Failure

Album Review: Failure- The Heart Is A Monster

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Since they announced their reunion, I was hoping for a new Failure album. When I first heard Fantastic Planet way back when, I became hooked and was left wanting more. Thankfully in 2014 they returned and took everyone by storm by picking up right where they left off. Their new album The Heart Is A Monster is well worth the almost 20 year wait. Not only does the album seamlessly pick up where Fantastic Planet left off, it takes you further down the rabbit hole only to come out on the other side with an entirely fresh outlook. Songs like “Hot Traveler,” and A.M. Amnesia kickstart the album in a very upbeat way. “Counterfeit Sky” is an absolute stellar track. I had the pleasure of hearing this song live recently, when you hear this song, you’ll know Failure means business! The softer side of the album has songs like “Mulholland Drive.” This song is a little bit Pink Floyd mixed with The Beatles. Other highlights from the album are “Come Crashing,” “The Focus,” “Atom City Queen,” and two older songs that were reworked “Petting The Carpet,” and “I Can See Houses.

Failure have released what I consider to be the absolute album of the year. The dynamics of this band are unparalleled and inspiring. There is something truly special about the music that is made by Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kellii Scott. The Heart Is A Monster is a modern classic without being a throwback album.

By: Brian Lacy

Video Of The Week: Failure- Hot Traveler

As June 30th gets closer, my excitement for the new Failure album is growing by extremes. I really think their new album The Heart Is A Monster is going to challenge anything so far and will come out, for album of the year. On Monday, Failure released their video for the first single from their long awaited follow up to Fantastic Planet. Here it is in all it’s glory!

Failure- Hot Traveler:

By: Brian Lacy

Live Review: Failure At The Ventura Theater

11150382_10153336132807904_3639161145926426919_nSince announcing their return in 2014 I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Failure a bunch of times. Each time I’ve seen them my level of excitement grows, and I’m continuously left in awe and with the feeling of inspiration. May 1st at the Ventura Theater left me with that feeling and then some. The bands 90 minutes set was roaring, filled with all the songs that I love, and to top it off they played three new songs from their upcoming album The Heart Is A Monster. The first of the new songs “Hot Traveler” was the first song of the set, and it really got things going. The song itself seems like it picks up right where Fantastic Planet left off. Of the two other new songs “Mulholland Drive,” was a really sweet and pleasant song that evoked the sensibility of say “The Nurse Who Loved Me.” The other new song “Counterfeit Sky” was a classic Failure song that had all that you’ve come to love about the band. The crowd was really into the set as well. Seeing them in Ventura as opposed to Los Angeles, presented a different vibe that was seemingly in a more relaxed setting that allowed the band to be a bit more free in what they chose to play and how they interacted with the crowd.

Ken Andrews voice is pristine and really conveys the lyrics in such a way that it leaves chills up your spine (in a total good way). Greg Edwards ability to create the most simple guitar leads yet make them so intricate and vital is astonishing. Kellii Scott is one of the most underrated drummers I’ve ever heard. He plays with such passion and intensity.

The only bad part of the night was the opening band. First off there should have been no opening band. Just give Failure 2 hours to play and let them do what they do. This opening band called Hy Brazil, was terrible. These guys have no clue what they want their music to be. The only intriguing thing about them was that they had a harp player in the band. The singer was embarrassing, humping the microphone stand like he was Steven Tyler in the 80’s, and trying to sing like he had pipes. Enough about that band, they didn’t deserve the chance to open for Failure.

Failure delivered exactly what you would expect them to do and then some as always. Thank you Ken, Greg and Kellii for another great night of music and inspiration and on my birthday weekend is a major plus!

Failure Setlist:
1. Segue 4 (new segue)
2. Hot Traveler (new song)
3. Frogs
4. Another Space Song
5. Counterfeit Sky (new song)
6. Saturday Savior
7. Segue 3
8. Dirty Blue Balloons
9. Pillowhead
10. Undone
11. Stuck On You
12. Macaque
13. Mulholland Drive (new song)
14. Heliotropic

Encore:
15. The Nurse Who Loved Me
16. Smoking Umbrellas
17. Daylight

By: Brian Lacy

And The Winners Are…

What a great first year for my little site. Thank you all for taking the time to check out Audioeclectica. I hope you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read so far. There will be plenty more in the new year with some new features as well. The winners were picked based on fan votes and my personal opinion. And now the results of the first annual Audioeclectica Awards.

