In the oversaturated indie-rock genre, The Faint's debut "Media" stands out as some of the most intelligent pop music around today. The hook-laden vocal melodies, strong choruses, and occasional keyboard motifs provide a solid pop foundation which is then broadened by disjointed guitar sounds. They effectively combine the aggressive new wave aesthetic found in an Elvis Costello record with the multilayered sound of the Cure. The 12 tracks on "Media" are an even mix of '90s indie rock and '80s mainstream pop.