NIN -- _Year Zero_

...he IS getting old.

Seconded. Trent usually satisfies.

I haven't heard a single thing from Reznor that I outright hated. At the least, I think he's one of the best producers working today.

He borrowed Glenn Danzig's muscle mass.

I agree with all the positive thoughts on With Teeth. I lost interest in NIN when The Fragile came out, but With Teeth got me excited about them again.

My wife and I saw them on the last tour and they rocked!

guuhhhh

Half of "With Teeth" was a great album, the other half contained crap like the title track and "Only".

whatchew talkin 'bout, "Only" was one of the best songs on the album! though i guess the lyrics do kinda blow.

i agree Reznor's never been a great lyricist, in fact he's probably gotten worse. but if you can't get over bad lyrics i can't help you!

oh COME ON

http://youtube.com/watch?v=DYq3NPD7TVk&mode=related&search=

Sometimes, only sometimes...

It's one of the most obvious things he took from Depeche, actually.

xpost Well yeah Dan but that describes about two million other lyricists don't it? It doesn't take a rare genius to write naive poetry! But like I'm saying, Martin and Trent are coming from completely different worlds of naive poetry!

the combination of standard sex and death tropes handled via emotional bombast as well as sometimes forced and usually pretty straightforward rhymes. Neither are by any stretch of the imagination complicated in their lyrical vocabulary.

But I just think that's a really really loose connection when we're talking about Martin Gore's lyrics being the most obvious thing that Trent Reznor took from DM. I guess in the context of industrial/synth pop Trent's lyrics are closer to Depeche's than, say, Skinny Puppy's. But in a wider context I don't think it's any surprise that two grown-up angsty teenagers can write sex/death tropes with straightforward rhymes and uncomplicated lyrical vocabulary without one directly borrowing from the other.

I said *one* of the most obvious things. Not the sole one, not the most important one. You're looking for an overriding connection I did not argue, and I'm starting to get frustrated with this willful misreading, frankly.

This describes almost any NIN song. Dude's lyrics are atrocious, but I'm not going to fault the guy. They sound like the bad diary-entry monosyllabics that a 13-year-old would find amazing. And--guess what--that's who the target audience is! So, more ["YOU KNOW ME... I HATE EVERYONE!] power to him. (PS, I found his lyrics amazing when I was 13)

I don't get the lyrics issue at all. What do you think about vocals in a language you don't understand?

Seriously, would you want a whole album about how you're too busy playing Halo 3 to go score with models?

WAHT

I'm by no means a NIN fan, haven't even heard all of With Teeth, but "Only" fucking rules. It's like Trent's version of LCD Soundsystem.

Who else would?

I'd say it's more like Trent's version of "New Sensation" but it does fucking rule (if he ever made a whole album of pottymouth INXS I'd kiss him on the lips).

OTM! he really needs to just let his death-disco muse go nuts!

Stepping gingerly around the steaming pile of Fergie you left over there, this is is OTM all the way. But it ain't just the lyrics. It's the whole vibe/sound/aesthetic. Gives me tooth-hurty art-pain in extremis.

I don't want to own the black velvet painting of the sad 'n' sexy goff girl hanging on a cross (mechanical unicorn in the background?).

I don't want the black rubber recliner with chrome stirrups for my living room.

I don't have any abiding interest in serial killer memerobilia or black 52.

So, why would I relate to this band? Agree that Reznor's productions usually sound FANTASTIC, and not-so-secretly love a few tunes.

I find it weird people have a problem with Reznor because his lyrics are bad. Especially with some of the other shit people here seem to listen to.

ps: hardly any of the people that i know that like NIN, myself included (or at least, it's been a while), self-identify as "goth". and even so, so what? i totally love my chemical romance, but i sure as hell ain't gonna start wearing black wristbands and cutting myself.

Just pointing out that the defining aesthetic bugs. (And I was so hoping that NIN != goth thing wouldn't pop up. Silly me.)

On the other hand, I like Motorhead and I like the Motorhead aesthetic.* Not the same thing, of course, but mysteriously related? You be the judge...

* In my shame I have to admit that I passed on the offical demon-dog-head throw pillows (LEMME) last time I was at Ikea.

Even if Trent was secretly listening to the New Riders of the Purple Sage and collecting Monkees bobbleheads all along.

So, carry on.

But then to me, thats all really irrelevant anyway. I like some of his stuff. "A Warm Place" is a beautiful song. I wish he'd do more of that kind of ambient sountrack work instead of blasty shit for DOOM 25 or something.

The hilarious thing is, most "proper goffs" I know can't stand NIN. They're not goth.

Most "proper goffs" can't stand 99.999999% of music that is supposed to be goth, which is why most "proper goffs" are insufferable people. I'm really starting to subscribe to Ned's "everything turns into goth in the end" theory, which is far more inclusive and inviting.

I like the LCD Soundsystem singles, but didn't care for the first album at all (I haven't heard the most recent one). Also, James Murphy should take a hint and become Quincy Jones 2007 -- turning knobs in the studio while others do all the singing for him. This should clarify my position on "Only".

Oh ok, I'll admit I hadn't heard it no. So fair play.

p.s.

"Shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot
I'm gonna to come all over you"

c'mon guys. c'mon.

***

But back to Trayce (and Ned, though you didn't ask):

My primary objection to NIN is aesthetic. I don't like the overall style template. It seems clunky and obvious. Like bad shoes. I don't relate to the basic view of life on display. Not 'cuz it's goth (though NIN have a lot in common with textbook goth shit, that's not a problem -- I like a lot of textbook goth shit), but 'cuz it seems silly and even embarrassing.

I'm not pnly talking about the tunes + sonics, which are often fine, sometimes truly great. I'm talking about the organizing sensibility behind it all. See, some folks insist that music is just MUSIC: tunes + sonics alone. But for me, anyway, there's more to it than that. There are less tangible levels of appeal and interaction.

I mean, think about painting. Some people are really into Dungeons & Dragons collector's plates, fine products of the Franklin Mint. I'm not. I think they're ludicrous, tasteless garbage, and I don't want 'em in my house.

"But," the dedicated collector says, "look at the brushwork. Look at the craftsmanship. Observe the look of steely determination and doomed nobility on this Dwarf Cleric's face. Look at the richness and depth of the steam clouds billowing up from Helm's Deep."

And I look. And I have to recognize. The painting is fucking fantastic. The translucent beauty of the light, the weighty planes of stone, steel and flesh. It's dazzling. But I still hate it. It's still a D&D collector's plate. It's still ludicrous, tasteless garbage, and I still don't want it in my house.

Now, I don't hate NIN that much. They're okay, I guess. But they ain't my cuppa tea.

Yeah, but they're not being uploaded onto iPods either.

http://home.earthlink.net/~selgart/smith/graphics/adric.JPG

Has anyone written an in-depth, unauthorized bio of this band yet? Cuz I'd love to see ex-NINnies dish on the power dynamics/behind-the-scenes stuff.

Is he MOBY?

-- Raymond Cummings (gracefulas...), January 16th, 2007.

"When i joined nine inch nails, i had no idea that it was trent reznor who really ran the show"

Oh dear.

http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=nin+bauhaus&search=Search

sadly tho...

http://yearzero.nin.com/

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it gets a bit samey by the end

http://www.snopes.com/photos/natural/godhands.asp

hahahahaha!

LOL! Whats it got to do with NIN though? *confused*

just the cover art, nothing else.

(there's this whole "it's the Hand Of God" theory behind the whole thing, long story - http://www.ninwiki.com/Main_Page )

Yeah that occurred to me soon as I posted. Ive only now just watched the Metro gig hissyfit too, geeez. Don't blame him for that one at all. It was lovely hearing everyone else singing along though. Apparently the next nights gig was way better and my friend L scored the tambourine :) She had to fight some guy viciously for it and copped a bruised arm and got bitten (!).

lol it's goatse

Aww, the snopes article mentions the similarity at the bottom.

By the way, I liked this album when I first heard it, but after listening to it about 10 times I have no desire to hear it again.

similarity at the bottom

teehee

I kind of hate listening to this album all at once but the individual songs in isolation are great!

It is overlong.

love it. esp 'the warning'

...does anyone agree that Year Zero is one of the best albums of 07 thus far...?

(because i think it is)

just noticed this upthread, from a track-by-track review...

