By Bob Makin
originally published: 10/11/2024
The Makin Waves Song of the Week is “Costume Party,” the first single from “Sublime Enemy,” Chesterfield-based The Successful Failures’ 11th LP in 19 years.
After 44 years writing about music, I can tell you that most of the best-known bands didn’t last long enough to release 11 albums. But with their brand new 12-song outing, “Enemy Sublime,” Chesterfield-based The Successful Failures have.
Just in time for Halloween, the LP’s first single, “Costume Party,” is the Makin Waves Song of the Week.
As the Makin Waves Song of the Week, “Costume Party” also can be heard between 6 and 8 p.m. on Oct. 11, on “Radio Jersey” at ThePenguinRocks.com. If you miss it, you can tune in any time in the archives at The Penguin and Mixcloud.
Here are a few of amazing stats about this fantastic indie-sounding roots-rock band, who sound like a cross between The Rolling Stones, The Replacements and Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers. The Successful Failures have been together 19 years. “Enemy Sublime” is their 11th full-length album and sixth since 2017 with the same lineup: founding singer-songwriter-guitarist Mick Chorba, drummer Rob Martin, bassist Ron Bechamps and lead guitarist Pete Smith.
Recorded at Gradwell House in Haddon Heights, the album was mixed in Brooklyn by Travis Harrison (Guided By Voices/Built To Spill).
"Costume Party" is featured as one of the “Coolest Songs in the World" on “Little Steven's Underground Garage” show on SiriusXM radio and is receiving more and more airplay throughout the world.
The album’s subsequent singles are “Worried All The Time” and “Love You Although.”
Hear them live when The Successful Failures play “Enemy Sublime” in its entirety on Oct. 11 at Revilla Grooves in Milltown. They also will play Oct. 19, Screamin’ Hill Brewery, Upper Freehold (2 p.m.) and Spellbound Brewing 10-Year Anniversary Party, Mount Holly (7 p.m.); Oct. 26, Randy Now’s Mancave, Hightstown; Nov. 1, HOB Tavern, Bordentown; Nov. 22, Record Museum, Berlin Township, and Nov. 23, Laurita Winery, New Egypt section of Plumsted Township. As a duo, The Successful Failures will play on Oct. 25 at Bent Iron Brewing Co. in Hamilton. Mick also will play solo on Oct. 13 at the Albert Music Hall Hootenanny in the Waretown section of Ocean Township in Ocean County.
For more, visit https://thesuccessfulfailures.com. Also, Mick has a really great blog largely about music at https://mickchorba.substack.com/.
Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and contact Bob at [email protected].
About the author:
New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.
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