Classic Rock Album of the Day- Nine Inch Nails- Broken (1992) ****
Technically this is an EP, but since it totals 30 minutes, it is as long as many other "LP"'s, so I think it is worth the merit and attention to cover it under its own merit. This album, plus "Pretty Hate Machine, and "Downward Spiral" make up the golden age of NIN. This one in particular is much more metal and heavier than anything else Reznor ever made. I do have to admit that I wasn't into this band when they first made it big 30+ years, but after doing some reviews, my opinion of NIN has improved a 1000%. What I first heard as random noise, I now see as genius. Want proof, check out some of their live shows on YT, and realize the emotion, the intensity, the clarity, and precison,the complexity, and that the consistency is incredible. What is really evident in the first 3 works of Reznor, is that the man is in a dark area in his mind. His ability to explain and transfer that anger and despair to vinyl is remarkable. Now the warning... Calling this album, explicit is a massive understatement. Not for the young.
Again, this so much different than the debut, which in some parts came across as an angry heavier version of Depeche Mode. This one takes the Industrial Metal petal to "11". Pretty Hate was kind of intro to an angle of work by Reznor with homage to the electronic/synth realm. The songs were more loosely conceptualized, but still had the pop to hit you across the face like a 2 X4. For the next two Trent really took more of themed approach. "Broken" goes full bore metal mash scooping up the mindset of anger and violence. Downward Spiral, OTOH, of course is a masterpiece of documenting unraveling despair in excruciating detail.
Broken is a very strong and consistent work. One area I think was odd, was that the last two songs on the EP were covers. One is so so, and the second is basically two songs in one, and the latter really good. The other 5 (I count Pinion and Wish as one song), are all excellent. If there was one intent by Reznor, is that he was probably pissed by the critics assertion that NIN was a heavy psychotic version of Depeche Mode. My opinion likely because Reznor sure (over) compensated on that point. I might dare to say that this is heavier at face value than Black Sabbath. There are other uber-heavy industrial bands like Germany's Rammstein. Rammstein might take that "heavy industrial" concept even further. But comparing Rammstein to NIN, is a non starter, and downright silly. No comparison.
Fun Fact: To get a wild idea of Trent Reznor's warped sense of humor. After NIN won a grammy for "Wish", this is what he said he wanted this epitaph on his tombstone: " Died. Said 'fist f__k' and won a Grammy."
Track No.
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1/2- Pinion, Wish- I have personally combined these two because they outstandingly augment each other into one ultimate bombastic masterpiece. Additionally, I really like when Reznor adds Pinion as the opening FX in their live shows. It is an ominous electronic scaling and building exercise into forbodance. And Wish? Yeah, it won a Grammy, and one time the organization got it right. Easily one of the best 3 or 4 that they ever did. 1
3- Last- Another that is dropped on you like a ton of bricks- Almost comes across as straight heavy metal. Deep and dark lyricism, and violent. Seems to have his earliest references to pigs, which I have yet to figure what the allegorical meaning is. Excellent work. By song 3, you know that Reznor means business. Disclaimer: EP is not a relaxing listen, but nothing NIN did ever was.2
4. Help Me I Am in Hell- Strangely strummed , almost tinny like with macrabe like FX that hall marks so many NIN tunes 5
5. Happiness in Slavery- Distorto, and much more of an electronic touch. Excellent piece of songwriting, there is a lot more complexity here that meet the eye. Very dark and graphic subject matter around Erotica-torture. In some ways I kind of see this as a precursor to Reznor's extension and reach into Soundtrack work. Sound like something from that cinematic genre. 3
6. Gave Up- More of a Thrash Metal kind of curve. Screams infer bedlam and chaos. Hits that mark for sure. 6
7. Physical (You're So)- Didn't really see the point or need of doing an Adam and Ant's cover. Seems a waste, considering Reznor's superior songwriting prowess. Nice re-do, but in the grand plan, I'd preferred that Reznor continue the concept instead of ending the EP with two covers. In some ways this comes across more like an '80's hair band fixture than what we expect. 7
8. Suck- Another cover, though I will have to admit I had never heard of the band (Pig Face). This is a really strange song that can be parsed in half, and the halves are so dissimilar, it will floor you with that bizarre. It starts with an almost funk like motiff, but alternates, and then delves in massively into industrial metal crunch. Reznor adds some "D-Spiral" like FX to the mix Very Cool. 4
Technically this is an EP, but since it totals 30 minutes, it is as long as many other "LP"'s, so I think it is worth the merit and attention to cover it under its own merit. This album, plus "Pretty Hate Machine, and "Downward Spiral" make up the golden age of NIN. This one in particular is much more metal and heavier than anything else Reznor ever made. I do have to admit that I wasn't into this band when they first made it big 30+ years, but after doing some reviews, my opinion of NIN has improved a 1000%. What I first heard as random noise, I now see as genius. Want proof, check out some of their live shows on YT, and realize the emotion, the intensity, the clarity, and precison,the complexity, and that the consistency is incredible. What is really evident in the first 3 works of Reznor, is that the man is in a dark area in his mind. His ability to explain and transfer that anger and despair to vinyl is remarkable. Now the warning... Calling this album, explicit is a massive understatement. Not for the young.
