Editorial Reviews Music Review:
Music Review
Ars Longa Vitra Brevis: A Compendium of Progressive Rock 1967-1974 [Import]
David Liddle at St Ignatius Loyola New York
Campra: Cantatas françaises / Christie, Les Arts Florissants
Music: Great Original Performances: 1924-1930
Cyrano (1973 Original Broadway Cast) [Cast Recording] [Soundtrack]
Dirty Hits [Explicit Lyrics] [Import] [Limited Edition]
Amazon.com
Call it the gradual acceleration of Fastball. The Austin-based trio's debut, Make Your Mama Proud, was mostly forgettable, anonymous alternative pop. Their sophomore release, All the Pain Money Can Buy, upped the ante with more confident songwriting and a bona fide classic in "The Way." Album number three is The Harsh Light of Day, by no means a classic but another step forward. The first single, "You're an Ocean," benefits from a sky-high hook and the infectious piano pounding of Billy "Get Back" Preston. Speaking of the Beatles, the influence of the lads from Liverpool is pronounced on Harsh Light's production flourishes; the band opens up to heavier use of strings, vibes, and lighthearted steel guitar. Highlights include the slightly Southern-fried ballad "Don't Give Up on Me," "Wind Me Up" (which sounds like a haunted, forgotten Elvis Costello tune), and the jaunty opener of "This Is Not My Life." This limited edition includes three bonus tracks. --Jason Josephes