Fantastic Planet is the third studio album by American alternative rock band Failure, released on August 13, 1996 by Slash Records and Warner Bros. Records. It was the last album released on Slash Records prior to its acquisition by London Recordings in 1996. The album was produced by Failure themselves in a process that took longer than their previous two albums, with one song being recorded and produced soon after being written, and repeating this process. Space rock themes are present in the lyrics, as well as various indirect references to drug addiction, drug-related experiences, and prostitution. The album is cyclical, in that the chiming sound effect which ends the final track "Daylight" begins the opening track "Saturday Saviour", and was the beginning of a system of numerically designated segues in Failure's studio work, which would continue on later albums. Despite receiving critical acclaim, the album failed to make an appearance on the Billboard 200 chart, but did produce a charting single with "Stuck on You", which reached #23 on Billboard 's Alternative Songs Chart. Seven of the album's songs were also included on Failure's Essentials, a best-of collection from 2006. Fantastic Planet would be Failure's last studio album for nineteen years until the release of The Heart Is a Monster (2015). Background In 1992, Failure signed with Slash Records (an LA-based independent label), and subsequently released two albums; Comfort in 1992, and Magnified in 1994. Magnified, while not a commercial success, was a hit with critics and pushed the band to begin work on Fantastic Planet in early 1995. Guitarist Troy Van Leeuwen joined Failure around the time of this album's release. Artwork The album art is closely based on an illustration by Ed Valigursky used for the book jacket of the first edition of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard's 1954 novel To the Stars. Release Towards the end of recording Fantastic Planet, Failure learned that Slash Records was putting itself up for sale, and subsequently would not be able to release the band's album. Subsequently, Fantastic Planet remained shelved for about a year after its completion in February 1995, with the band "unofficially" shopping the album to other labels while hoping that Slash would renew its distribution deal with Warner Bros. Records. Upon hearing Fantastic Planet and liking the album, Warner Bros. agreed to directly sign the band in February 1996, but the album was not released for