The Faint

The Faint has been predicted to be the band that brings electro-clash into the mainstream. With their third full-length, Danse Macabre, the band has covered all the bases to construct an electro classic. The music is dark and danceable, ranging somewhere between Depeche Mode’s "Master & Servant” and the Normal’s "Warm Leatherette.” The funny thing about the Faint is how melodic their tunes are, even though the sound is so dramatic. "Agenda Suicide” is bleak enough to depress any goth fan, but in hindsight it’s as catchy as any tune the Strokes have released. This goes for the rest of the album as well. With the hummability of "Posed to Death” comes the same feeling you get when you hear "Tainted Love” at a retro night. There’s even bits of black comedy, with a smart tribute to ’80s one-hit wonders on "Your Retro Career Melted,” and to death on, well, most tracks. The synthesiser hasn’t sounded this promising in a number of years, and now that the Faint have finally lost their anonymity, it’s time to make rehashed ’80s synth-pop the next big thing on the radio.