Failure [Import]

Product Description
The Posies first release. Originally self released on cassette in April of '88 then on LP December '88 on PopLlama. First time on CD. Includes 8 previously unreleased tracks and ''I May Hate You Sometimes'' video.

Failure,Posies,Rock/Pop

Average customer rating: Power chord heaven Amazing to say the least! Daylight won't find us here... Concert Sound A Dream Within A Nightmare

Fantastic Planet Failure Manufacturer: Warner Bros / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Magnified Year of the Rabbit You'd Prefer an Astronaut Secrets of the Lost Satellite Downward Is Heavenward ASIN: B000002N89 Release Date: 1996-08-13

Tracks:

1. Saturday Saviour
2. Sergeant Politeness
3. Segue 1
4. Smoking Umbrellas
5. Pillowhead
6. Blank
7. Segue 2
8. Dirty Blue Balloons
9. Solaris
10. Pitiful
11. Leo
12. Segue 3
13. The Nurse Who Loved Me
14. Another Space Song
15. Stuck On You
16. Heliotropic
17. Daylight

Customer Reviews:

Power chord heaven.......2007-05-14

Great hard rock album with engaging power chord sequences. Reportedly,
Failure was Tool's favorite band back in the mid 90s. Some songs build in a dreamy, hard rock way; others kick a** all of the way.

Largely unknown masterpiece. One of the 10 best albums of the last 15
years.

Amazing to say the least!.......2007-04-09

Completely overshadowed by the multidue of grunge/alternative rock etc. bands when this was released. Ken Andrews has an outstanding voice for this genre and the rythms are out of this world. tight drumming and great chord structures to boot. Theee most UNDERRATED cd in my opinion. I mean melodies from beginning to end that makes the listener want to sing along.
Why his team didnt advertise this more is puzzling because it really stands out as a solid effort. I just got my 2nd copy cuz i lost the first. Its THAT good!

Daylight won't find us here..........2007-04-03

I first heard this cd in 2001 from a friend's suggestion, or rather, he kept playing it & I ended up listening to it a lot as a result... & I STILL feel like I missed out on hearing it from '96-2000!! However, this wasn't one of those albums I casually listened to a few times, thought "oh, this is cool, I'll hear it again someday", & then barely touched it again. This cd still manages to creep its way back into my rotation for unknown reasons. I say unknown because there really isn't just that one song you want to listen to because it gets stuck in your head, & then put on something else. Once I pop it in, I almost always feel compelled to listen to the entire thing, even if I have to break it up (like a normal car trip that takes 30 minutes in either direction), which is exactly why I love to save this for road trips... it deserves to be listened to in its entirety every freaking time, & it also deserves to have the word "Fantastic" in its title. To say this album is underrated is an understatement... it's been downright neglected. I will say it prolly hasn't caught on to mainstream listeners cuz of its length (think of The Cure - Disintegration, as far as epic length), & even though it has some catchy songs, they're not generic sing-along catchy. The chord changes can be very interesting, the bass lines move (esp. in your car speakers!), & the drums can be really powerful. As for the vocals, he can whisper at times, & then really come out, but never forcefully. His voice reminds me of Gavin Rossdale of Bush the closest... but even better. It's hard to even compare this band to others, or even make a "if you like {insert band here}, you'll like this" kind of statement. In general, if you like good interesting rock music, just listen for yourself... you'll be glad you did.... & you'll also be dumbfounded as to what to put on next.

Typical song synopsis, influenced from driving while I listen to this most of the time:
1 - excellent mid-tempo moody opener
2 - more "alterna-rock" feeling, & a good early evening song when the sun's fading away
3 - don't skip the segues, they're exactly that, but very cool
4 - mid-tempo w/ a cool bass line
5 - if you're driving, watch the foot pedal... this will make you want to speed... & bop your head too
6 - cool slow song; i love the spirally flange guitar effect
7 - slower segue
8 - another mid-tempo song; i love when the dynamic picks up
9 - more up-tempo; one of my favorites
10 - another of my favorites; i LOVE the sliding bass
11 - ok, this is my least favorite, & I think it's a lot of people's least favorite; it's not bad by any means though
12 - very mysterious segue; my favorite of the 3
13 - i LOVE this one; it seems to be the 1st song of the rest of the album
14 - this is the song that initially got me into the rest of this; the creepy, slightly out of tune harmonic-y guitar part is just way cool; my 2nd favorite
15 - i realized in 2001 that i remember seeing this single vaguely on eMpTV back in '97... but it wasn't rotated very much, & like i said, i missed out on the rest of this album for a few years too long
16 - words can NOT express this song... it's AMAZING!! no doubt my favorite here. it's so creepy & good, & it STILL gives me chills. don't even hear a clip, just buy this cd, crank it up, turn off the lights, & sit back, it's that good
17 - excellent closing track w/ more cool creepy effects from an out of tune piano; never has out-of-tune sounded this cool, & the dynamic change is, well, dynamic

Concert Sound.......2006-10-23

Enjoyable album. Great sound. At times it reminds me of seeing Abandoned Pools and Garbage at The Hard Rock's The Joint. That's a big compliment. Beginning at the song right before Stuck on You and continuing until the end, I think Fantastic Planet is as masterful as alt rock & roll pretty much gets.

