exterminal.net
I am somewhat surprised by the underwhelming response I have been reading on LiveJournal to NIN's new album. I felt like With Teeth, despite apparently living at the top of Billboard charts, was a nonevent with the exception of the final track (Right Where It Belongs); it was all just more Nine Inch Nails. Year Zero, by contrast, is actually an interesting listen, the usual Trentnor melodies interspersed with Aphex Twin-esque angry industrial noise and the occasional dancier beats reminiscent of Pretty Hate Machine. His ubiquitous guitar fuzz made way for analog squirlings, cacophonous crashing and distorted waveforms. On tracks like In this Twilight, I think Trent stretches himself a bit more than usual vocally, or at least produces some variety in a chorus here or there. It's nice to see Reznor inspired for once.
His biggest mistake was releasing Survivalism, perhaps the weakest (read: boring) track, as the album's debut single. I think he would have done better to find something a little representative of the noisy, electronic buzz that typifies the album as a whole.
Regardless, I am growing increasingly fond of it with every listen. It probably helps that the temperature is in the eighties and I inevitably find myself driving eighty, music blaring from open windows.
Also, that I hate the state of our nation.
His biggest mistake was releasing Survivalism, perhaps the weakest (read: boring) track, as the album's debut single. I think he would have done better to find something a little representative of the noisy, electronic buzz that typifies the album as a whole.
Regardless, I am growing increasingly fond of it with every listen. It probably helps that the temperature is in the eighties and I inevitably find myself driving eighty, music blaring from open windows.
Also, that I hate the state of our nation.