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All rights reserved.Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero (CD 2007)
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Nine Inch NailsReview created: 03/08/08
by:
0 of 1 people found this review helpful.
excellent album. never really heard much nine inch nails music until i played rock band on xbox 360. excellent album, wicked game, buy both
Review ID: 10000000008171596
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Best NIN album since 'The Downward Spiral3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
'Year Zero' is without doubt the best long-player Trent Reznor has released since the epic concept album 'The Downward Spiral', material since has been hit and miss - 'The Fragile' lacking focus, 'With Teeth' NIN-by-numbers and the live albums a bit confusing. One wonders what the intended collaboration with the late r'n'b singer Aaliyah would have been like (possibly the 'Tomb Raider' material) or if a mini-LP akin to 'Broken' should have been released in the style of the great NIN-song 'The Perfect Drug.' The last few NIN albums seemed a bit familiar, something depressing about a 40-something still peddling adolescent angst - which is why 'Year Zero' is very welcome, since Reznor takes a tip from Bowie, and releases a concept LP concerning a slavestate dystopia not far in the future...
'Year Zero' clearly acknowledges the current zeitgeist, taking in the current US administration, the Patriot Act, Guantanamo Bay, and the War on Terror as well as the Culture Wars, American overconsumption, dominant capitalism, and (cliche coming), "The American Dream." Reznor nails this to a 'Punishment Park'-style world, a SF-dystopia akin to that of Gary Numan's early trilogy, 'Replicas', 'The Pleasure Principle' & 'Telekon.' 'Year Zero' could have been called 'Myths of the Near Future' (a Ballard title nicked by Klaxons), its subject matter refreshingly different to much of the self-gazing angst of Reznor's back catalogue. 'Year Zero' is also very sonically pleasing, a mindblowing sound at the right volume, and recorded in a similar style to the last Ladytron album or the Young Gods' 'TV Sky', which processes/samples guitars electronically. Reznor, who physically appears to be turning into Henry Rollins, has cited the Bomb Squad-productions of Public Enemy, here we get the 21st century version of that, and contemporary reminders of such acts as Cabaret Voltaire, Meat Beat Manifesto and Revolting Cocks. Reznor's beats and electronics are up there with Timbaland's excellent work for Bjork and Justin Timberlake. Very present tense.
The 16 tracks are a journey, a relentless 63-minutes that looks backwards and forwards across NIN's career. Intro 'Hyperpower!' is potent stuff, reminiscent of Coil, that leads into the next two rapid tracks, 'The Beginning of the End' and 'Survivalism' - Reznor taking no prisoners. 'The Good Soldier' in a way feels like a contemporary take on the material of 1988's debut 'Pretty Hate Machine', that electronic funk feel - while 'Vessel' feels like industrial electronic music via Aaliyah's 'Try Again' (and it also recalls both 'the becoming' and 'Ruiner' from TDS).
I'm not sure of 'Capital G', since the drumbeat reminds me of something dodgy from the 80s, though if it was on the new LCD Soundsystem album, I'm sure many people would be drooling over it. Much better is 'My Violent Heart', which starts with Reznor in rap/spoken-word mode over groovy spaced r'n'b, prior to the chorus-section where an addictive din worthy of 'Burn' ensues - sounds like a rave in an apocalypse and definitely my favourite track on the album.
'Year Zero' clearly acknowledges the current zeitgeist, taking in the current US administration, the Patriot Act, Guantanamo Bay, and the War on Terror as well as the Culture Wars, American overconsumption, dominant capitalism, and (cliche coming), "The American Dream." Reznor nails this to a 'Punishment Park'-style world, a SF-dystopia akin to that of Gary Numan's early trilogy, 'Replicas', 'The Pleasure Principle' & 'Telekon.' 'Year Zero' could have been called 'Myths of the Near Future' (a Ballard title nicked by Klaxons), its subject matter refreshingly different to much of the self-gazing angst of Reznor's back catalogue. 'Year Zero' is also very sonically pleasing, a mindblowing sound at the right volume, and recorded in a similar style to the last Ladytron album or the Young Gods' 'TV Sky', which processes/samples guitars electronically. Reznor, who physically appears to be turning into Henry Rollins, has cited the Bomb Squad-productions of Public Enemy, here we get the 21st century version of that, and contemporary reminders of such acts as Cabaret Voltaire, Meat Beat Manifesto and Revolting Cocks. Reznor's beats and electronics are up there with Timbaland's excellent work for Bjork and Justin Timberlake. Very present tense.
The 16 tracks are a journey, a relentless 63-minutes that looks backwards and forwards across NIN's career. Intro 'Hyperpower!' is potent stuff, reminiscent of Coil, that leads into the next two rapid tracks, 'The Beginning of the End' and 'Survivalism' - Reznor taking no prisoners. 'The Good Soldier' in a way feels like a contemporary take on the material of 1988's debut 'Pretty Hate Machine', that electronic funk feel - while 'Vessel' feels like industrial electronic music via Aaliyah's 'Try Again' (and it also recalls both 'the becoming' and 'Ruiner' from TDS).
I'm not sure of 'Capital G', since the drumbeat reminds me of something dodgy from the 80s, though if it was on the new LCD Soundsystem album, I'm sure many people would be drooling over it. Much better is 'My Violent Heart', which starts with Reznor in rap/spoken-word mode over groovy spaced r'n'b, prior to the chorus-section where an addictive din worthy of 'Burn' ensues - sounds like a rave in an apocalypse and definitely my favourite track on the album.
