The Faint
's second album
Blank-Wave Arcade
delivers more choppy new-wave rhythms, spiky guitars, and acidic, old-school synths, with a little punk-rock attitude thrown in for good measure. While the group has been compared to the usual suspects, like
Gary Numan
,
Devo
, and
the Cure
, there is also a strong resemblance to
Blur
's new wave/punk fusion -- especially in singer
Todd Baechle
's staccato, faux-Brit delivery -- and
the Normal
's fascination with sex and cars pops up on
the Faint
's angular, uptight songs, especially
"Sex Is Personal,"
"Worked Up So Sexual,"
and
"Cars Pass in Cold Blood."
"Victim Convenience"
"The Passives"
are dystopian and futuristic, while
"Sealed Human"
presents a quieter, more interesting version of the band's sound, mixing a drumbeat that sounds like the purr of a touch-tone phone with modem-like synths and processed vocals. Though originality isn't their strong suit,
do display an aggressive, dynamic reinterpretation of their influences, suggesting that their synthetic new wave can be just as entertaining as the real deal. ~ Heather Phares