New Jersey Stage logo
New Jersey Stage Menu


Makin Waves Record of the Week: "Pack Up Your Shadows" by The Successful Failures


By Bob Makin

originally published: 07/24/2020

Makin Waves Record of the Week: "Pack Up Your Shadows" by The Successful Failures

In less than a year from their last LP, Trenton-based The Successful Failures return with a new nine-song collection, “Pack Up Your Shadows.” 

The prolific Successful Failures follow last year’s “Saratoga” LP with another solid effort, the nine-song “Pack Up Your Shadows.” Originally intended to be an EP, the fusion of ragged roots rock and indie pop was expanded by the Trenton-based outfit with the time afforded by the pandemic. A mix of country nuggets, rock ‘n’ roll rave-ups, and beautiful ballads, the LP is a joint venture between founding frontman Mick Chorba’s FDR Label and the Jersey indie Kool Kat Musik, whose CD release, includes a bonus disc of Mick’s solo acoustic versions of each song.

To be honest, I would miss the leads of Pete Smith whose playing is a cross between the ragged raunch of Keith Richards and the haunting ring of Mick Taylor, which is what makes great half of the album’s only disappointing track, “More of the Same.” The parts where the track is a “Rip It Up”-like rave-up are exceptional, but then, the track twice slips into unfocused and unneeded psychedelic blues, making would have been an excellent track overlong.

Other than that, “Pack Up Your Shadows” is great, mostly concentrating on the band’s rich country roots, especially a closing cover of Hank Williams’ “My Bucket’s Got a Hole in It.” The Successful Failures often dip into Williams’ rewarding well, but this track may be their best Hank cover yet because of the way they make it their Dirty Jersey own with a sleazy blues take, while still honoring the original with bending guitar notes that flirt with a pedal steel sound. 

Other country fare includes the hillbilly sparseness of the opening “Honeycomb,” the rambling, rumbling drinking song “On Down the Line,” “Whiskey Song,” which rotates between pining and rollicking as it explains the need for self-medication, and the Williams-meets-Westerberg “Something Good,” a hopeful sequel to “I Saw the Light.” All feature the exceptional mandolin playing of Ron Bechamps, as well as the steady, sturdy rhythms of drummer Rob Martin. 



 
Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info



My favorite track is the Tom Petty-meets-Replacements heartbreaker “This Girl,” which, as the granddaughter of “American Girl” and “We’ll Inherit the Earth,” tries to make the best of a world gone mad. As the world gets crazier, it’s a relief to have a gamut of great American music like this ranging from hillbilly to rockabilly to punk. America may never be great again, but “Pack Up Your Shadows” proves that its music always will be.    

 

Makin Waves Record of the Week: "Pack Up Your Shadows" by The Successful Failures

 

Bob Makin is a reporter for MyCentralJersey.com and the former managing editor of The Aquarian Weekly, which launched this column in 1988. Contact him via email and like Makin Waves on Facebook.



 
Advertise with New Jersey Stage for $50-$100 per month, click here for info




FEATURED EVENTS

ART | COMEDY | DANCE | MUSIC | THEATRE | COMMUNITY


Rebirth Brass Band

Friday, March 29, 2024 @ 8:00pm
The Vogel
99 Monmouth Street, Red Bank, NJ 07701
category: music

Click here for full description


Magical Mystery Doors: Tribute of The Doors, Led Zeppelin, and The Beatles

Saturday, March 30, 2024 @ 8:00pm
Bergen Performing Arts Center (bergenPAC)
30 North Van Brunt Street, Englewood, NJ 07631
category: music

Click here for full description


Southern Rockfest featuring A Brother's Revival and Classic Skynyrd Live

Saturday, March 30, 2024 @ 7:00pm
Mayo Performing Arts Center (MPAC)
100 South Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
category: music

Click here for full description


Click here for more events

Listings are available for $10 and included with our banner ad packages.

Click here for more info.







 

LATEST NEWS


Ocean Casino Resort presents Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo

(ATLANTIC CITY, NJ) -- Ocean Casino Resort presents Rock and Roll Hall of Famers Pat Benatar & Neil Giraldo on Saturday, July 6, 2024 in Ovation Hall. In a pop culture world defined by its perpetual changes, the partnership of singer songwriter Pat Benatar and producer-musician Neil Giraldo has been a potent, steadfast union that has soared to the top of the charts and into fans' hearts on their own terms. Showtime is 8:00pm.


The Princeton Folk Music Society to Celebrate Pete Seeger's legacy with Professor Allan Winkler




State Theatre New Jersey presents One Night of Queen




The Adelphi Orchestra Presents "Complexity & Simplicity" with SoHyun Ko


Click here for more event previews







New Jersey Stage

© 2024 by Wine Time Media, LLC
PO Box 811, Belmar, NJ 07719
info@newjerseystage.com

Nobody covers the Arts
throughout the Garden State
like New Jersey Stage!


Images used on this site have been sent to us from publicists, artists, and PR firms. If there is a problem with the rights to any image, please contact us and we will look into the matter.

Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Threads, and on our RSS feed


Art | Comedy | Dance | Film | Music | Theatre | Ad Rates | About Us | Pitch a Story | Links | Radio Shows | Privacy Policy