The Help Machine

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The Help Machine
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Studio album by
Fastball
ReleasedOctober 18, 2019
GenreRock
Length36 minutes
Label33 1/3 Records
ProducerSteve Berlin
Fastball chronology
Step Into Light
(2017) 		The Help Machine
(2019) 		Soundtrack - EP
(2022)
Singles from The Help Machine
  1. "The Help Machine"
    Released: 2018
  2. "White Collar"
    Released: 2019
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllmusicStarStarStarHalf starFile:Star empty.svg[1]
The Austin ChronicleStarStarStarFile:Star empty.svg[2]
The Alternate RootStarStarStarStar[3]

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

Background

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The album was produced by Steve Berlin of Los Lobos, who personally selected the tracks[4] for the album from a list of songs provided to him by members Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga.[5] Berlin recruited bassist Bruce Hughes,[6][7] This freed Scalzo to concentrate on keyboards and guitar.[8]

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.[5]

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."[9]

Critical reception

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Described as "ethereal",[10] the album also features the band's signature sound with comparisons to Elvis Costello[11] and the Beatles.[12] Pop Matters magazine referred to the album as "pop perfection."[13] The album features a "thick modern sound"[14] and is considered to be a great introduction to the band's catalog. Critics called the album "near perfect"[15] and considered it one of the best albums of 2019.[16]

To support the album, Tony Scalzo and Miles Zuniga performed live tracks for Paste Magazine.[17]

Track listing

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  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

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Guest musicians

  • Andy Steck – drums, wurlitzer, juno (track 6), e-bow, piano (track 1)
  • Bruce Hughes – bass guitar, additional vocals
  • Charlie Sexton – guitar (track 8)
  • Gordy Quist – additional vocals
  • John Chipman – drums (track 1)
  • Kevin McKinney – guitar (track 10)
  • Steve Berlin – percussion

References

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  1. ^ Allmusic review
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