Song Titles:  
Disc 1 
1) Step Up 3:19
2) Pretty n Dead 2:41
3) Independent 3:49
4) Spiders 2:48
5) Dig 3:50
6) Find My Way 3:29
7) Friend Of Mine 3:14
8) Good Bye To You 3:01
9) Sound Of Silence 3:07
10) Halo 3:59

Introduction:

"Heart, Soul, & Rock 'n Roll." That's what Fastback has been dubbed, and that's what their logo says. This indie sleaze rock act from Los Angeles was started in 2004 as a collaboration between Michael Thomas (Beautiful Creatures, Engines Of Agression) and Brian Saunders (G.I.V.E., Hair of the Dog). The two had both toured together in different bands and eventually decided to do their own project together, which is of course, Fastback. As proclaimed in the first song, "Ready or not it's on/Step up now it's on/Like it or not it's on."

Song To Song Review:

1) Fastback is ready to Step Up to the rock n' roll plate, and that is the perfect title for this song, as the song, really, as the title proclaims, steps up. It starts out with a few light hits to the the ride cymbal, then lead guitar and drums duel with one another letting you know your world is about to be rocked. The verse and chorus and lead solo couldn't be a catchier combination, It's a little early to decide, but it looks to me like Fastback means business.
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Score: 10/10

2) Pretty 'n Dead is an 80's hard rocker with a slightly modern edge, something like Beautiful Creatures. Some lyrics all rockers can relate to. "If rock is dead/I'm a pretty walkin' corpse baby!" The song for all rock 'n roll naysayers to listen to. Michael Thomas bangs out a killer solo in the song, along with doing everything but bass. Quick! Somebody sign these guys!
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Score: 9/10

3) Independent starts out with guitar and drums, the guitar has some effects at times, before going into the verses, which between lines, has a killer guitar riffs. These two make a good team. I have to point out some notable lyrics, one particular line which is written in the insert of this CD, in a circle, with a devil woman in the middle "Light it up/hit the switch/Grind all the gears and kick the bitch."
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Score: 10/10

4) I normally hate Spiders, but for the song Spiders I can't say the same. It's got a very 80's rock n' roll sound, with the Beautiful Creatures modern-ish edge. These guys would be a hit, if Headbanger's Ball would give them the time of day. This, by the way is the the shortest song on the album, clocking in a 2:48.
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Score: 8/10

5) I quite Dig this ballad. There's too many voice effects in the first verse, which is a big problem in modern rock, but after the first bridge, this song really clicks. Michael and Brian can do some good, being only a two-piece band.
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Score: 9/10

6) Find My Way starts out with the guitar effects used very much in Beautiful Creatures. It's awesome to hear something new that rocks like this (although everybody calls something every year that sounds like the 80's metal "the return of 80's metal." 80's metal is as alive as it ever was). But man, a new style of music, which is strongly influenced by 80's metal, that sounds this awesome is well, awesome to hear.
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Score: 10/10

7) Anyone who likes Fastback is a Friend Of Mine, and once again, Fastback displays a very strong Beautiful Creatures influence. A lot of voice effects in the verses, but in some sick way, Fastback does that very well, it was overdone a little bit in Dig, but normally these guys do it considerably well.
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Score: 9/10

8) Good Bye To You, the album is now over. Wait a second! The album's not over. There's still two more songs after this album. This is a fast rocker which represents everything Fastback is all about, Heart Soul & Rock n Roll! This song has a very anthemic feel that should be featured on today's Headbanger's Ball. It'd be quite refreshing instead of hearing Children Of Bodom, In Flames or any of that CRAP.
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Score: 10/10

9) If you've ever wondered what silence would sound like, listen to this. Sound Of Silence, the first verse is quite mid-tempo, and it goes into double time, definetely one of the weaker songs featured here. You'd hear a lot of silence if they ever played this live. Definetely a loser as far as The Pain Of Beauty goes.
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Score: 5/10

10) Halo is the last song, it starts out with acoustic picking on an electric guitar, then it starts picking up a little bit. One of the more mellow songs on the album. This song will make you forget all about Sound Of Silence. Reminds me a little of Saigon Kick at times. The album is finished nicely, with the longest song on the album clocking in a 3:59.
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Score: 8/10

Overall Review:

Fastback have a unique blend of 80's metal with modern rock effects, something like that of Beautiful Creatures, except Joe LeSte isn't singing here, which makes it very different. These two guys can hold it together like you wouldn't believe. I don't think it's quite as good as each member's previous bands, but the music is very much along the same lines. Fastback is the perfect name from them, because they resurfaced so fast after Michael leaving Beautiful Creatures, and Hair Of The Dog breaking up. Nice job, guys.

Essential for fans of:

Beautiful Creatures
Hair of the Dog

http://www.fastback19.com/

Score Key:
0: (scratches chalkboard with fingernails) ahh...I'm relieved
1-2: Weaker than weak.
3-4: Mediocre
5-6: Average
7-8: Good to Very Good
9: Great
10: Masterpiece
11+: How did I ever live without this?