Customer Reviews

Keep Your Wig On

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have been a huge Fastball fan since I was dumbstruck in an Hardware store aisle after hearing "The Way" coming from the cheesy speaker in the cieling. I ran out and bought "All the Pain" and have been hooked ever since. I thought that "Harsh Light of Day" was incredible as well. The boys have done it again with "Keep Your Wig On".

The album is maybe a little more "simple" than "Harsh Light" but it delivers track after track. It was interesting to see Miles and Tony writing more together. As usual, the songs capture the catchy classic chord changes and harmonies. The lyrical content proves that like all of us, Fastball doesn't have all of life figured out. My main Fastball hero is Tony and I was a little sorry to see that he didn't play bass as much on this record. But he does tackle more guitar, keys and organ.

Do yourself a favor and enjoy life by picking up "Wig". I thank Tony, Miles and Joey for another fine record.

Fastball returns with a great collection of songs that proves this band can be mentioned in the same breath with Squeeze, Badfinger and dare I say...Beat...les.

Wake up pop/rock music lovers and listen to the wonderful harmonies and song writing of three guys from Austin, Texas!

My only peevs - I believe this CD should have been named "Perfect World" and the cover art should have been that atom bomb cover I saw on a fan web site. That rocked! Other then that...it can't get much better then this!

Long live Fastball! Keep the music coming!

I remember walking into a Best Buy way back in 1998 and hearing "The Way" by Fastball. After the song had finished, I turned to my dad and said, "That was a really good song." We then proceeded to ask an employee who the song was by. After we were told Fastball, we proceeded to purchase the record. This is how I came to experience my favorite band. The music Fastball makes (Tony, Miles, and Joey) can be dubbed classic rock with a modern mix. In these wonderful tunes from they're new album, Keep Your Wig On, I hear beautiful songs that harken back to the days of The Beatles and Badfinger. Sharing lead vocal duties on songs and harmonizing with each other throughout, Fastball is perhaps the most underrated rock band of all time. If you purchase Keep Your Wig On, the groups incredible follow up to 2000's The Harsh Light Of Day, you will rediscover what it takes to make an incredible album. I eagerly anticipate every release from this band. They continue to make every dull day bright.

Once again, fastball creates an album sounding totally different
from anything they have produced before. This very texas rootsy almost country/rock is an innovation for them, and for the genre. They have created a pop album that seamlessly mixes traditional rock guitar, base, and drums, country and jazz extra instrumentation, and insightful lyrics (perfect world especially). Well done and a great buy.

I have been a Fastball fan from the beginning and I was anxiously awaiting more from them. When I first listened I was a bit disappointed - there were none of the harder rock tracks like "Sooner or Later", "This is Not My Life", "She Comes 'Round", and "Time" which are my favorites from Fastball. Keep Your Wig On definately has more of a pop style with songs more similar to their previous radio hits. But after listening one or two times I found myself unable to get the songs out of my head (no pun intended)! The best tracks are "Drifting Away", "Airstream", "I get High", "Til I get it Right", "Falling Upstairs," and "Our Misunderstanding". If you are a Fastball fan you will love Keep Your Wig On - but give it a chance - you may need to listen to it a few times before you love it!

I've known Fastball since 98. Like most people The Way was my introduction to the band. Unlike many other one or two hit wonders, Fastball stuck in my head in the following years. I didn't buy any of their CDs until a couple years ago when I had to learn Out of My Head for a show. ATPMCB was an awesome album and hooked me into the Fastball bandwagon.

For this CD, which I'm surprised they came back together to make, I have to say I didn't really like it at first. Like someone else said, it doesn't have any obvious singles. But, after living with it for awhile, it really grew on me. It's very easy to listen to and the songs are easy to remember. The best song by far is "I Get High." Despite it's obvious unoriginality in format, it's simply a great tune and possibly my favorite Fastball song.

So, all in all, don't expect to hear any tracks from this on the radio... but it's a cool CD and confirms that Fastball still kicks.

this album doesn't have the epic production of its predecessor, but on a song by song basis i think it is the superior album. unfortunately i think the old cliche applies "sounds great but i don't hear a single here." there aren't any real jump out of the radio type songs here on par with "the way" or "out of my head." what we have is a stripped down rootsy affair with thoughtful lyrics, tight musicianship, and solid hooks. these guys really know how to make music and i hope they stick around for the long haul because as long as they keep making music i'll keep buying it. thanks for reading my 2 cents worth. buy this cd and enjoy.

This CD is ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS. I listen to my copy over and over and that's what you will do too. These songs are from all different inspirations. The beautiful guitar, harmonica, drums, and keyboard lift the great compositions to unbelievable heights. Tony, Miles, and Joey have left us with a masterpiece, so do yourself a favor and buy it!!!!

On my first listen, the songs seemed to be going in many different musical directions... then I realized that's the beauty. This isn't another CD from a band with a generic sound. Fastball has branched out from the sound of some of their earlier work into new areas they hadn't yet explored. There's the catchy pop tune Lou-ee, Lou-ee (no, not a remake), the darkness of Our Misunderstanding, and the rollicking piano-driven lament I Get High. And that's only the start. It hasn't come out of my CD player in weeks!

I loved All the Pain, and Harsh Light, but this is pure Fastball--without the grubby, pawing fingers of big producers in the mix. The group said they would do this CD exactly as they wanted to. It's not a disappointment. The band is true to its club roots--the songs are fresh but have the mix of a good production. It's got a 50/50 combo of upbeat tunes and lyrical introspection. Personally, I think a couple of them could be hit singles with the right exposure: Louie, Louie; Drifting Away; Red Light. The rest are as good or better, but need to marinate in your ears for a few days. Then, trust me, you'll be singing them in your sleep. I hope to God this is just the beginning of a new phase for the band and we can expect more releases in the future.