Phases and Stages

Fastball

Painting the Corners: The Best of Fastball (Hollywood) Slider, low and away: Too moody to be much fun, with two throwaway unreleased rockers, though "The Way" follow-up "You're an Ocean" remains a strike, as do tracks from the Austin trio's still-sharp debut, 1996's Make Your Mama Proud. The encoded video for "Vampires," off their third and probably last release, Harsh Light of Day, takes Paris for its bride. Well-chosen and well-sequenced, but still misses the strike zone.