A Dream Within A Nightmare.......2006-07-12

I am surprised by how many people do not know what this album is about. It is, as stated by the band themselves, an album about heroin abuse, specifically its pitfalls. Saturday Savior is not a song about sexual politics. It is a song that Ken Andrews sings in character. The character that he takes on is heroin personified. As the drug "speaks" to the listener, the premise for the whole album is set up. The user is hopelessly in love with the drug and wants something from it that it can never give. The drug is cold and will never give itself to the user. It will only tease, as it has no heart to give. The user is being used and tossed aside like so much trash. The rest of the album chronicles a day in the life of the user and the drug's parasitic "relationship" with him. The album begins and ends with clock-like sounds, bookending the beginning and end of the user's day and offering an eerie reminder of the user's lost and perhaps, very limited, time. "Stuck on You," while not so subtle in its title, subtly compares heroin to a tune that slowly but surely creeps up on you and becomes ingrained in your consciousness. "The Nurse Who Loved Me" is the user deluding himself into thinking that the girl with "pharmacy keys" (heroin) actually cares for him. He insists that the girl "acts just like a nurse with all the other guys," but the song begins and ends with the user lying by himself face-down on the ground. This is the moment on the album where we realize just how pathetic the drug has made the user and to what extent he has been degraded and demoralized by his addiction. The pounding horror of "Daylight" ends the album. The user tries to assure himself that "daylight won't find us here," but there is, of course, no escape from reality, and this is confirmed by the aforementioned clock sounds. This is an album that is practically overflowing with symbolism both in its lyrics and in its music. Failure sound like no other band, but it would not be inaccurate to characterize them as a combination of Nirvana and My Bloody Valentine. They can create massive soundscapes and love their feedback, but they also understand their way around a pop song, albeit really heavy pop songs. This is a landmark in space rock. Enjoy.

Average customer rating: Pure satisfaction. Beautiful Music Failure's finest moment Not as good as Fantastic Planet Not a failure for Failure

Magnified Failure Manufacturer: Rhino / Wea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Rhino Records | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Fantastic Planet Year of the Rabbit Shifting Skin Secrets of the Lost Satellite Downward Is Heavenward ASIN: B00004YLAL Release Date: 2000-10-17

Tracks:

1. Let It Drip
2. Moth
3. Frogs
4. Bernie
5. Magnified
6. Wonderful Life
7. Undone
8. Wet Gravity
9. Empty Friend
10. Small Crimes

Customer Reviews:

Pure satisfaction........2006-11-20

I recommended this album to a friend and when asked "What mood should I be in when I listen to it?", I found I had no idea really.

So, after much thought, I decided that the best word to describe Failure, this release especially, is visceral (meaning felt on the inside, in case you were wondering).

Failure is the only band that makes my insides ache and feel pleasure at the same time. Listening to them is like having really amazing, but really gritty sex. ('Undone' exemplifies this beautifully.)

The overdrive of the bass lines on this album makes my ears tingle with excitement, but every other element is worthy of praise. (I'm a bassist though, so I'm inclined to mention the bass.) Though Magnified has a much more has a raw tone than Fantastic Planet, it is incredibly composed and no other band or album I have ever come across can even compare to it.

Basically, Failure is too much for words, but I had to at least attempt.

For anyone who likes music, this album is a gem and worthy investment.

Beautiful Music.......2006-08-04

Failure was pretty self indulgent in the beginning. THis is obvious with their earlier release Comfort, which honestly I didnt really care for all too much, but changes up with their next release, Magnified. THese are 10 of the most beautiful thought provoking "grunge" songs i have heard in my life. THey are obviously making the music for the fans as well as theirselves and dont really care if the mass public likes it or not. Ken Andrews' voice is like an inside out Kurt Cobain and fits the sometimes gloomy sometimes upbeat tempo of the music like an old shoe. Greg Edwards', the lesser known of the two at this point, adds a surreal quality to the music with his bass lines. Highlights include Moth, Frogs, Undone, and the ethereal final track, Small Crimes. Maynard from Tool has also quoted Failure to be his favorite band. I would buy this one over all of their other stuff, it is definitely their best album. Well worth the money, a bargain at only 12 dollars.

Failure's finest moment.......2006-02-12

Yes, you heard me: this album surpasses Fantastic Planet. This album has an extremely unusual mood which I haven't found anywhere again. It has intriguing lyrics with unusual, provocative imagery and bizarre themes layered over some crazy flanged, distorted water guitar tones. I honestly can't do this album justice with words, but I can tell you that it is cohesive, mysterious and scary yet humorous and carnival, sociopathic, twisted and lost. It contains unusual imagery and themes, and is very reliant on the disorted bass chords of Greg Edwards.

It amazes me how they managed to create such intricate feelings and moods in such a simplistic way. Failure knew how to utilize subtlety and dissonance to an extreme that made them better than Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice in Chains or Pearl Jam - they surpassed all of those '90s bands, yet no one knew of them. Fantastic Planet might make a better starting point, as it's a bit more conventional and accessible but also very epic and diverse.

Oddly enough, the album begins with its weakest track but arguably ends with its strongest. Songs like Moth and Frogs not only showcase their mood-creating ability and lyrical uniqueness, but also show how good they were at creating music that fit the lyrics: Frogs really sounds amphibious with its chirping guitar effects, and the beginning of Moth sounds like a moth flying in an awkward fashion. The b-side 'Golden' sounds like a rusty bridge swaying, and 'Another Space Song' from Fantastic Planet sets a black background with its distorted bass fifths and the treble guitar line creates stars in the foreground. You'll know exactly what I mean when you hear these songs: this band knew what they were doing.

'Bernie' is an oddly trippy mellow song with a bizarre guitarline. 'Magnified' shows a more extreme side of them, with sociopathic lyrics that abandon all rules. One of the biggest highlights of the album is 'Undone', which revels in its own detatchedness and brings you with it. In 'Small Crimes', you will find yourself hypnotized and lost in a tangled forest.

Overall, this album reveals itself to be much more than a normal '90s rock record, always intelligent and often nearly brilliant. This is definitely one of my all-time favorite records, and I listen to a very wide variety of genres. Just a warning: give it a chance. Failure will seem dull at first, especially if you start with Fantastic Planet, but soon reveals itself to be much more.

