Fastball

Fastball's 1998 album, All the Pain Money Can Buy, contains three casually perfect singles: "The Way," "Fire Escape" and "Out of My Head." The song titles might not be familiar, but the hooks probably are, even if you've forgotten to associate them with Fastball. The reverse also happens: Listeners assume unclaimed ditties from that era, such as Tal Bachman's hit "She's So High," probably belong to Fastball's song stash. Fastball didn't run out of power-pop gems after All The Pain, releasing solid records in 2000 and 2004, but like Squeeze and Elvis Costello, the Austin, Texas, band learned that radio isn't necessarily interested in a continual stream of catchy tunes from the same nonphotogenic source once a few tracks have been secured to play in perpetuity. Little White Lies, scheduled for September release, might not lead the group back to the gold-paved road to airplay, but it proves Fastball hasn't lost its Midas touch with melodies.