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
Acting: On-Campus Television
The Faint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Acting on the TV
I can see their faces
red alert, the siren's loud, the drafted are all coming back
this job takes dedication
when things start with no beginning
it doesn't mean that they aren't true
nips the wrist with a fork through it
half the battles fueled with hate
"many loathsome fights were sacred!"
shout the crew who hold their swatches
they paint on the set and cry
ice is plastic enough to try to sculpt with it
the color curdles and waves drip down
and I'm still thinking about the time a scene takes them
the dormitories are awful quiet
acting on the TV
and he's not pretending
I'm convinced that there's not someone else beneath
the pixeled screen
an army edit
the set was finished last
ice is plastic enough to try to sculpt with it
color curdles and waves drip down
I'm still thinking about the time a scene takes up
the dormitories are awful quiet
and these swollen eyes
and static lens
they blink when there's nothing but TV
we beg for it
to calm us down
and believe that it's real what they're doing
these swollen eyes
and static lenses
they blink on and off and off and on
The Faint's song "Acting: On-Campus Television" seems to explore the surreal world of television production on a college campus. The song begins by noting how the campus is expanding and changing, but then transitions to describing a TV crew at work. The lyrics are somewhat disjointed, but seem to suggest that the crew is frantic and dedicated, yet fighting a battle fueled by hate. The song's narrator is watching the crew's work on TV and is struck by how consuming it is. They marvel at the plastic ice and paint that the crew uses and are still thinking about the time it takes to set up a scene long after the show has ended. The song closes with a reflection on the hypnotic power of TV and how it can both calm and deceive us.
Line by Line Meaning
Acting on the TV
The characters are performing on television
I can see their faces
The viewer is able to see the characters' facial expressions
Red alert, the siren's loud, the drafted are all coming back
The scene being acted out involves a military draft and an alarm sounding
This job takes dedication
Acting is a profession that requires commitment and hard work
When things start with no beginning, it doesn't mean that they aren't true
Even if a scene starts abruptly, it can still be authentic
As the current through the atlas nips the wrist with a fork through it
This line is nonsensical and does not have a clear meaning
Half the battles fueled with hate
Many conflicts arise from anger and hostility
'Many loathsome fights were sacred!' shout the crew who hold their swatches
The production team is passionate about their work, even if the content is controversial
They paint on the set and cry
The crew is emotionally invested in the production and may shed tears
Ice is plastic enough to try to sculpt with it
The crew is using fake ice to create a desired effect
The color curdles and waves drip down
The fake ice is melting and losing its desired effect
And I'm still thinking about the time a scene takes them
The viewer is wondering about how much work and time went into creating the scene
The dormitories are awful quiet
The setting of the scene is a college campus where the dorms are currently quiet
And he's not pretending, I'm convinced that there's not someone else beneath the pixelated screen
The viewer is drawn into the character's performance and believes it to be genuine
An army edit, the set was finished last
There were many people involved in the editing process of this production and the set was recently completed
These swollen eyes and static lens they blink when there's nothing but TV
The viewer's eyes may become tired and strained while watching television
We beg for it to calm us down and believe that it's real what they're doing
The viewer turns to television as a source of relaxation and entertainment, and sometimes forgets that it is not reality
These swollen eyes and static lenses they blink on and off and off and on
The viewer's vision may become distorted or shaky from staring at the TV for an extended period of time
Lyrics © OBO APRA/AMCOS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind