Fastball returned to action with 2017's Step Into Light but its 2019 sequel, Help Machine, finds the Texan trio hitting their stride. Produced by Steve Berlin, Help Machine is simultaneously lean and ornate, capturing the sinewy strength of the band's interplay but also glistening with sly pop flourishes. Many of these accouterments nod to classic guitar pop — either relying on Fastball's guitar chime or their inspirations -– but the album doesn't feel tied to the past. Some of this is due to how Miles Zuniga and Tony Scalzo are writing songs that address the present, whether it's tackling the murky confusion of the culture at large or muddling through middle age. Fortunately, both songwriters possess a wry sense of humor along with an empathetic heart, so Help Machine doesn't drag along at a deliberate pace. It gains momentum through sly shuffles like "Redeemed," breezy country-rock like "The Girl You Pretended to Be," and power pop like "All Gone Fuzzy," snappy songs that provide the connective tissue between the moodier moments. It all adds up to a textured, tuneful, and deeply felt album, a record that benefits from the craft Fastball has cultivated over the years.