennon, respectively, and practically ram their talents down our throats with this classic rock album.Now let's get down to the nitty gritty and disect this masterpiece. The first track "This Is Not My Life" rivals with the band's previous title opener "the Way" (from All the Pain Money Can Buy) as best album opener and song. It rocks where All the Pain never rocked before. It cuts into the next song "You're An Ocean" and first single of this great album. However, it being the first single doesn't make it the best song. It's wonderful however in bringing us back to bouncy retro rock, a sorta 60's 70's-ish style song, with the great Billy Preston at the piano. He brings to songs that only a master like himself can bring.Next is "Goodbye" a beautiful song with dark lyrics but magnificent music to make it seem so bittersweet. The fourth track is "Love Is Expensive And Free" an instant classic, with a mariarchi orchestra backing up Fastball with special guest Brian Setzer of Stray Cats and Brian Setzer Orchestra fame. His work on the song is beautiful and is amongst the most beautiful love songs of our time.The next offering is "Vampires" dark and adventurous, with the use of members from the Philharmonic Orchestra (that's right only the best for Fastball!), and shows much maturity and strength that only Fastball can provide.The next two songs are Tony Scalzo rockers: "Wind Me Up" (with a fascinating yet uncomprehendable train station ending) and "Morning Star" which is a hard rock and unconventional love song. The hard rocker "Time" is another great album track, but the next, Miles Zuniga's "Dark Street" practically knocked me off my feet! I listened and marveled at the Beatles-esque use of guitars and harmonies. My choice for the next single as a matter of fact."Funny How It Fades Away" is the darkest song these guys have to offer, yet there's no love lost for this grand track. Tony Scalzo seems to have done some homework on the off season before recording this song.The last two tracks ("Don't Give Up On Me" and "Whatever Gets You On") are fantastic aswell bringing us back to their true Austin roots.The Harsh Light Of Day will be a classic of our generation, and possibly a classic of all time. The whole album is simply: FANTASTIC! Fastball proves that they're here to stay.

Tony and Miles are two of the greatest songwriters rock has ever seen. If you can find the limited edition of this album get it. The three bonus tracks are great. Great followup to All the Pain Money Can Buy. A better album, although their previous one is still my favorite

Pleasant, pop nonsense. Nothing like the previous groundbreaking album. The cool genre-bending stuff like "Way" is nowhere to be found here. It's not bad, but we know they're capable of better. Hopefully this album's lack of success will push them back out of their safe zone for their next one. I'm still a fan, but feeling a little let down.