NIN -- Ghosts I-IV
Only available on the internets
Ending the cryptic rumours and buzz on the NIN website about the possible release of their new album via digital download, Trent Reznor has released Ghosts I-IV without fanfare, a brass band or a record company dictating its usual bullshit.
Unlike the prophetic concept album Year Zero that was released in 2007 and was set in about 15 years into the future creating a dystopian world based on the U.S. government's current policies, Ghosts I-IV is a "soundtrack for daydreams." Daydreaming to the themes and songs Year Zero are the kind that lead to nightmares of biological and nuclear warfare, the Patriot Act being used to its fullest extent and the subsequent fallout of having Bush Jnr in charge. Vote 1 for John McCain. Why not bomb Iran?
Ghosts I-IV is an entirely instrumental album that contains 36 tracks. The tracks are simply named from 1 to 36. The album is a whole lot lighter on the pallet compared to Year Zero. And seems to be composed mostly with electronic/computer based equipment with the odd guitar and bass that has been run through a few digital processors to created an ambiance that ties into the affected synthesiser and looped drum beats -- also in signature Reznor style, letting other instruments become the drums and beats.
The beauty about Reznor's songs are their simplicity. He uses a minimal amount of tracks, within a song, to create a full and spacious sound. He doesn't rely on 45 guitar tracks over the top of 5 bass tracks with 6 drum tracks and 18 vocal tracks to get the best sound possible: he'll get one guitar sounding like 45 guitars before recording.
Not being billed as a concept album, Ghosts I-IV begins with minimalistic digital piano somewhat reminiscent of the digital piano used in The Fragile that then leads into spaced-out other-worldly expansive beats and sounds. Elements of what made Year Zero so good (the beat structure, layers and pans) are present in throughout the album. Behind each layer and structure is another waiting to plunge into. That said, Ghosts I-VI is a concept album with each quarter being distinct from the other, but leading seamlessly into the next almost like acts of a play.
There may be more of Ghosts to come later down the track as Reznor alludes to on the NIN site. The first 9 songs are available for free in mp3 format, the entire 36 songs are available for $5 in a variety of formats with various PDFs and artwork or it can be ordered in various CD packages. DRM FREE! FUCK YOU RECORD COMPANIES AND ITUNES!
Standing out is so far is track 31 because it is a cousin to Just Like You Imagined.
I've always like NIN, but lately I've found Trent Reznor's themes - self-loathing, alienation etc - a bit juvenile & tiresome. So much so that I've burned a CD of all the instrumental tracks from The Fragile. So this is good news. 36 tracks free of the protracted suicide note Reznor has been working on for 15 years. Now that he's buffed up, I guess he can't complain about being picked on.
I make it a rule that if I ever start to feel depressed that I do not listen to The Downward Spiral under any circumstances.
DYK that you can get the instrumental version of The Downward Spiral from the NIN remix site. You can also get Year Zero in garage band format and you can cut out the lyric track and bounce the song to iTunes with the changes you make. You can basically remix the available songs to your own tastes. V cool... don't like the drums then just delete them.
I think Reznor dropped his early 90s alienation/finding himself fascinating themes when With Teeth came out. Only a few songs on that album are perfect to slit your wrists by: All The Love In The World & Right Were You Belong.
I used to listen to The Hand That Feeds before I was summoned to my old Boss' office to be disciplined for having a coffee at work. I also listen to it to get psyched to do one push-up.
Yes, Reznor is buff now. I think he traded in the syringes for a few barbells.
Self-loathing and alienation are tatooed on my forehead. They never get old!
I've been listening to the new Nick Cave a bit lately. Much, much better when drunk. He seems to be doing some kind of William Burroughs thing, a kind of stream of conciousness diatribe with a bit of plinky plink in the background from Warren Ellis and friends. Depending on my mood I find it pompous and shit, or genius. Then again, didn't the guy erect a 100 foot statue of himself in his back garden, or did I read that in On The Verge? Hate to be self-referential here.
I had a shit cunt prick of a day today. I am sick as a dog, as is the wife and kid. Thank god for Four Roses and flu medication. Help me through tomorrow and it's eight lessons.
PS. I am the Walrus.
PPS Shut the fuck up Donny, V.I Lenin.
I watched the Big Lebowski twice on Sunday, trying to recover from Trents bucks nite.
Apologies that I didn't make it Vince, hope it was a good one.
No worries. How was the bux?
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