Not as good as Fantastic Planet.......2006-01-20

I love 'Fantastic Planet' and I bought 'Magnified' without listening to it first based on my existing impressions of Failure.

It's definitely still Ken Andrews - that tight integration he gets with his rhythm guitar playing and vocals - but the drum performance (like 99% of the other rock drummers out there) fall far short of what you'll find on Fantastic Planet.

This isn't a *bad* record. It's just not FP.

FP is a classic album IMO and is the album I would recommend to anyone for their first exposure to Failure.

If you like Ken Andrews, check out 'The Replicants' - I believe this is an alias for the same group of guys, but doing just cover songs. It's really an excellent cd as well.

Also, if you like kick-a** tight, rockin' music, check out Shiner's Lula Divinia. I saw these guys live in Austin twice and it was an experience I will never forget.

Not a failure for Failure .......2005-10-24

This is not Fantastic Planet. I would regard F.P. as one of the most perfect albums I've ever heard. And I listen to everything just about. This is more raw; like it's Failure's garage album. I've had this itch to hear more Failure for about a decade or so and finally picked up Magnified. It's not bad but takes a couple listen tos to get into it. You have to let your mind grow out of expecting F.P. Once I did, I timetraveled in my mind and told Failure that they were'nt going to believe the masterpiece they were about to create with F.P. So all in all Magnified is good. Definitely worth picking up if you want to hear more Failure. If you want to get into Failure, buy Fantastic Planet over this one. Then buy Magnified. I don't want your first impression to be unimpressed (when compared to such a great CD). Another perfect CD would be Angel Dust by Faith No More. And Disentegration by The Cure. Some very close calls would be Snow Patrol's self titled and Interpol's Turn on the Bright Lights and Foo Fighter's The Colour and the Shape. Zack out.

Average customer rating: A Genuine, Timeless Masterpiece Amazing. ... Super sound! - Really too bad they broke up. How Melodic Hardcore Should Be Done

Failure On Beloved (US) Manufacturer: Solid State Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Emo | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: The Running EP New Medicines Everyone Is Out to Get Us Son, I Loved You at Your Darkest I Am Hollywood ASIN: B00009RDEL Release Date: 2003-06-24

Tracks:

1. Failure On My Lips
2. Only Our Faces Hide
3. Rise & Fall
4. Death To Traitors
5. Defect From Decay
6. Watching The Lines Blur
7. Inner Pattern
8. Aimless Endeavor
9. Allure
10. Insult To Injury

Customer Reviews:

A Genuine, Timeless Masterpiece.......2006-05-14

"Failure On" is a phenominon that I haven't quite understood yet. If you've taken the time to read any of the other reviews, "hardcore," "emo," "screamo," "hard rock," and "post-hardcore," will come up quite frequently. You must realize that, to this day, "Failure On" is an amalgamation of only the BEST qualities of those aforementioned genres.

Vocals are rich, edgy, heart-felt, and aggressive all at once. The screams, which I've never been too fond of in any music, have a perfect tone for a sound that is so aggressive. Beloved's lyrics are nothing short of brilliant. I'm always disappointed by the lyrics of today's rock music, whatever genre. It's always about relationships, growing up, and death. Beloved poses life-messages as well as those other archetypal messages. Listen to the words of "Only Our Faces Hide," or "Inner Pattern." ("We can't carry this vessel to shore/Without an anchor of hope.") A very Christian message that can relate to anybody who cares to remember it.

Guitars are so appropriately harmonized it's ridiculous. Sure, there are a lot of other bands who can top Beloved as far as their chops, and impress the hell out of everyone with ridiculous riffs. These guitars in "Failure On," however, craft beautiful harmonies as previous reviewers have described, and they never get in the way of the vocals. They paint a picture before they shred. They move your soul before they move your body. They aren't even very complex, from a musician's standpoint, but are some of the most touching riffs I've heard in any music even beyond rock.

Joe Musten (the drummer) as a previous reviewer said, should be a model to hardcore/post-hardcore/modern rock drummers everywhere. I hate to make this analogy in such a different genre, especially because it's so young comparitively, but Musten is like Art Blakey was to jazz. I know this is a very bold comment, but this drummer knows exactly what to play and exactly where to play it. His drumming does nothing but contribute to the sound of the band, the build-up of each song, and the execution of each climax. He is very skilled but he never gets carried away. I urge anyone who listens to this album to check out the intracacies of of what Musten is doing and then take a step back to realize how he is shaping the song just as vitally as the guitars/vocals, playing more than just beats, but keeping it real all the same.

The bass player, while never really in the foreground, makes a presence as the solid rhythmic foundation of this band. I'm sure not many people even take notice to that, but as a bass player, I certainly do. Since the guitars are generally doing their own thing and there is no doubling of rhythm guitar/bass on most of the tracks, the bass is setting up the chord structure. It's a shame Beloved disbanned because the bass creativity probably would have grown.

There is a lot more to say, a lot more to tell about each song, but straight up, I will tell you that Beloved was one of the most original and perfect modern rock bands to ever have existed. This is clearly demonstrated in "Failure On." As a jazz musician, I still listen to this album quite frequently, that's how respectable I find them and how musically vital they are. I've always thought about what makes their sound so unique when you can hear hints of any hardcore/emo band in their playing. It could be the drummer's perfect taste, or the sheer beauty of the guitar landscapes, or the crafty vocals. Or it could be that Beloved is one of a very select few bands who knew themselves and had a direction that will keep them on my personal timeless bands list forever.

Amazing........2006-05-13

It isn't very often, at least for myself, that a band like this comes along. It isn't very often that I actually find a melodic hardcore band that stands out with a CD that I can get lost in, that I can listen to over and over and never get tired of. "Failure On" by Beloved is just that.

