Customer Reviews

The Power Of Failing

5 star:		(46)
4 star:		(10)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

lots of good build-ups on this album, which usually end with a good bit of screaming and some painfully loud guitar work; this is a good album to listen to when you are to the point where you are so emotional that you get angry, because this seems to be the place that the music for this album was written from. the lyrics are very different, however, sensitive and probing, especially on parking lot. you almost get the feeling that they are trying to hide the lyrics on this album, but on the later recording and with the gloria record, they mature to the point where they are ready to expose the lyrics more. even though these later efforts are more polished and lyrically oriented, the power of failing is still a must-buy; no matter how much you like the quiter side of emo, you still need some albums like this that you can play when you aren't in the mood to deal with the subdued nature of the majority of emo.

I just got mineral's "power of failing" album. It instantly became one of my favorite albums of all time. If I had it on tape I would glue it into my stereo. After I bought this album I went out the next day and bought "end serenading" equally as good but not as hard. Calling this band "Emo" doesn't do them justice. They exceed any musical label. It is also nice to finally hear a band that sings about something that actually means something to everyone regardless of who you are and how you fit in this world. "Slower" and "Gloria" are my personal favorites. I would have bought the cd for just these two songs and left them on repeat in my cd player. But the rest of the cd will leave you asking for more. this is a must buy. You will listen until your ears bleed. I guaruntee it.

Mineral is one of the pinnacle bands of independent music history. I stumbled upon Mineral immediately as I started diving into a new (to me) brand of music dubbed "emo" (at the time, 1998, it still meant something). I picked up a copy of "Power of Failing" in my freshmen hands, and broke onto a life changing album. "Five, Eight, and Ten" was so refreshing to listen to. It was music that meant something, and made me eager to delve into the rest of this opus. The song that really sold me on the album was Gloria, with screaming guitars and wistfully sung lyrics.

The stand out tracks are "Gloria"(obviously), "Dolorosa", "If I could", and of course, "Parking Lot."

I would recommend this to anyone who is sick of the crap that bands put out post 2k.

Let it be known I'm not really a fan of "emo" music. HOWEVER, I can't even begin to express to you, the reader, how much this album means to me! I love it with all my heart. I know the lyrics backwards and forwards and have shead many a tears while listen to it. It blows me away that such deep emotional lyrics accompanied by such passionate music could be made by kids still getting carded for cigarettes. I stood frozen in disbielf, mouth-opened and probably drooling one night in Atlanta many years ago when the late great band Garden Variety finished their amazing set and urged everyone to stick around and see the bonus act; their friends MINERAL! They were not on the bill that night but, had just rolled into town and wanted to play a short set. I couldn't believe my ears. My friend Jim and I were so blown away we ended up hanging out with the guy's after the show like a couple of groupies. I begged them to sell me their record for the chump change ($6 Bucks) in my pocket. Graciously they did. Jim and I still talk about that show till this day. That was over 8 years ago! Since then I have gone through some of the happiest and saddest moments of my life and I am eternally grateful to have had this record to help release some of those emotions. In my opinion music is meant to create a reaction and if it can cause a tear to fall, in either direction, it's truly powerful music! There is a good chance, that if you buy this album or already own it, you will not hear the same songs I hear. But if you do, you will understand what I am trying so feebly to get across to you. Shortly after the release of Power of Failing, I read a review that summed it up perfectly; "This album makes me happy to be sad". Obviously more concise than I put it. I guess I'd say it's, sadness sweeling into a powerful happiness!

This cd doesn't deserve any less than five stars. It's amazing.
Mineral goes beyond just music, it's an emotion, religion.
Words alone can not describe how I feel.
Anyone looking into buying this cd, must also get Mineral's last album End Serenading. There's no way you can own one and not the other.

I don't know how the fellow below me thinks that this record comes together without being depressing. I listen to quite a bit of sad music, but this record leaves me more drained than anything else. And I've never been able to pinpoint exactly what aspect of the songs it is that absolutley kill me, but somehow the combination of his almost resigned voice, the pained chords, and the heart-crushing lyrics like
Hey sorrow where are you
Tomorrow just won't be the same
Without you here
I'll wish for shoulders bold and broad to bear
And strength to hold my head above them
and
It's been so long since I've stood on my two feet
I'd really rather lay here and pretend
But people like you and me never get that peace
It comes from denying that everything is so screwed up
It's so screwed up

I stand on a building and throw up my arms to the sky
I swallow my pride and admit
That it's not always best to understand the reason why

It's just not the same when you wake up in the morning
With a smile on your face
When you know you lied yourself to sleep to make it better
To make it better

Lyrics like this kill me every time. This album is definitely recommended to anyone that, like myself, has an affinity for songs that leave them drained and depressed. But beware, it's hard to avoid feeling like that when these 10 songs are over.

Who would have known four young guys from Austin, Texas could make such an amazing album in the turbulent mid 90's when music was on its way downhill? Those that hate the music we call "emo" will not like this. Many have accused these guys of being Sunny Day Real Estate clones, but that is completely unfair. This is probably one of the best albums of the last 10 years. The interplay of the two guitars in probably some of the best you're likely to hear in this genre or in many others for that matter. Some of this album sounds like "good time" rock you might have heard in one of those cheesy early 90's teen shows..but that is immediately overpowered by the sheer beauty of the music. Almost every song on this cd will pull you in and stay in your head for days after hearing it. I can't even start to describe it..emotionally charged sound...wonderful vocals that stretch syllables to the point of no return, some of the greatest 2 guitar interplay i've every heard and a solid rhythm section that keeps it all together. The lyrics are incredible and use metaphorical twists that make you start trying to take apart the story that Christopher Simpson is singing in your ears as his guitar magically hums in the background...if you're going through hard emotional times this album will probably make you cry. Even if you're happy you'll probably want to cry. Amazing. The somewhat raw production might bother a few, but I think it only adds to the charm. After listening to this you might want to try their second album, Endserenading, but it can't even come close to matching this one...

Driving, melodic, intense and passionate. Mineral's first full length album, in my opinion, is their best. Granted "EndSerenading" is also a phenominal album as well. This album will take you places you've been and never wanted to return to, but because of Mineral's unique musical style, you can't help but lose yourself in their lyrics, vocals and music. True art, that is honest and comes from the heart. 5 stars is not enough. I don't think 50 would. It is unfortunate they broke up but if you like Mineral, check out The Gloria Record (lead singer/guitarist and Bass player for Mineral) or Pop Unknown (Mineral's drummer).

This album just bursts with so much emotions that you can not be effected after listening to it. The lyrics have an honesty yet display a wonderful poetic style that I still think about them long after listening to the songs. I defanitly recommend everyone who loves emotional music to buy this for themselves and if they can for a freind.

This may be a strange way of starting a five-star review, but I'm gonna say it: I'm not so hot on this album. I really can't even stand to listen to it all the way through. A lot of the songs are just sloppy and whiney.
BUT...there are three songs on this album that more than make up for what i consider to be at least five songs of nothing more than annoying, forced, overblown filler. These three songs are gloria, if i could, and parking lot. I probably wore my cd player out on these songs. they were like heroin for the first two months I owned this cd. If i wasn't listening to them, I was thinking about or humming one of them.
I first heard parking lot on this compilation that my sister got at warped tour. within thirty seconds of listening, i knew that i had stumbled across something life-changing. While it's not the polished and over-produced rock that's heard on the radio, the song writing (and sometimes shakey vocals) burrows into your heart and takes up permanent residence. And the lyrics paired with the melodies are just so intense it gives me chills.
But that only applies to those three songs. The rest of the album can go to hell for all I care. Just my humble opinion.