Best Guitar Duo:

1. Mastodon- Brent Hinds and Bill Kellher
2. With Our Arms To The Sun- Josh Breckinridge and Joseph Leary
3. And We Are Them- Chris Matalone and Nick Bradford
4. Aeges- Kemble Walters and Cory Clark
5. New Cathedral- Ricky Stevens and Scott Perez
6. Slipknot- Jim Root and Mick Thompson
7. Wovenwar- Nick Hipa and Phil Sgrosso
8. Sevendust- Clint Lowery and John Connolly
9. Every Time I Die- Jordan Buckley and Andy Williams
10. At The Gates- Andres Bjorler and Martin Larsson

And The Winner Is: Josh Breckinridge and Joseph Leary of With Our Arms To The Sun

Best Album Cover:

1. With Our Arms To The Sun: A Far Away Wonder (Justin Slattum)
2. Mastodon: Once More Round The Sun (Skinner)
3. And We Are Them- City Of Ghosts (Chris Matalone)
4. Every Time I Die- From Parts Unknown (Joby Ford)
5. Obliterations- Poison Everything (Derrick Snodgrass)
6. Wild Throne- Blood Maker (Orion Landau)

And The Winner Is: With Our Arms To The Sun: A Far Away Wonder (Justin Slattum) and Mastodon: Once More Round The Sun (Skinner)

Best Bassist:

1. Joseph Breckinridge- With Our Arms To The Sun
2. Ben Flanagan- Black Map
3. Austin Barber- Obliterations
4. Jeff Johnson- Wild Throne
5. Tony Baumeister- Aeges
6. Michael Kerr- Royal Blood

And The Winner Is: Ben Flanagan of Black Map

Best Drummer:

1. Chris Robyn- Black Map
2. Mike Land- Aeges
3. Brian Hollenbeck- And We Are Them
4. Ben Thatcher- Royal Blood
5. Noah Burns- Wild Throne
6. John O’Connell- He Whose Ox Is Gored
7. Morgan Rose- Sevendust

And The Winner Is: Chris Robyn of Black Map

Best Guitarist:

1. Mark Engles- Black Map
2. Pete Loeffler- Chevelle
3. Paul Balmer- Machines Learning
4. Joshua Holland- Wild Throne
5. Shaun Morgan- Seether
6. Shaun Lopez- Crosses

And The Winner Is: Mark Engles of Black Map

Best Vocalist:

1. Ben Flanagan- Black Map
2. Pete Loeffler- Chevelle
3. Brann Dailor- Mastodon
4, Troy Sanders- Mastodon
5, Kemble Walters- Aeges
6. Chino Moreno- Crosses
7. Corey Taylor- Slipknot
8. Gavin Rossdale- Bush
9. Lajon Witherspoon- Sevendust

And The Winner Is: Ben Flanagan of Black Map and Chino Moreno of Crosses

Song Of The Year:

1. Failure- Come Crashing
2. Failure- The Focus
3. Dekades- Red Trolley
4. Black Map- I’m Just The Driver
5. With Our Arms To The Sun- Tessellation
6. Aeges- Fault
7. Wild Throne- The Wrecking Ball Unchained
8. Crosses- Bitches Brew
9. Royal Blood- Out Of The Black
10. And We Are Them- So It Goes
11. Sidewave (Air)- Playground Love
12. Mastodon- Ember City

And The Winner Is: Failure- Come Crashing and With Our Arms To The Sun- Tessellation

Album Of The Year:

1. Mastodon- Once More Round The Sun
2. With Our Arms To The Sun- A Far Away Wonder
3. Royal Blood- Royal Blood
4. Crosses- Crosses
5. Black Map- And We Explode
6. Bush- Man On The Run
7. Slipknot- .5 The Gray Chapter
8. Chevelle- La Gargola
9. Aeges- Above and Down Below
10. Down- Down IV Part II

Honorable Mention:

11. The Last Internationale- We Will Reign
12. Sevendust- Time Travelers and Bonfires
13. Obliterations- Poison Everything
14. Every Time I Die- From Parts Unknown
15. And We Are Them- City Of Ghosts

And The Winner Is: Mastodon- Once More Round The Sun and With Our Arms To The Sun- A Far Away Wonder

End Of The Year List: Best Shows I’ve Attended In 2014

This is not part of the 1st annual Audioeclectica Awards. This is just a list of the top 10 concerts I’ve attended this year.

