Fastball - 'Keep Your Wig On' (Rykodisc)
3/5
By: Matt Tomiak
Ten years, five studio albums and one 'best of' record into a career, and yet, precious little recognition in the UK.
A strange thing, as on the basis of this straight-up, 12-track run of country/blues-tinged pop-rock, Texas threesome Fastball know their way around a well-polished highly radio-playlistable tune. Not-so-fashionably in the current climes, meanwhile, they don't appear to be unduly influenced by any music released after 1980, and lyrically, aren't desperately eager to break any new ground.
So, Miles Zuniga laments the hurly burly of urban existence and pines for a simple agrarian existence on 'Airstream' ('Free/I don't want to be stuck in the city/With the cars and people'), express unequivocal belief in self-determination within 'Perfect World'; 'Nobody's gonna solve your problems/It all comes down to you'. He also references The Beatles - just in case we couldn't guess they were a big influence -during 'Til I Get It Right'.
A thoroughly conventional, thoroughly civilised LP, 'Keep Your Wig On' is likely to offend as many people as it inspires to change the world. Nevertheless, Fastball's consistent pop knack is not a commodity to be sniffed at.
Artists in this article: Fastball
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