Fantastic Planet (Failure album)

Last updated
Fantastic Planet
Failurefantasticplanet.jpg
Studio album by
Failure
ReleasedAugust 13, 1996
Recorded1995
StudioF.P.S. Studios, Los Angeles
Madhatter Studios, Silverlake
Genre
Length67:51
Label
Producer Failure
Failure chronology
Magnified
(1994)		Fantastic Planet
(1996)		Golden
(2004)
Singles from Fantastic Planet
  1. "Stuck on You"
    Released: 1996
  2. "Pitiful"
    Released: 1996
  3. "Saturday Savior"
    Released: 1996

Fantastic Planet is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Failure, released on August 13, 1996, by Slash Records and Warner Bros. Records. It was the last album released on Slash Records prior to its acquisition by London Recordings in 1996. [7]

Contents

The album was produced by Failure themselves in a process that took longer than their previous two albums, with one song being recorded and produced soon after being written, and repeating this process. Space rock themes are present in the lyrics, as well as various indirect references to drug addiction, drug-related experiences, and prostitution. The album is cyclical, in that the chiming sound effect which ends the final track "Daylight" begins the opening track "Saturday Saviour", and was the beginning of a system of numerically designated segues in Failure's studio work, which would continue on later albums. [8]

Despite receiving critical acclaim, the album failed to make an appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, but did produce a charting single with "Stuck on You", which reached No. 23 on Billboard 's Alternative Songs Chart. [9] Seven of the album's songs were also included on Failure's Essentials, a best-of collection from 2006. Fantastic Planet would be Failure's last studio album for nineteen years until the release of The Heart Is a Monster (2015).

Background

In 1992, Failure signed with Slash Records (an LA-based independent label), and subsequently released two albums; Comfort in 1992, and Magnified in 1994. Magnified, while not a commercial success, was a hit with critics and pushed the band to begin work on Fantastic Planet in early 1995. Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen joined Failure around the time of this album's release.

Artwork

The album art is closely based on an illustration by Ed Valigursky used for the book jacket of the first edition of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's 1954 novel To the Stars .

Release

Towards the end of recording Fantastic Planet, Failure learned that Slash Records was putting itself up for sale, and subsequently would not be able to release the band's album. Subsequently, Fantastic Planet remained shelved for about a year after its completion in February 1995, with the band "unofficially" shopping the album to other labels while hoping that Slash would renew its distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records. Upon hearing Fantastic Planet and liking the album, Warner Bros. agreed to directly sign the band in February 1996, but the album was not released for another six months due to issues around record contract negotiations. [10] [11]

The album's first single, "Stuck on You" (an appropriately catchy mid-tempo track that metaphorically compares infatuation to a nagging tune stuck in one's head), became a minor alternative-radio hit and achieved light to medium rotation on MTV, but failed to chart significantly. The song peaked at No. 31 on the U.S. Billboard Mainstream Rock chart and No. 23 on the Modern Rock chart. [12] [9] Other songs, such as "Saturday Saviour" and "Pitiful", received some airplay from more adventurous-minded DJs, but no more videos were made for any of the album's tracks, and due to the state of disarray at their label at that time, little effort was put into its promotion.

A music video was produced for the single "Stuck on You" which closely resembles the opening credits of the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (included on the DVD portion of the 2004 Failure compilation Golden). Other songs, such as "Saturday Saviour" and "Pitiful", were released as radio singles, but no music videos were made for them. An outtake from the album, called "Wake Up", was released through the 2004 compilation Golden.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]
Sputnikmusic 4/5 [14]

Fantastic Planet was met with critical acclaim. In a highly positive contemporaneous review written for The Daily Utah Chronicle in November 1996, Shan Fowler asserts that with the album “Failure separates themselves from the guitar-buzzed masses by balancing thick riffs with intricate arrangements and intelligent lyrics.” Fowler goes on to highlight the album's final two tracks, “Heliotropic” and “Daylight”, as its crowning achievement, writing that the songs are “two manipulated masterpieces with tribal drums, treated guitars, spacey synthesizers and dubbed vocals. It sounds like a mess when broken down, but flows weightlessly and gracefully in and out of the listeners mind.” [15]

Legacy

In 2009, JustPressPlay named Fantastic Planet the third-best album of the 1990s. [16] In 2014, Decibel Magazine inducted Fantastic Planet into their Hall of Fame naming it a cult classic and an album that paints its heaviness in a gorgeous way. [17]

