All the Pain Money Can Buy [Bonus Tracks]

Fastball: Miles Zuniga (vocals, guitar, keyboards); Tony Scalzo (vocals, bass, keyboards); Joey Schuffield (drums, percussion).
Additional personnel: Poe (vocals); Erika Duke-Kirkpatrick (cello); Doug Norwine (tenor saxophone); Greg Smith (baritone saxophone); Dennis Farias, Rick Braun (trumpet); Nick Lane (trombone); Walt Vincent (piano); Bennett Salvay (electric piano); Kim Bullard (organ, keyboards, programming); Guy Fantasy (background vocals).
Recorded at A&M Studios, Hollywood, California.
"The Way" was nominated for the 1999 Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance By A Duo Or A Group With Vocal.
Fastball is nothing if not resourceful. They've obviously done their rock & roll homework, and their aural arsenal includes a wide range of influences they can call upon at will. The jangly "Fire Escape" comes off like a cross between Dylan's "All I Really Want To Do" and Dada's "Dizz Knee Land." The minor-key melodic twists and sarcastic bite of "The Way" suggest Freedy Johnston fronting Cake. "Better Than It Was" is prime power-pop, and could have been an outtake from the late, lamented Posies. The most impressive thing, though, is the way the band brings their inspirations to bear in a cohesive, original way.