You can listen to the whole CD by clicking the link below, you need real player for it. I really liked it.
As I said before in some other thread, I was actually fairly pleasantly surprised after hearing the whole thing. Granted, I had very low expectations so I suppose it wasnt hard to please me… Anyway, baiscally- this album is pretty enjoyable to listen to. Its not innovative or original and its nothing in comparison to TDS or Broken; however, it does include a good amount of well written pop and rock songs with awesome production and memorable melodies. My favorite track on the album is “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” and it really is a great track to listen to in the background while I’m working.
I guess the bottom line is that unlike its predecessor, this album does not sound like its supposed to redefine music and be the record to end all records. It just sounds like an album of enjoyable tracks without all the pretension and grand vision. It works much better that way and is IMO a smart move on Trent’s part.
My GOD…what just happened? Thanks for the link man…you saved me 15 bucks on that album.
Jesus…I am in total shock right now. I was planning on waiting and buying it when it came out but when i saw this link i had to go for it.
Am I the only one who thinks this cd is a MAJOR let down?
I mean…seriously…I’m all for Reznor changing up the style and I actually liked some of the newer NIN material that was more straightforward rock i.e. the shit on the Fragile and most recently the Still bonus cd, which I found incredible.
I was so amped up for this cd…after hearing Still I really thought this would be his best work yet. But man does it suck! I like the first track a lot and some elements of the others…but I just can’t believe this shit took 5 years and there is only ONE track that would hold up well on a NIN’s greatest hits mix. This is so mediocre.
Fuck Dave Grohl…I was excited about the possibilities but I am left desperately craving NIN’s signature drum machines.
And the riffs are just not interesting…at all.
I am so depressed right now. I think I’ll go listen to some earlier NIN just to remind myself why I like them so much…it’s that bad.
Maybe my opinions will change…but my first impression is decidedly grim.
Not to sound like a prick…
I’m taking this album exactly as it is: a decent pop album. I am not going to be mislead into thinking it’s groundbreaking material, or is the album of the year. I’m smarter than that. Just because it is Trent, I am not going to think it’s a greater album than it is. To me, it’s just a regular pop album.
In fact, because it’s Trent, I gave it a chance. If I heard Hand That Feeds on the radio and it was from some unknown band, I would’ve switched the radio channel.
Again, not trying to sound like a prick…I enjoyed the album - but to me, it’s decent pop, except for maybe a track or two. It wasn’t original to me, in the same way some of his (much) older work was.
It wasn’t original to me, in the same way some of his (much) older work was.
Yeah I feel the same way…although in a way I think this new style is somewhat original…just not good.
But Afra, I would urge you to listen to the ‘Still CD’ that came as a bonus disc with ‘And All That Could Have Been’. I think you might find that some of his newer work is just as good as the old shit.
Picture beautiful, haunting instrumentals that are very stripped down and then some AWESOME “unplugged” type versions of “The Becoming” and “The Day the Whole World Went Away” followed by some new songs that are just amazing.
I think you’d find it on par if not better than his “(much) older stuff” (I assume you’re referring to PHM and Broken)
A lot of people are taking an active dislike to this album.
Personally, I’ve heard a few of the tracks and while it sounds NOTHING like Nine Inch Nails (a little pun there), it’s not at all bad for what it is. Like Afra said, this is a straight-ahead pop-rock record. I wouldn’t be surprised if Trent went right back to the heavy industrial stuff after this. I’m assuming he just needed to get this one out of his system.
Yeah he kinda had to do this album I feel. They took such a drastic loss on The Fragile (they spent way too much promoting it and got not much back for it).
I should check out the Still CD. I like his instrumentals (though I thought Vrenna did a lot on them).
And yeah, lots of people are actively disliking this album. And I can sort of see why - you see, for months, Trent’s been saying “it’s my best work yet - you’ll be amazed”, etc, etc, and then when people hear it they’ll be let down. Artists shouldn’t be arrogant about a release before it’s out, and shouldn’t promote it in that fashion. Once it’s out - different story. Like how Al is always quiet about a release before it’s out; most artists are.
Trent did the same with the Fragile and it bombed, when compared to TDS.
you see, for months, Trent’s been saying “it’s my best work yet - you’ll be amazed”, etc, etc, and then when people hear it they’ll be let down. Artists shouldn’t be arrogant about a release before it’s out, and shouldn’t promote it in that fashion. Once it’s out - different story. Like how Al is always quiet about a release before it’s out; most artists are.
although al will say that each new album he makes is the best thing he’s done. i don’t think i am going out on a limb saying he’s wrong.
i dig the new nin album. and i totally agree that is a good pop rock record. sunspots being my favorite track so far. tds and broken will always be my fav nin albums. i didn’t dislike the fragile though either. that went double platinum in only a few months. but then sales just stopped. unlike TDS which went double platinum after a year or so but then went on to sell 2 million more copies in the following 3 years. i’d be interested in knowing just how much more $$ he spent making the fragile than TDS. i imagine the difference was huge. but he’s at least got himself all over the radio again (were in this together and starfuckers got minimal play at least in my area) so he’s off to a good start with this one.
