Album Review: Failure- Wild Type Droid

A band like Failure doesn’t come around too often. Ever since their inception, they have been pushing the boundaries of rock music. It’s been talked about for years now how much of an influential masterpiece their third album, Fantastic Planet is. That album is truly the new Velvet Underground and Nico. Just like with The Velvet’s anyone who has picked up a copy of Fantastic Planet has inevitably started a band. But that’s not what this is all about. Instead let us focus on the fact that Failure have released their third new album since their return in 2014 and this one is without a doubt in line with the great albums they have produced. Wild Type Droid is out now and it’s absolutely stunning.

Wild Type Droid fits in its own part of Failure lore. As much as it fits within the “space rock” spectrum, this one hits differently. Firstly the music on this record is a bit more rhythmic and complex. The crisp production courtesy of Ken Andrews is superb. Every nuance that should be heard is making for one hell of a listening experience. The performances from all three members especially drummer Kellii Scott is astonishing. There’s almost this whole other level that Ken, Greg and Kellii went to with this one. Painting vivid pictures with the lyrics and melodies along with music that creates a truly whimsical feeling makes Wild Type Droid an album that stands out. The way the album starts, flows, and ends is something special on its own. It’s one of those that you feel compelled to start again as soon as it is over.

This year has already given us so many great albums and Failure’s Wild Type Droid is right there amongst those (Quicksand’s Distant Populations, Every Time I Die’s Radical, Genghis Tron’s Dream Weapon to name a few). For a band that’s technically been around for over 30 years there is no stopping Failure. If anything it’s as though the reunion only made then stronger and reinvigorated. There is no substitute for Failure. Other’s have tried to capture what they do but, if it’s not Ken, Greg and Kellii, it’s just going to sound like an imposter. Cheers to Failure for yet another triumphant album. Personally, I can’t wait to hear these songs live. It’s going to be out of this world good!

Overall Rating= A

Failure- Wild Type Droid:

End Of Album Songs: Failure- Daylight

One of my all time favorite bands is Failure. Ever since I was a kid and heard them (pretty sure it was Magnified that I heard), I was sold. Then comes 1996 and they release one of my all time favorite albums in Fantastic Planet. For over 20 years, this album has yet to leave my rotation. It’s a perfect album and one that has gone on to influence and inspire countless other bands and artists. In a way, Fantastic Planet is the new equivalent to the first album by The Velvet Underground. Anyways, I could go on and on about the awesomeness of this record. Instead let’s focus on how great of a song “Daylight” is to end the album. Clocking in at 6 minutes long, this song is epic and one of those songs that makes you want to start the album all over again. The way the music starts and builds creates this amazing tension that finally explodes at the end. “Daylight” is an absolute essential song to listen to on how to close out an album properly. Everything about this song is stunnging from the way Ken, Greg and Kellii all play off each other, the production, the lyrics and melody and to top it off the tones, oh the tones! Bottle those tones and sell them!

Failure- Daylight:

Failure- Daylight (Live at The El Rey- Reunion Show, 2014):

Anticipated Albums: Failure- Wild Type Droid

Anytime there is an announcement about the band Failure, I can’t help but get excited. Failure is one of the best bands I’ve ever heard. Their landmark 1997 album, Fantastic Planet should be in the Smithsonian. That’s how perfect it is. Now though, Failure are back again with a new album entitled Wild Type Droid which will be out December 3rd (via Failure Music). The 10-song album features the first single “Headstand” which as Greg Edwards describes as “The lyrics come from my earliest memory of spacing-out in my room when I was seven, trying to conceive of infinity and watching the dust falling through the bars of sunlight pouring through my blinds,” explains Edwards. “I had heard that a lot of that dust was made up of skin cells and that really stuck with me. It’s kind of a love song to those bizarre innocent moments of solitude.” This new album is classic Failure with some new experiments along the way. Speaking on that, Ken Andrews said “We’ve been together long enough to know that some of our best ideas come directly from these experimental sessions. For this album, we simply cultivated that methodology for a much longer time than we have in the past. It brought out the trio aspect of the band. There was a feeling we could really push the individual parts further away from each other and let the more interesting and challenging combinations take center stage.” Now with all that in mind, how can you not be excited about a new Failure album! Pre-Orders Available HERE!

Failure- Headstand:

2020 End Of The Year Lists: Best Producer/Mixer

Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2020 End Of The Year Lists, the Top 10 Producers/Mixers. The stipulation is that, an album/EP had to have been released this year.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Nick Rowe/Steve Evetts- Greg Puciato: Child Soldier; Creator Of God
02) Billy Corgan- The Smashing Pumpkins: Cyr
03) Mark Nash/Ken Andrews- In Parallel: Fashioner
04) Terry Date- Deftones: Ohms
05) Will Yip- Nothing: The Great Dismal
06) EL-P- Run The Jewels: RTJ IV
07) Josh Wilbur- Killer Be Killed: Reluctant Hero, Trivium: What The Dead Men Say
08) Loathe- Loathe: I Let It In and It Took Everything
09) Shooter Jennings- Marilyn Manson: We Are Chaos
10) Brian McTernan- Be Well: The Weight and The Cost

2020 End Of The Year List: Best Guitarist

Next up on Audioeclectica.com’s 2020 End Of The Year Lists, the Top 10 Guitarists. The stipulation is that, an album/EP had to have been released this year.

Vote for your favorite in the comments section. At the end of the month, I will release the results of the readers poll.

