Fastball
Live From Jupiter Records (Jupiter) Fastball has always been about songwriting. Songwriting credits. All three of the Austin trio's major label releases leapfrog compositions by the guitarist and bassist, each of whom sings his own contribution: Scalzo, Zuniga, Scalzo, Zuniga, Scalzo, Zuniga -- with few exceptions. Given this polarization that ultimately led to Zuniga's leaving Fastball last summer, "Songs 2,6 & 8 by Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga" is the best line on the reunited group's fourth and possibly best outing, the new
Live From Jupiter Records. That one of these
collaborations, the hemp-friendly "I Get High," is as fine as Scalzo's wistful vocal, makes the turn of events that much more heartening. The jaunty, Loudon Wainwright-like "Mercenary Girl" and bronze medallion "Falling Upstairs" do nothing to discourage the trend, especially within the friendly confines of a 32-minute, hit-peppered, unplugged set. More striking, however, is the coming together of the two longtime bandmates on the songs themselves. When Scalzo intones the perfect harmony counterpoint on Zuniga's opener "Fire Escape," a complementary note not heard since the band's 1996 debut is struck. Again and again, in fact, to riveting effect on the band's breakthrough, Scalzo's "The Way," zinged with a Mediterranean flourish here. Zuniga's Nashville souvenirs, the twang-tripped "Just Another Place" and "Airstream," smack of Music City cubicle confections, but his "Life" could've used Fastball's former parent corporation, Disney, paying radio programmers all the way to Hitsville. Instead, Hyde Park indie record store Jupiter Records becomes a label with
Live. What's next, drummer Joey Shuffield's solo album?
(Texas Union Theatre, Thursday, March 13, 11pm)
