Customer Reviews

Wet From Birth

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(5)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

I'm a huge fan of Danse Macabre, as its one of those rare albums that sort of carves out its own niche, but appeals to people who listen to a lot of different types of music. I spent some time with their new cd before I wrote this, because it has a different sound to it... as an album, it is much more varied than Danse Macabre, using a variety of sounds (especially strings), in place of the more limited (but more consistent) approach of their earlier work.

That said... this is a very good cd. The tracks that work, REALLY work well. The ones that don't aren't awful, just a little bit jarring or disjointed in various ways.

For example, the leadoff track, Desperate Guys, is in no way a bad song, but the vocals come of as sort of jarring against the music. How Could I Forget definitely sounds more like the Faint of old, and is a great track... ditto for I disappear, which is a nicely layered song (and almost sounds like, gasp, a rock song). Track four gets interesting... here, experimentation pays off in a great track with strings and some nice female background vocals. Very nice. Track six, Paranoiaattack, is also excellent.

If you have been a fan of the Faint in the past, definitely pick up this album. Just be aware that its a little different. Some tracks have almost a punk-rock feel to them, some are almost dance music, and others are more like the older Faint tracks, however you would classify that... Goth/Industrial synth powered quasi-dance music? Sure, why not.

So, to sum up... not a perfectly executed cd, but very enjoyable in its imperfections. Worth buying for sure.

Before I begin criticizing, I have to say that in my opinion, The Faint are only capable of 5-star albums. (I'm not sure about Media - it is the most drastically unFaint, and even that one seems pretty good to me, for what it is...) Wet From Birth has it's problems, just as does Blank-Wave Arcade (their first true Faint album). The length of this album is obscene: 34 minutes. I could forgive that when it was cute that they were young and experimental, wanting to get in and get out, leaving you wanting more. But it's 6 years since the release of their debut and exactly half of that time has been spent waiting for this album to come out. I feel quite strongly that leaving me with 34 minutes of music for another 3 years would be violating. In addition, there is a lack of cohesive masterpiece feeling that I find Danse Macabre exudes. All Faint albums are tight. The transitions are brilliant and the themes are well-thought out. That is a given. And with their discomforting lengths, how could they not be at the very least, tight? Nevertheless, Danse Macabre was more stuck on the death-sex dark humor and intensity. This one is in line with the last, only slightly less dark, and what I would consider slightly less striking. There are still songs that call one to action, the closest to the undeniable you-must-dance beauty of songs like "Glass Danse" is "Symptom Finger." All of that criticism off my chest, I hope it's not a cop-out to say that I truly adore this album. I think that it is one of the most enjoyable listens of any album and that any band should covet this. And as I've overdosed (and am still not tired of) their previous two albums, this is a new and welcomed obsession. I wish everyone to enjoy this album to the fullest, warnings heeded.

to tell you the truth, this little album came as a plesant suprise to me. despite my love for saddle creek, i had never gotten into this genre before so i had some preconceived notions (all of which were quickly dashed)
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i saw them live with bright eyes. incredible. i had only listened through the album a few times, to get aquainted before the show at least. no one i was with at the show had the album with them, so i had to wait until i got home to listen again! i wanted so badly to explore those songs again after seeing them live
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"wet from birth" is a joy to listen to. it is a perfect fusion of good music that can stand on its own and good tunes you can dance to. i love dancing but i never expected to be dancing at a show that had bright eyes headlining. the faint is infectious, and gets into your head. i am now a dedicated fan, i must say.
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tracks like "desperate guys" and "symptom finger" have both clever vocals and catchy beats, which seems to be what the faint is all about. "southern bells" is the one i can't stop playing. "paranoiattack" was the one that got my attention at the show, hundreds of kids around me screaming "PARANOIA! PARANOIA!" the faint has a political edge to their lyrics which also sets them apart through out "wet from birth".
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this little gem should be included in your cd collection. i don't claim to be an expert in any of this, especially this genre, but this is the first dance band i have heard that has had something relevant to say behind the synth. great group of guys, great album.

These Anglophiles from Omaha, Nebraska, are a rare breed: new-wave revivalists who don't get off on retro irony. Despite stroboscopic beats and hiccuppy vocals, the Faint's hardcore-synth offensive is about as cozy as a mortuary slab. Danse Macabre from 2001 was a disco record for kickball outcasts that inspired the return of scary '80s haircuts. This time, perspiration trumps inspiration, as madly sawing strings and short-circuiting robot bleeps compensate for the lack of hooks. A concept sex album summed up by the title, Wet From Birth kicks off with rejection ("Desperate Guys") and blackouts ("I Disappear"), but the guys finally get it up (on the crudely grinding "Erection") and are proud papas by the closing track, appropriately titled "Birth," an unsqueamish ode to procreation that opens matter-of-factly ("In the beginning there was semen . . .") and only gets more graphic from there.

I was pretty dissapointed in this album, especially since most reviews I've read are very enamored with it. The only song I liked on the album was 'Paranoiattack', the rest were not up to par with what I expect from the Faint. My personal favorite would still have to be Blank-Wave Arcade.

When I heard Danse Macabre, I thought that the Faint were a band I could love. However, they got lost in my music shuffle. Nonetheless, I bought Wet From Birth when if came out. This time I was floored: It is unbelievable. I can't get the album out of my CD player. Even better, I just saw them in Toronto with Beep Beep and TV on the Radio. It may be one of the best performances I have ever seen. My credentials: I have seen two of ...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead's tour ending, equipment-destroying, mini-riot causing Vancouver shows.

The Faint's Wet From Birth is another great cd filled with synth-core sounds. The lyrics are solid, and The Faint continues to use catchy beats and melodies to bring in listeners. There is a little bit of an evolution from Danse Macabre to Wet From Birth, which is always a good thing. This is a great cd, especially if your a fan of The Faint.