After arriving home from work Monday morning I checked my e-mail. The little rss feed indicator in my browser popped up that there was a new post at NIN.com. I was thrilled and amazed to read that a new NIN record “The Slip” (a.k.a HALO 27) was not only completed but available to download for free in it’s entirety. This, just a couple of months after the 36 track album “Ghosts I-IV” was released that I’m still digesting. With it was a note from Trent Reznor “Thank you for your continued and loyal support over the years – this one’s on me”.
Apparently the new business model which excludes a record company, is doing well. In it’s first week the new Nine Inch Nails 36-track instrumental album “Ghosts I-IV” had a total of 781,917 transactions, which includes free and paid downloads as well as orders for the physical copy, resulting in $1,619,420 USD. The 2,500 copies of the ultra deluxe edition of the album, which sold for $300, sold out in three days. And that’s just week 1.
Bands who last longer than 2 albums and 3 years are very rare these days. [Hard to believe that "pretty hate machine (HALO 2)" was released in 1989!! That makes me feel old!!] Rather than rehashing the same old formula, bands who define genres and develop a fanatical fanbase, always stretch out and find new directions. Granted, not all of those directions are as appealing as others but you can usually find find new appreciation for it if given a chance. The Slip reminds somewhat of “With Teeth” and “Broken”.
It seems more raw, less produced, less electronic and grittier than some of his other albums. But as usual there is much more depth as you listen to it further. I love albums that are not easily accessible and require further investigation. As you would expect, it’s quite dark and covers subject matter of death, submission, chaos, addiction, conformity and revolution. (reminds me of some girls I dated back in my single days!!)
I think the making of the slip was more impromptu and performance oriented than the usual nin studio labored masterpiece that’s full of creative and technological sculpturing. ALot less tweaking with modular synths and more of a band making some serious noise. I think we’ll hear alot more music from NIN now that they’re not bount to the corporate pimp. “head down” is probably my favorite followed by the hooky “Discipline” which reminds me of “Only” from “With Teeth”. Not recommended for those who are more NIN-LITe. This will be frequenting my ipod plays for a while! A regular CD will be released in July to coincide with a new Tour. Electr0hed gives it 2 thumbs up.
1 Comment
May 14, 2008 at 8:59 am
Thanks for the review of The Slip.
If you like NIN you may be interested in the album I just finished last month. It is also available free. Licensed with the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence. This licence lets you use this music for commercial products or make remixes or other derivative works, so long as you give credit to the original artists.
Politics Apocalypse is political and subversive post-industrial rock with an interesting mix of classical instruments, guitars, electronic beats, and a small dash of aussie hip-hop. You can download the whole 11 track album at no cost at our website.
http://www.politicsapocalypse.com
We are also doing a name your own price CD (starting at cost price).
It would be great if you reviewed my new album on your blog. I love to read feedback positive or critical.
Cliffe.