Again, this so much different than the debut, which in some parts came across as an angry heavier version of Depeche Mode. This one takes the Industrial Metal petal to "11". Pretty Hate was kind of intro to an angle of work by Reznor with homage to the electronic/synth realm. The songs were more loosely conceptualized, but still had the pop to hit you across the face like a 2 X4. For the next two Trent really took more of themed approach. "Broken" goes full bore metal mash scooping up the mindset of anger and violence. Downward Spiral, OTOH, of course is a masterpiece of documenting unraveling despair in excruciating detail.
Broken is a very strong and consistent work. One area I think was odd, was that the last two songs on the EP were covers. One is so so, and the second is basically two songs in one, and the latter really good. The other 5 (I count Pinion and Wish as one song), are all excellent. If there was one intent by Reznor, is that he was probably pissed by the critics assertion that NIN was a heavy psychotic version of Depeche Mode. My opinion likely because Reznor sure (over) compensated on that point. I might dare to say that this is heavier at face value than Black Sabbath. There are other uber-heavy industrial bands like Germany's Rammstein. Rammstein might take that "heavy industrial" concept even further. But comparing Rammstein to NIN, is a non starter, and downright silly. No comparison.
Fun Fact: To get a wild idea of Trent Reznor's warped sense of humor. After NIN won a grammy for "Wish", this is what he said he wanted this epitaph on his tombstone: " Died. Said 'fist f__k' and won a Grammy."
Track No.
-----------
1/2- Pinion, Wish- I have personally combined these two because they outstandingly augment each other into one ultimate bombastic masterpiece. Additionally, I really like when Reznor adds Pinion as the opening FX in their live shows. It is an ominous electronic scaling and building exercise into forbodance. And Wish? Yeah, it won a Grammy, and one time the organization got it right. Easily one of the best 3 or 4 that they ever did. 1
3- Last- Another that is dropped on you like a ton of bricks- Almost comes across as straight heavy metal. Deep and dark lyricism, and violent. Seems to have his earliest references to pigs, which I have yet to figure what the allegorical meaning is. Excellent work. By song 3, you know that Reznor means business. Disclaimer: EP is not a relaxing listen, but nothing NIN did ever was.2
4. Help Me I Am in Hell- Strangely strummed , almost tinny like with macrabe like FX that hall marks so many NIN tunes 5
5. Happiness in Slavery- Distorto, and much more of an electronic touch. Excellent piece of songwriting, there is a lot more complexity here that meet the eye. Very dark and graphic subject matter around Erotica-torture. In some ways I kind of see this as a precursor to Reznor's extension and reach into Soundtrack work. Sound like something from that cinematic genre. 3
6. Gave Up- More of a Thrash Metal kind of curve. Screams infer bedlam and chaos. Hits that mark for sure. 6
7. Physical (You're So)- Didn't really see the point or need of doing an Adam and Ant's cover. Seems a waste, considering Reznor's superior songwriting prowess. Nice re-do, but in the grand plan, I'd preferred that Reznor continue the concept instead of ending the EP with two covers. In some ways this comes across more like an '80's hair band fixture than what we expect. 7
8. Suck- Another cover, though I will have to admit I had never heard of the band (Pig Face). This is a really strange song that can be parsed in half, and the halves are so dissimilar, it will floor you with that bizarre. It starts with an almost funk like motiff, but alternates, and then delves in massively into industrial metal crunch. Reznor adds some "D-Spiral" like FX to the mix Very Cool. 4
