Click HERE for a first look at The Faint's DVD preview
Pre-Order the album HERE
In anticipation of their upcoming remastered release of Danse Macabre, Omaha's The Faint are sharing a preview of director Jonathan Tvrdik's short documentary from the Deluxe Edition's DVD. The band's personal collection of videos documenting the recording of Danse Macabre, behind the scenes tour footage, and live shows from the time were mined to offer a glimpse at the world of The Faint circa August 2001 when the album was originally released.
The remastered release, which features six bonus tracks from the era as well as an extensive booklet, will be available digitally on October 30th and physically onNovember 19th in either a triple-disc format with a DVD, or double vinyl that also includes the CDs and DVD. Additionally, the DVD will include the above mentioned archival video footage from the band, live projection videos from that era's tour dates, the "Agenda Suicide" music video (directed by MK12), some live footage, and more. Copies of the physical release will be limited to 5,000 for the 2xCD/DVD package and 3,000 for the 2xLP/2xCD/DVD package.
The release is being supported by a tour starting the first week of November that will find the group performing Danse Macabre in its entirety for the first time ever. The Faint will also be performing favorites from their catalog, as well as debuting new songs. And aside from some warm-up gigs in August and September (including The Faint’s inaugural shows at Slowdown, the Omaha club run by Saddle Creek, and an FYF headlining spot), it will be the first time fans have been exposed to the new slim-and-trim quartet of vocalist Todd Fink, keyboardist Jacob Thiele, guitarist Dapose, and drummer Clark Baechle.
Differentiating from previous albums, The Faint attempted to conjure the energy of bumping Berlin dance floors nearly 5,000 miles away from their home in eastern Nebraska with the release of Danse Macabre. The nine-song album sizzled with perfectly aggressive synth lines, Fink’s menacingly effected vocals, infectious beats, bits of industrial and goth, and, at the heart of it all, strong songwriting featuring the kind of minor-key melodies that make singing along inevitable. Lyrically, Fink moved on from the sexually-charged nature of Blank-Wave to explore themes related to the importance of living for yourself and doing what you love, most notably showcased in the ominous “Agenda Suicide.” Death-metal guitarist Dapose, who had been brought in to be the band’s art director and assist with the videos projected during live shows, eventually started adding to the music, and upstart engineer and producer Mike Mogis (whose name can be found all over Saddle Creek’s illustrious catalog) perfectly captured The Faint’s sound and attitude despite never previously working on an electronic record.
“We thought about what it would be to capture the essence of a dance club,” says Thiele. “I’m glad that the BPMs are all over the place and that we didn’t actually do a bunch of house tempos, which is more the direction we were trying to emulate. But we kind of kept it rock ’n’ roll.”
Not surprisingly, Danse Macabre gained a lot of attention, including that of major labels, though the band eventually decided to remain on its independent path. Saddle Creek owner Robb Nansel fondly recalls watching the group blow up before his eyes, a phenomenon that became more and more apparent when The Faint took its storied live show—full of sweat, smoke, eyeliner, and those invigorating strobe lights—on the road.
“I remember some of the shows at the Metro in Chicago—just seeing the crowds react was always the most rewarding moment,” says Nansel. “Seeing like 800 people, or whatever was in the room at the time, all freaking out and dancing around. We’d seen that in Omaha happen over the years, but it’s so different when you see it out of town.”
And they’re still freaking out over the band’s live performances, which take rocking and dancing to epic heights. In addition to the songs from Danse Macabre, this fall’s tour will include entries from across The Faint’s discography, which also includes 2004’s Wet From Birth and 2008’s Fasciinatiion, as well as some brand-new material. What better way to celebrate the band’s past, present, and future than with the dance party of the year?
The Faint Tour Dates
* = with Trust
^ = with Casket Girls
# = with Icky Blossoms
11/08: Denver, CO @ Ogden Theatre *
11/09: Salt Lake City, UT @ In The Venue *
11/10: Reno, NV @ Knitting Factory *
11/13: Vancouver, BC @ Commodore Ballroom *
11/14: Portland, OR @ Roseland Theater
11/16: Sacramento, CA @ Ace of Spades *^
11/17: San Francisco, CA @ Regency Ballroom ^
11/18: Los Angeles, CA @ The Fonda Theater
11/20: San Diego, CA @ House of Blues ^
11/21: Pomona, CA @ The Glass House
11/23: Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom *^
11/24: Las Vegas, NV @ House of Blues *^
11/27: Dallas, TX @ House of Blues *#
11/28: Austin, TX @ Emo's East #
11/30: Nashville, TN @ Cannery Ballroom *#
12/01: Atlanta, GA @ The Masquerade – Heaven Stage *#
12/02: Asheville, NC @ The Orange Peel #
12/05: Washington, DC @ 9:30 Club *#
12/06: Philadelphia, PA @ Trocadero *#
12/07: New York, NY @ Terminal 5 *#
12/08: Boston, MA @ Paradise Rock Club *#
12/09: Montreal, QC @ Club Soda *#
12/11: Toronto, ON @ Sound Academy *#
12/12: Chicago, IL @ Metro *#
12/13: Minneapolis, MN @ First Avenue *#
12/14: Omaha, NE @ Sokol Auditorium *#
Track Listing
1. Agenda Suicide
2. Glass Danse
3. Total Job
4. Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat
5. Your Retro Career Melted
6. Posed To Death
7. The Conductor
8. Violent
9. Ballad Of A Paralysed Citizen
Bonus Tracks
1. Take Me To The Hospital
2. Mote
3. Dust
4. Falling Out Of Love At This Volume
5. The Conductor (Thin White Duke Remix)
6. Glass Danse (Out Hud Remix)
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