got it off soulseek last night, listening to it right now, i don’t think this’ss grow on me but hope i’m wrong.
imo, it’s not even good mainstream rock (now Perfect Drug, that’s what i was hoping more of), i can understand he wanted to make an album of songs and not an ambitious masterpiece, but there’s not much here, hope it’s just a matter of him wanting to get it out his system, but i really liked the Still cd and hope he continues like that after this.
still hoping for something to rival Downward Spiral…
Like how Al is always quiet about a release before it’s out; most artists are.
really? i don’t think so. i liked how barker described the interview in “ministry el paso style” little video… goes like “what’s your new record gonna be like” - “well it’s the fastest, and most agressive album we’ve ever done” - “and then the interviewer goes ‘where have i heard that before’” 
right now everyone will say following things:
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i’ve been smoking/drinking/drug abusing for x years and now i’m clean, i’m back, it feels great, i’m happy, i control everything now, my life is not a mess. (well it’s great)
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my new album is the best work i’ve ever done to this day! (kinda obvious since no matter how great their songs are they are probably sick of them when playing/rehearsing for the shows)
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my new band is great.
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this time it was a completely different approach, blah blah blah
al did that too. i don’t know what the new albums are for public, but new puppy, new ministy and now new nin were disappointments to me, more or less…
as for new nin - blah, new approach? in what? still by the sound it resembles the fragile somewhat. maybe a bit simpler, but still… very fragile-ish. typical lyrics, etc. and horrible vocals.
i agree with afra on his opinion about the new nin - good/descent pop record.
the album had it’s moments…but i grew sick of it very quickly, and now i can’t stand it. i also hated still.
i didn’t dislike the fragile though either. that went double platinum in only a few months. but then sales just stopped. unlike TDS which went double platinum after a year or so but then went on to sell 2 million more copies in the following 3 years. i’d be interested in knowing just how much more $$ he spent making the fragile than TDS. i imagine the difference was huge. but he’s at least got himself all over the radio again (were in this together and starfuckers got minimal play at least in my area) so he’s off to a good start with this one.
Well, I know that the money spent on promoting the Fragile was insane. I, myself remember seeing an ad for the album on Comedy Central! So Interscope did spend a lot on promoting it. They didn’t get their money back from the promotion from the record sales, as it wasn’t as good as they expected. I know this from a couple of guys who work at Interscope. Trent has acknowledged this and has said he was dissapointed in it’s sales.
That’s why I think Interscope has been quiet about nin lately. They aren’t going to risk it again…
This album will do alright - as long as it gets good radio play. it will bring some new fans in I also feel. There are a few radio-friendly songs.
screw you all…i love the new cd.
trent’s live band sucks and i really dislike Jerome Dillon.
Was it just me, or did it sound like the stream was coming from a cd with a scratch in it?
Anyway, the album has some really excellent moments (“You Know What You Are”) and some not-so excellent moments (the gay house song).
I’ll be buying the dvd version next week.
I just got Halo 18 in the mail today.
The remixes are (as usual) better than the original song itself.
I think the album will do ok, but as it’s been said before, there’s no new ground here.
-al
you mean the photek remixes? they are extremely bad to my taste.
I just got Halo 18 in the mail today.
The remixes are (as usual) better than the original song itself.
I think the album will do ok, but as it’s been said before, there’s no new ground here.
-al
Crap, I’m still waiting for mine.
Listen to this album. More and more. When you think you hate it - listen it to more. For a pop/rock CD, it’s pretty fucking good. Tips:
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Don’t compare to TDS. That was a release from 10 years ago. Any artist who sounds the same 10 years later rarely does it well. Some people love that, but to me, it’s redundant and boring.
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KISS. Keep It Simple Stupid. While The Fragile wasn’t “simple”, this certainly is. It’s a straight forward record. Fragile was overkill I felt, what with the layering of the instruments and the double disc. I think Trent realized this.
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This may not be the best record to put in your CD player when your girlfriend cheats on you, as, say, TDS or Broken. Or, if you feel the whole world is against you, goth boys. This is a dancey CD. You will hear remixes of these songs a lot in clubs. And it will sound good. It will make people dance. Even Top 10 clubs, they are spinning remixes to “The Hand That Feeds”. It will sound good on the radio.
Once these points are realized, this album will sound very good.
I’m glad you came to your senses afra. [laugh]
This may not be the best record to put in your CD player when your girlfriend cheats on you, as, say, TDS or Broken. Or, if you feel the whole world is against you, goth boys. This is a dancey CD. You will hear remixes of these songs a lot in clubs. And it will sound good. It will make people dance. Even Top 10 clubs, they are spinning remixes to “The Hand That Feeds”. It will sound good on the radio.
I agree. I got the DVD version last night, and listened to about half of it. I liked what I heard. My wife (who is a devout NON-aggro music fan) came downstairs and started bopping around to The Hand That Feeds and said in a very surprised tone of voice “wow, I really like this a lot!”
I think this album will get Trent a lot of radio play again, and yeah - the clubs are going to eat this album up.