The Fastbacks - New Mansions in Sound

The Fastbacks

New Mansions in Sound (1996):  A few years later and they’re a competent, professional grunge-pop band. Ho-hum. Totally generic garage rock by the numbers, nothing to see here, folks. It says something about their songwriting skills that the only song that sticks in my head after two or three spins is a Who cover. By far the best tune on this disc…..and it’s a Keith Moon Who song. That’s not a good sign. **

The Fastbacks - The Question Is No

The Fastbacks

The Question is No (1981-1992)

 A career-spanning comp from a grungy pop-punk band from Seattle that didn’t make it. Two girls, one guy, a rotating drummer, and lots of scrappy garage spunk. Their attitude is so winsome and love of rock’n’roll so infectious that it’s almost easy to overlook their garage-band borderline incompetence and inconsistent songwriting. Almost, but not quite. This is fun but only a handful of numbers stand out (“My Letters”, “Everything I Don’t Need”). ***