"The Nurse Who Loved Me" was covered by A Perfect Circle on their 2003 album Thirteenth Step , as well as by The Section Quartet on their 2007 album Fuzzbox. "Another Space Song" was covered by Statistics, the solo project of Denver Dalley of Desaparecidos, and released on Location is Everything Vol. 2, a Jade Tree Records sampler disc. "Stuck on You" was covered by Paramore on their 2006 CD The Summer Tic EP ; the title of the CD is taken from the song's lyrics, albeit with "tick" changed to "tic". "Smoking Umbrellas" was covered by Phil Ritchie on Rock Star: Supernova , and was also covered by SouthFM. "Sergeant Politeness" was played live at solo concerts between 2004 and 2006 by Melissa Auf der Maur with her band Auf der Maur. A recording of a rendition was released on her Single "Taste You".

New York alternative rock band Pillowhead is named after the track of the same name.

In 2022 during the first trailer for the upcoming Failure documentary, record producer and musician Butch Vig acclaims Fantastic Planet as one of his top twenty-five albums of all time. He also describes the lead riff in "Stuck on You" as "an SOS being beamed in from another galaxy" that he was "obsessed with." [18]

Track listing

All tracks written by Ken Andrews and Greg Edwards.

  1. "Saturday Saviour" – 4:27
  2. "Sergeant Politeness" – 4:05
  3. "Segue 1" – 1:54
  4. "Smoking Umbrellas" – 3:58
  5. "Pillowhead" – 2:09
  6. "Blank" – 5:38
  7. "Segue 2" – 1:17
  8. "Dirty Blue Balloons" – 4:23
  9. "Solaris" – 3:43
  10. "Pitiful" – 4:45
  11. "Leo" – 3:05
  12. "Segue 3" – 2:11
  13. "The Nurse Who Loved Me" – 4:25
  14. "Another Space Song" – 5:10
  15. "Stuck on You" – 4:28
  16. "Heliotropic" – 6:14
  17. "Daylight" – 6:00

Personnel

Produced by Failure; engineered by Ken Andrews. Recorded at F.P.S. Studios (Los Angeles, CA) and Madhatter Studios (Silverlake, CA). Mastered by Tom Baker at Future Disc (Hollywood, CA).

Chart position

"Stuck On You" had charted on Billboard's Alternative Rock (January 11) and Mainstream Rock charts (January 25) in early 1997. The single left both charts nine weeks after appearing.

Singles

YearSongChart peak positions
US
US
Alt Rock [9] 		US
Main Rock
[12]
1997"Stuck on You"—2331
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Veruca Salt</span> American alternative rock band

Veruca Salt is an American alternative rock band founded in Chicago in 1992 by vocalist-guitarists Nina Gordon and Louise Post, drummer Jim Shapiro, and bassist Steve Lack. They are best known for their first single, "Seether", which was released on the 1994 album American Thighs. That success was followed up with 1997's Eight Arms to Hold You. By 1998, Post was the only original member still in the band and continued on with other musicians. Veruca Salt released the album Resolver in 2000 and the album IV in 2006. After a hiatus in 2012, the band reformed with its original lineup. Their fifth studio album, Ghost Notes, was released in 2015.

<i>Sixteen Stone</i> 1994 studio album by Bush

Sixteen Stone is the debut studio album by English rock band Bush, released on 6 December 1994 by Trauma and Interscope Records. It became the band's most popular album, peaking at number four on the US Billboard 200 and boasting numerous successful singles. "Comedown" and "Glycerine" remain two of Bush's biggest hits to date, each reaching number one on the US Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart. "Comedown", "Machinehead", and "Glycerine" were the three songs from the album to enter the US Billboard Hot 100, reaching number thirty, number forty-three, and number twenty-eight, respectively. The album was certified 6× Platinum in the United States by the RIAA on 16 April 1997. Although notably less successful in the band's native Britain, the album was nonetheless certified Silver by the British Phonographic Industry.