From the start of this record, Beloved grabs you by the throat and doesn't let go until the minute music stops. In the time between, you'll be taken on a roller coaster ride through a broad range of emotion. Sincerity is a pretty easy disguise in hardcore/emo/rock/screamo music today, finding something with pure feeling behind it is rare, but it's easy to lose yourself in the emotion that "Failure On" will invoke.

Josh's vocals are absolutely incredible and fit the music behind him perfectly. His singing is clean as hell and the screams are not at all overdone, they are only implemented where they are absolutely necessary. Guitar work is intricate, amazing and pummeling at times, breakdowns and tempo changes are flawless. Joe's drumming is fantastic (as one reviewer hit directly on the head - he only plays what needs to be played.)

Christianity or no Christianity - I don't care. I find it a weird coincidence that many of my favorite bands came with firm religious beliefs, however it isn't something I put too much stock in - great music is just great music. This is just great music. Period. Buy this record, listen to it through and through and you'll probably never stop listening.

..........2006-03-24

aw man, why did this band have to break up last year? Beloved is an inspiration to me, and their music says it all, plus they're really nice guys. both the running and failure on is good, and i urge u guys to get them both, at the same time. :)

R.I.P. Beloved (1999-2004)

Super sound! - Really too bad they broke up........2006-01-05

This band rocks. CD is a must own! It will start on you, grow on you and keep on you.... Drummer has great feet - super hands also! Great vocals and screams. Wish they kept together... PS I hear two members of Beloved have gone to Dead Poetic. Sure to be great.

How Melodic Hardcore Should Be Done.......2005-12-20

Let's face it, in today's world there are far too many melodic hardcore bands who are all doing similar things and all sounding more or less the same. However there were a few distinct bands that understood the key to becoming a true standout in the melodic hardcore genre. Beloved was one of those bands. Search your entire hardcore or metal collection. Search the internet over, but I guarantee you will never find another band that sounds like Beloved, because the key was Beloved did not try to sound like anyone else. Everything about Beloved's "Failure On", their only full length, is absolutely beautiful. There are countless numbers of innovations that could be cited from this album, although only upon listening to this wonderful masterpiece will you ever understand how truly different this is from most of the hardcore that was released during its time. "Failure On" was, and still is, one of the most essential melodic hardcore recordings to have ever been released, and despite the fact that Beloved is no longer together, nothing about the record or its beauty has changed.

In 2003 melodic hardcore was booming. Hot off the recent success of bands like From Autumn To Ashes, Atreyu and Poison The Well, hundreds of imitators were springing up everywhere trying to emulate the sound that had become so popular in the scene at the time. When "Failure On" came along it was distinctly different from any of the other records in its time, yet there was something strikingly hardcore about it. Where others would simply take the style that bands like PTW and FATA had made popular and simply tweek it or add slightly different elements, Beloved went in with their own ideas and thoughts of how the music should be played, and with "Failure On" that came to its zenith.

From the beginning of their career Beloved had always been a band more focused on melody than crushing brutality. Yet if someone were to listen to a track like "Death From Decay" or "Inner Pattern", you wouldn't initially think that. Joshua Moore can easily stretch his vocals to churn out angelic harmonies, and then seconds later guttural screams. This juxtapose of vocal styles might not be the most original, but very few vocalists are capable of trading off between singing and screaming in such an extraordinary fashion (the only others I can think of are Jesse Leach formerly of Killswitch Engage and Jeff Moreira of Poison The Well). The most important thing is that you never feel like the screaming or singing is forced, it all just flows naturally. Musically Beloved had a way of combining melodic passages with heavily saturated brutality that few bands possess. I've never really been a fan of the three guitar attack. In most bands it just seems so useless because the third guitar player more or less serves as simply a second rhythm guitarist which is about as necessary as a cowbell or other obscene instrument. However Beloved incorporating the the third guitar in an essential manner, as all three of the guitarists (Joshua Moore, Dusty Redmon, Matt Harrison) make every note they play on their fretboards count. Combined with the outstanding rhythm section of Johnny Smrdel on bass Joe Musten on drums, and you already have a formula for success. Like I said very few bands have ever shown the ability to harness both serenity and rage the way that Beloved did.

"Failure On" is also an album which has no weak points. From start to finish this record is one that can't be turned off very easily. Looking for heavy material? Check the aforementioned "Death From Decay" or "Inner Pattern". Fan of more melody filled passages? Then "Only Our Faces Hide" and "Death To Traitors" will be right up your alley. However despite offering all ends of the spectrum, Beloved are at their best when they are effortlessly drifting in and out of melody and madness as displayed on songs like "Failure On My Lips" and "Watching The Lines Blur". Devastating breakdowns instantly become emotionally charged choruses and vice versa on these stellar pieces. Really the whole album itself is 10 excellent songs, and I hate to single any out. The remaining songs are just as worthy of your time as any of the listed tracks, so if you find favor in one, you're going to love this entire cd.

Unfortunately Beloved is no longer together. However the music they left behind still continues to influence many of the more melodic bands in the hardcore scene today. Screamo and other emo related genres with hardcore touches especially owe "Failure On" a lot of thanks because Beloved paved the way for more melodic acts to be accepted into the hardcore scene. "Failure On" is an album that you will only fully appreciate and realize its greatness after listening. There is honestly not one thing about this album that I would change. Although Beloved may no longer be making music, they left behind three incredible pieces of work that are still among my favorite albums. If you happened to have not listened to their E.P's "The Running" and "... And So It Goes" I would highly recommend those as well. There was no failure whatsoever associated with this release; this is indeed a classic and a staple for all melodic hardcore.

Average customer rating: Finally a pop-punk band that doesn't sound like pop-punk. One of the best albums of the 90's A band I looked for for years (literally) Yes, enjoy your pants "Destination" Aced!

