“With Trenton’s Dipsomaniacs on extended hiatus, Mick Chorba’s “other band” has become his priority, and they’re even better. They replicate the Dips’ energy and melodic thrust, but the ‘Failures third LP again indulges a wider scope. Three opens with folk-pop, takes three more valid excursions into country-rock shakers (“College Scholarship Blues,” “All You Had,” “Any Ol’ Thing”), and kicks a** on a harmonica-blazing rave-up, “Scream”—reminding oldsters of that forgotten word “repertoire.” Beyond that, proving that 2007’s cheekily-titled Ripe for the Burning was no fluke, Three is another sweet treat for lovers of recent Sloan, Pleased to Meet Me Replacements, Matthew Sweet, Velvet Crush, Mike Ness, and Cheap Trick (whose “Surrender” lyric “Got my Kiss records out” is referenced cleverly on “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem”). Besides, the ensemble’s arrangements (piano a plus) and harmonies allow for lighter touches to tickle backgrounds, even while one falls anew for the band’s bread ‘n’ butter bold ‘n’ bursting big guitar power-pop prowess, on hotfoot treats such as “Armadillo Boy,” “Fletcher,” and the buzzing title track. Take it from a long-ago native—New Jersey can rock. " by Jack Rabid in Big Takeover 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Absolute Power Pop – http://absolutepowerpop.blogspot.com/ 4/8/10 by Aaron Kupferberg The Successful Failures-Three Nights. Exactly one year ago to the date, I wrote of the New Jersey power pop label FDR: “There’s an ‘FDR Sound’: no-nonsense, straight-up, rock-oriented, garage-style powerpop that draws on bands like The Replacements and The Who”. Well FDR’s latest release is from the redoubtable Successful Failures, and it’s emblematic of the “FDR sound”. The Failures have always had a humorous edge (as their name itself implies) and we find it here on track titles like “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem”, “Armadillo Boy” and “Leave Me in the Coma”. But they’re not one-note jokesters; “Waiting for a Ride” does the quiet/loud thing quite nice and quite melodically, “College Scholarship Blues” and “Any Ol’ Thing” find them in Americana mode, and “Sinkhole” is an engaging rocker. Fun and melodic, you can’t ask for anything more from Three Nights. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Album reviews: Successful Failures and David Bowie http://www.kinston.com/entertainment/successful-64665-failures-album.html By Jon Dawson 4.5 stars out of 5 The Successful Failures were originally a side project for Mick Chorba, leader of those disciples of raucous rock The Dipsomaniacs. While The Dipsomaniacs provided the perfect soundtrack for a great bar fight, The Successful Failures cater more to the folks that wisely sit at the bar and observe the fisticuffs from a safe distance. The Successful Failures’ music has been described as ‘alt-country’ and sometimes ‘indie rock’, but at the end of the day it’s just great rock and roll. The bands charm is best displayed on ‘Houston, We Have A Drinking Problem’, a tale of inebriated astronauts that have to stop and ask for directions. In ‘All You Had’, Chorba proclaims “time has not patience/and years go by like days, while band mates Ron Bechamps, Rob Martin and John Williams throw down some of the meanest countrified rock this side of Ryan Adams. In fact, if Ryan Adams wrote songs this good he’d actually deserve the praise that has been thrust upon him. Fans that yearn for the roar of The Dipsomanics unite: When the Failures decide to rock, as they do in a ferocious manner on ‘Leave Me In The Coma’ and ‘Scream’, they do it with authority and economy. The band also knows how to mangle the acoustic guitars and mandolins as displayed on album closer ‘Any Ol’ Thing’. This band has it all: Great songs, superb musicianship, and charm to burn. For more information, visit www.thesuccessfulfailures.com. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- BIO 2010: Rock and roll. Two guitars, a bass, drums. Keep it loud; keep it honest. Guitars sound best through old tube amplifiers. Whenever possible get it done in under three minutes. The Successful Failures set out a few years back with these understandings. Now in 2010 this NJ band continues to bring back everything great about organic, roaring, kicking, melodic indie rock with their new album, Three Nights. With a name borrowed from a Jack London short story (“Minions of Midas”) and a blue collar attitude, the Successful Failures have released three full length albums, one Ep, and one 3-song iTunes exclusive single since its inception in 2006. The band has toured regionally (with stops in Chicago, Madison, Raleigh, Winston-Salem, Knoxville, NYC, Philadelphia, Richmond, Morgantown WV and more), recorded in Knoxville, TN with Superdrag drummer turned producer Don Coffey Jr, and contributed several songs to a variety of compilations. Originally an alt country/lo-fi side project for Mick Chorba (of Dipsomaniacs) this NJ band has evolved into a full blown rock force – mixing Superchunkish blasts of indie-rock with Americana and jangly pop influences. Chorba, along with bandmates Ron Bechamps, Rob Martin and John Williams share a diverse love of all things good in music – Beatles, Cash, Hank Williams, The Clash, Ramones, Steve Earle, The Replacements, and the like . The band’s sound falls somewhere between groups such as Guided by Voices and The Shins mixed with the rock n roll attitude of bands like the Supersuckers and Social Distortion. The Failures pride themselves not only on their workhorse attitude but on the inherent melodies and hooks in their songs. Chorba has proved to be a prolific songwriter – keeping it simple, keeping it honest. The Successful Failures plan to release a second album of country-fried SF tunes in 2010 under the moniker of their alter-ego, The Real Defenders of the Acropolis, while continuing to tour in support of Three Nights.