The Successful Failures - Enemy Sublime (2024)

Trenton, New Jersey-based four-piece The Successful Failures have now arrived at their 11th studio album in 16 years and it seems like they’re only getting better. With Enemy Sublime we get 12 new original songs with wailing guitars, powerful vocals and relatable lyrics (“Life is a costume party // Everybody crags and waggles // Living in a lonely shadow” – from Costume Party), always solid and captivating. Songwriter Mick Chorba (vocals, guitar, keyboards, harmonica), Pete Smith (electric guitar), Ron Bechamps (bass, vocals) and Rob Martin (drums, percussion) play roots rock that defies the boundaries of the genre, with their arms open wide, just trying to make their rounds, as sung in Thank You Goodnight. The fact that you don’t see that strong track embedded below is telling, because there are several that I like even more.