<i>The Great Southern Trendkill</i> 1996 studio album by Pantera

The Great Southern Trendkill is the eighth studio album by American heavy metal band Pantera, released on May 7, 1996, through Elektra Records and East West Records. It reached number 4 on the Billboard 200 chart, and stayed on the chart for 16 weeks. During the album's production, Phil Anselmo recorded the vocals alone at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans while Dimebag Darrell, Rex Brown, and Vinnie Paul recorded the music at Chasin Jason Studios in Dalworthington Gardens. This would be Pantera's last studio album to be produced by Terry Date, who had worked with the band since Cowboys from Hell (1990).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Failure (band)</span> American alternative rock band

Failure is an American alternative rock band from Los Angeles that was active from 1990 to 1997 and again from 2014 to the present. They have released six full-length albums and five EPs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Treble Charger</span> Canadian rock band

Treble Charger is a Canadian rock band formed in 1992 in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, consisting of vocalist and guitarist Greig Nori, vocalist and guitarist Bill Priddle, bassist Rosie Martin and drummer Richard Mulligan. They began with a melodic indie rock style but evolved into more of a pop punk band after signing to a major label in 1997. They disbanded in 2006 and reunited in 2012. Between 1996 and 2016, Treble Charger was among the Top 150 selling Canadian artists in Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blindside (band)</span> Swedish post hardcore band

Blindside is a Swedish rock band from the southern suburbs of Stockholm. They formed in Stockholm in 1994 as Underfree. In 1996, they changed their name to Blindside and released the Blindside album in 1997 through Swedish independent record company Day-Glo Records. Another album, A Thought Crushed My Mind, came out in 2000. The group received greater attention in 2001 when they toured with P.O.D., resulting in a contract with Elektra. In 2002 they released the album Silence and in 2003 they toured in support of Hoobastank. A 2004 headlining tour suffered equipment theft but then Blindside released About a Burning Fire. In 2004, Time Warner sold Warner Music to a group of private investors. As a cost-cutting maneuver, the new owners of Warner Music Group merged Atlantic Records with its sister, Elektra Records, to form The Atlantic Records Group. Blindside's label ceased to exist, & the next year they released The Great Depression independently, and they put out the DVD Ten Years Running Blind.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Morning Glory (Oasis song)</span> 1995 single by Oasis

"Morning Glory" is a song by the English rock band Oasis, written by Noel Gallagher and released on the band's second album (What's the Story) Morning Glory? in September 1995. It was given a commercial single release only in Australia, New Zealand, and Japan, and it was also a radio single in the United States and Canada. In North America, it was the first song of the album to receive significant airplay, although primarily at alternative rock radio stations, as "Some Might Say" and "Roll with It" had not achieved as such.

"Planet Caravan" is a song by the English heavy metal band Black Sabbath. It was originally released on their 1970 album Paranoid.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vow (song)</span> 1995 single by Garbage

"Vow" is a song by alternative rock band Garbage. It was released as their debut single in early 1995 by Discordant, a label set up by Mushroom Records to launch the group, and Almo Sounds in North America.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Another Girl, Another Planet</span> 1978 new wave song by English band The Only Ones

"Another Girl, Another Planet" is a song by the English rock band The Only Ones. It is the second track on their debut studio album, The Only Ones, released in 1978. The song is the band's most successful and has since been covered by several other performers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shine (Collective Soul song)</span> 1993 single by Collective Soul

"Shine" is the debut single by American alternative rock band Collective Soul. It served as the lead single for their 1993/1994 debut album, Hints Allegations and Things Left Unsaid. "Shine" would remain the band's most well known song and a hallmark of 1990s alternative rock. It became the number one Album Rock Song of 1994, and won a Billboard award for Top Rock Track. The song also reached the top of the Billboard Album Rock Tracks chart for eight weeks. The song then went on to peak at number 11 on the Billboard Hot 100 for one week.

Expanding Man was an alternative hard rock formed in Long Island, New York in 1987. In 1992 it relocated to Boston and disbanded in 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greg Edwards (musician)</span> American musician and songwriter

Greg Charles Edwards is an American musician and songwriter, best known as guitarist and bassist for the rock band Failure. Edwards is a multi-instrumentalist. As a professional musician, he has been active since the 1990 formation of Failure, and also plays guitar and sings in the experimental rock band Autolux. Edwards has 125 song titles to his credit.

<i>Tree of Stars</i> 2014 EP by Failure

Tree of Stars is a self-released EP by the alternative rock band Failure. It was produced by the band and mixed and mastered by Ken Andrews. The EP includes four live recordings and a new song, "Come Crashing", the first studio track since the 1996 album, Fantastic Planet. "Come Crashing" would later appear as the twelfth song on their 2015 comeback studio album The Heart Is a Monster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Superheaven</span> American alternative rock band

Superheaven, formerly known as Daylight, is an American alternative rock band formed in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, in 2008. Their music has been described as reminiscent of 1990s grunge and shoegaze.

