History Music / Failure

Failure is an AlternativeRock[=/=]{{grunge}} band from Los Angeles, founded in 1990 by Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards. While they never got much media attention, Failure earned praise from both critics and peers for their unique, deeply introspective take on grunge music. Because of how many musicians spoke highly of them (including Music/APerfectCircle's Billy Howerdel, Music/FaithNoMore's Billy Gould and Dean [=DeLeo=] of Music/StoneTemplePilots), Failure are also known as "your favorite band's favorite band".

* AmbiguousDisorder: Leo from the song of the same name, who finds it "hard to relate to you or anyone" and feels pursued even when he's just going to his car.

* ShoutOut: "Solaris" is a big one to the [[Literature/{{Solaris}} book of the same name]] by Creator/StanislawLem and the movie based on it.

* {{Bookends}}: Closing track "Daylight", from ''Fantastic Planet'', uses the music box seen in the beginning of "Saturday Saviour" for its AlbumClosure.

* Bookends: Closing track "Daylight", from ''Fantastic Planet'', uses the music box seen in the beginning of "Saturday Saviour" for its AlbumClosure.

* SurrealHorror: All over the place, particularly on the tracks ''Moths'' and ''Frogs''.

* ADateWithRosiePalms: One possible interpretation of "Pillowhead".

* ConceptAlbum: ''Fantastic Planet'' tells (although somewhat loosely) a story of a heroin addict and the way his life is slowly coming apart.

* MohsScaleOfLyricalHardness: Lyrics about drug addiction, insanity, death and depression means they average a 7-9.
* MohsScaleOfRockAndMetalHardness: Generally a 6, sometimes going to a low 7.

The band's two core members, Andrews and Edwards, started out as a duo playing L.A. clubs until they got a record deal with Slash Records, added drummer Robert Gauss to the lineup and began recording their debut album, ''Comfort''. Though the record was engineered by none other than Music/SteveAlbini, the band were not satisfied with the final mix, their ideas clashing with Albini's minimal production. For the recording of the next album, Andrews requested more control over production, and the result of this was 1994's ''Magnified'' - the record which helped establish Failure's signature style for years to come, as well as the one that got them widespread recognition among fellow musicians, including Music/{{Tool}}, with members of whom Ken and Greg would work on a one-off cover project Replicants in 1995. The band's third release, 1996's ''Fantastic Planet'', a concept album of sorts that dealt with heroin abuse and had a more "spacey" sound, with feedback manipulation and a bit of keyboards, only solidified Failure's place in the history of 90's music and became their most popular record.

* CallBack: ''The Heart Is A Monster'' has the same kind of numbered "Segue" tracks as ''Fantastic Planet'' and is implied to be a sequel to it.

After playing Lollapalooza 1997, Failure disbanded the same year due to personal differences. Ken Andrews started working solo under the moniker ON, also continuing his work as a professional sound engineer, while Edwards formed the {{shoegazing}} band Autolux. However, in 2013 Failure announced their reunion with the original Andrews-Edwards-Scott lineup and went back into the studio to record a comeback album. ''The Heart Is A Monster'', which came out in 2015, was praised by fans and critics for retaining the trademark sound, while adding new elements to the formula.

* SpaceRock: One of the most notable bands to do so in the 90's, mixing it with {{Grunge}}, PostHardcore and a tinge of AlternativeMetal.

Failure is an {{alternative rock}}/{{grunge}} band from Los Angeles, founded in 1990 by Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards. While they never got much media attention, Failure earned praise from both critics and peers for their unique, deeply introspective take on grunge music. Because of how many musicians spoke highly of them (including Music/APerfectCircle's Billy Howerdel, Music/FaithNoMore's Billy Gould and Dean [=DeLeo=] of Music/StoneTemplePilots), Failure are also known as "your favourite band's favourite band".

Failure's sound is often compared to that of Music/{{Nirvana}}, however, it's more melodic and elaborate compared to the latter's raw approach, leaning more into alternative rock or even {{space rock}} territory. A lot of songs feature distortion-heavy guitar hooks backed by thick, overdriven basslines: Andrews and Edwards are both skilled at bass and guitar, so in the studio they switch roles on different songs. The lyrics, mostly written by Ken Andrews, are characterized by use of unusual metaphors and recurring themes of isolation, dreams and drug use.

