MUSIC: The Faint, Fasciination
With their original, electronic sound and dance-punk beats, The Faint have long been one of Omaha, Nebraska's most influential and remarkable bands. The band established their new wave, synthesized sound with their 1999 release Blank-Wave Arcade, and since that time, the buzz around The Faint has been anything but faint. In 2001, Danse Macabre arrived in the form of dance-ready synth rock, and in 2004, the ambitious Wet From Birth added a twist to The Faint's already unique sound with the addition of synthesized strings. During the four-year hiatus between Wet From Birth and Fasciination, The Faint built their own recording studio and began their own record label, blank.wav, parting from their label of the past ten years, Saddle Creek Records, a label which, with the signing of The Faint and a few other well-known Omaha bands (Cursive, Bright Eyes), helped jumpstart the now flourishing Omaha music scene.
The Faint hint at themes used on previous albums (sex, anyone?) and don't disappoint when it comes to unique—and sometimes nauseating—lyrics. "Fish In A Womb" arranges lurid lyrics like "That slice in my neck, its oozing jelly clear as glass" against the backdrop of a beautiful melody, which can be distracting. The Faint also seem to have departed from Wet From Birth's busy, layered sounds with an album more simple
and uncluttered than the albums before it. Even in a less complex form, the music is unmistakably The Faint. They continue to be innovative and refreshing. The hip-hop-meets-techno "Fulcrum and Lever" accompanies several lively, dynamic tracks like the ones heard on their previous albums—"The Geeks Were Right" and "Psycho" are as dance-ready and fun as anything The Faint has done in the past. With Fasciination, they stick to their roots while tweaking their sound at the same time. While it may not live up to some of their earlier work, it's still The Faint—solid, enjoyable electrodance music with a fresh, unique sound.
Amanda Sorell
THU 21 SIDEWISE
SEVEREND - AT THE LEFT HAND OF GOD
LEFT ON NORTHWOOD
SAT 23 GO! FEATURING VIBESQUAD
BROUGHT TO YOU BY CICADA RHYTHM
FRI 22 VOLUNTEERS
ANOTHER HOLIDAY THE CHERRY TREE PARADE
SUN 24 GIANTS
ACTORS & ACTRESSES - SENTIENT
MON 25 ANDY FRASCO
BIG SURPRISE + CARGO CULT MISSIONAIRES
TUE 26 THE FELT SHOW
GOLD • PUPPETS & MUSIC 9PM!
WED 27 HAWNAY TROOF
IGGYBABY
FRI 22 ARTHUR DODGE & THE HORSESAFTERS
THE BELLES 'LOVE GARDEN ON THE PATIO
THU 21 THE GUMSHY
THISISMYCONDITION • HAWLEY SCHOFFNER
SAT 23 THE VON EHRICS
THE F-HOLES • CANDIPANTS & DOUBLETROULE
SUN 24 TRUCKSTOP HONEYMOON
MIDDAY RAMBLEBS ALL EARLY ALLS 6PM PATIO
MON 25 METAL SCHOOL
D JOTMEL CRUZ ON THE PATIO
TUE 26 MOSQUITO BANDITO
BOUYANT S'BETEL.GBASEEJETEL.GBASEEJETEL.GBASEEJ
August 21,2008
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