Danse Macabre

The Faint

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 21, 2001)
• Original Release Date: August 21, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Saddle Creek
• ASIN: B00005NF1H
• In-Print Editions: Vinyl  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (56 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #22,228 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
The old saying goes that if you pretend to be something long enough, you'll eventually become it. If this is true, then the men of the Faint must have spent a lot of time between their rocking debut album, Media, and their third full-length, Danse Macabre, practicing their Duran Duran, Cure, and Depeche Mode impressions. In the process, they have become all that is, was, and probably ever shall be good about new wave music, combining arty electronics with smart social commentary to create an album that is sublime in its ability to recall more goth-rock times while still coming across as entirely original. Songs such as "Posed to Death" and "The Conductor" take on sounds of the band's contemporaries--in these cases, Marilyn Manson and Daft Punk, respectively--but their doing so seems rooted in clever reclamation of new wave sounds appropriated by current artists. In making angular, passionate, and hypnotic music, the Faint are not out to give a history lesson but rather to move a languorous generation of indie kids. And whether mentally or physically or both, Danse Macabre will do just that. --Sarah A. Sternau

Product Description
2003 album and third so far from Nebraska's electo-rockers. Highly recommended, NME gives the album 8 out of 10. City Slang.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Faint , January 21, 2005

By	Ari Weiss (Jericho, NY United States) - See all my reviews

I can't name a band I'm comfortable putting above The Faint in terms of sheer pleasure derived, but in terms of talent, I'm similarly hard-pressed. I believe that there is nothing like this particular album. As much as you will hear "The Faint are 80's wannabes," I think that is an extremely superficial observation. It is not entirely wrong. It is what I thought at first, and it is actually what turned me on to them. It is simply that one gets over that within the first 3 or 4 listens. The people who dismiss them for their 80's imitating have made no attempt to delve into their music. I find it's very easy to dismiss anything without trying to get a feel for it. As I've listened through Danse Macabre an infinite number of times, I now cannot hear the Duran Duran, Cure, Depeche Mode. I love Depeche Mode in their own rite and do feel that they are the biggest influence on The Faint, but by no means do I dwell on their musical likeness when listening to these guys. They are their own entity with lyrics that rival the best storytellers and a "dancebility" more powerful than anything I've ever heard in a club. Listening to The Faint sing incessantly with fervor and style about death and sex throughout this album brings me to laughter. However, their music is far too intense and all-encompassing of my emotions to allow a chuckle during a song. The transitions are too perfectly conceived to get a chance in between songs. And So, I must wait until I've finished listening entirely through the album, for what is most likely the fourth time on repeat, before I can enjoy their unique sense of humor that suits me so well. Every single song is one to turn up extremely loud and go crazy with. It is satisfying to listen to The Faint with a friend, but for obvious reasons, I feel it is more fun to listen on your own...unless you've got liquour (which I don't advocate...it would just make the side-effects of Faint-listening more comparitively normal). I really think of Danse Macabre as a twisted, beautiful, masterpiece in every way. Godspeed.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Describing is impossible, December 5, 2001

By	Dj M.O.D (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews

Describing is truely impossible with this band...if anyone can explain how these guys sound genre wise be my guest :). I'm from Lincoln, NE which is about 50 miles away from where these guys are from and I'll tell you what they are really neat guys that have the talent that it takes to get big. They started out as a indie band, sounded like another Omaha band Bright Eyes. On their second album they started toying with electronica and brought in some keyboards...it was quite dark and dirty but that is just what I loved about it! With this new record Danse Macabre, the synths are clean and beautiful. With party anthems like "Glass Danse" and a dedication to all the conductors out there "The Conductor" you can't go wrong with this record. (personal fav song is "Total Job") So if you want a record that is different from the rest and gives you the chance to take a bite out of it The Faint are a great place to start! Check these guys live if you can!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New Wave is Back!!, September 26, 2001

By	analogzombie "a-z" (the deep south) - See all my reviews

I had the pleasure of seeing The Faint on their tour recently and I was blown away by the sheer energy of their performance. The band and crowd in unison, swaying back and forth to the heavy synth notes. Everyone bopping along to the vocoded bliss. This album expresses their power as a live band as much as a record can. Gone are the heavy sexual themes that dripped off of their Blank-Wave Arcade album. Sex has been replaced by broader themes on "Danse Macabe": from an ode to Orchestra Conductors (The Conductor), to the reality of everday violence (Violent), the band spread their talent and hone their sound. There is definately a more polished and refined Synth sound on this album, as compared to the other two. They make full use of their new guitar player too, to add depth to the synth laden sound. Just as the title suggest this album is darker and heavier than the others while still being music that makes you wanna get up and dance. The album is dominated by bass heavy analog keyboard and distorted robotic vocals. Extremely high energy music. Its a sort of New Wave revival with these guys but they are in no way content to just copy what came before. They make the synth sound, honed in the early 80's, their own. If you like Blank-Wave Arcade you'll love this record but you should probably steer clear of Media, their first LP. It's before they took to Synths full time and really shows how far they've come. If you get a chance go see them live, but if you can't Danse Macabe is as close as you can get for a studio album in terms of sheer energy expression.