Jim is joined on "A Failure" by musicians from albums' past, including singer/songwriter Kevin Quain (keys) who previously played on 2004's Kill Devil Hills, Dave Gooblar (keys) from 2008's When The Saints Go, and Richard Clements (piano) and Meghan Engel (strings) from 2011's The Road To Anhedonia.. Jim is also joined by some new faces, including Dave Tompkins (bass), Ashley Karlin (vocals), and Shawn Nourse (drums).