The Successful Failures

M” MUSIC Magazine – May 2010

http://mmusicmag.com/m/2010/08/the-successful-failures-three-nights/

Any attempt at unraveling the seemingly contradictory halves of their handle finds the Successful Failures demonstrating much more of the former than the latter. Frontman Mick Chorba, who also leads the Dipsomaniacs, has gradually made the Successful Failures his primary focus—and their fourth album, Three Nights, offers plenty of reasons why. The key to their success basically boils down to effusive, irresistible melodies that linger even after the first hearing. Whether it’s the jaunty sing-along strum of “Aberdeen,” the sprightly refrain of “Waiting for a Ride” or the surging harmonies of “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem,” these songs are all energized and adroitly executed. Five months into 2010, Three Nights is an early contender for album of the year.

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JERSEY BEAT – APRIL 2010

http://www.jerseybeat.com/philrainone.html

The Successful Failures – Three Nights

These guys love what they do. For starters, who else could come up with what sounds like a combination of a minute-waltz and country music, and a short story knocking Aberdeen, NJ?! From there, The Successful Failures proceed to knock our socks off with some of the hottest rock ‘n’ roll around! “Armadillo Boy” and “Sinkhole” lead the charge, as they are a lesson in jangley guitar, with fun, interesting lyrics. Essentially, Rock ’N’ Roll 101.

Clean harmonies, and back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll melodies suggests careful attention to the production. “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem” is a funny/sad story with a nod to who I’m sure is one of the band’s musical influences (also The Knack, The Raspberries, etc.), Cheap Trick. In the song the astronauts are, “Rollin’ numbers/ rock ‘n’ roll/ got my Kiss records out.” Cool stuff!

The songs on Three Nights are memorable without pandering; the playing is simple but never simpleminded. From the quivering “Scream” to the ominous hip shaker “Any Ol’ Thing,” which ends the album, this is a full therapeutic does of mature, unaffected rock ‘n’ roll, recalled from the 50’s and 60’s built strictly in, and for modern times.
“Collage Scholarship Blues” sounds like a bunch of music-crazy kids playing a horned-out, retro beer commercial. You just can’t fake that kind of attitude and wit. You either have it or you don’t. The Successful Failures have it!

The record gets on such a roll with “All You Had,” “Leave Me in a Coma,” “Three Nights,” that even a mid-tempo number like “Waiting for a Ride” keeps your feet planted firmly on the dance floor. Twelve songs from a full-bodied album that sounds completely natural.

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Powerpopaholic – http://powerpopaholic.blogspot.com/2010/05/successful-failures-and-victor-stranges.html

5/7/10

The Successful Failures “Three Nights”

Mick Chorba (Dipsomaniacs) returns with a much more focused third album. The chugging guitars and manic drums of “Armadillo Boy” are supported by solid melody and catchy chorus. The sound is heavily Replacements influenced, especially on bouncy “Sinkhole.” The band has a good sense of humor on “Waiting For A Ride” and “Houston, We Have A Drinking Problem” and both songs will remind you of the nerdy, but funny slice-of-life rock that Weezer used to make. The band’s compositions are also much stronger here, with no filler to be found. Even “Fletcher” has an epic feel that recalls those classic Who tunes without sounding retro at all. The alt country/lo fi sound comes out on “College Scholarship Blues” and you can picture the scene, as our young protagonist croons “I don’t belong here anymore.” When it comes to power, “Leave Me In A Coma” has blasting guitars that dominate the latter part of the album. These guys just keep improving with each release.

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THE BIG TAKOVER Magazine

By editor Jack Rabid – March 2010

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 ass 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)

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http://www.jamrecordings.com/catalog.php?alpha=su

Jam Recordings – catalog description

This is the new release from NEW JERSEY’S SUCCESSFUL FAILURES! (The band features singer/songwriter MICK CHORBA who also fronts his other great band THE DIPSOMANIACS.) This new cd by THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES takes a leap forward in production values. The sound quality is really superb! The instrumentation has expanded and upon first listen I proclaim this to be their best release yet! A big grade A in fact!!! If you like The Kinks, Wilco, The Stones,The Replacements, Neil Young, and rock and roll with a bit of swagger, I can almost predict that you will dig this album!

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BabySue Review – April 2010

http://www.babysue.com/2010-April-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor82488

Successful Failures – Three Nights (CD, FDR, Pop)
The Successful Failures is the New Jersey-based band comprised of Mick Chorba (who is also in the band Dipsomaniacs), Ron BeChamps, Rob Martin, and John Williams. The band plays direct, melodic, driving pop/rock that sounds something like a cross between The Replacements and The Young Fresh Fellows. On Three Nights the band keeps things appropriately simple…delivering their catchy hook-driven pop tunes with absolute style. This twelve track album is bound to please anyone who loves good modern danceable pop. Cool tracks include “Aberdeen,” “Waiting For A Ride,” “Scream,” and “Any Ol’ Thing.”

