A Little Further Back Up That Spiral.
Two days ago I got a call from my friend asking If I had any interest in seeing NIN live this summer. I said “No not really”. My reason being 1) I had just dropped more money on concert tickets for this Summer than ever before (MBV, Swervedriver, Nick Cave and Dinosaur Jr./Built to Spill/Meat Puppets on deck) and 2) at this point NIN has put out more albums I though were crappy than good ones.
Jumping forward to the following day, I come to realize NIN has a brand new album that they’re giving away for free on their website. Fuck yeah I’ll give Trent Reznor the benefit of the doubt if it’s for free! Then a funny thing happened to me as I waited for the file to download I started thinking in the back of my mind “What if this album is kinda OK, maybe then I might like to go see them play this Summer. Wouldn’t it be awesome seeing Head Like a Hole Live or Last!? Who knows.” Oh Trent, I see exactly what you’re doing!
Well I’ve given The Slip a few listens and it’s… OK! (That’s my official review by the way). No The Slip isn’t even close to The Downward Spiral or any of NIN past singles, but it is definitely a vast improvement over their last few albums. It’s chock full of mediocre but catchy songs which I have to say is better than a failed double album (keep ‘em short and sweet Trent!) and a failed concept album. And while it wasn’t good or mediocre enough to spark my own nostalgia to shell out the $70 or so bucks to see them live this summer, I’m sure he did rope in A LOT of other people who probably didn’t think they wanted to see NIN this Summer. I’ve got to hand it to Trent Reznor, he’s shrewd and knows exactly how to manuever in this modern world as a recording artist. You can’t sell records, so just use them as promotional devices for your tours and merchandise! You draw enough of an interest base willing to give something that’s free a chance and you stand a very good chance that you’ll not only get some new fans but a nostalgic legion of old fans to shell out for concert tickets, T-shirts, mugs & ringtones! Good album or not, Trent Reznor seems to always have his finger on the pulse.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:30 am
Old NEWS! This album is really good. I think Trent is one of the legends of our time. His music never ceases to impress me.
May 15th, 2008 at 10:59 am
I didn’t realize this came out over a week ago, so you can see how low NIN has sunk down on my radar. I only realized it came out when I saw it on Pitchfork who liked it a little too much.
Either way, you’re such a fanboy! It’s a mediocre to OK album and you’re proof it did exactly what it set out to do… drive ticket sales!
May 15th, 2008 at 4:30 pm
Trent’s an auteur. One of the few people who’s music career has maintained a clear and driven intent.
May 15th, 2008 at 9:54 pm
I haven’t heard it yet and am not sure how to feel about Trent these days either. I’m on the half and half truck right now. What I can say is that he’s uped the bar with the latest support acts for the next tour. Crystal Castles, A Place To Bury Strangers, and fucking Deerhunter. If they all played a show together that would be one of the tops of the year.
May 17th, 2008 at 12:47 am
its the best nin album in a long time. ive got my tickets to the seattle show. pumped.
May 19th, 2008 at 9:39 pm
crystal castles fucking suck. dioyy? is opening in cleveland however i am so there. trent is a smart man for many reasons. we all hope for another downward spiral … but thats never gonna happen.
May 25th, 2008 at 4:30 am
im just glad i dont have to add reznor to the list of childhood heroes who have totally blown it in the past few years.