Vessel: (...) This would be great to fuck to.
-- Trayce, Wednesday, May 2, 2007 1:47 PM (3 months ago) Bookmark Link

that is EXAACTLY what i thought the first time i heard this one! still do actually :o !!

vessel's my favorite track on this by far

And that's it. Tour over in a couple of days, and that show in Hawaii will also be the final performance from this incarnation of the live band, apparently.

http://starbulletin.com/2007/09/14/features/story05.html

Relevant bit:

Speaking by phone Wednesday from somewhere between gigs in Seoul and Hong Kong, Reznor was low-key, firm but accommodating.

And he had some unexpected news to tell.

"YOU ARE getting the last show of the current incarnation of the band."

Although Reznor's touring band of drummer Josh Freese, guitarist Aaron North, bassist Jeordie White and keyboardist Alessandro Cortini are excellent support players, "at this point, I want to switch things around a bit. Nine Inch Nails as a rock band configuration, we've done it and we've done it again. I see other ways I can present the material in concert, more challenging, something new. I don't want it to go stale."

I wonder if the bands they all left will take them back :-/

should i go see them if i have a free ticket? i liked aaron north when he was in Icarus Line.

Yes, this is/was Reznor's best live band yet.

Indeed, take the opportunity. Glad I caught 'em earlier this year.

Fun game to play at a nine inch nails concert in honolulu: Spot The Aloha Shirts.

Three (Two of them were on NIN roadies, the third on a very excited fan)

So, good show? Did he say anything memorable?

setlist & stuff:

http://www.echoingthesound.org/phpbbx/viewtopic.php?t=26946

he didnt say anything for about an hour and fifteen minutes.

he briefly acknowledged that it was their "first and last date" on their US tour.

later when he introduced the band it sounded like he started to say something thoughtful about it being their last show together, but just said "you never know...you never know..." and trailed off.

he told a story about NIN's last time in Hawaii back in 94 too.

Also I'm pretty gay for Aaron North.

oh lil goth

http://nin.com/

08 October 2007: Big News
Hello everyone. I've waited a LONG time to be able to make the
following announcement: as of right now Nine Inch Nails is a totally
free agent, free of any recording contract with any label. I have
been under recording contracts for 18 years and have watched the
business radically mutate from one thing to something inherently very
different and it gives me great pleasure to be able to finally have a
direct relationship with the audience as I see fit and appropriate.
Look for some announcements in the near future regarding 2008.
Exciting times, indeed.

posted by Trent Reznor at 10:45 AM.

"Oh and we'd like to announce the innovative practice of announcing an album ten days before...DAMN!"

Yeah, The Macallan 18 Year, Monday, October 1, 2007 8:41 AM (1 week ago) OTM

"the real question is how will Trent Reznor respond"

Radiohead - In Rainbows

LOL

Let us anticipate the remix disc:

---

# Gunshots By Computer: Saul Williams
# The Great Destroyer: Modwheelmood
# My Violent Heart: Pirate Robot Midget
# The Beginning Of The End: Ladytron
# Survivalism: Saul Williams
# Capital G: Epworth Phones
# Vessel: Bill Laswell
# The Warning: Stefan Foodchild Feat. Doudou N'diaye Rose
# Meet Your Master: The Faint
# God Given: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert
# Me, I'm Not: Olof Dreijer (The Knife)
# Another Version Of The Truth: Kronos Quartet & Enrique Gonzalez Müller
# In This Twilight: Fennesz
# Zero Sum: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert

Who the fuck let Laswell in there, is what I want to know.

Pirate Robot Midget?

Is that a band of sixth graders in gifted class?

Mike Patton's greatest triumph!

Who the fuck let Laswell in there, is what I want to know.

Some Laswell remixes (see: the Painkiller "Execution Ground" remixes) are amazing. Others (see: "Emerald Aether") are awful. I could see him remixing NiN fairly deftly.

Although I guess "Emerald Aether" wasn't really so much a remix as a proper album. Or a plane crash with no survivors.

Well, if nothing else, you can make your own:

The actual title of this album is Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D. The DVD-Rom contains every track from Year Zero in multi-track format (Mac and PC). Perhaps for the first time, the master multi-tracks for every recording on a major album are being made available to the public. The tracks are pre-formatted for Apple GarageBand and Ableton Live (Mac or PC). The DVD-ROM also adds the demo version of Ableton Live (Mac or PC) and generic WAVE files at 16 bit 44K that can be loaded into any audio editor.

