| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
Magnified is the second album by the American alternative rock band Failure.[3][4]
Production
Drummer Robert Gauss departed during the recording of the album; the remaining drum parts were played by Kellii Scott.[3]
Magnified differs from Failure's debut album Comfort by using a great deal of bass guitar distortion. The use of a bassline as the main structure of the song as well as distortion can be heard best on "Frogs" and "Wonderful Life." Harmonics are also used extensively and can be heard quite prominently on the songs "Moth," "Wonderful Life," and "Empty Friend."
Critical reception
In a retrospective article published to coincide with the album's 25th anniversary, Decibel wrote that "druggy chord changes slither unpredictably, oftentimes led by a four-string bassquake alongside primal drumming, both delivered with forceful conviction."[5] Trouser Press called the album "a major improvement [over the debut], but not a thorough success," writing that "Failure paints senseless coats of alternative guitar ... over tuneful material that might actually be enticing if not for the underbrush."[2] The Seattle Times wrote that "the songwriting on Magnified is more pop-oriented than on the band's first disc, Comfort, which had more of an improvisational feel."[6] The Albuquerque Journal wrote that "Failure checks into the rock 'n' roll hall of fame as the only band to have less variation between songs than Boston."[7]
Track listing
All music is composed by Ken Andrews & Greg Edwards except where noted.
| No. | Title | Lyrics | Music | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Let It Drip" | Andrews | Andrews | 2:41 |
| 2. | "Moth" | Edwards | 3:50 | |
| 3. | "Frogs" | Andrews/Edwards | 4:55 | |
| 4. | "Bernie" | Andrews | 5:17 | |
| 5. | "Magnified" | Edwards | 4:36 | |
| 6. | "Wonderful Life" | Andrews | 5:34 | |
| 7. | "Undone" | Andrews/Edwards | 4:27 | |
| 8. | "Wet Gravity" | Edwards | 6:06 | |
| 9. | "Empty Friend" | Edwards | 4:21 | |
| 10. | "Small Crimes" | Edwards | 7:13 |
Personnel
- Ken Andrews – vocals, guitar, bass
- Greg Edwards – bass, guitar, drums
- Robert Gauss, Kellii Scott – drums
Credits
Recorded by Paul Lani. Mixed by David Bianco and Ken Andrews. Frog: Bruce Schwartz
References
- ^ a b "Magnified - Failure". AllMusic.
- ^ a b "Failure". Trouser Press. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ a b "Failure | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Kreps, Daniel (December 16, 2019). "Failure Celebrate First Three Albums With Live Residencies, Box Set". Rolling Stone.
- ^ "Retrospective: Failure's "Magnified" 25 Years Later". Decibel Magazine. March 8, 2019.
- ^ "Summer Gets Rocking With `Rockstock '94' | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com.
- ^ "TOOL FAILURE INFECTIOUS GROOVES JOHN TRUDELL BRUCE COCKBURN". Albuquerque Journal: 61. April 21, 1994.