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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.

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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.

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SINGLE OF THE DAY – http://www.singleoftheday.com/2010/04/27/in-the-air/

Houston, We have a Drinking Problem – 4/27/10

…Thus I need to get to the music…

Houston We Have a Drinking Problem was brought to my attention a few days back. I figured today was a good day for that. I know of a friend who is turning the big 40 today and she’s not feeling so hot about it. My suggestion was to have a beer. A simple solution. The directive of Occam’s Razor. The simplest answer is usually the correct one. Right?

It’s a funny take off on the famous quote about an Apollo mission. I’m diggin on the vibe The Successful Failures have going on. It’s unpolished. It’s odd. It’s quirky. It’s referencing famous songs. It’s got an everyman’s type of vocal that allows us all to drink heavily and be able to chant along with a song like this. Don’t ya agree?

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CD Reviewer – http://writercwross.wordpress.com/2010/05/11/the-successful-failures-three-nights/
Review by C.W. Ross – 5/12/10
This band that takes its name from the Jack London short story, “Minions of Midas”, is one of those happy accidents. Started out mainly as an alt country/lo-fi side project for Mick Chorba (Dipsomaniacs) the band has come a long way in a short amount of time. Since forming in 2006 the band has 3-LPs, 1-EP, and a 3-song iTunes exclusive release already under their musical belt.

Besides handling lead vocals for the group Chorba also plays guitar, mandolin, keys, and harmonica on the release, did I mention he’s also the co-founder of the band’s New Jersey Indie label FDR. Joining Chorba in the band is Ron Bechamps (bass, vocals), Rob Martin (drums), and John Williams (guitar, vocals).

The band music is mostly a mixture of Indie rock and alt country with a few edges of quirkiness added in to the mix, think Superdrag and Wilco meets Neil Young. The band also believes in a quick hitter type of songs with almost all of the tracks found on, ‘Three Nights’, lasting for only 2 or 3 minutes.

Some of that pre-mentioned quirkiness starts right from track-1, “Aberdeen”, a short (1:34) lo-fi folk song. Track-2, “Armadillo Boy”, is an up tempo track about an armadillo boy and a gorilla girl that the band’s press material describes as, ‘a freak show anthem.’

Track’s 3, 4 and 5, “Sinkhole”, “Waiting for a Ride”, and “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem,” all bring guitar lead medium tempo Indie rock to the forefront. “Waiting for a Ride” offers up a really nice bass part.

Track-6, “Fletcher”, is a friendly hand wave to The Who with its mini opera style. I really enjoyed the crisp edged notes that are used on it.

“College Scholarship Blues”, and “All You Had”, go off in an alt country direction. I really enjoyed the piano and harmonica work found in “College Scholarship Blues.” I also liked the alt. country meets roots rock style used on “All You Had.”

Track-9, “Leave Me in the Coma”, is the most straight up rock it out song, complete with a blistering dual guitar opening, along with hard driving drum beats.

Track-10, “Scream”, is another up tempo rocking track that offers up some more enjoyable harmonica work on it.

‘Three Nights’ ends up strong with the fast rocker title track, “Three Nights”, and the mandolin filled Americana sounding last track, “Any Ol’ Thing.”

‘Three Nights’ is a really nice release that offers up a lot of different musical elements to enjoy in it.

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Dagger Zine – www.daggerzine.com – June 21, 2010

This is the third Successful Failures record and I believe it was the previous one that I have (don’t think I ever heard the debut) and I remember liking it but THREE NIGHTS sounds like huge step forward. Leader Mick Chorba is also in The Dipsomaniacs, another fine combo, but he seems to save his folkier (drunker?) tunes for this band and he seems to have hit the sweet spot on this record. The record opens with the wonderful acoustic tune “Aberdeen” (think Replacements,….in fact the ‘Mats seem to be a big influence on the band in general) and “Armadillo Boy” is all clean, melodic guitars and slap happy drums. Chorba and company offer a more countrified take on cuts like “Waiting for a Ride”, “College Scholarship Blues” and “All You Had” and regardless of the style they do it all with equal talent. In “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem”, one of the best songs on the record, they reference a famous Cheap Trick lyric with the line “Got my Kiss records out!” so you know they have good taste. I honestly don’t think there’s a bad song on here and I hate to say it but I don’t mind if the Dipsomaniacs are still on hiatus if the ‘Failures are releasing records this good. www.fdrlabel.com

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New Jersey Music FB Blog by Tim Zatzariny Jr. – May 2010

The divide between power-pop and country music – two genres that don’t seem like they’d be fast friends – isn’t so deep at all for Mick Chorba, lead singer and guitarist of the Burlington County based band The Successful Failures.