1. Nine Inch Nails @ Hollywood Bowl
2. Failure @ El Rey and Fonda
3. Abloom and With Our Arms To The Sun @ Velvet Jones
4. Corrections House and Author & Punisher @ Echoplex
5. Mastodon @ Club Nokia
6. Royal Blood and The Last Internationale @ Roxy
7. Chevelle and Black Map @ Wiltern
8. Palms @ Troubadour
9. Down @ Wiltern
10. Placebo @ Club Nokia

 

 

Playlist 09.15.14

This weeks top 10 songs to enjoy

 

1. Abloom- After That Quiet (from Abloom Demos)

 

2. Chevelle- An Island (from La Gargola)

 

3. Failure- Daylight (from Fantastic Planet)

 

4. Mastodon- Ember City (from Once More Round The Sun)

 

5. Black Map- I’m Just The Driver (from Driver EP)

 

6. Placebo- Meds (from Meds)

 

7. Wovenwar- All Rise (from Wovenwar)

 

8. Godsmack- Something Different (from 1000 hp)

 

9. Incubus- The Warmth (from Make Yourself)

 

10. Down- Nothing In Return (from Down III: Over The Under)

 

By: Brian Lacy

 

Playlist for Today

I thought I’d try something different today. I’ve selected a few songs that I’ve been really into as of late. Some are new and some are old. Enjoy!

Seether- Crash from Isolate and Medicate:

Mastodon (ft Scott Kelly of Neurosis)- Diamonds In The Witch House from Once More Round The Sun:

Down- Conjure from Down IV Part II

Chevelle- Ouija Board from La Gargola

Black Map- I’m Just The Driver from the Driver EP

Abloom- After That Quiet from their 2004 sampler

Dekades- Malnurished from the 1.1 EP

Failure- Daylight from Fantastic Planet

Killswitch Engage- You Don’t Bleed For Me from Disarm The Descent

Royal Blood- Come On Over from the Out Of The Black EP

Black Light Burns- Stop A Bullet from Cruel Melody

Nine Inch Nails- Right Where It Belongs from With Teeth

Live Review: Failure at the Fonda Theater

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There have been certain bands that I’ve seen since I first started going to concerts at age 4 that have left me utterly speechless and mind blown. To name a few, Nine Inch Nails, Alice In Chains, Metallica, Neil Young, Deftones, Foo Fighters, Bon Jovi and now Failure. Back in February when they played their first show in 16 years, I was left with my jaw on the floor and so much inspiration. Seeing them again not only reaffirmed my thoughts about them, but also gave me hope that great music is still around and coming back. Last night at the Fonda, Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards, and Kellii Scott made it an unforgettable night. The final date of their tour and in their hometown made it special. The band ripped through 16 songs before coming back for a 5 song encore which included a brand new song “The Focus” and “Bernie.” Unlike their El Rey reunion show, Failure seemed really comfortable and ready to leave it all on stage.

The show started with a short 20 minute movie of the films that have influenced Failure over the years. “Another Space Song” kicked off their set beautifully. “Wet Gravity” really got the crowds energy going. Kellii was playing his drums with such force he kept knocking off the microphones placed on the drums. You could tell that all the guys on stage were having a great time. Other highlights from the set were “Saturday Savior,” “Sergeant Politeness,” “The Nurse Who Loved Me” (Which Ken got the crowd participating), “Pillowhead,” “Small Crimes,” “Solaris,” and closing out the main set was “Heliotropic” (One of my personal favorite Failure songs). There was a great deal of focus on playing songs from Fantastic Planet, and when the band started playing songs from Magnified the crowd got even crazier, especially when they played the song “Magnified” during their encore. This night was also Ken Andrews’ birthday. His wife came out on stage with a cake and led the entire crowd in singing happy birthday. “Daylight” (another of my favorites) was the final song of the evening.

When the show was over there was a real genuine sense of awe and astonishment in the room. I was left (and still am) utterly speechless, amped up and inspired. Failure being back really does give hope that rock music is coming back with a vengeance. Ken, Greg and Kellii are amazing musicians, songwriters and a great source of inspiration. Failure is back!!!

 

Setlist:

1. Another Space Song
2. Frogs
3. Wet Gravity
4. Saturday Savior
5. Sergeant Politness
Segue 2
6. Dirty Blue Balloons
7. Undone
8. Pillowhead
9. Segue 3
10. The Nurse Who Loved Me
Intermission
11. Blank
12. Solaris
13. Small Crimes
14. Smoking Umbrellas
15. Stuck On You
16. Heliotropic
Encore
17. The Focus (New Song)
18. Bernie
19. Magnified
20. Screen Man
21. Daylight

Another New FAILURE Song!

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It’s official, good music does still exist. Since the news broke of Failure’s reunion, every fan wanted a tour and new music. There was some hesitation on what new material might sound like, and the direction they would go in. To no surprise, Ken Andrews, Greg Edwards and Kelli Scott, did not disappoint. The newest track released “The Focus” sounds like classic Failure set in modern day. The space guitar, the rumbling bass and thumping drums mixed with a catchy vocal melody makes this song very infectious. Take a listen and hear for yourself!

 

By: Brian Lacy