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
Hypnotised
The Faint Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I fill their shoes with wet cement.
I make you think of certain things
And when you talk the things you'll say,
I'm pretty sure of what you want.
I bet you want the same as me.
You want to think of something smart,
but I'm giving up on all that fuss.
I'm gonna tell you how it is.
Then, when you get your turn to talk
I hope your microphone is off
And the critics go, "Whoa...yeah...yeah..."
They'll go, "Whoa...yeah...shotgun..."
But, for now just watch the screen.
Let me control the things you think.
You'd like to think you could resist,
But you're being hypnotised by this.
Think of the clock you thought up.
How it's wagging back and forth.
How you're hypnotised by us.
Are you studying my pores?
When my hand snaps you'll wake up
To your daily concerns.
I'm counting backwards in your head.
You're letting me do all the work.
You're under my thumb, yeah, yeah.
(snap)
You're under my thumb, yeah.
How 'bout that, boys?
The Faint's song "Hypnotised" is a commentary on the power of music and how it can manipulate and control listeners. The lyrics suggest that the band is aware of their ability to create catchy and memorable music that will stay with their fans and influence their thoughts and behavior. They use words such as "steal," "fill," and "control" to describe how they can take inspiration from other bands, shape their music to their liking, and manipulate their fans' thoughts.
The singer expresses confidence that he knows what the listener wants, that they want to think of something smart that someone would repeat. But he's giving up on that because he wants to be straightforward and tell it how it is. He wants to be in control of what the fans think and when they talk about the band. He's essentially telling the fans to watch the screen and let him do all the work. He then goes on to describe how they can hypnotize their fans and control them, even in ways that they may not be aware of, such as studying the singer's pores. The song ends with the singer counting backwards in the listener's head, suggesting that they are completely under his control.
Overall, the song is a warning against blindly following music and its creators, and also an acknowledgment of the power that musicians have over their fans. The Faint is using their music to hypnotize their fans and control their thoughts and behavior.
Line by Line Meaning
I steal the notes from other bands.
I plagiarize music from other musicians.
I fill their shoes with wet cement.
I make it difficult for other artists to follow up my music.
I make you think of certain things
My music creates certain thoughts and feelings within you.
And when you talk the things you'll say,
You'll express certain ideas and opinions while under the influence of my music.
I'm pretty sure of what you want.
I know what kind of experience my audience desires.
I bet you want the same as me.
I assume my audience wants what I want from my music.
You want to think of something smart,
You desire to have intelligent thoughts and opinions about my music.
Something someone would repeat,
Something worth remembering and sharing with others.
but I'm giving up on all that fuss.
I'm ignoring the desire for critical acclaim and creating music my way.
I'm gonna tell you how it is.
I'm going to express my true thoughts and feelings through my music.
Then, when you get your turn to talk
When you have the opportunity to respond to my music.
I hope your microphone is off
I hope you don't have a chance to express thoughts that would contradict my music.
And the critics go, "Whoa...yeah...yeah..."
When the critics hear my music, they'll be impressed and excited.
They'll go, "Whoa...yeah...shotgun..."
The critics will express excitement and enthusiasm in response to my music.
But, for now just watch the screen.
Instead of focusing on me or the critics, focus on my music.
Let me control the things you think.
Allow my music to influence your thoughts and emotions.
You'd like to think you could resist,
You believe you can resist the influence of my music.
But you're being hypnotised by this.
However, my music is so powerful that it's successfully drawing you in.
Think of the clock you thought up.
Remember the clock image I've created for you through my music.
How it's wagging back and forth.
The hypnotic circular motion of the imaginary clock image.
How you're hypnotised by us.
How my music has successfully hypnotized and captivated you.
Are you studying my pores?
Are you paying close attention to every detail of my music?
When my hand snaps you'll wake up
You'll eventually snap out of the hypnotic trance and return to reality.
To your daily concerns.
You'll integrate back into your normal life and responsibilities.
I'm counting backwards in your head.
I'm guiding you through the hypnotic trance and controlling your thoughts.
You're letting me do all the work.
You've completely surrendered to my music and allowed it to take over your mind.
You're under my thumb, yeah, yeah.
My music completely dominates and controls your mind and emotions.
(snap)
The snap symbolizes the end of the hypnotic trance and the return to reality.
You're under my thumb, yeah.
My music continues to have a strong and lasting hold on your mind and emotions.
How 'bout that, boys?
A bragging expression of my musical power over my audience.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: SAMUEL KOMPFNER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind