In the beginning, there was semen

MP3 - The Faint - Birth (Wet From Birth)
MP3 - The Faint - I Disappear (Wet From Birth)

I went to see The Faint at the Custard Factory in Birmingham on Thursday and I think the phrase I'd have to use to describe them would be The Nebraskan Duran Duran. They shamelessly flaunt their 80's influences, whether it's the swirling synths of Jacob Thiele or the vocoder tinged vocals and Simon Le Bon mannerisms of Todd Baechle.

Their new album was written in a Washing Machine warehouse and has even had a bit of a savaging from Pitchfork, so that means it's got to be good!

The band formed in Omaha, Nebraska in 1994. Conor 'Bright Eyes' Oberst was part of the original line up, but was kicked out/quit before they enjoyed any success.

MP3 - The Faint - Call Call (Blank-Wave Arcade)
MP3 - The Faint - Worked Up So Sexual (Blank-Wave Arcade)

After a number of personnel changes, the band hit on a winning formula, embraced the synths and produced the album Blank Wave Arcade. Moderate success followed and the group expanded to include video in their live shows and began to create their second album.

MP3 - The Faint - Agenda Suicide (Danse Macabre)
MP3 - The Faint- Glass Danse (Danse Macabre)

Danse Macabre was the album that took The Faint into the mainstream. Riding on the back of bands like Radio4 and The Rapture, the 80's were now 'in' and the band perfectly meshed classic 80's influences with the punk funk sound around at that time.