Blank-Wave Arcade (Deluxe Edition White Vinyl)

Before Electroclash and the wave of 00's Dance-rock there was The Faint, emerging in the late 1990s in Omaha, Nebraska—a place known more for stoic practicality than synth-punk. In that unlikely setting of beige restraint, they pioneered a sound that combined the melodic essence of new wave, the raw edge of post-punk, and the
robotic futurism of Detroit electro. Breaking free from indie rock’s humble comfort, they arrived armed with synths, dark eyeliner, and a raw, frenetic energy that dared audiences to actually feel something real, something primal. The late ’90s and early 2000s indie scene was primed for a shock, and The Faint delivered—not just as a band, but as an invitation to cast off coolness, to sweat, to move, and to live fully in the moment.

The distinctive, synth-driven sound that brought The Faint to wide acclaim first surfaced on 1999's Blank-Wave Arcade. The album was raw and daring, striking its own chord between early synth-pop pioneers (The Human League, New Order) and more recent heroes like Fugazi and Sonic Youth. The band's blend of new wave, post-punk and the DIY spirit of the independent music they were a part of was trailblazing, and when the new millennium dawned that sound took hold of the zeitgeist, launching the band to new critical commercial peaks with the release of their follow up Danse Macabre and 2004's Wet From Birth.

Twenty-five years removed from its release, The Faint are returning to announce a reissue of Blank-Wave Arcade. The reissue includes the original release - meticulously remastered for vinyl from the original tapes by Justin Shturtz at Sterling Sound - a new remix from the band, remixes from the era, live tracks, and a rarity previously only available on an out of print 7”.

With new music and a 2025 tour on the horizon, The Faint’s spirit remains fierce, their music offering a much needed respite from the soulless information age. And while the world has changed, The Faint’s invitation remains the same: sweat, move, and live fully in the moment.