One of my very favorite musical trio’s is the alternative rock band Failure. In fact, when I am pressed to list off some of my most streamed three-piece bands I always list Failure among bands like The Police, Rush, Cream and Facing New York.
The band consisting of Ken Andrews (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards), Greg Edwards (Vocals, Guitar, Bass, Keyboards) and Kellii Scott (Drum Kit, Percussion) are set to release their latest album – ‘Wild Type Droid‘ – out December 3 via Failure Records.
When I started my deep dive into this latest offering I was confronted with a weird feeling. This album is Failure but I felt an added layer of complexity and inspiration immediately. If you know anything about the band, this is a massive compliment. They continually push the limits on their albums. ‘Water With Hands’ starts the journey and I find myself in love with the sort of phased sound of the rhythm guitar as well as the clean lead vocals (both double tracked and harmony).
It’s sort of the way I felt about their 2015 comeback record – ‘The Heart Is A Monster’. I was curious to see their musical progression and was completely blown away with the result. I only have one complaint with that release. I was completely enthralled with the original version of ‘The Focus’ (Ken hmu if I can somehow convince you to send me that other version!) and while I really like the final version, that original had me hooked.
But getting back to ‘Wild Type Droid’, it has happened again. It’s Failure but feels light years ahead of almost any new alt-rock albums that are being released in today’s musical landscape.
It’s not just the mixture of major and minor. It’s not just ‘outside the box’ guitars (and effects) and fuzzy basslines. It’s not even the drums that, in my opinion, blow away any live drums that have appeared on any rock album in years. You take in account all of those things and sprinkle in brain teasing turnarounds on songs like ‘Submarines’ and ever changing time signatures and crisp acoustic guitars in ‘Bring Back the Sound’ and you get an extremely listenable record.
If you read any of my stuff, you know that I love “the mix”. It’s one of my favorite things obsess on when listening to an album. ‘Wild Type Droid’ has an exceptional mix. I mentioned the drums a little earlier and you get a chance to really crank them at the start of my personal favorite track – ‘Mercury Mouth’.
The album was recorded and mixed by vocalist and guitarist Ken Andrews. Andrews has also become one of my favorite producers and mixing engineer over the years. The eponymous Army of Anyone record still remains one of my favorite sounding albums. Check out some of his production work when you get a chance. Almost seems like everything Andrews is involved in, sounds like gold. He’s the common denominator in my opinion.
I try to avoid citing other band’s when I review a new record but in this case I can only explain the song ‘Long Division’ by referencing the beautiful sound that was The Cure in their heyday and what they would’ve sounded like with today’s sonic quality. This combined with Failure’s gift of mixing melodic sensibilities with the dark and bruiting undercurrent of the bottom end. I’m sure that might sound a little weird to someone reading this but honest to goodness I mean it as an absolute compliment – and pretty much envision the whole thing playing out when I listen to the song.
Also, want to give a shoutout to the last track on the album – ‘Half Moon’. The overall feel and vocal on this song is a hauntingly beautiful way to end the album.
I definitely recommend ‘Wild Type Droid’ to longtime fans of the band as well as any potential new listeners. And like I always say, everything isn’t for everybody.. but take a few trips down this path and you might find yourself seeking out Failure’s entire discography.
-Tommy Marz
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