The band consists of Clark Baechle, Todd Fink (formerly known as Todd Baechle), and Joel Petersen. They signed to Saddle Creek Records and released a few singles, but were unable to establish widespread sales, though they were extremely popular in the Omaha-area. After adding Matt Bowen, The Faint released Media, which established them within a small, national community of fans. While touring, Bowen left and was replaced by Jacob Thiele who helped move the next album, Blank-Wave Arcade, towards a more dance and electronica influenced sound. The album was an underground hit. Partway through the creation of the morose Danse Macabre, The Faint added Dapose, a death metal guitarist formerly of LEAD. Danse Macabre was also a critical and commercial success and has helped to establish a wider fanbase for the band. Their 4th album, released in 2004, is called Wet from Birth.
In 2002 bassist Joel Petersen released the first album from his solo project, Broken Spindles, and he has since released two subsequent albums and had a U.S. tour. Guitarist Dapose also has a side-project, Vverevvolf Grehv, releasing his first album in 2008.
On December 12th, 2005, The Faint announced that they have moved out of The Orifice (a rented out warehouse they used to record Wet from Birth) and into ENAMEL, a 100-year-old building where they recorded the tracks for their next album, Fasciinatiion.
1995 | Sine Sierra (Norman Bailer) | Lumberjack
1998 | Media | CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-21]
1999 | The Faint / Ex-Action Figures (split) | 7» Saddle Creek [LBJ-25]
1999 | Blank-Wave Arcade | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-29]
2000 | Blank-Wave Arcade Remixes | 12»PD Saddle Creek [LBJ-33]
2001 | Danse Macabre | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-37]
2001 | Mote / Dust | 12»EP Gold Standard Laboratories [GSL 47]
2001 | Agenda Suicide | CDS Fierce Panda [NING 117]
2003 | Danse Macabre Remixes | 3LP/CD Astralwerks [ASC 83269]
2003 | The Conductor | 12»EP Astralwerks [ASC 83862]
2004 | I Disappear | 12»/CDS Saddle Creek [LBJ-66]
2004 | Wet From Birth | LP/CD Saddle Creek [LBJ-67]
2004 | Desperate Guys Saddle Creek
2008 | The Geeks Were Right Blank.wav
2008 | Fasciinatiion Blank.wav
05. Desperate Guys
The Faint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Her loins in my imagination have urged an inconceivable touch
I was planning on, I mean wishing on
How embarrassed I'd've been if you knew what I was thinking of
And woah when it started, my first thought was love
Then just lust, 'cause when I heard you start speaking about "warm"
In the evening I saw you, you were warming a bass up
I was acting indifferent at the Merch booth, putting on make-up
We met up at a party, at a spot on a yacht
Eyes spun around, we were docked
I crossed my fingers, but I didn't beg
Cause I knew you knew
Cause I knew you knew I liked you
I knew you knew I liked you
I knew you knew it
But I figured desperate guys never had a chance
I figured desperate guys never had a chance with you
Plus you were wishing, we're conjoined at the tongue
Can you hear me thinking I should stop?
I crossed my fingers, but I didn't beg
Cause I knew you knew
Cause I knew you knew I liked you
I knew you knew I liked you
I knew you knew it
But I figured desperate guys never had a chance
I knew you knew I liked you
I knew you knew it
But I figured desperate guys never had a chance with you
I figured desperate guys never had a chance with you
I knew that desperate guys never had a chance with you
The Faint’s song Desperate Guys is a narrative that explores the complexity of attraction and physical lust, and the struggles that come with navigating those emotions. The opening lyrics immediately evoke intrigue as the singer poses a rhetorical question asking whether the connection they felt with someone went beyond physical attraction. The next line is particularly intriguing as it paints a vivid image of imaginary desires becoming so palpable that it urges an inconceivable touch. The use of the word ‘inconceivable’ adds another dimension to the song as it brings in notions of forbidden love or unrequited affections. The question of whether these thoughts will be uncovered becomes a recurring theme throughout the song.
The narrative then progresses to the singer meeting this person at a party with jazz undertones, probably on a yacht. The lyrics paint a picture of anticipation and hope as the singer recounts crossing his fingers, not wanting to beg, and hoping that the person they liked knew it. However, the singer is also mindful of the fact that desperate guys never had a chance with this person. The song comes full circle as the lyrics repeat the same line twice.
Line by Line Meaning
Was it more than attraction and a physical lust?
Was our connection just based on physical attraction or was there something deeper?
Her loins in my imagination have urged an inconceivable touch
I have fantasized about touching her in ways that are inappropriate to say out loud.
I was planning on, I mean wishing on, how embarrassed I'd've been if you knew what I was thinking of
I tried to keep my thoughts to myself, fearing that she would be disgusted if she knew what I was thinking.
And woah when it started, my first thought was love, then just lust
When our relationship started, I thought it was love, but it was really just lust.
'Cause when I heard you start speaking about "warm", in the evening I saw you, you were warming a bass up
When I heard you talking about 'warm', I watched you playing bass in the evening and was charmed by your passion.
Your hair covered your face up, I was acting indifferent at the Merch booth, putting on make-up
I tried to appear uninterested at the merchandise booth, but my feelings for you were undeniable.
We met up at a party, at a spot on a yacht, eyes spun around, we were docked
We met up at a party on a yacht, and I felt like we were anchored together, unable to break away from each other's gaze.
I crossed my fingers, but I didn't beg, 'cause I knew you knew, 'cause I knew you knew I liked you
I hoped for a sign of affection from you, but I didn't want to beg for it. I knew you were aware of my feelings for you.
I knew you knew I liked you, I knew you knew it
I was certain that you were aware of my feelings.
But I figured desperate guys never had a chance
I believed that someone like me, who was desperate for your affection, didn't stand a chance.
Plus you were wishing, we're conjoined at the tongue, can you hear me thinking I should stop?
You also wanted to be close to me, even going as far as wishing our mouths were conjoined. I struggled with how fast we were moving and wondered if I should slow down.
I knew that desperate guys never had a chance with you
I had already convinced myself that you would never be interested in someone as desperate as me.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: CLARK BAECHLE, JACOB THIELE, JOEL PETERSEN, MICHAEL DAPPEN, TODD BEACHLE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind