Anyone else download the new Saul Williams album? Granted, it’s got Trent Reznor’s fingerprints all over it, but I think it sounds great. His cover of U2’s “Sunday Bloody Sunday” blows away the original.
I think it’s a good record.
Williams’ vocals take some getting used to. He sounds like a less gifted cross between Curtis Mayfield and Lenny Kravitz.
I wouldn’t have downloaded it if Trent’s fingerprints weren’t all over it.
there’s times when he actually sounds identical to Trent on this release (and not the times where Trent is doing vox)
there’s times when he actually sounds identical to Trent on this release (and not the times where Trent is doing vox)
my girlfriend said the exact same thing earlier when we had it on. all i can say is that so far i like this album about 50x more than nin’s last release.
Gave it a good listen this morning. I’m liking it. Skin of a Drum is a stand out for me. Sunday Bloody Sunday is also very good. I don’t like the “N” word being thrown around by Saul & Trent. Other than that, give it a try. Very Trentish.
Listened to it twice so far and like it a lot. Very Trent-like at times but coming from an angle you’d never hear in NIN. I’m happy to see Trent stretching his talent outside of NIN and I think he found a great collaborator in Williams. I hope for some b-sides.
I don’t like the “N” word being thrown around by Saul & Trent.
Agreed. I actually think it’d be more provocative in 2007 to do a serious hip-hop album that DOESN’T say “nigger” in every single song.
I downloaded this earlier today and can’t stop listening to it.
On first hearing it sounds almost Identical to Year Zero music wise (which is by no means a bad thing), I agree with the overuse of the ‘n’ word but that has always been something Saul does in his lyrics.
I saw him perform live when he supported Nails in '05 in London. The poor guy was on his own, with his little DJ shitting himself. He got a good crowd reaction then and he’ll get a good reaction now, simply because he’s GOOD at what he does…It’s nothing outlandishly new, everything he is saying other artists have already done but he’s likeable.
And yes, Having Trent stomp all over this album is a BIG bonus…
Now to get back to listening to it again…[cool]
I like it a lot, the music sounds great. Saul’s vocals really do sound like Trent sometimes, I have no idea if it’s just Saul on Sunday Bloody Sunday or if thats Saul and Trent. Agree with everyone here though, too much of the “n” word spoils things after a while. Convict Colony is my favorite track so far.
If I hadn’t known the artist and you’d told me it was NIN covering “Sunday” I’d have believed you. Not a complaint though, it’s a great cover.
Yeah, it’s stupid, the N word usage. Particularly on the track “NiggyTardust”, which sounds like an amateur reading something at an open mic night. That’s a song with remarkably similar vocal style as Reznor. I don’t think it is him but sounds very similar.
I literally thought it was Public Enemy I was listening to when Tr(n)igger (another stupid reference - sigh) was played. Even the lyrics - perhaps it’s a head nod to Public Enemy? They did sample them in the song but still - too similar…
Is this album good? Yeah, I like a few tracks (“Sunday” is a very good cover - one of the better covers I’ve heard of that song). But I think it’s overrated for what it is. If this was released without Trent’s backing, no-one would know of it. It’s like how all the nin fans jumped on the Bowie bandwagon and now it seems to be the hip hop bandwagon. He knows how to spin it and get people to follow. But Trent will get bored and move on to something else as he tends to do a lot (nothing records, Manson, etc, etc).
I’m waiting for Dre’s new one to be honest - that may (I’m hoping) be more innovative and original. Hip Hop is one of those genres in music where innovation refuses to die so quickly.
innovation doesn’t die afra
you know that yourself, having put up the unofficial and the official sites.
haven’t listened yet to saul williams, but did hear somethingthis morning on the"indie" station here .i was not impressed.
everyone’s grasping at straws.
Yeah, it’s stupid, the N word usage. Particularly on the track “NiggyTardust”, which sounds like an amateur reading something at an open mic night. That’s a song with remarkably similar vocal style as Reznor. I don’t think it is him but sounds very similar.
That song’s actually got one of my favorite bits:
When I say “Niggy” you say nothing. Niggy!
Nothing!
Shut up!
I’m a little underwhelmed, but I’m still listening and hoping I get more into it. After reading message boards, I feel like I’m the only one that thinks the Sunday Bloody Sunday cover is a very pale imitation of U2’s original. Not that it’s a bad song, but it makes me want to listen to Bono.
Afra, that one song uses samples from Welcome to the Terrordome, so that’s why it really sounds like Chuck D and Flava Flav.
That song’s actually got one of my favorite bits:
When I say “Niggy” you say nothing. Niggy!
Nothing!
Shut up!
thats hilarious!
and its a good album!! I knew of Saul before this album, but hadnt heard any of his work. If this ones anthing to go by, I’m quickly becoming a Saul fan.
I love the song “Niggy” too. It’s nice to hear a sense of humor peppering the album. I think that’s something that Trent misses in his own work.
Though I understand people’s issues with the “N Word” it is a word that is used in most hip hop music. I’d say the album is rather innovative for it’s blending of electro-goth industrial elements into Hip Hop. Sure Disposible Heroes did it ages ago but not this tightly and I don’t know of anyone else doing it right now.
actually that particular exchange made me chuckle.
and sorry i’m with those who thought the U2 cover was so-so. the verses came out decent, but I really missed the large (bono’s booming) vocal lines for certain parts.
-E
and sorry i’m with those who thought the U2 cover was so-so. the verses came out decent, but I really missed the large (bono’s booming) vocal lines for certain parts.
Of course - but nothing will come close to Bono’s vocals on that track. I mean, with that in mind…
Just curious, is anyone here black (specifically african american)? Or is it just a bunch of rock loving white people (outside of afra) bitching about a black dude using the n word too much?
I know a lot of white people listen to rap, but in this case we know that a lot of people are only checking this album out because of reznor’s participation on it. On the couple of rap forums i frequent i rarely see criticism of the N word used in rap music, especially when it is used by a highly educated person like Saul. I don’t think the word really has shock value in rap music anymore does it?
I suppose you’ll all be skipping Nas’s new album “Nigger” coming out next month then?