The band's two core members, Andrews and Edwards, started out as a duo playing L.A. clubs until they got a record deal with Slash Records, added drummer Robert Gauss to the lineup and began recording their debut album, ''Comfort''. Though the record was engineered by none other than Music/{{Steve Albini}}, the band were not satisfied with the final mix, their ideas clashing with Albini's minimal production. For the recording of the next album, Andrews requested more control over production, and the result of this was 1994's ''Magnified'' - the record which helped establish Failure's signature style for years to come, as well as the one that got them widespread recognition among fellow musicians, including Music/{{Tool}}, with members of whom Ken and Greg would work on a one-off cover project Replicants in 1995. The band's third release, 1996's ''Fantastic Planet'', a concept album of sorts that dealt with heroin abuse and had a more "spacey" sound, with feedback manipulation and a bit of keyboards, only solidified Failure's place in the history of 90's music and became their most popular record.

* Ambiguous Disorder: Leo from the song of the same name, who finds it "hard to relate to you or anyone" and feels pursued even when he's just going to his car.

* TheSociopath: Leo from the song of the same name, who finds it "hard to relate to you or anyone" and feels pursued even when he's just going to his car.

* {{Grunge}}: Despite coming significantly

* {{Grunge}}

Failure's sound is often compared to that of {{Nirvana}}, however, it's more melodic and elaborate compared to the latter's raw approach, leaning more into alternative rock or even {{space rock}} territory. A lot of songs feature distortion-heavy guitar hooks backed by thick, overdriven basslines: Andrews and Edwards are both skilled at bass and guitar, so in the studio they switch roles on different songs. The lyrics, mostly written by Ken Andrews, are characterized by use of unusual metaphors and recurring themes of isolation, dreams and drug use.

The band's two core members, Andrews and Edwards, started out as a duo playing L.A. clubs until they got a record deal with Slash Records, added drummer Robert Gauss to the lineup and began recording their debut album, ''Comfort''. Though the record was engineered by none other than {{Steve Albini}}, the band were not satisfied with the final mix, their ideas clashing with Albini's minimal production. For the recording of the next album, Andrews requested more control over production, and the result of this was 1994's ''Magnified'' - the record which helped establish Failure's signature style for years to come, as well as the one that got them widespread recognition among fellow musicians, including {{Tool}}, with members of whom Ken and Greg would work on a one-off cover project Replicants in 1995. The band's third release, 1996's ''Fantastic Planet'', a concept album of sorts that dealt with heroin abuse and had a more "spacey" sound, with feedback manipulation and a bit of keyboards, only solidified Failure's place in the history of 90's music and became their most popular record.

* ShoutOut: "Solaris" is a big one to the [[{{Solaris}} book of the same name]] by StanislawLem and the movie based on it.

Failure is an {{alternative rock}}/{{grunge}} band from Los Angeles, founded in 1990 by Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards. While they never got much media attention, Failure earned praise from both critics and peers for their unique, deeply introspective take on grunge music. Because of how many musicians spoke highly of them (including APerfectCircle's Billy Howerdel, FaithNoMore's Billy Gould and Dean [=DeLeo=] of StoneTemplePilots), Failure are also known as "your favourite band's favourite band".

* ADateWithRosiePalms: One possible interpretation of "Pillowhead".* FadingIntoTheNextSong: "Moth" -> "Frogs".

* ADateWithRosiePalms: One possible interpretation of "Pillowhead".

* FadingIntoTheNextSong: "Moth" -> "Frogs".

The band's two core members, Andrews and Edwards, started out as a duo playing L.A. clubs until they got a record deal with Slash Records, added drummer Robert Gauss to the lineup and began recording their debut album, ''Comfort''. Though the record was engineered by none other than {{Steve Albini}}, the band were not satisfied with the final mix, their ideas clashing with Albini's minimal production. For the recording of the next album, Andrews requested more control over production, and the result of this was 1994's ''Magnified'' - the record which helped establish Failure's signature style for years to come, as well as the one that got them widespread recognition among fellow musicians, including {{Tool}}, with members of whom Ken and Greg worked on a one-off cover project Replicants in 1995. The band's third release, 1996's ''Fantastic Planet'', a concept album of sorts that dealt with heroin abuse and had a more "spacey" sound, with feedback manipulation and a bit of keyboards, only solidified Failure's place in the history of 90's music and became their most popular record.

After playing Lollapalooza 1997, Failure disbanded the same year due to personal differences. Ken Andrews started working solo under the moniker ON, while also continuing his work as a professional sound engineer, while Edwards formed the {{shoegazing}} band Autolux. However, in 2013 Failure announced their reunion with the original Andrews-Edwards-Scott lineup and went back into the studio to record a comeback album. ''The Heart Is A Monster'', which came out in 2015, was praised by fans and critics for retaining the trademark sound, while adding new elements to the formula.

* Grunge