nine inch nails - the slip review

There once was an album from Nantucket.

It took everything you knew about NIN and said “____ it”.

That album was “Wish”. The hardcore, distorted guitar madness was such a departure from the electro-brilliance of Pretty Hate Machine that I called for a boycott. Then, The Downward Spiral was released.

I breathed a sigh of relief. Trent Reznor had found the perfect balance between guitars and synths.

“The Slip” is a return to Downward form, and it’s NIN’s best effort since.

The Slip, sonically, is all crunchy compressed riffs and tight ripping beats. Lyrically, thank God, it’s more open to interpretation than the last few albums. Many of the songs could be construed as tirades against ‘the man’ (aka George W Bush, Republicans, etc etc etc), OR a strained relationship. This is the Trent I know and love.

Highlights include the amazing first single “Discipline”. A haunting, driving exploration of drugs’ irresistable allure. The refrain says it all;

I need your discipline
I need your help
I need your discipline
You know once I start
I cannot help myself”

The introduction of a simple, meloncholy piano riff to counter the intensity of the guitars is perfect, and another thing that evokes Downward Spiral comparions.

Elswhere, “1,000,000″ has one of the sweetest opening guitar riffs ever. 4 notes never sounded so hot. I can’t wait to see what the remixers do with this one.

Unfortunately, it seems Trent’s more subtle creative side may be waning. “Lights In the Sky” tries hard to be a gorgeous piano ballad, but fails. “Corona Radiata” is marginally better. An instrumental featuring all manner of sampled weirdness, this will be an excellent opening piece for the live shows. On the disc, it wears out its welcome pretty fast.

No talk of “The Slip” could be complete without mentioning the price: free. You can download it in any format you’d like, direct from Trent.

It’s ironic that the first NIN album in 5 years I feel is truly worth $9.99 on iTunes would be offered gratis. Trent Reznor’s always been a savvy man though, and he no doubt realizes the ten bucks I saved is going towards tickets when he takes “The Slip” on the road.

Once you start listening, you cannot stop yourself..

A

Download it now for free