The Faint do it their way.
Before Electroclash and the wave of 00's Dance-rock there was The Faint, emerging in the late 1990s in Omaha, Nebraska - a place known more for stoic practicality than synth-punk. In that unlikely setting of beige restraint, they pioneered a sound that combined the melodic essence of new wave, the raw edge of post-punk, and the robotic futurism of Detroit electro. Breaking free from indie rock’s humble comfort, they arrived armed with synths, dark eyeliner, and a raw, frenetic energy that dared audiences to actually feel something real, something primal. The late ’90s and early 2000s indie scene was primed for a shock, and The Faint delivered—not just as a band, but as an invitation to cast off coolness, to sweat, to move, and to live fully in the moment.
By 'Danse Macabre' (2001), The Faint’s new wave postpunk had crystallized into something darker and more expansive - and the world was paying attention. The album fused Berlin’s underground pulse with Omaha’s DIY grit, where punk was as much about rhythm as rebellion. With the addition of death metal guitarist Dapose, the sound tipped their lo-fi technopop into some truly strange territory. The band’s propaganda-inspired album cover served as both a rallying cry for bodily liberation and a veiled warning about the coming digital age.
As major labels came calling, The Faint chose to stay true to their DIY ethos, maintaining control over their vision and sticking with their hometown imprint Saddle Creek. When 'Wet From Birth' arrived in 2004, it built on their synth-punk foundation. Orchestral layers and more intricate arrangements added depth without taming its confrontational and sometimes paranoid spirit. The band toured relentlessly, including an unexpected arena tour with No Doubt that ended with a stage prank that sent Todd to a New Mexico jail cell. (Don’t worry, Gwen bailed him out.)
Twenty years removed from its release, The Faint are returning to announce a reissue of 'Wet From Birth'. The reissue includes the original release - meticulously remastered for vinyl from the original tapes by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound - two never-before-heard ‘unrealized’ tracks from the album’s sessions, unreleased demos, and previously released remixes.
TRACK LISTING
1. Desperate Guys
2. How Could I Forget?
3. I Disappear
4. Southern Belles In London Sing
5. Erection
6. Paranoiattack
7. Dropkick The Punks
8. Phone Call
9. Symptom Finger
10. Birth
11. Zealots (Unrealized)
12. Mister (Unrealized)
13. Birth (Thailand Demo)
14. Desperate Guys (Demo)
15. Symptom Finger (Demo)
16. Paranoiattack (Demo)
17. Hypnotised
18. I Disappear (FC Kahuna Remix)
