Wet From Birth by Faint (The) (CD, Sep-2004, Saddle Creek Records)

The Faint are doing all they can to become this century's Depeche Mode. Their first album "Media" wasn't worth noticing because it sounded like a good deal of everything else. But then "Blank Wave Arcade" hit and was ignored by all except those of us who do not fear synth-rock. "Danse Macabre" was dark but that's like calling something 'surreal,' a generally meaningless categorization. What was great about "Danse Macabre" was the mixture of traditional rock instruments with intense synth layering. And the songs were short; they were blasts of high energy ultra-cool technology.

"Wet from birth" is no different, but the band is growing and refusing to simply recycle itself. This will cause hipsters and vacuous trendies to declare the album a disappointment. Well, they can go right ahead. The album opener 'desperate guys' is slick and innovative while 'I disappear' is track that should become a dance floor favorite for those of us who still dance to Bauhaus. The meat of this album are tracks five through seven. 'Erection' takes the structure and tone of Depeche Mode's 'Personal Jesus.' 'ParanoiaAttack' is not social commentary but an expression of anxiety that many and most can relate to, that said it's fast and fun. 'Dropkick the punks' finds lead singer Todd Baechle trying to channel Jello Biafra, only it doesn't suck.

This is a fun album, a mature album that proves the Faint aren't just another noun-marker band. And anyone willing to comb their hair and not be bored or boring will realize this.