Destination Failure Smoking Popes Manufacturer: Capitol ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Punk-Pop | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Born to Quit The Party's Over Live At Metro Volume & Density ASIN: B000002U57 Release Date: 1997-08-26

Tracks:

1. Star Struck One
2. No More Smiles
3. I Know You Love Me
4. You Spoke To Me
5. Paul
6. Can't Find It
7. Capitol Cristine
8. Before I'm Gone
9. Megan
10. Let's Hear It For Love
11. Pure Imagination
12. I Was Right
13. They Lied
14. End Of Your Time
15. Pretty Pathetic
16. Follow The Sound

Amazon.com

Chicago's Smoking Popes deliver another stellar batch of buzzsaw punk-pop anthems about love and love lost on their second major-label album. Josh Caterer's emotional crooning still sounds a lot like Morrissey's, but mopey teenagers would be much better off listening to the Popes than Moz, because the joy inherent in their tunes always points the way out for the worst case of the blues. (Just pogo a bit, and everything is sure to feel better.) "Let's hear it for promises and something sealed with a kiss/Let's hear it for big mistakes that you just couldn't resist," Josh sings in "Let's Hear It for Love," which is pretty much the band's theme song. But the group really won my heart with the cover of "Pure Imagination" from Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. How can you help but love these guys? --Jim Derogatis

Customer Reviews:

Finally a pop-punk band that doesn't sound like pop-punk........2002-01-15

While other pop-punk bands (i.e. Blink 182, Sum 41, and countless others whose names I forget, but likely end with numbers) seem to get stuck in a rut trying hard to sound like a pop punk band, the Popes simply take the aesthetic of pop-punk and play what they want to play. The chord progressions contain more than 4 chords a song, the instrumentation isn't always bashing you in the face, and the singer doesn't sound like some whiney Joey Ramone or Johnny Rotten sound-alike. Most of all, their songs are interesting and fun, but not just for the sake of being interesting and fun. They're just good songs. (Not to mention "Pure Imagination" is possibly the best cover I've ever heard)

Let's hear it for the Smoking Popes.

One of the best albums of the 90's.......2001-07-03

The Smoking Popes blend heatfelt lyrics and melodies of love, love, oh yeah and more love into 3 minute pop songs that will make you want to cry. Destination Failure is an incredible cd and is one of the best cds of the 90's yet it still is not one of the Popes finest. This cd is highly recommend to any music fan and if you like this cd be sure to check out "Get Fired" and "Born To Quit." Please do your self a favor and listen to the Smoking Popes.

A band I looked for for years (literally).......2001-06-05

The Smoking Popes are a band I literally hunted down for about three years. I had heard their song "Need You Around" from the album "Born to Quit" and fell in love, but always caught the first half, or second half, and never heard the DJ announce the bands name before the song lost its pace. Due to a great deal of time I spent listening to music in used CD stores, I eventually heard the song again and almost died--the rest of the album matched it perfectly. Destination Failure is their third release and almost but not quite tops "Born to Quit" in my mind. A little more commercial and marketed better, the album was a bigger success and got more exposure as they toured. Still, I give it five stars. Who could resist Caterer's classic lounge singer style with guitars backing him that make you want to rock? The band picks from Weezer somewhat, with ultra-slow lyrics and hyperactive guitar lines with plenty of bass. If you haven't listened to Smoking Popes before, prepare yourself, because you may not know whether you're supposed to feel aggresive, or depressed, or giddy, but you'll be sure to appreciate their unique style and a mood all their own.

Yes, enjoy your pants.......2001-01-13

A great CD from a band that I beleive doesn't get enough credit. Great lyrics, and some pretty good licks that remind you of their not so poppy past. This album would get five stars if 1991-1998 and the Live album didn't exist. This is a good primer course in the Popes, you might say, even though it came at the end of their career.

"Destination" Aced!.......2001-01-11

There are few albums I can just pop into my cd player and listen to straight through, let alone be patient enough to listen to them for that long. "Destination Failure" is one of them. Having only two Smoking Popes cds, this is my favorite among the two. It blends good light-hearted rock, catchy lyrics, and awesome vocals together to come up with a treat that would taste like a dark chocolate Ghirardelli bar times ten (coming from a chocolate lover, that is VERY good). The best song on the album, "No More Smiles," is a remorseful tune about the heartbreak of love. It passes the test of being a true-to-life song. "I Know That You Love Me," which is equally good and catchy, is actually, as I once heard Josh mention in an interview, a song about faith and having a relationship with God. The greatest thing about this song is you could interperet it that way--or you could just pass it off as another love song, which still makes it equally fun. "Let's Hear It For Love" and "Pure Imagination" (a great rendition of the "Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory" song) are above par, as is "Megan" and "Capital Cristine". It's a shame that this wonderous band had to break up. They will definitely be missed in Chicago by their adoring fans, and in other parts of the US (maybe even the world. Smoke on, Popes!

*I actually knew Josh's wife and had the pleasure of meeting Josh one time at a party. He was, overall, a very cool guy and I find it very saddening that their music is the only memory they left behind for us.

Average customer rating: Great solid album. Could've been better.....

The Failure In Drowning Scars of Tomorrow Manufacturer: Victory Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Post Hardcore | Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Alternative Metal | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: What Demons Do To Saints The Horror of Realization Rope Tied to the Trigger The Beginning Of Killing with a Smile ASIN: B000I2J0ZG Release Date: 2006-10-31

Tracks:

1. Lost in the Moment
2. Failure in Drowning
3. Broken Silence
4. Unwinding
5. Silence of Sorrow
6. Wandering
7. Nashville
8. Relive the Curse
9. Face Plastered in Black
10. Untold Truth
11. Your Hand This Vice

Customer Reviews:

Great solid album........2007-02-23

I personally think the audio on this album sounds terrific. I listen mostly in my car on my stereo, which is mostly all high end with subs and the whole works. I don't know what the other guy is talking about with poor quality. Everything is very distinct and audible, nothing gets real washed out or muddy sounding. This is an album that you have to be in the state of mind for it because its not about random pointless subjects. The lyrics are the kind of hurt/bitter/angry type, so if you're not sitting on top of the world in your life right now, this album should sit perfectly with you. Good job guys.