Review ID: 10000000003534108
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Year Zero - one scary, but stunning albumReview created: 04/05/07
by:
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
On first hearing, I was taken aback by Year zero. This album is unlike anything I have heard before, let alone anything I've heard from NIN before, which is why it's really hard for me to compare this album to any other.
The music varies from Heavy, angry anthems (survivalism), to pop rock-y style tunes (this is the beginning). There isn't one track on this cd that I don't love.
Lyrically I was astounded. Each song on the album seems to represent a different individuals life 15 years in the future. Listening to them, you really do get a clear picture of the lives these peope are living.
The whole album has become more than just music. It's a warning of what could happen if we let things carry on as they are at the moment. Everytime I hear this album I am inspired.
There are a lot of other cool things linked to this cd which i recommend you check out. (secret websites, messeges and phone numbers etc)
This is a must for everyone, listen to it alone a few times, listen to the lyrics. It really does leave you thinking.
The music varies from Heavy, angry anthems (survivalism), to pop rock-y style tunes (this is the beginning). There isn't one track on this cd that I don't love.
Lyrically I was astounded. Each song on the album seems to represent a different individuals life 15 years in the future. Listening to them, you really do get a clear picture of the lives these peope are living.
The whole album has become more than just music. It's a warning of what could happen if we let things carry on as they are at the moment. Everytime I hear this album I am inspired.
There are a lot of other cool things linked to this cd which i recommend you check out. (secret websites, messeges and phone numbers etc)
This is a must for everyone, listen to it alone a few times, listen to the lyrics. It really does leave you thinking.
Review ID: 10000000003484591
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Sobriety paid off big time. Roger Waters would be proud1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Lyrically, Year Zero shows Trent Reznor finally turning his attention
away from losing his religion. A far cry from his earlier work,
with its vague musings on depression, Year Zero is a call-to-arms.
"Traded in my god for this one
He signs his name with a capital G"
To say that this concept album is epic is not an overstatement. It
is set in a dystopian future where the government keeps its people
docile by drugging the water supply, and elections are a thing of
the past. As if that wasn't enough, Yahweh himself seems to make a
much needed appearance in an attempt to warn the human race, although
naturally the government that claims to be theist believes that the
people are merely hallucinating.
"So much potential
Or so we used to say
Your greed, self-importance and your arrogance
You piss it all away"
Year Zero is clearly a warning about current politics and the direction
they are headed in. By the time Zero-Sum finishes, you're left with
the impression that the whole album was sent back in time to 2007
for the sole purpose of preventing the world it describes from coming
into existence.
"Shame on us
Doomed from the start
May god have mercy
On our dirty little hearts"
Musically, with its chanting and tough beats, Year Zero sounds
something like The Wall or Amused to Death remixed to sound like The
Fat of the Land or Saturday Teenage Kick. The aggressive style is
certainly apt for the lyrics.
Although I try to focus on the music itself rather than the marketing,
it's worth noting that Trent Reznor has built a whole alternate
reality game around this album, consisting mostly of web sites written
by fictional characters living in the album's world. These false
documents are interesting short stories in their own right, giving
tantalising glimpses into the scary world of Year Zero.
The songs are also going to be made available in their original
multitrack form to encourage fans to remix them. These are both
good ways to build up hype and get fans involved in the album as
more than just passive consumers. I just hope Trent Reznor owns the
copyright to his own songs, or can at least legally do what he's
doing, otherwise he could be sued by his own record label for copyright
infringement.
Then again, he genuinely seems to be building some kind of army out
of his fans. Maybe he plans to ask them to do more than merely buy
a product...
away from losing his religion. A far cry from his earlier work,
with its vague musings on depression, Year Zero is a call-to-arms.
"Traded in my god for this one
He signs his name with a capital G"
To say that this concept album is epic is not an overstatement. It
is set in a dystopian future where the government keeps its people
docile by drugging the water supply, and elections are a thing of
the past. As if that wasn't enough, Yahweh himself seems to make a
much needed appearance in an attempt to warn the human race, although
naturally the government that claims to be theist believes that the
people are merely hallucinating.
"So much potential
Or so we used to say
Your greed, self-importance and your arrogance
You piss it all away"
Year Zero is clearly a warning about current politics and the direction
they are headed in. By the time Zero-Sum finishes, you're left with
the impression that the whole album was sent back in time to 2007
for the sole purpose of preventing the world it describes from coming
into existence.
"Shame on us
Doomed from the start
May god have mercy
On our dirty little hearts"
Musically, with its chanting and tough beats, Year Zero sounds
something like The Wall or Amused to Death remixed to sound like The
Fat of the Land or Saturday Teenage Kick. The aggressive style is
certainly apt for the lyrics.
Although I try to focus on the music itself rather than the marketing,
it's worth noting that Trent Reznor has built a whole alternate
reality game around this album, consisting mostly of web sites written
by fictional characters living in the album's world. These false
documents are interesting short stories in their own right, giving
tantalising glimpses into the scary world of Year Zero.
The songs are also going to be made available in their original
multitrack form to encourage fans to remix them. These are both
good ways to build up hype and get fans involved in the album as
more than just passive consumers. I just hope Trent Reznor owns the
copyright to his own songs, or can at least legally do what he's
doing, otherwise he could be sued by his own record label for copyright
infringement.
Then again, he genuinely seems to be building some kind of army out
of his fans. Maybe he plans to ask them to do more than merely buy
a product...
Review ID: 10000000003430279
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