Wet From Birth

The Faint | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 14, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Saddle Creek
• ASIN: B0002T7Z2U
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #92,269 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Billboard.com

"A dark thriller of an album..."

"...an industrial synth-pop melange that is jittery, potent, and morosely sexual"

"Confused, crazy, disparate, and magnificently worthwhile electro-wave"

Product Description

The follow-up to 2001's "Danse Macabre" is the band's most feverish and intense work to date.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another change of pace from a great band., September 14, 2004

By 

J. P. DuQuette "Contributor, Japanzine" (Shizuoka, Japan) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wet From Birth (Audio CD)

Not half as dark and industrial as Danse Macabre, Wet from Birth is a helluva lot more listenable. This is definitely indies synth pop, not particularly dance-DJ friendly, but a lot of fun as party BGM or driving tunes. The addition of a string section on some songs is a welcome novelty, and the lyrics are typically wry; "Southern Belles" sounds a bit like a popped up Current 93 or Legendary Pink Dots, which was an unexpected surprise. Those critical of the new album as a "transitory piece" or those that don't like it's lighter appeal...well, every Faint album has been pretty different from previous efforts, and I for one would rather have this cool pop experiment in my CD player than a rehash of (the admittedly excellent) Danse Macabre or Blank-Wave Arcade.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars F*@K your emo, give me computers & keyboards, September 15, 2004

By 

D. A. Sumrall (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wet From Birth (Audio CD)

The Faint are doing all they can to become this century's Depeche Mode. Their first album "Media" wasn't worth noticing because it sounded like a good deal of everything else. But then "Blank Wave Arcade" hit and was ignored by all except those of us who do not fear synth-rock. "Danse Macabre" was dark but that's like calling something 'surreal,' a generally meaningless categorization. What was great about "Danse Macabre" was the mixture of traditional rock instruments with intense synth layering. And the songs were short, they were blasts of high energy ultra-cool technology.
"Wet from birth" is no different, but the band is growing and refusing to simply recycle itself. This will cause hipsters and vacuous trendies to declare the album a disappointment. Well, they can go right ahead. The album opener 'desperate guys' is slick and innovative while 'i disappear' is track that should become a dance floor favorite for those of us who still dance to bauhaus. The meat of this album are tracks five through seven. 'Erection' takes the structure and tone of Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus.' 'ParanoiaAttack' is not social commentary but an expression of anxiety that many and most can relate to, that said it's fast and fun. 'Dropkick the punks' finds lead singer Todd Baechle trying to channel Jello Biafra, only it doesn't suck.
This is a fun album, a mature album that proves the Faint aren't just another noun-marker band. And anyone willing to comb their hair and not be bored or boring will realize this.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars OK, but I liked Danse Macabre better..., October 17, 2004

By 

Michael H. Moore "M2" (World Traveler) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Wet From Birth (Audio CD)

I picked this up yesterday as I recently heard Danse Macabre and really liked the 80's retro style. This isn't a bad album, butif you are like me and have heard Danse Macabre, and are expecting this to be similar, you may be disappointed. Again, I would like to emphasize it isn't a bad album/CD (whatever we call them these days...), but there is no 80's flavor to it as there was on Danse Macabre. I really don't feel it is "pop" or mainstream, and maybe I should take the suggestions of previous reviewers and listen to it a few more times (Will it grow on me? Maybe...), but my initial impression is that The Faint have lateralled tha can be described as not being forward progression or regression, just different. I will give it a few more listens and let you know what I think in a week or two, but for now my feeling is if you are looking for a follow-up to Danse Macabre, you may be disappointed.