Could've been better............2006-11-05

whoever eq'd certain parts of this album needs to be slapped. I took out 1 star for poor production, and one for performance. The vocals on the title track where Mike tries to sound like Alex from Atreyu are irritating, just 'cause Scars is way better than Atreyu, they shouldn't be influenced by them. Also, the Caliban-style overproduced clean vocals on a few of the tracks. As far as production goes, The Horror of Realization sounded way, way better. The kick drum's slap it way too high pitched on the album. It's more than likely a sound replaced kick using a trigger, but the kick they chose to use just sucks. The guitars are way, way too bassy to the point that when I listen to the beginning of Nashville through my studio monitors, it crackles all over the place. The rest of the drums sound great, musically this album is about on-par w/ their last. Love these guys to death, just hope their next effort is mixed better......

Average customer rating:

Riot! (+3 Bonus Tracks) Paramore Manufacturer: Fueled by Ramen ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Hardcore & Punk | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Vinyl Records | American Punk | British Punk | Emo | Garage Punk | Hardcore | Post Hardcore | Proto Punk | Punk | Punk Revival | Punk-Pop | Riot Grrl | Ska Punk | Straight Edge ASIN: B000RX8SMC

Product Description

Limited Edition includes 3 Bonus Tracks. (1) For a Pessimist I'm Pretty Optimistic, (2) Thats What You Get, (3) Hallelujah, (4) Misery Business, (5) When It Rains, (6) Let the Flames Begin, (7) Miracle, (8) Crushcrushcrush, (9) We Are Broken, (10) Fences, (11) Born for This BONUS TRACKS: (12)Stop This Song (Love Sick Melody) (13) Rewind (Demo Vesion) (14) Emergency (Live Version)

Average customer rating: Mixed Bag from a Master Raconteur Long live Shep!

Will Failure Spoil Jean Shepherd? Jean Shepherd Manufacturer: Collector's Choice ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music General | Comedy | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Poetry | Poetry, Spoken Word & Interviews | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music Similar Items: Jean Shepherd and Other Foibles Jean Shepherd: Don't Be a Leaf Excelsior, You Fathead!: The Art and Enigma of Jean Shepherd Jean Shepherd: The X Random Factor A Fistful of Fig Newtons ASIN: B0000634A7 Release Date: 2002-04-09

Tracks:

1. Purgatories
2. The Playboy Syndrome
3. My First Blind Date
4. Little Orphan Annie
5. The Great American Dream
6. Bacchanal At Sheridan Square

Product Description

1. Purgatories
2. Playboy Syndrome, The
3. My First Blind Date
4. Little Orphan Annie
5. Great American Dream, The
6. Bacchanal At The Sheridan Square


Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Mixed Bag from a Master Raconteur.......2004-02-11

"The King of the Night People" spins his yarns and shares his insights in this, a wonderful collection of some of Shep's better bits.

I, for one, never really "got" the enthusiasm over Shep's preoccupation with Orphan Annie, a cut on this CD that I personally would skip. Where this late, underrated cult figure excelled, I believe, was in his trenchant social commentary and understanding of the human psyche. Here, two riffs - one related to Role Reversal, the other to the connection between male sexuality and autos - presaged societal trends, and they really hit their mark.

Shep was at his finest in the late Fifties to mid-Sixties, and this CD captures some of his better material quite nicely.

Long live Shep!.......2003-01-24

A long lost treasure comes to CD. Go ahead...just try to find a copy of this little beauty on vinyl...I double dog dare 'ya. This disc is made up of several of Shep's best bits captured live on stage in NY in the early '60s. No one...but no one tells a story better than Shep did...either on radio or in print. This disc is short...and there are a few very minor sound problems (remastered?)...but you will not regret picking this album up while you can.

Average customer rating: THE CHILD DEVIANT Bring on the progressive terror noize assault!

The Failure Epiphany Unter Null Manufacturer: Alfa Matrix ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Goth & Industrial | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music | Goth | Industrial General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sacrament Absolution Limited Krankhaus Kadavergehorsam Flicker ASIN: B000BSO72I Release Date: 2007-07-16

Tracks:

1. Bloodlust
2. Martyr
3. Your Nightmare (Album Mix)
4. Feed the Lie
5. Destroy Me
6. The Failure Epiphany
7. Sick F*ck (Album Mix)
8. Silence
9. You Have Fallen From Grace
10. Stray
11. The Hook
12. ZombieBoy
13. Desire

Album Description

The enigmatic American artist Erica Dunham aka Unter Null has impressed both European and American audiences alike with her provocative and blood spilling live shows. With her unique and uncompromising style and attitude, she scored two huge club hits with "Your Nightmare" and "Sick F*ck" without even having an album released!

Written and recorded in Seattle, USA and engineered and produced by studio guru Len Lemeire (Implant, Anne Clark, Dunkelwerk) at the Implant Plant Studio in Gent, Belgium, this 13-track album is the subliminal and percussive creation of Erica's perverse, sick mind. More and more often described as the female soldier in the Suicide Commando league, our sexy she-devil shouts louder than any industrial beast on the scene!

Her extremely distorted and manipulated vocals will definitely blow your mind, while her harsh endzeit electro assaults will offer you a one-way ticket into the abysmal depths of the underworld, sinking down to "unter null".

