Failure

Failure is a seminal American alternative rock band whose influence on modern production and 'space rock' aesthetics is profound. Formed in Los Angeles in 1990, the core duo of Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards moved from the raw, Steve Albini-produced grit of their debut 'Comfort' toward a sophisticated, self-produced sound that culminated in the 1996 masterpiece 'Fantastic Planet'.

Their sound identity is built on 'the Failure bass sound' - a high-gain, distorted, yet incredibly clear bass tone - and intricate guitar layering that avoids traditional power chord clichés in favor of complex voicings and textures. Despite a long hiatus from 1997 to 2014, their reputation grew in absentia, with bands like Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Paramore citing them as a primary influence. The band's second act has seen them continue their exploration of high-concept, meticulously engineered rock, maintaining a critical consensus as 'the musician's musicians' of the alternative world. Their work is a bridge between the melodic sensibilities of 70s art rock and the aggressive textures of 90s post-hardcore.