The Heart Is a Monster explained

The Heart Is a Monster
Type:studio
Artist:Failure
Cover:The_Heart_Is_A_Monster.png
Released:June 30, 2015
Recorded:2014–2015 at Red Swan Studio & Oasis Mastering Studio One
Label:INgrooves Music Group, Failure Records LLC
Producer:Failure
Prev Title:Tree of Stars
Prev Year:2014
Next Title:In the Future Your Body Will Be the Furthest Thing from Your Mind
Next Year:2018

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.[1]

Production

A PledgeMusic campaign was created on January 17, 2015 to fund production of the album.[2] Part of the promotion included the offering of the album Fantastic Planet recorded on vinyl for the second time.[3]

Reception

According to Metacritic, the album holds a score of 78 indicating "generally favorable" reviews. Alternative Nation states that "The Heart is a Monster is a reckoning force that achieves success as a comeback and a glorious landmark in the evolution in alternative and space rock." Pitchfork noted that the album had "that charge of intellectual stimulation—spiked with an ever-so-subtle creep factor—that makes The Heart Is a Monster such a thrilling ride." They also commented on the segue (instrumental) tracks, stating that "a whole separate album in that style would've been nice, but even in truncated form the interludes cast Philip Glass-ian shades onto the other songs and suggest that Failure's creativity is far from exhausted."

Consequence of Sound offered praise for the remade "Petting The Carpet" and the lead single "Hot Traveler", but stated that "...for an album that’s over an hour long, it’s easy to point out what could be trimmed," citing "Mulholland Dr." and "Fair Light Era" as missteps. Rolling Stone gave 3.5 stars in their review, stating that Failure deserves their following, but "what might've been a Nineties nostalgia trip feels more like history made new". Exclaim.ca stated that the album "doesn't quite leave the impression mid-'90s Failure did, but despite less experimental approach and cleaner digital production, it's still a compelling listen."[4]

Charts

The Heart Is a Monster debuted July 18, 2015 on the Billboard 200 album chart at #83[5] and at #43 on the Top Album Sales chart,[6] which excludes on-demand streaming or individually sold tracks. The album debuted at #11 in Alternative Albums, making it the highest debut of Failure's history.[7] The album reportedly sold 7,250 copies in the U.S. in its first week.[8]

Other

Credits

Personnel

Additional personnel

production

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Press Release. FAILURE SET JUNE 30 RELEASE FOR THE HEART IS A MONSTER. InGrooves Music Group. 25 June 2015.
  2. Web site: Social Network Account. The New Album: Failure. PledgeMusic. 25 June 2015.
  3. Web site: Social Network Account. FAILURE – Fantastic Planet on VINYL!. PledgeMusic. 25 June 2015.
  4. Web site: Sookraj. Lisa. Failure The Heart is a Monster. Exclaim.ca. Exclaim. 8 July 2015.
  5. Web site: Top 200 Albums – Billboard. 3 October 2016.
  6. Web site: Top Album Sales : Page 1 – Billboard. 3 October 2016.
  7. Web site: Music Chart. Alternative Music: Top Alternative Album – July 18, 2015. Billboard. 15 July 2015.
  8. Web site: Metal By Numbers 7/8: July burns redMetal Insider. 8 July 2015. 3 October 2016.
  9. Web site: FailureVEVO. Band Account. Failure – Hot Traveler. VEVO/YouTube. 25 June 2015.
  10. Web site: Margo. Kevin. Grounded. Vimeo. Vimeo. 30 March 2016.
  11. Web site: FailureVEVO. Failure – Counterfeit Sky. YouTube. Failure Records. 30 March 2016.
  12. Web site: Music service.. The Focus Failure . bandcamp. 8 July 2015.