Erica has set her sights in the line of attack upon the male-dominated world of harsh Electronic Body Music with one sole target: domination and provocation. Unter Null stands for pain, disease and death; rancor, rage and vengeance. You look into her bewitching eyes and let her feed upon your brain. She is your new poison, your new addiction... and she proves with this strong album that against all beliefs -- the Devil is a woman.

Customer Reviews:

THE CHILD DEVIANT.......2007-03-03

There is something truly fantastic about this album, and yet it is not quite perfect. I really want to give it a full five star rating, but I have a couple complaints.. (complaint 1.), this is one of the only female fronted EBM/Idustrial/electro bands in circulation, and yet the singer sounds like a male on many of the songs (not because she has a deep voice, rather she distorts her voice to sound like a robotic-rivethead-male). (complaint 2), some of the songs sound so close to Suicide Cammando that it is almost hard to tell the difference. Nevertheless, this is a pretty damm impressive album. The absolute best tracks on this album are "sick fu**", "scilence" and "zombieboy". This is still a new band...I anticipate bigger things. Anyways, ....buy this album! The Failure Ephiphany by Unter Null is a verry good underground album despite my 2 complaints.

Bring on the progressive terror noize assault!.......2006-03-27

First let me say I am blown away by the intensity of the handicraft of this album. I've been craving some new very fresh flesh-ripping

ebm/industrial and I have found it! Erica's vocals are so very unpretentious and real, that I don't feel like I am being force fed generic

fuzz. This is seriously Industrial EBM taken to the next level beyond the happy synth-pop the style has largely flowed into. Unter Null has

definitely breathed some new life into a stagnant genre.

(Song Spoilers Below!)


Bloodlust - An intro track that is certainly one of my fav intros ever! It has the atmosphere of a fused industrial/black metal, the

desolation of machinery and electronics that we rivetheads so love, and the fast hyper ebm that gets you moving. It plays on what you thinks

going to happen and then wham!

Martyr - This track starts out with a familiar goth club ebm feel with drippings of trance but quickly takes off into this swirl of aggro

vocals overlayed against this intense track. The break around 2:50 is an unexpected welcome gesture before Erica brings it up again for the

ending.

Your Nightmare - Listening to this one can see why it became a club hit. Following in the tradition of the previous track "Martyr", Erica

brings together a fusion of a club trance anthem and hard-edged industrial ferocity. Very hypnotic and energetic! I can't wait to listen in

the car! Stomp stomp!

Feed the Lie - Woah! Time to switch our rivet gears! This song is excellent! If this song doesn't make you wanna stomp around, you're dead.

This song is worthy of a soundtrack on a sci-fi flick that's for sure. With some super precise white noise samples, the flanging vocoded

effect, and a speed-up trad stomp beat this surely should become a rivet anthem!

Destroy Me - This track is amazing. With the placement of the eerie soundscapes backdropping driving heated beats, I listen in awe as Erica

lays down her raspy sweet vocals. This is definitely a song you can stomp too!

The Failure Epiphany - This track goes back to the "Your Nightmare" style with again a trad stomp but with interesting interplay of her voice

on the offbeats. The progressive chords are a welcome bridge.

Sick F*ck - So far we've heard a lot of synth and processed samples but here now we have a more trad vocal sample reflecting on the track

name. Erica makes no hold on exactly what she's feeling in this song. 1:50 comes in up with the eerienees of creepy B horror movie organ

music. But not for long as Erica tears off into a vocal rampage of some sick f*ck who needs a beating apparently. Her voice is amazing,

sharp, and deadly. w00t!


Scilence - We start off in modern blade runner kind of synth harmony. But soon find ourselves in a very Wumpscut-inspired world. With heavy

distorted beats paired with the lofty synth and the repetitive hypnotic nature, Erica injects her own personal style taking a familiar form

and kickin it up a notch.


You Have Fallen From Grace - The first minute of this song is completely entrancing! Then without disturbing the beauty of the "gracefulness"

of the flow, Erica steps in with subtle but intense vocals. Here we can a hear a more personal human side reflected in the lyrics.

Stray - We start off with a gorgeous crystalline melody that breaks into an groovebox rhythm. The added asian-flavoured sound later is rather

teasing against this song that seems to restrain from breaking into full assault. Perhaps Erica needed a rest. "I only wish you dead."

The Hook - A homage to old school industrial synth floating in the background, this song also reflects a progressive trance influence. It is

more atmospheric and Erica's voice is barely if at all discernible. This should appeal to fans of more noize-based atmospheric music. Erica

suprises us around 2:40 with a sweeter processed version of her voice.


ZombieBoy - Woot! I love the interplay of strange chord progression! This song is more subdued than the rest but a good listen.

Desire - What stands out at first is the super high soprano synth voices amidst a simple dance beat, but it's the subtle distorted sounds

that make this instrumental piece quite good. This song is an appropriate ender.

Average customer rating: blurb from web site

2. CONTAMINATION: A Tribute to David Bowie (2-disc deluxe edition) Manufacturer: Failure To Communicate Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items: Oh You Pretty Things: The Songs of David Bowie Yes, Virginia... David Bowie: Under Review 1976-79 - The Berlin Trilogy A Dark Cabaret Young Americans ASIN: B000E4LZP6

Product Description

The 3rd installment of the Failure To Communicate Tribute series is a 2-disc set with 34 songs by some of todays finest up and coming new artists. The set also includes a 32 page full color booklet documenting each contributing artist's influence and memories of the Thin White Duke. This delux edition is limited to 1000 copies ONLY. No reprints will be made. A true collector's item.

Customer Reviews:

blurb from web site.......2006-01-31

UPDATE 01/30/06 ".2 CONTAMINATION: A Tribute to David Bowie" finally has a release date of February 28, 2006. All pre-orders of the Deluxe Edition will be shipped on or before this date. If you haven't ordered on already, less than 150 copies remain. After that, no more Deluxe Editions will be printed. All other copies will not have the 36-page booklet, the bonus track, or the bonus CD with it. So order now while you can.

