Fastball will release its first album for independent label Rykodisc in late May or early June. The Austin, Texas-based trio was formerly with Hollywood Records, which issued the group's three albums, including the 1998 platinum set "All the Pain Money Can Buy."

The still-untitled new album is being produced by Mike McCarthy (Spoon, ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead) and mixed by Bob Clearmountain. Fastball guitarist-vocalist Miles Zuniga and bassist-vocalist Tony Scalzo have penned most of the songs; co-writers include Jeff Trott, who wrote several Sheryl Crow hits, and ex-NRBQ guitarist Al Anderson.

"All the Pain Money Can Buy" peaked at No. 29 on The Billboard 200 and has sold 1.25 million copies in the U.S., according to Nielsen SoundScan. The band's 2000 follow-up, "The Harsh Light of Day," bowed at No. 97 and has moved 85,000 units.

-- Chris Morris, L.A.

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Epitaph has set a Feb. 24 release for the debut EP from Error, a group comprised of Bad Religion founder/guitarist and Epitaph head Brett Gurewitz, singer Greg Puciato (Dillinger Escape Plan), programmer/producer Atticus Ross (Pink, Bomb The Bass, 12 Rounds) and his brother, guitarist/bassist Leopold Ross.

"What we're doing is taking what would ordinarily be live music -- punk rock -- and doing it strictly with machines," Gurewitz says. "We're trying to make something new."

An MP3 of opening track "Nothing's Working" can be downloaded from the band's page on the Epitaph Web site. A full-length disc is expected in the summer.

"The thing that I wanted to try and do with Error is move music away from these banal, morons on the radio," Atticus Ross adds. "I'm so bored with that music, it's talking about nothing. I like aggressive music, but I don't like dumb aggressive."

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.

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Singer/songwriter Mindy Smith will support the release of her debut Vanguard album, "One Moment More," with a tour kicking off Jan. 31 in Nashville. The club trek will wind on through a Feb. 22 show in Asheville, N.C. For full details, visit her official Web site.

Last year, Smith contributed a version of "Jolene" to the tribute album "Just Because I'm a Woman: Songs of Dolly Parton." She also performed with Parton during an appearance on NBC's "The Tonight Show With Jay Leno."

Beyond the tour, Smith also has appearances lined up April 30 at North Carolina's 17th annual Merlefest event and June 17 at Colorado's Telluride Bluegrass Festival.

-- Barry A. Jeckell, N.Y.