“I think they both require good songwriting,” Chorba, 40, said in a recent interview wi…th New Jersey Music. “They don’t rely on a lot of flashy playing or tricks with production. They rely on good songs.”

With Chorba’s main band, The Dipsomaniacs, on indefinite hiatus since last year, the middle-school English teacher’s focus is now on The Successful Failures, which he started as a side project in 2006 with bassist Ron Bechamps, drummer Rob Martin and guitarist John Williams. Last month, the Successful Failures released their third full-length CD, “Three Nights,” on Chorba’s own Face Down Records label.

The band will play a hometown show Friday at the Record Collector in Bordentown. At first, The Successful Failures gave Chorba and outlet for his more country-leaning songs, which didn’t quite fit in the Dipsomaniac’s power-pop repertoire.

“I’m always trying to make that work somewhere,” Chorba said of his love of classic country, recalling the mark his father’s collection of Hank Williams records made on him as a child. “It definitely stuck with me because I always return to that old country stuff – it strikes a chord.”

While The Successful Failure’s first two releases reflected this passion for honky tonk, Chorba said the songs on “Three Nights” are merely the result of what he was writing before recording began last year, making for a more stylistically diverse record that’s equal parts cry-in-your-beer and grab-the-wheel-and-steer.

“I think on this one,” Chorba said, “I just decided to go with what we’re good at rather than try to force a certain sound.”

The album opens with the jaunty folk of “Aberdeen,” which recalls The Pogues, a band that has clearly influenced Chorba as a songwriter, and a drinker. Next up is “Armadillo Boy,” an ultra-catchy tale of freak-show love that drops nods to Husker Du and the Ramones.

The centerpiece of the album is “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem,” which Chorba said is about astronauts gone bad. Over a jangly guitar riff, Chorba sings a verse borrowed from Cheap Trick: “And while lying on the couch/They’re rolling numbers, rock and roll/They got my KISS records out.”

The reference seems appropriate, since Chorba shares Cheap Trick guitarist Rick Nielsen’s penchant for leavening his lyrics with humor that’s not so much black as it is grinning back at the gray. (See “Leave Me in the Coma” on “Three Nights.”)

“All You Had” shows Chorba can write a serious song without being maudlin – the lyrics of the country stomp are about a student he knew who died while trying to rescue someone else from a house fire.

“Three Nights” is grown-up rock ’n’ roll, rough around the edges of its frayed Western shirt, written, sung and played by true fans.

“It’s sort of songs about finding yourself, going places,” Chorba said. “They’re stories about people trying to find their way.”

- Tim Zatzariny Jr.

The Successful Failures, with Keith Monacchio, will perform Friday, May 21 at The Record Collector, 358 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, N.J. Doors open at 7:30 p.m.; show time is 8 p.m. Tickets are $10 in advance, $12 day of show. For tickets or more information, call (609) 324-0880 or go to www.the-record-collector.com. For more about the Successful Failures, go to www.thesuccessfulfailures.comSee More

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Innocent Words Magazine June 2010 by John B. Moore

http://www.innocentwords.com/tabId/807/itemId/1195/The-Successful-Failures-Three-Nights.aspx

With every new album this New Jersey rock band turns out, it becomes more and more astonishing that The Successful Failures are not huge.

With Three Nights, their fourth release in four years, the band sounds like they were raised on a steady diet of Cheap Trick and The Replacements since birth. Straight forward American rock with clear vocals, witty lyrics and driving guitars, Three Nights includes some of the band’s best songs to date, specifically “Houston We Have a Drinking Problem” (which stealthily borrows a line some Cheap Trick’s “Surrender”) and “College Scholarship Blues.”

Originally a one-off side project for Mike Chorba, frontman for the power pop band Dipsomaniacs, The Successful Failures have evolved into one of the most consistently great rock bands playing music today.

