Capsule 1999-2016

Description

CAPSULE:1999-2016 is a retrospective collection that represents a golden era for The Faint. The album includes 16 of their most beloved songs from five albums and is an excellent primer for new fans or a classic collection for those whove been nodding along since the Blank-Wave Arcade days. Noisey is running an exclusive premiere of Skylab1979, one of two new tracks appearing on the album in addition to the recently released Young & Realistic.

The Omaha-based band had been kicking around for four years prior to that period, but had a hard time hitting their stride. We didnt make anything we really liked until 1999, frontman Todd Fink laughs. The Faint released some initial material that fit in with the times-reminiscent of the post-punk sounds of Fugazi and other Dischord Records bands-but wasnt anything spectacular, lacking the distinct personality that would eventually come to define them.

It was in writing Worked Up So Sexual, the hit single from 1999s Blank-Wave Arcade, that the band struck their jackpot moment. They discovered an entirely original fusion of synth sounds over a blaring rock background, one that was as catchy as it was danceable. Just like that, the Faint captured lightning in a bottle.

I felt lucky like, blessed or something, Fink remembers. By the time wed actually recorded those songs, we were like, Yeah, this is where its at. We were excited to go play basement shows and little bars and halls and just bring the music that we hunted down, that felt like us.

Still reveling in the success of their newfound identity, the band added death metal guitarist Dapose and released their masterpiece, Danse Macabre, in 2001, one of Saddle Creeks all-time big three albums, right up there with Cursives The Ugly Organ and Bright Eyes Lifted. It was a dark and sinister work that could still be enjoyed on the dance floor. Songs like Agenda Suicide and Glass Danse forced blasts of disorienting techno beats into aggressive, almost industrial noise that leaned heavily on filthy bass lines. The album exploded, and their weirdo melange of genres brought them a sizeable audience dancing along.

Armed with their new, dynamic sound, the band released an onslaught onto unsuspecting crowds around the country-a bombastic audio/visual assault of strobe lights, keyboards, and dance-punk. At times, they were convinced that their esoteric style of punk with a fun twist was bound to turn people off, but to their surprise, the Faint began to catch on. Over the next few years, they continued to evolve on Wet from Birth in 2004 and Fasciinatiion in 2008, before taking a hiatus prior to returning for their anticipated 2014 album, Doom Abuse.

CAPSULE:1999-2016 serves to bookend this remarkable 17-year period for the Omaha vets, a time which saw them as imitable pioneers of electro-punk. In addition to highlighting songs from five of The Faints most popular albums, CAPSULE:1999-2016 features three new songs. The recently released single, Young & Realistic, and two bonus unreleased songs: Skylab1979 and ESP, all of which feature latest member Graham Ulicny (Reptar) on synth duties. The new songs give a glimpse of whats to come for The Faint, as they embark on a new chapter in their long, influential career.