All The Pain Money Can Buy

Performer: Fastball
Artist: Poe; Rick Braun
Engineer: Joe Barresi
Producer: Fastball; Julian Raymond
Distributor: Universal Distribution

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. Personnel: Miles Zuniga (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Tony Scalzo (vocals, keyboards); Poe (vocals); Erika Duke-Kirkpartick (cello); Doug Norwine (tenor saxophone); Greg Smith (baritone saxophone); Rick Braun, Dennis Farias (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Bennett Salvay (piano, electric piano, organ); Walt Vincent (piano); Kim Bullard (organ, keyboards, programming); Joey Shuffield (drums, percussion); Guy Fantasy (background vocals). Audio Mixer: Chris Lord-Alge. Recording information: A & M Studios, Hollywood, CA. Illustrator: Petronio Ortiz. Photographer: Howard Rosenberg. 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.

Rolling Stone (5/14/98, p.61) - 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..." Entertainment Weekly (4/17/98, p.72) - "...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- Q (11/98, p.116) - 3 stars (out of 5) - "...But beware: they could easily turn into this year's Hoootie & the Blowfish." Mojo (Publisher) (2/99, pp.106-107) - "...The huge catalogue of influnces leaves them lacking an immediate identity but, ultimately, the sheer quality of their irresistable, singable songs provides it..."

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