What I hope and presume this means -- yes, it's *your* chance for Trent Reznor a capellas to be mashed-up over dink-synth-pop loops. Be on the cutting edge of 2001!

I admire the guy for everything but his (recent) music.

Hopefully it's pulled off better than that Nurse With Wound "remix it yourself" experiment.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D

L34K3D.

Still on Interscope, so no innovative release experiments like he did with Saul Williams or anti-label f*ck you like he did with the Broken and Closure DVD torrents - according to that wikipedia article this is the final contractual obligation before he left.

# Zero Sum: Stephen Morris & Gillian Gilbert

?!?

according to that wikipedia article this is the final contractual obligation before he left.

Still, there are some decent-to-exciting names in that list (Fennesz!) and I must admit I'm looking forward to fiddling around with the multitracks. Hopefully this will turn out closer to Further Down the Spiral than Things Fall Apart.

track 11 (very minimalistic) : 14 minutes!

01. Guns By Computer (Saul Williams) (1:43)
02. The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood) (4:19)
03. My Violent Heart (Pirate Robot Midget) (2:34)
04. The Beginning of the End (Ladytron) (4:20)
05. Survivalism (Saul Williams) (4:19)
06. Capital G (Epworth Phones) (7:26)
07. Vessel (Bill Laswell) (6:10)
08. The Warning (Stefan Goodchild Featuring Doudou N'Diaye Rose) (3:43)
09. Meet Your Master (The Faint) (3:35)
10. God Given (Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert) (4:27)
11. Me, I'm Not (Olof Dreijer) (14:00)
12. Another Version of the Truth (Kronos Quartet and Enrique Gonzalez Muller) (4:25)
13. In This Twilight (Fennesz) (4:37)
14. Zero-Sum (Stephen Morris and Gillian Gilbert) (5:38)

Okay I am totally geeked that half of New Order is remixing some of this stuff.

I listened to Year Zero again for the first time in several months and it actually clicked! I was pleasantly surprised.

ok, this is pretty great.

Lol, Universal.

http://www.nin.com/index.html#1125746261486643743

(in short: letting fans download the individual tracks of his songs for remixing is okay, hosting the fans' remixes is a DMCA violation, so the remix site stays offline)

go trent.

Picked up the remix disc, like it well enough so far. Pirate Robot Midget of "My Violent Heart" = pretty good!

So I've been playing the shit out of this remix disc because it is mind-bogglingly superior to the original album on almost every level. "The Great Destroyer" and "Capital G" on here are so fucking tough.

I need to give it a relisten. Great way to kiss off the majors at least.

i never heard this but i downloaded a 24GB Nine Inch Nails file with everything you can imagine on it.Took about 2 months to get it all.They were amazing in concert this time around but didn't draw a very big crowd.Glad i went.Anyway i'm on to listen to the remix thing.

more people need to listen to this remix album to revel in its glory with me

I will freely admit the original version of "God Given" is way more effective, though

Year Zero is my least favorite NIN album and I don't care about the remixers on this. Should I bother anyway?

several months later, but YES (esp. "The Great Destroyer" and "Capital G")

so a random song came on the Last.fm station I created based on my Sony music festival and I am sitting here going "who is this super cool A Perfect Circle tribute band, this is a v v pretty song" and it is Modwheelmood, the dudes who did my favorite remix on the Year Zero remix album

Trent Reznor says HBO and BBC Worldwide Productions are moving forward with the development of “Year Zero,” the grim sci-fi epic that Reznor has chronicled in his music as well as in a celebrated Alternate Reality Game (ARG).

“We are in [the development phase of] pre-production with HBO and BBC [Worldwide Productions] to do a miniseries,” Reznor said Monday. “It’s exciting. I probably shouldn’t say too much about it except that I understand that there’s a thousand hurdles before anything shows up in your TV listing. It’s been an interesting and very educational process and it cleared the HBO hurdle a few months ago and now we’re writing drafts back and forth. So it’s very much alive and incubating at the moment.”

btw this album is great

Yes! I always had a soft spot for Capital G even though it’s dated af lyrically now but My Violent Heart and Survivalism are still up there.

Also, The Great Destroyer

The Fennesz remix of In This Twilight is all time for me. Should have been the version on the album proper imho

Yeah I think I liked the remix album better than the original