The Successful Failures "Ripe for the Burning"

Able to change their sound up like powerpop chameleons, The Successful Failures mostly rely on western twang, so you know the harmonica and strong guitar are coming, but they are also not afraid to throw in the odd synthesizer or xylophone. “All I Can Take” is especially reminiscent of early Wilco, back when they rocked (remember that, anybody?).

“Ripe for the Burning” succeeds in producing one of those addictive moments when it’s a little difficult to discern when “All I Can Take” ends and “Bridges Over Delaware” begins. It is a memorable and effective transition, however. “Never Moving Out”’s lyrics border on the inane, but it rocks as hard as anything The Replacements ever did. So disregard the lyrics seemingly unfit for much else but something MTV would air midafternoon and seriously contemplate that you might just have a rod stuck up your ass if you can’t derive serious enjoyment from this one. “Except Together” should prove that this act is having a bona fide good time, and the best part is they don’t have to beat the listener over the head with it. That is, they don’t seem compelled to let you know that they have a sense of humor, and to this reviewer, that makes it all the more enjoyable. As far as the Successful Failures failures, the opening riffs of “Bigger Empty Things” is a direct lift from The Mountain Goats’ “This Year,” but gets more original later.  An unfortunate irony exists in that “Sun Makes Circles” hints that S.F. might be flirting with lyrical ambition, but the music is the weakest on the disc. The only other snarky thing I can say that this has got to be the best band with the worst name, but that is no backhanded compliment: this disc is a must listen.

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