So last Tuesday I went to nin.com and chose the download option for $5.00.  If you’re considering this option, I recommend that you go to amazon.com and download it from there. The nin servers are still choking.  My first attempt on the “one time only link” was an error message that the servers were down.  I sent an e-mail to the support address that was posted if you have problems downloading.  No response.  By my third attempt I got connected. On my high speed connection the download speed was a whopping 9 kb/s.  God, I could have downloaded it just as fast on a dial up connection!  I left to take my son to his swimming lessons and then dinner.  After 4-5 hours my download was finally finished.  There was another problem with the web form for signing up for the nin.com account.  I had to to the nin remix page and use the login page there.  I submitted another support e-mail mentioning the problem.  4 days later and no response.  Probably because I’m not the only one having issues and the support desk e-mail is probably tanked.  I blog this not to be critical but just to point out how the importance of properly testing web applications are before implementing them.  There are alot of non technical savy consumers out there that will become frustrated and put off if your web apps are not tested, tested, tested before implementing them.  On the flip side it must be very satisfying to take a risk of the unknown by bipassing record companies and releasing your material via the web, and to have such a big response that your servers take a huge dump!!!  It must also be satisfying that the $300.00 each,  2500 limited edition packages (that won’t ship until May) sold out in the first couple of days.  I would be brushing up my resume if I were working at Interscope!!!

Aside from technical frustrations, I’ve only listened to the first 6 tracks so far…but absolutely love what I’ve heard.  This release is probably not ideal for anyone other than a devout NIN fan.  If you’re new to nin, I wouldn’t recommend this as your first purchase.  Ghosts is a 36 track soundtrack of ambient, industrial, & classical instrumentals.  The dynamics of the tracks range from a simple piano concerto to headsmashing distortion.  A couple of the tracks that I’ve heard so far made me think of the movie American Beauty.  Twisted and sweet sounding on the surface with potential disturbing undertones.  Ghosts is not intended to be easily accesible and digested by the mass market…and why would you expect it to be?  This is something that can be explored for weeks with multiple depths and themes to chew on.  It’s inspiring.

I also like the idea of an internet release breaking the constraints of your typical 12 song CD.   If you’re still unsure about spending the whopping $5.00, you can download the first 9 tracks and album for free at nin.com