Tuesday, January 29, 2008

Failure - Enjoy the Silence


Like so many others, Failure is a band that despite their major label backing, didn't get their due until years after their break-up. Perhaps the label was waiting for them to be the next Smashing Pumpkins or even the next Hum, but it never really happened. While I'm sure they had their modest fan base, the true accolades didn't seem to flood in until Cave In covered "Magnified" on their Creative Eclipses EP in 1999 and wear their Failure influence more prominently on their crossover LP, Jupiter.

Instead of uploading an entire Failure album (which I might do if people want to hear more), I've chosen to post this cover of Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence." This cover circulated for a year or so after their break-up in 1997 until it finally ended up on the Depeche Mode tribute album For The Masses: An Album of Depeche Mode Songs. "Enjoy the Silence" has been one of my favorite songs since I was a kid and I think this is a very well-done cover done in the Failure tradition. Before my family had cable, I would go to my friend Pat's house in the Summer and the "Enjoy the Silence" video would be on MTV constantly. Even at the age of 9 I thought it was the most depressing song because throughout the video, singer Dave Gahan, is dressed in a kings robe and crown roaming the European countryside alone. I still think it's just as depressing 17 years later.

Failure - Enjoy the Silence (Depeche Mode Cover)

11 comments:

Eric Grubbs said...

Even though it's a cover, I think this is one of Failure's best tracks.

Matt said...

magnified is always in the rotation. songs about roasting insects, great stuff

Unknown said...

Sweet. I was actually thinking about this song earlier this morning and was lamenting the fact I didn't have this on my ipod. Thanks!

Mickey Nolan said...

Totally unrelated but I saw no email button... you ever hear Lost Patrol Band? Head honcho from Refused/INC's power pop side band. The self titled record is really good.

Anonymous said...

You should check out Year of the Rabbit's cover of "I Wanna Be Adored" if you haven't already.

Stephen said...

Eric - I totally agree.

Stephen said...

mickey - i heard the first thing he did a long time ago and wasn't too impressed. however, in the last few months i've been listening to t(i)nc more and i never really liked them before, so who knows. maybe i made a snap judgment on his solo project. i'll have to check it.

Stephen said...

thanks for the recommendation on that YOTR cover of stone roses!

Ryan said...

Year of the Rabbit - I Wanna Be Adored

http://www.sendspace.com/file/9y9no0

Stephen said...

thanks for upping that for me! it's a great cover!

Terry said...

I've just started looking at your site, I enjoy your unique and good taste. This is a great and hard to find cover. For some reason it reminds me of the cover of "How soon is Now" by Everclear on the Jabberjaw II comp, which I thought was also good, and the only song from Everclear that I really like. Not so for failure, they've got lots of great songs.