<i>Dark Before Dawn</i> 2015 studio album by Breaking Benjamin

Dark Before Dawn is the fifth studio album by American rock band Breaking Benjamin, released on June 23, 2015, by Hollywood Records. It is the group's first studio album following the band's hiatus lasting from early 2010 to late 2014, and the first album to feature an entirely different lineup alongside founder and frontman Benjamin Burnley. Produced and composed by Burnley, the album took shape towards the end of the hiatus and was mostly written before the new lineup "even played a single note together." The recording process took place afterwards at both a personal studio of Burnley's and at the same studio Phobia (2006) was recorded, with all of the band members performing their respective instruments, including background vocals performed by guitarist Keith Wallen and bassist Aaron Bruch, making the record their first to feature vocals other than Burnley's.

<i>The Heart Is a Monster</i> 2015 studio album by Failure

The Heart Is a Monster is the fourth studio album by the alternative rock band, Failure. It is the follow-up to 1996's Fantastic Planet. The album was released on June 30, 2015, via INgrooves Music Group's artist services division, INresidence.

<i>The Origin</i> (album) 1990 studio album by the Origin

The Origin is the debut album by the band the Origin, released in 1990. The single, "Growing Old", peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stuck on You (Failure song)</span> 1996 single by Failure

"Stuck on You" is a song from the American alternative rock band Failure. It was released as the lead single from their third album Fantastic Planet. It was their only song to chart at Billboard and reached #23 in the U.S. Alternative Charts and #31 at U.S. Mainstream Rock Charts.

"Daylight" is a song by American rock band Shinedown. It was the second single from their seventh studio album Planet Zero. It topped the Billboard Mainstream Rock Songs chart in August 2022, their eighteenth song to do so.

References

  1. ↑ Terich, Jeff (February 10, 2014). "Hall of Fame: Failure - Fantastic Planet". Treble. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  2. ↑ "10 Essential '90s Alt-Rock Albums". Treble. July 25, 2013. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  3. 1 2 "91 Essential Alternative Rock Albums of the '90s". Treble. September 20, 2023.
  4. ↑ Hadusek, Jon (April 3, 2019). "Live Review: Failure and Swervedriver invoke heavy tones, romantic moods at Brooklyn's Warsaw (3/29)". Consequence of Sound . Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  5. ↑ Martins, Jorge (2023-12-25). "Top 10 Post-Grunge Albums From the '90s That Actually Stood the Test of Time". Ultimate Guitar . Archived from the original on 2023-12-26. Retrieved 2023-12-26.
  6. ↑ Kreps, Daniel (December 16, 2019). "Failure Celebrate First Three Albums With Live Residencies, Box Set". Rolling Stone . Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  7. ↑ Billboard. Nielsen Business Media, Inc. 2003-02-22.
  8. ↑ Taylor, Chris (May 21, 2018). "Failure – "In The Future"". ReadJunk. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  9. 1 2 3 "Failure Album & Song Chart History - Alternative Airplay". Billboard .
  10. ↑ Simon Young (2015-08-26). "Failure's Fantastic Planet: An Oral History". loudersound. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  11. ↑ "Failure and the Enduring Mystique of 'Fantastic Planet'". www.vice.com. Retrieved 2022-10-06.
  12. 1 2 "Failure Album & Song Chart History - Mainstream Rock Songs". Billboard .
  13. ↑ Carlson, Dean. "Fantastic Planet - Failure | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic . Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  14. ↑ FlawedPerfection (August 12, 2006). "Failure - Fantastic Planet (album review 6)". Sputnikmusic. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  15. ↑ Fowler, Shan (November 7, 1996). "Success Slow for Failure". The Daily Utah Chronicle . Retrieved November 7, 2019– via Newspapers.com.
  16. ↑ Medlock, Matt (October 28, 2009). "Fifty Years of Great Music: The Top 100 Albums of the 1990s". JustPressPlay. Archived from the original on July 22, 2012. Retrieved October 16, 2020.
  17. ↑ Bonazelli, Andrew (March 31, 2014). "Failure – "Fantastic Planet"". Decibel . Retrieved May 28, 2019.
  18. ↑ "Failure Documentary - Extended Trailer". YouTube .
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.