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Blow Up Radio – Three Nights chosen as album of the week 5/9/10

Comments by Blow Up radio founder – Lazlo, http://www.blowupradio.com/

“Mick Chorba (of Dipsomaniacs fame), started The Successful Failures as more of an alt-country side project. While there is still an alt-conutry vibe, their sound has become much more reminsicient of Cheap Trick, Big Star, the Replacements, and other amazing bands. And The Successful Failures have every right to be named among them, because they are equally talented and prolific.” – Lazlo

- Various Publications/Blogs/Music Sites

Review by Dan Pavelich
Entertainment Section, Kenosha News

The Successful Failures
Ripe For The Burning (FDR)
www.thesuccessfulfailures.com

Fans of alternative music from the '90's (remember when "alternative" actually meant something?) will eat up "Ripe For The Burning" with a spoon. Led by one of the East Coast's best and most-prolific songwriters, Mick Chorba, The Failures knock it out of the park with every song.

"All I Can Take" is reminiscent of The Kinks, while "Carolina (I'm In Love)" recalls Cracker at their most vicious. "Except Together" is a great country tune that'd do BR-549 proud. Versatility is this band's strong suit, as they effortlessly mix things up so that no two songs sound the same.

You might think that too much variety might make things sound disjointed, but that's not the case. Chorba's instantly-recognizable voice, as well as a crack rhythm section, pulls the pieces together nicely.

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Jersey Beat Magazine 11/07

THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES - Ripe for the Burning CD / “Bridge Over the Delaware” EP (www.fdrlabel.com) On their “Bridges Over The Delaware” EP, South Jersey’s Successful Failures dog-ear a few pages of the Replacements songbook, and throw in nods to Cash and Kristofferson, covering Johnny & Kris' gospel/country mid-tempo rocker, "Sunday Morning Coming Down." The Successful Failures’ version rivals the Stones' "Far Away Eyes" with its lonesome-and-a-long-way-from-home vibe. The EP is just a teaser for the band’s third full-length album, Ripe For The Burning, a straightforward homage to pop punk, garage rock, and zine culture. The latter is represented by a tongue-in-cheek, cool as fuck song about a zine put out by "Niki Zerenberg." It's a really funny story that sounds like an e-mail that was sent out telling of the virtues of Niki's zine, and asking why people don’t pay more attention: "My name is Niki Zerenberg/ I run a magazine/ Need advertising?/ Why don't you talk to me/ It's hard to run a zine when you're 17..." The cartoonish lyrics tell a tale that many zines face (hey Boss, how about a theme song for Jersey Beat? How about "We Are The Dateless Losers?" Or you could write your own… Kidding!) But the tune boogies hard, like early Raspberries, with spiky guitars, a solid rhythm section, and a delicious hard-working harp weaved throughout the song. Both the EP (only "Bridges on the Delaware" is repeated on both discs) and album are full of masterpieces of garage rock goofiness, free-floating riffs, devilish lyrics, and sweet as honey harmonies. Comparisons to The Replacements and Raspberries aside, The Successful Failures are definitely an original band that has a lot to offer. This is exactly how pop punk/ garage rock is suppose to sound: Songs that are aching to get you out on the floor, no matter where you are, stompin' up a storm like the devil in the blue dress slacks! - Phil Rainone

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BlowUp Radio 11/07

The Successful Failures - "ripe for the burning"

Trenton New Jersey's own, The Successful Failures, are back with their sophomore album, "ripe for the burning", which I can only assume means that people should burn copies of the CD for all their friends, as this album is one everyone should listen to (although you should really buy your own copy). This is the good type of pop music, the type that I think most of us wish mainstream radio would play. This is jangly British influenced garage-rock meets Americana alt-country, with catchy choruses, and classic backbeat. It's the type of album that could make the sun shine on a rainy day. Ok, I know that sounds silly, but this album is just downright fun, and there is nothing wrong with that.

-------------------------------------------------------- - various

The Successful Failures -- The Successful Failures (FDR/Jam): The ever prolific Mick Chorba takes a break from his powerful power poppin' Dipsomaniacs to lead this trio. Chorba's songs are about what you'd expect, with a slightly different musical leaning, as the playing is a bit more rootsy. Arguably, this might be an even better setting for his witty lyrics. What type of guy is Chorba? The type of guy who tells his girl that if she breaks up with him, she's "letting the terrorists win" (which is the title of the song). Chorba litters this mid-tempo gem with great one liners, including a nifty Pink Floyd reference, that I'll leave it you to spot. The band plays a simple mid-tempo blues-rock ballad on "Sewer Water". This is song about a guy in a downward spiral, and but for the melodic middle-eight that is pretty poppy, this song comes across as Faces-inspired, with a hint of country, as well. The title song (or perhaps, the theme song) is so simple -- lyrically and musically, and it's undeniably catchy. It sounds like a lost Tommy Tutone song, especially with Chorba's vocals in the verses. The band throws in a nice cover of Simon & Garfunkel's "I Am a Rock" as a bonus. This is just a likeable rock and roll record, that might appeal to fans of Ray Mason and early Wilco. Review by Mike Bennett - Fufkin.com - fufkin.com