This list is also in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!!!

01) Greg Puciato- Greg Puciato
02) Stephen Carpenter- Deftones
03) Chris Traynor- Bush
04) Shooter Jennings- Marilyn Manson
05) Ken Andrews- Ken Andrews
06) Clint Lowery- Clint Lowery
07) Mark Morton- Mark Morton
08) Aaron Turner- Sumac
09) Stephen Taylor- En Minor
10) Andrew Watt- Ozzy Osbourne

New Release: Ken Andrews- Sword and Shield

The renowned Ken Andrews, of the very amazing Failure, Year of the Rabbit and ON, as well as being an acclaimed producer and mixer has released the five-song What’s Coming EP via Red Swan Records. The EP arrives with a video for the first single “Sword and Shield,” which is a pointed rebuke of the current President of the United States and Andrews’ first ever politically-infused social commentary via song.

Ken Andrews- Sword and Shield:

Buy the EP:

What's Coming EP Digital Download

Listen to the EP:

Apple Music:

https://music.apple.com/us/album/whats-coming-ep/1536806313

Spotify:

https://open.spotify.com/album/2MtKaIaXZgok297WbkwKkF?si=J7bZGMuiQD2Gu6mVg7XTCw

Album Review: In Parallel- Fashioner

To say this has been an odd year is a total understatement. The world is changing and things are falling apart but, the one thing that can bring us all together is still rooted in music. Thankfully, there have been a a few albums that have been released this year to give us all a break from the madness. One such album that has really been a bright spot is the record Fashioner from In Parallel. There is something truly beautiful and hopeful about the material on this album.

The five songs that make up Fashioner are deep, provocative, haunting and chock full of the right amount of heavy. Though it’s only 30 minutes long, it feels like an epic record. The shoegaze meets alternative sound mixed with the right amount of ambience has made this album one of the best of 2020. Each song has it’s own identity and gets under your skin and gives you chills. From the very moment “Six Over Eight” starts the record and every song in between till you get to the end with “Threat Of Heaven,” there is really no letting up. The depth of each song can stand out on their own merit but, the way it’s all tied in together is what really makes it a piece of art. Having Ken Andrews of Failure mix this album was a brilliant idea. He was able to really bring in all the sounds, textures and layers to make this a sonic revelation.

In Parallel are one of the bands that when you listen will give you hope for the future of music. This album knows how to tug at your heartstrings while at the same time expand your mind with a sensibility of intriguing rhythms, and the right tones. I would also like to make a note that “Leave It With The Ghost” is quite possibly the best song I’ve heard all year. Do yourself a favor and pick up this album. You won’t regret it.

Overall Rating: A

In Parallel- Fashioner:

By: Brian Lacy

New Release: In Parallel- Deep Dark

A few weeks ago I introduced you to the band In Parallel and their incredible new song “Leave It With The Ghost” off thier upcoming EP, Fashioner (Out September 4 via Wiretap Records). Now, they have just released another new track from their EP entitled “Deep Dark” and it’s really really damn good. It’s got this really cool 90’s alternative vibe mixed with a bit of U2 (The Unforgettable Fire era). Also, the pre-order is now up to purchase their EP Fashioner, which by the way was mixed by Ken Andrews of Failure, so you know it sounds extra good too! Definitely check out what In Parallel has to offer. This band is phenomenal.

 

In Parallel- Deep Dark:

 

 

 

In Parallel- Leave It With The Ghost:

 

Band Of The Week: In Parallel

Normally I wait till Friday’s for this topic but, I don’t want to wait till then to talk about this band. A couple days back when checking my music news, I came across a band that just wowed me. I clicked on their lyric video and the moment the first note hit my ears, I knew I was already going to love what I was about to hear. 8 minutes later the song was over and I immediately pressed start over. I’m talking about the band In Parallel and their new song “Leave It With The Ghost” from their upcoming release, Fashioner, which comes out September 04, 2020 via Wiretap Records. This band is made up of members of Celebrity and Hopesfall (who in 2018 released a great comeback album with, Arbiter). In Parallel’s sound is inspired from dark 80’s pop and 90’s shoegaze and post-hardcore – creating a sound that is melodic, expansive  and ambient but, at the same time explosive in a way that will catch you off guard in a way that peaks your interest. Their debut album, Broken Codes, is a great representation of what this band is capable of creating. On Fashioner, they recruited Failure’s Ken Andrews to mix their record and the end result is, and you can tell by listening to “Leave It With The Ghost,” a record that gives you chills. In Parallel are the type of band that knows how to tug at your heartstrings while at the same time expand your mind with a sensibility of intriguing rhythms, and the right tones. The road is endless for where this bands music can go and I hope you dig it as much as I do.

 

In Parallel- Leave It With The Ghost:

 

In Parallel- Broken Codes:

Great Music Videos: Failure- Stuck On You

Failure’s amazing, influential, and must own album Fantastic Planet is full of so many great things. One of the best things about the album is the video for the song “Stuck On You.” This song was released as the first single from the album and reached #23 on the US Alternative Chart as well as #31 on the US Mainstream Rock Charts on Billboard.  The video itself is something special. Released in 1997, the video resembles and pays homage to the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me. The video was directed by Ken Andres along with Phil Harder who has worked on videos for bands like The Afghan Whigs, Low, Incubus, Local H and Prince to name a few. “Stuck On You” is one of those songs that is super catchy but, also a timeless song, just like the video.

 

Failure- Stuck On You: