The Failure - Of Reason

'My mom hates our band's name,' explains guitarist Dean Rudd of The Failure. It seems only fair for a band to face that kind of resistance, especially when The Failure.'s beginnings have been so productive. Somebody's got to keep these boys in line. Led by busy beats, nimble melodic bass lines, a strategic assault of dynamic guitars, and chameleonic vocals, The Failure.'s sound is one part aggro-pop, one part punk, and one part grade six science experiment. One might liken the group to a progressive post-punk act influenced by Queen or Rush, and could recommend The Failure to fans of Bad Religion, Brand New, Coheed and Cambria, Mission of Burma, and even AFI. A year and a half after crowning the local radio's top twenty, headlining to local crowds of over 600, opening the Vans Warped tour date at home, showcasing at the Canadian Music Week festival and touring western Canada twice, The Failure is poised to push their sophomore album: ...of reason. The album's opening track Greymoment has been shot for a music video and will be released in July 2004 as part of the band's summer promotional plan. Considering the prolific nature of this band's work within the last two years and the live performance they've grown to present, one might do well to keep their ears and eyes open for The Failure.'s next resolve. ### Song Commentaries by The Failure. Greymoment / Enjoy it While it's Over- Lyrics by Casey Lewis Inspired by a title that Tyler came up with, this song is about modern complacency. Our society is happy to be placated by crass consumerism and sensationalistic Media rather than exploring the complexities of life. The song is a call for a second renaissance, where people embrace Art, Music, Science, Philosophy and History, instead of idiotic Reality Television and vicarious celebrity. The Addiction- Lyrics by Casey Lewis Inspired by our need for something to help us get through life: from Drugs, to Religion, to Television, to Art, to Food, to Work. We are quick to point the finger at others for their addictions but are all too unwilling to examine our own. Rust- Lyrics by Tyler Pickering This one is about a fleeting three-week relationship with a girl that ended with her moving away. I wrote the lyrics after listening to music that still reminded me of her, even after two or three years. I remember being surprised at how long it took me to get over her, and hoping that the sadness made me stronger somehow. Cumulo Nimbus- Lyrics by Casey Lewis My affection for the rain inspired this song. Director of Misinformation- Lyrics by Tyler Pickering A song about the perpetual flirt, or the person who gives you all the signs but still turns you away when you make a move. More specifically, I remember looking at a photo of the 'director of misinformation' and, looking in her eyes, I saw her desire to hurt me. D Flat- Lyrics by Dean Rudd Written in 'the saddest of all keys,' this song is about embracing your despair and transmuting the power of your hate into positive ends. Pep Rally- Lyrics by Casey Lewis A reminder of how very painful and unforgiving High School can be. Like a microcosm of our own 'real' world, those who don't fit in are simply ostracized. I think sometimes we forget how unpleasant it can be to be a teenager, especially as schools get more crowded and divisions between people widen. Turnoveranewlife Lyrics by Tyler Pickering This song is a victory song, written after a long, hard relationship. It focuses on the steps I had made to feel better about myself, and then lists the reasons I think that I'm cool. Buttersidedown- Lyrics by Casey Lewis I think every person has to accept responsibility for his or her own happiness, or lack thereof. Life deals us all a sour hand now and again. Some of us suffer more than others but ultimately, we must each strive to look for happiness inside. That's what this one's about. Glossary of Terms- Composed by The Analogue Kid Glossary of Terms is album's musical intermission: a time to reflect on the meaning of the first half of the album. Or Forever Hold Your Piece- Lyrics by Dean Rudd This little diddy is an ode to North America's ridiculous belief that the power to wield a gun is synonymous with strength. Conten(x)t- Lyrics by Casey Lewis Think about what you say. Think before you act. Try to consider others in your endeavours. Basically this song is about trying not to be selfish, or disrespectful of others. Absolution- Lyrics by Casey Lewis This is my personal treatise on guilt, and the nature of guilt. It's about trying to make peace with my regrets and mistakes. As If Lyrics by Tyler Pickering Well, to top it off, another song about a girl. This rocker is about one who broke me. Three years later she tried to rekindle some of what we had. As if. Vandal Me- Lyrics by Dean Rudd Feeling particularly saucy after 57 consecutive waking hours and a type 'dark roast' blood transfusion, I penned this song in defiance of the hopelessness of making our world a more honest and kind place. I revelled in the personal self-destruction that it took to reach this particular level of inspiration and came out of the experience a convicted man. If it takes self-annihilation to make that difference, I'll do it any day. REVIEWS for The Failure. AMP Magazine Editor Brett Mathews (over the phone) '...f*cking amazing. Really good stuff.' Annette at Bryan Farrish Radio Promotion (over the phone) 'Excellent work.' Punk Planet (highlighted review) On ...Of Reason, rock quartet The Failure explodes with a hardcore punk sound that is considerably more melodic and meaningful than simply muscled. But there's still a manly mania below the double, driving guitar, creating a back-and-forth that is playful and potent. The nasal singing and continual harmonies and back-ups offer a youthful exuberance, as they play for a specific kind of teenage outcast. 'I'm the loser, I'm the social reject/ I'm the nerd, the geek/ the freak who lives all alone' goes the densely weighty 'Pep Rally'. ...Of Reason is furious, fearless, passionate and political, all without sounding contrived and obvious. They retain their musical wits throughout, with sharp guitars and tuneful melodies: There's no kind of failure here. -Ben Friedland Punk International Grade: A- Color me impressed. Another band from Alberta has emerged to genuinely humble me with their unique take on the usual punk, emo, and hardcore techniques. It's obvious from the moment the album's 'Preface' kicks off that the Failure isn't just another band mixing melodies, emotions, and riffs. This band plays like they're on a permanent adrenaline rush. Just like fellow Albertans Belvedere, The Failure play fast-forward punk rock with a side of hardcore. They're as technically sound as their comrades from Alberta, Choke. And they have an emotionally gutwrenching post-hardcore approach, balanced with bizarrely catchy hooks, much the same as Drive By Punch. '...Of Reason' is a supersized sixteen-track recording, and it's fully capable to holding a listener's interest all the way. Different degrees of all the pop, hardcore, and other elements fused together in this four-piece band are at center stage at different times. Certain songs, like my favorite, 'Cumulo Nimbus', dazzle with their edge-of-your seat rhythms and transitions, while others like 'Pep Rally' show off their guitar wizardry. Broken Pencil Maybe I'm paranoid but I suspect that The Failure - shining sons of Calgary - or agents on their behalf investigated me, tossed my apartment and discovered I was a fan of Mission of Burma. Then through a series of subterfugious moves, had this CD put into my hands so I could declare it so hot, it's entropic. Divergently though, Burma, specifically songwriter Roger Miller, investigated a buzz-saw pop so melancholic as to be suffocating, whereas The Failure deviate with an occasional irksome cheerfulness. But that's just me being ol' picky pants. While 'Vandal Me' comes a hair-trigger close, The Failure will succeed in writing our generation's 'That's When I Reach For My Revolver' sometime very soon. -Brian Joseph Davis Music Emissions The Failure is a fairly youthful punk band from Calgary that is on their second full-length album already. I missed out on their first album but if ...Of Reason is any sign, it might be worth tracking down. The Failure plays a more intelligent style of punk that you normally hear. Harmonies are prevalent in their music and while at times I'm reminded of old Calgary stalwarts Field Day, I also hear the forward thinking of bands like 311. Their music is socially conscience without shoving any ideals at the listener. The band is dynamic showing that they can handle pretty much any style. Listen to 'Pep Rally' for a perfect showcase of true singing in punk music. Not something that you normally hear this day and age. ...Of Reason is a great album and I look forward to hearing more from this quartet... Exoduster Grade: B+ One the first real track of ...Of Reason, 'Greymoment/Enjoy It While It's Over,' you are thinking a more punk version of Coheed and Cambria (or AFI for that matter) as the vocals rumble a cadence similar to the prog-rock of Rush or Queen, the bass drum starts it off and the guitars mute away. Though as the rest of the sixteen tracks demonstrate, the Failure from Calgary have a varying menu to offer to the listener. This is the sophomore record for this four-piece after two of the members, Colin Hess and Casey Lewis spent a decade in the Everymen. Gaining notice in the area and touring with Canada's most recent favorite punk band Flashlight Brown, the Failure have made a name for themselves and are apt to do some serious damage from this record. Though the Failure lack an overly coercive characterization, this seems to add significantly to their product as they are free to strum the spectrum of punk and indie. At times, the Failure present the element of indie-punk that was such uniquely demonstrated by Blankface of Chapel Hill - and that is a very, very good thing. To some extent, then, the opening track, as good as it is, might mischaracterize the band to the quick, casual listener. Other tracks to enjoy include 'Cumulo Nimbus' for the powerful and awesome guitars and the gut-wrenching vocals kin to Braid. With an extended quote from Pump Up the Volume and a very 'high-school' opening 'Pep Rally' is brilliant when it kicks in full throttle. Echoing guitars open up the solid 'Buttersidedown' and 'Absolution' follows a similar path. This is a CD that came out of nowhere for us, but it is something that we really enjoyed - very admittedly unexpectedly. Hopefully, the Failure will venture out of the heartland of Canada and come across the border to add their hat to the U.S. punk legions. Voice of Reason (Belgian Fanzine) The Failure can be described as an Indie Punk outfit that is truly trying to come up with something original and not just copying other bands. The riffing is reminding me (of) the almighty Thrice but it's nevertheless not sounding like Thrice. Strange, but I guess you can't come up with an accurate description how the Failure sounds like. So why not check them out for yourselves? Stop reading and start listening! -Stefan.

1) Preface
2) Greymoment / Enjoy It While It's Over
3) The Addiction
4) Rust
5) Cumulo Nimbus
6) Director of Misinformation
7) D Flat
8) Pep Rally
9) Turnoveranewlife
10) Buttersidedown
11) Glossary of Terms
12) ... Or Forever Hold Your Piece
13) Conten(X)T
14) Absolution
15) As If
16) Vandal Me