NIN - The Slip

I guess it isn't really all that "new". But it is new to me as I just came across it yesterday during one of my desperate searches for new music on-line. Set-up on May 5th, 2008, The Slip actually turned out to be a full fucking album's worth of music. For free. Thats right.....I said for free. Just go to www.nin.com and follow the links and instructions. Amy isn't too sure about all of the songs presented, mainly because Trent has had a tendency in recent years to delve a little too much into the experimental side of industrial. I mean, like, REALLY industrial: static, completely detuned guitars (when used), lots of random keyboards and drums......can get a bit annoying here and there. I am sure hardcore fans will appreciate, but those who only really know Nine Inch Nails from singles such as "Closer", or "Head Like a Hole" (i.e. the frat boy/sorority chick crowd) will be in for a little shock to the system. Although, I must admit, there are several actually cool singles on this release that I can imagine hearing on AOR radio. Check out "1,000,000", "Discipline", and "Echoplex", each a great example of Trent's ability to whip together accessible tunes and lyrics and combine them with just a hint of avant-garde electronica, bringing early 80s and 90s experimentation to mind. "Corona Radiata" and "The Four of Us Are Dying" are mainly ambient in tone, providing the listener with a lead-in, more or less, into "Demon Seed", the final track which builds from a rather staccato drum and electronic base into a fairly cohesive piece that serves to pull the entire album's worth of music together, closing out the story appropriately (in my humble opinion). Tracks 3 and 6 - "Letting You" and "Head Down", respectfully - do not really do anything for me, really just providing an assault on the senses more than anything else; I could have done without these two offerings personally. Not exactly what I would consider emblematic of Trent's better work. "999,999", the opening tune, is - like "Corona Radiata" and "The Four of Us Are Dying" - ambient with undercurrents of Trent's voice building as it leads into "1,000,000" (get it?).

There is a lone "ballad" written, "Lights in the Sky". At first listen, I wasn't too sure about it. As I write this, I am actually on my third take of it, focusing more on the lyrics since the music is a fairly basic, yet darker, piano track with some barely perceptible electric keyboards providing something of an accompaniment. Fairly short and sweet, I guess it isn't as bad as I had first felt it to be. It may take further listening to truly absorb. I guess he regards this more as the centerpiece since the tour is called "Lights in the Sky".....

Overall, this is a pretty cool Halo (for those not "in the know", Trent calls his releases "Halos"; this one is noted as "Halo Twenty-Seven"). Touring the band site, I can see what Trent is doing and I really like it.......but I long for a full-on release without the need to endure ambient music pieces. It should be noted that one can actually buy a CD/DVD version of The Slip which includes videos and rehearsal footage (which also appear on the official NIN site). Check it out and let me know what you think. This is, after all, just my opinion.....