Average customer rating: ive got the fever Lacking Really grows on you Juliana's heaviest CD- Cool side project Juliana's Hard Rocking Guitar God Self Breaks Out!

Juliana's Pony: Total System Failure Juliana Hatfield Manufacturer: Zoe Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Singer-Songwriters | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music Indie Rock | Indie & Lo-Fi | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music General | Rock | Styles | Music Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music Similar Items: Beautiful Creature Please Do Not Disturb Bed Feel It In Exile Deo ASIN: B00004T9S1 Release Date: 2000-05-16

Tracks:

1. White Trash
2. Metal Fume Fever
3. Houseboy
4. Road Wrath
5. Let's Get Married
6. Breeders
7. My Protegee
8. Total System Failure
9. The Victim
10. Using You
11. Leather Pants
12. Noblesse Oblige
13. Ten Foot Pole

Amazon.com

After recording her Beautiful Creature album, Juliana Hatfield wanted to kick it up a notch. Recruiting pals Mikey Welch (Weezer) and Zephan Courtney, the trio quickly banged out Total System Failure, easily the loudest work Hatfield has done since her days in the Blake Babies. Those who thought that the Massachusetts-based singer-songwriter has gone all soft and frilly will relish the festive feedback and fuzztone, which is also sure to alienate plenty of listeners. Welch and Courtney hold down the rhythmic fort, allowing Hatfield plenty of room to scream, solo, and scream some more. While certain to be compared to Hole, the spirit is closer to the Pretenders. It's not a consistent success, but Hatfield keeps it interesting with some bile-soaked lyrics ("Scary breeders, they have come with their sons and daughters / One by one, mean and dumb / Have another") and a healthy cage-rattling attitude. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

ive got the fever.......2005-07-27

contrary to what other reveiwers have written, this is an excellent, inspired, well written, purposely sloppy album. its raw, sarcatic, dark and poppy, with toooo many undertones and hidden meanings to mentions. if juliana ever wrote a song with line of "i *something* you" it would have to be "i forgive you". she hates and... well hates, (cant say she loves that would just be lying) and it shows. its emotional and beautiful, angry and light filled. this album is excellent.

Lacking.......2005-07-26

2000 was a busy year for Juliana Hatfield, having released two albums simultaneously-- one was an introspective, wistful record full of acoustic guitars, samples, loops, and delicateness ("Beautiful Creature"), the other was quite the opposite-- loud, aggressive, lacking subtelty, filled with distorted guitars and noise.

Invariably, its lack of variety leads to its failure as a record. From the outset (opener "White Trash"-- 15 seconds of feedback), its pretty clear this isn't going to be a melodic affair, and it continues largely in that direction. Hatfield's vocal is lower in pitch than usual, singing in a relatively constricted vocal style that teeters the edge of bland ("My Protegee") and irritating (the otherwise fine "Road Wrath"). Lyrically, the record attempts to find that balance of clever sarcasm, but sometimes comes off as tactless ("Let's Get Married", "Leather Pants"). And musically, its sometimes totally dead on arrival ("Breeders", "The Victim").

For all my criticism, some of it quite amusing-- "Houseboy" is rather successful, coming off as sarcastic as intended and with a really nice lead guitar, "Total System Failure" is pretty much exactly what you'd hope for from a slab of white hot anger, and "Using You" has an interesting arrangement that works rather nicely.

As far as Hatfield's catalog goes though, this one is pretty unessential. It's mate, "Beautiful Creature", is among her best, and the two do parallel nicely together. I should also note that the album is growing on me, I give it two stars, but six months ago it would have been one, its definitely growing on me. We'll see what I think in another six.

Really grows on you.......2004-02-13

I'll start by admitting that I have been a Juliana fan since her Blake Babies days. That said, I've read a variety of reviews on this disc and have to chime in with my two cents to say that IMO, it is a pretty darn good album. It took me awhile to get my head around it because it is quite a departure, but it really grows on you. I have always liked the harder side of Juliana (when she rocks-it-up in a song), particularly because she has a such a great songwriting knack of weaving good riffs into material primarily comprised of lighter musical fare (which provided the riffs with extra impact, of course). Total System Failure is different because the whole thing is pretty much a full bore barrage of guitars. But as I analyzed why I liked it so much, I came to the conclusion that a big part of it was due to the fact that Juliana's staple sarcasm and wit come through loud and clear on this one. She takes direct aim at middle America and cuts it in two in such as way that is vintage Juliana. I prefer this one over Beautiful Creature (which is also good, but not as energetic that's for sure).

Juliana's heaviest CD- Cool side project.......2003-01-30

Maybe 5 stars is one too many, but that's all a matter of opinion. Juliana Hatfield is an awesome artist who writes and plays her own music, and this hard rocking disc will shock those who are only familiar with "Beautiful Creature". I've been a fan for years, and would say the only drawback to this CD would be a few songs being "too similar"?? It does rock, though and is worthy of purchase, definitely

Juliana's Hard Rocking Guitar God Self Breaks Out!.......2002-01-19

Great guitar solos... Lyrics filled with bile, sarcasm, sickness, & humor... An amazing counterbalance to Beautiful Creature's introspective vibe... this CD is meant to be played LOUD! Beautiful Creature may sound more personal but Total System Failure will surprise you with its skewed viewpoint... This CD jams!!!

Rock Music:

1. Fairwell Fairbanks [Import]
2. For Collectors Only: Zappa Tribute [Import]
3. Future Isn't What It Used to Be [Import]
4. Glass Bead Game [Import]
5. Goodbye
6. Greetings From New York City
7. Hot Fur
8. If I Should Fall from Grace With God
9. Il Tempo Della Gioia [Import]
10. Incesticide [Import]

Rock Music