The Harsh Light of Day

Fastball’s third album was their last one with a major label. Their previous release (All the Pain Money Can Buy) had gone platinum, and while The Harsh Light of Day featured the unbelievably catchy “You’re an Ocean,” it didn’t sell as well. What it did do, though, is absolutely settle the question of whether Fastball was the best power pop band on the planet at the time. There’s really not a weak track here: the Latin-tinged “Love Is Expensive and Free” is almost as hooky as “You’re an Ocean,” “Wind Me Up” features bigger guitars than Weezer ever dared and a better verse melody than they ever achieved; “Time” is funky like Stevie Wonder is funky. This is one of those albums that might convince you to go out and buy a convertible just so you can blast it out with the top down.