Music Review: The Faint – Danse Macabre [Deluxe Edition]

It was a sad time back at the end of 2010 when Omaha band The Faint seemed to disband. Following the 2008 release of Fasciinatiion, the band adopted a brutal schedule that saw them touring non-stop for over two years. In October 2010, bassist Joel Petersen left to focus on his band Broken Spindles and guitarist Dapose released his Positive Feedback LP. It is not unusual for band members to explore other projects, but when there was a quiet announcement in December 2010 that Clark Baechle, Todd Fink and Jacob Thiele had formed a new band called Depressed Buttons, I thought that was the last we’d hear of The Faint.

Sure enough, there was no news at all for over a year, except for a couple of videos and nostalgic mentions of past concerts. Then suddenly, on April 16, a post appeared on The Faint’s Facebook page with the simple caption, “First practice in too long!!!”

Was it too soon to hope that The Faint were finally returning?

Well, on October 30, Saddle Creek Records will reissue The Faint’s 2001 album Danse Macabre in a deluxe edition. The album has been remastered and features six bonus tracks and an extensive booklet. It will be issued in a double CD and DVD package, as well as a double vinyl with CD and DVD package. Both packages are limited editions with only 5,000 copies of the CD/DVD package being released and 3,000 of the vinyl package.

The band have also announced that they will be touring extensively in November and December and that they will be performing Danse Macabre in its entirety for the first time ever in a live show. The band is sporting a slightly reduced line-up with Todd Fink on vocals, Jacob Thiele on keyboards, Dapose on guitars, and Clark Baechle on drums. 

There is no denying that Danse Macabre is one of the pivotal albums in the dance-punk genre and certainly one of the most influential. What The Faint started with this album paved the way for bands like Klaxons and Does It Offend You, Yeah? to burst onto the scene years later.

After listening to the remastered deluxe edition of Danse Macabre, I would say that this is one reissue that is worth buying. The sound is incredible, so much so that it sent me running back to my original CD to compare the difference. The enhancements are significant and as can be expected from a remaster, the sound is definitely louder. 

Article Author: Mandy Southgate

Mandy Southgate is a South African expat living and working in London. She finds it hard to concentrate on any one thing for any length of time and so runs three very different blogs on life in London and travel from there, media and entertainment and social justice and human rights. …

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