The Help Machine Explained

The Help Machine
Type:Album
Artist:Fastball
Cover:The_Help_Machine_album_cover.jpg
Released:October 18, 2019
Genre:Rock
Length:36 minutes
Label:33 1/3 Records
Producer:Steve Berlin
Prev Title:Step Into Light
Prev Year:2017
Next Title:Soundtrack - EP
Next Year:2022

The Help Machine is the seventh studio album by American rock band Fastball.

Background

The album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, who personally selected the tracks[1] for the album from a list of songs provided to him by members Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga.[2] Berlin recruited bassist Bruce Hughes,[3] [4] This freed Scalzo to concentrate on keyboards and guitar.[5]

This album marks the first time since The Harsh Light of Day that a Fastball album does not feature songs co-written by Scalzo and Zuniga.[2]

The first single off of the album, "The Help Machine", addresses the effects of consumerism. According to Zuniga, "[the song is] just about emptiness and the feeling that things that are supposed to make us happy don't."[6]

Critical reception

Described as "ethereal",[7] the album also features the band's signature sound with comparisons to Elvis Costello[8] and the Beatles.[9] Pop Matters magazine referred to the album as "pop perfection."[10] The album features a "thick modern sound"[11] and is considered to be a great introduction to the band's catalog. Critics called the album "near perfect"[12] and considered it one of the best albums of 2019.[13]

To support the album, Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga performed live tracks for Paste Magazine.[14]

Track listing

  1. "Friend or Foe" (Miles Zuniga) – 3:56
  2. "White Collar" (Tony Scalzo) – 3:31
  3. "Holding the Devil's Hand" (Miles Zuniga) – 3:12
  4. "Redeemed" (Miles Zuniga) – 3:04
  5. "All Gone Fuzzy" (Tony Scalzo) – 3:17
  6. "The Help Machine" (Miles Zuniga) – 4:14
  7. "Surprise Surprise" (Miles Zuniga) – 3:32
  8. "The Girl You Pretended to Be" (Tony Scalzo) – 2:18
  9. "I Go South" (Miles Zuniga) – 2:31
  10. "Doesn't It Make You Feel Small" (Tony Scalzo) – 2:56
  11. "Never Say Never" (Miles Zuniga) – 3:11

Personnel

Guest musicians

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Fastball Looks for Answers to Life's Issues from The Help Machine. Bob. Ruggiero. Houston Press.
  2. Web site: Episode 240 - Joey Shuffield of Fastball. PodBean. Development. thehustle.podbean.com.
  3. Web site: MAGNET Exclusive: Premiere Of Fastball's "The Help Machine". August 1, 2019.
  4. Web site: NOTHING TRICKY ABOUT THIS SONIC PITCH, JUST a SCORCHING… Fastball. 2 November 2019.
  5. Web site: Music Minded: Fastball releases details on forthcoming album 'The Help Machine'. August 1, 2019.
  6. Fastball's 'The Help Machine' Video Sends Up the Emptiness of Consumerism: Premiere. Gary. Graff. Billboard. October 14, 2019.
  7. Web site: Fastball – The Help Machine (Album Review). Vincent. Pozzolano. October 17, 2019.
  8. Web site: Fastball Try Out Different Rock Sounds on Steve Berlin-Produced LP 'The Help Machine' (ALBUM REVIEW) . 16 October 2019 .
  9. Web site: Fastball, The Help Machine, 2019.
  10. Web site: Fastball's "The Girl You Pretended to Be" Is Pop Perfection (premiere + interview), PopMatters. September 9, 2019.
  11. Web site: babysue: Comics, Poetry, and Reviews by LMNOP (aka dONW7) - October 2019. babysue.com.
  12. Web site: October 2019. October 4, 2019.
  13. Web site: The 25 best albums of 2019. March 31, 2020. Yardbarker.
  14. Web site: Fastball – The Help Machine. September 14, 2019. Paste Magazine.

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