Jersey Beat Magazine Review:

THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES - Bridges Over Delaware (www.thesuccessfulfailures.com) This appealingly warm and breezy five song pop-rock EP CD offers a winning wealth of catchy hooks, upbeat attitude and peppy playing. The cover of "Sunday Morning Coming Down" by Johnny Cash and Kris Kristofferson rates as a definite highlight. The jaunty opening number "Bridges Over Delaware" likewise hits the sweetly satisfying spot. The wonderfully raw'n'ragged live recordings of the closing tunes "God Knows" and "Sewer Water" conclude things on a solid and stirring note. - Jersey Beat Zine

"In short, Ripe for the Burning", brings back everything great about organic, roaring, kicking, melodic 80's indie-rock, from the Libertines/U.S. (what with the roots), to Big Dipper, Tim-era Replacements, etc… (and nowadays Sloan). Factor in the humor of "Niki Zerenberg" (a teenage fanzine dude) and "Never Moving Out" (sorry, mom!), and the deal's sealed. Ripe is one heck of a great-fun LP, perfect to sing along to – "burned" or bought" (Jack Rabid in The Big Takeover May 2008).
- Big Takeover Magazine

JERSEY BEAT – APRIL 2010

http://www.jerseybeat.com/philrainone.html

The Successful Failures – Three Nights

These guys love what they do. For starters, who else could come up with what sounds like a combination of a minute-waltz and country music, and a short story knocking Aberdeen, NJ?! From there, The Successful Failures proceed to knock our socks off with some of the hottest rock ‘n’ roll around! “Armadillo Boy” and “Sinkhole” lead the charge, as they are a lesson in jangley guitar, with fun, interesting lyrics. Essentially, Rock ’N’ Roll 101.

Clean harmonies, and back-to-basics rock ‘n’ roll melodies suggests careful attention to the production. “Houston, We Have a Drinking Problem” is a funny/sad story with a nod to who I’m sure is one of the band’s musical influences (also The Knack, The Raspberries, etc.), Cheap Trick. In the song the astronauts are, “Rollin’ numbers/ rock ‘n’ roll/ got my Kiss records out.” Cool stuff!

The songs on Three Nights are memorable without pandering; the playing is simple but never simpleminded. From the quivering “Scream” to the ominous hip shaker “Any Ol’ Thing,” which ends the album, this is a full therapeutic does of mature, unaffected rock ‘n’ roll, recalled from the 50’s and 60’s built strictly in, and for modern times.
“Collage Scholarship Blues” sounds like a bunch of music-crazy kids playing a horned-out, retro beer commercial. You just can’t fake that kind of attitude and wit. You either have it or you don’t. The Successful Failures have it!

The record gets on such a roll with “All You Had,” “Leave Me in a Coma,” “Three Nights,” that even a mid-tempo number like “Waiting for a Ride” keeps your feet planted firmly on the dance floor. Twelve songs from a full-bodied album that sounds completely natural.

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THE BIG TAKOVER – MArch 2010

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 ass 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)

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http://www.jamrecordings.com/catalog.php?alpha=su

Jam Recordings – catalog description

This is the new release from NEW JERSEY’S SUCCESSFUL FAILURES! (The band features singer/songwriter MICK CHORBA who also fronts his other great band THE DIPSOMANIACS.) This new cd by THE SUCCESSFUL FAILURES takes a leap forward in production values. The sound quality is really superb! The instrumentation has expanded and upon first listen I proclaim this to be their best release yet! A big grade A in fact!!! If you like The Kinks, Wilco, The Stones,The Replacements, Neil Young, and rock and roll with a bit of swagger, I can almost predict that you will dig this album!

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BabySue Review - April 2010

http://www.babysue.com/2010-April-LMNOP-Reviews.html#anchor82488

Successful Failures – Three Nights (CD, FDR, Pop)
The Successful Failures is the New Jersey-based band comprised of Mick Chorba (who is also in the band Dipsomaniacs), Ron BeChamps, Rob Martin, and John Williams. The band plays direct, melodic, driving pop/rock that sounds something like a cross between The Replacements and The Young Fresh Fellows. On Three Nights the band keeps things appropriately simple…delivering their catchy hook-driven pop tunes with absolute style. This twelve track album is bound to please anyone who loves good modern danceable pop. Cool tracks include “Aberdeen,” “Waiting For A Ride,” “Scream,” and “Any Ol’ Thing.”

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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.

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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.
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