Last week I heard Fastball was coming out with a new album, and I recognized the name of the band, but I just couldn’t figure out who they were. Then I found out they released most of their albums in the 90s, and it hit me!

I used to listen to these guys all the time. Amongst Green Day, The Offspring, Third Eye Blind, and whatever other alternative rock CDs I listened to, Fastball’s All The Pain Money Can Buy (released in 1998) was right there in rotation.

After losing touch for nearly a decade, I’m listening to Fastball once again thanks to the upcoming release, Little White Lies. Fastball has always been a good rock band putting out good rock albums, simple as that. This new album is no exception.

A couple tracks I really enjoyed were “Little White Lies” and “Mono to Stereo,” but this is one of those albums where the band sounds like you would expect and you don’t get any surprise songs. Sometimes it’s great when a band releases a totally different album, but I get just as exciting when a band releases an album with the sound I’ve come to like, even if that means not jumping on the latest trends.

In the case of Little White Lies, I like the whole album. It’s different enough to be new and refreshing, but not so different that it will turn fans away. It should be a pleasant treat for existing Fastball fans, and hopefully it will attract some new ones and lead to another album release from Fastball in under 5 years!

For more information, check out the official Fastball website or connect with the band at Myspace.com/FastballTheBand.

Known for the intricate and very distinctive harmonies of Zuniga and Tony Scalzo (who also adds bass, keyboards, guitar to his band duties) and the Texas-drenched rhythms of drummer Joey Shuffield, Fastball had a massive hit with their Grammy-nominated platinum second album All the Pain Money Can Buy that featured the hits “The Way”, “Fire Escape” and “Out of My Head”. Not a band to rest on their laurels, the band soldiered on and released two critically-hailed follow-ups.

From the propulsive, driving rhythms of the album opener “All I Was Looking For Was You” to the pop sway of the title track to the sultry, heated fandango of “Angelie”, Little White Lies sees Fastball moving forward and becoming almost a whole new band. “Miles and I have really fine-tuned our writing styles to come up with super fun songs that go a little deeper musically than we’ve gone before,” explains Scalzo. “I believe it’s only the tip of the iceberg too. It’s seems to have opened a door to future creativity.”

In the years since their last album, the barometer of celebrity swung from public respect to invasion of privacy, something that doesn’t quite sit well with Zuniga. “It used to be cool to be a celebrity. I used to want to be famous,” he says, recalling their chart-topping history. This opinion of the evolution of pop culture infiltrates many of the songs on Little White Lies, especially the Tejano-spiced “The Malcontent (The Modern World)” in which Scalzo and Zuniga sing “I’m tired of living modern world with pretty boys and plastic girls.” He adds, “It used to be that famous people were famous for a good reason, but that’s not the way now.”

Little White Lies was produced by Miles Zuniga and C.J. Eiriksson (Blue October, Jack’s Mannequin) and mixed by Bob Clearmountain (Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, David Bowie) and will be released on April 14, 2009.

I was first introduced to The Dangerous Summer by a buddy of mine and quickly fell in love with their EP titled If You Could Only Keep Me Alive.

After what seems like an eternity for us fans, they have finally written and recorded a full length follow up, Reach For The Sun. Let’s just say that it was worth the wait!

The album (produced by Paul Leavitt) kicks off with what I am told will be the first single “Where I Want to Be.” What a great choice for a single. The song grabs your attention right off the hop. The chorus is very catchy with the simple lyrics, “and there is something in your face, that pulls me far enough away.”

Each song on this record has a different meaning to it and is so real. AJ put his all into each and every song and the music by Payne is very well structured. You almost feel as if you are in AJ’s shoes with each track. His voice has been compared to Kenny from The Starting Line which puts a big smile on my face because of TSL being my all time favorite band. He himself has said on their Myspace blog that Millencolin has been one of his biggest influences when it comes to vocal performance.

One stand out track is “Weathered,” which is the third track and is somewhat mellow until the 2:37 mark. The emotion in AJ’s voice during this spurt is so awesome sounding. It’s so passionate and then goes back to the mellow, but very cool, chorus that ends the song.

“Surfaced” is another stand out track that has that chorus that should be in the background of a commercial that says, “The new album from The Dangerous Summer, titled ‘Reach For the Sun.’”

Speaking of “Reach For the Sun,” the title track has a good old pop punk feel to it in certain parts that could remind you of the older pop punk sound.

They could have left “The Permanent Rain” off of the CD and I would not have minded, but the differences from the EP are good enough to keep you listening and not wanting to hit the skip button.

“Northern Lights” is one of the coolest songs that I have heard in a long time. The lyrics are brilliant and the background music has this indescribable feel to it. I love the lyrics in the chorus, “You’re not here and I’m not there.” Once again, such a simple lyric that has the passionate vocals and melody to make it pure genius.

I really like what they did with “This is War” too. The changes that were made from the demo really made this song a standout track, in my opinion.

Lastly, “Never Feel Alone” as a closure was another bright move. The guitaring that kicks off the song takes you home. The song ends suddenly with a great line that sums up the album and Perdomo’s recent thoughts, “But it’s worth it, to never feel alone.”

Cody Payne said it best when he remarked, “We really just want people to remember the value of a good, memorable album. We didn’t focus on any trends going on right now; we just wanted to write a good album that would last forever.” Well done Cody.

The album is not the trendy pop, electronic garbage that has people like myself wondering if good music will ever return. Well, good news – good music has returned in some form and it is called “Reach For the Sun.” Some of the songs are growers but I am sure after a few more listens, I will be in love with this record like I was (and still am) with their EP.

Check out Myspace.com/DangerousSummer to hear some clips. And of course, pick up the album on May 5th!

Buy The Dangerous Summer: Reach For The Sun online:
Click here to buy the CD at Amazon.com.
Click here to download the MP3 version at Amazon.com.

And what better way to show this spirit then by supporting Shirts for a Cure and help someone fight breast cancer? Take a moment to cruise to their web store (www.shirtsforacure.com) and choose from one of the nearly 250 shirt designs.

Everyone is doing it – from My Chemical Romance and Rise Against to Dillinger Four and The Bouncing Souls to Killswitch Engage and Darkest Hour… and everyone in between.

All proceeds from the shirt sales go directly to The Syrentha Savio Endowment which helps fight breast cancer in impoverished communities across the country. It’s the perfect gift that gives twice.

Thank you and happy holidays!

First, the band decided to play a game of cornhole with some fans during their Denny’s Allnighter after-party in Tempe, AZ.

Then they play musical chairs at their Denny’s Allnighter Afterparty with A Loss For Words and some lucky fans. Hilarity ensues!

Finally, we end with grits and syrup shots, and get to see Four Year Strong play Dave Matthews Band and Semisonic, still at Denny’s!

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The contest runs through December 5th, so get in now…

Contest registration and additional information are located at: http://www.epitaph.com/demolition/

* You don’t have to be in a band to win. Fans can log in and help choose who will win the “Get Out of The Garage” giveaway. Listen and rate the bands, then get entered to win one of three very limited Epiphone-Atticus guitars!

See more videos from Punchline at this Punchline Youtube page.

To see more Pete Wentz, watch part 2 of the interview.