Album Title: “In What Way”
Release Date: December 15, 2009
Label: Paper + Plastick

Tony Flaminio – Vocals, guitars, keys, etc.
Jay Draper – Bass, vocals
Eric Ellman – Guitar, vocals
Blake Ellman – Drums

A couple of us were standing around the coffee pot the other day talking about the seeminly recent resurgence in popularity of all the old 90’s college rock bands. We couldn’t decide whether these bands had actually remained popular throughout the later 90’s and early 00’s and maybe we were just dialed into the wrong channels at the time, or whether they had actually disappeared over the years and are experiencing a legitimate comeback. It might be a geographic phenomenon as well, but over the last few years there’s been a score of new East Coast bands that are unabashedly flying the flags of bands like Archers of Loaf, Superchunk, Gin Blossoms, Pavement, and Guided by Voices. While these bands were the college radio titans of the early- and mid-90’s, by the end of the decade they’d all either broken up and begun to fade or, far worse, released a handful of painfully mediocre albums and slipped into the “man, their old stuff was way better” rock genre.

While Failures’ Union have been kicking around for a bit longer than some of their contemporaries, they share many of the same traits. All three members grew up on the aforementioned wave of indie rock while maintaining strong ties to the do-it-yourself ethic and independent attitude engineered by the hardcore pioneers of the early 80’s. As a result, they stand in small company as one of the mellower bands currently traversing the underground highways. “In What Way” spans their capabilities to the fullest, from the brighter upbeat rockers to the somber mid-tempo affairs, all carried by Tony’s rich baritone voice. While the cleaner tones, fuzzed-out leads, and touches of piano and glockenspiel may alienate their label’s black shirt and Converse-sporting fans, listeners with more eclectic tastes will find themselves surprised by the eloquent melodies and nostalgic atmosphere that surrounds the songs found within.

“You don’t come across this type of album very often – it’s the kind of indie rock that actually isn’t afraid to make a melodic racket. You can trace the roots back to bands like Husker Du and then Archers of Loaf, and in the UK bands like Swervedriver or Adorable. Indie rock bands where the guitar is buzzing, things are a little ragged, and the songs rock along excitably.” – Collective Zine

“Tight arrangements, nice harmonies and lyrics that may make you pause for a few moments of reflection. Remember when songs from Bob Mould, Evan Dando (at least before he started hittin’ the pipe), or even Buffalo Tom made you stop and think?” – Razorcake

LINKS: Failures’ Union on MySpace