There's a horrible irony to it; the new Nine Inch Nails record is released on the day of America's worst college shootings. It's either a mark of how NIN have progressed, or how they've declined in cultural significance, that Reznor's general nihilism wasn't the cause this time; nonetheless, it'd be appalling if it was. Because this record is actually about something other than directionless nihilism- to be trite about it, it's nihilism that's directed and justified. And as a result, it's actually a solid album.
It's actually a surprise to me that Nine Inch Nails is a) the first 2007 album I've bought, and b) the first NIN album I've bought. Much I like to believe I'm some sort of intellectual about music, in the end some gimmick like thrashing guitar, feedback, a really odd sounding synth, will always work somehow anyway. And NIN work on both of these levels; yes, it thrashes with apparently wild abandon, in the manner of, well, a psychotic college student. But there's so much detail within the noise, and endless elements entering at various points, single, especially processed beats carefully placed. The other suprise is, of course, that it was two years in the making. Anyone not paying attention would have been praying for a 2010 release, rather than 2011. Which is not far off the crux of the album.
Essentially, Reznor has now chosen to abandon the endless self-hatred and go for politics. Essentially, he's come up with the grimmest possible future for the US; it's 2022, and the Republicans have been re-elected. Well, seriously, a highly authoritarian, Christian fundamentalist government of some kind got in, the US is a police state, oil is running out, the population are on drugs, supposedly to prevent bioterrorism but mainly to keep them under control, and the War on Terror has lost all subtext and is now the endless religious fundamentalist dick-wagging it seems to be at the moment. And credit where credit's due- there's no simpleton message of "war is bad". And there are two sides to this story too- "Capital G" and lead single "Survivalism" representing the government forces. It's clear where Reznor stands, but to be objective would really be to miss the point.
The whole album is also very cohesive, despite songs that obviously make for singles. Perhaps the major flaw is that, at 16 songs and over 62 minutes- what our parents in the days of getting music from plastic discs would have called a double album- it can't be fantastic throughout. Indeed, the first half is quite obviously better, and the third quarter in particular is generally inferior to the rest of it. And maybe Reznor's desire to get away from inspiring high school massacres is a bit too much of a tangent- chucking "revisionism" into a chorus does not instantly render you a political academic.
Frankly, though, it all works, and the above flaws seem forgivable, especially with some of the moments. "My Violent Heart" and "The Great Destroyer"'s outro nobly takes the fight to Autechre, and throwing in hip-hop beats with touches of piano, brass, electronics, guitars and anything else Reznor spots lying around all works to great effect. With "Zero Sum", NIN might well have a new "Hurt". They probably don't, though. Reznor's innings is now 18 years, and that's how things seem to work- NIN isn't a new act anymore, and their popularity may well have declined too much.
Apparently, there's more on the way. The whole campaign- from the ARG floating around that I can't say I want to get involved in, to the inevitable touring, etc.- is meant to last a total of three years. "Year Zero Part Two" - title may change- is seemingly due in 2008, and on the basis of this album, it's both promising and worrying.
Promising, because Part One is darn good. Worrying, because it might tarnish what would have been a perfectly gsingle album. Just have to wait...
Judgement:
>Lyrics/Songs 18
Often effective. Often a bit too blunt and lacking subtlety. Third quarter sags somewhat.
>Mood 21
Oh, it's grim alright.
>Technical 22
Nearly two decades of arsing around with faders and laptops doesn't count for nothing.
>Production 22
Almost on a level with Massive Attack. And that's Olympic standard, if the IOC saw potential in such a sport.
O: 83
S: 83
