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Nine Inch Nails: The Fragile

     Since my formative years, Nine Inch Nails has been a band I fervently follow. My first real journey into the music came at age 18, a handful of years after I had first seen them live on 1999’s MTV Video Music Awards and the raunch fest that is the “Closer” video played on late night rotations. Fast forward to late 2004 when the band’s fourth full length album With Teeth began circulating music media outlets, and my interest was instantly re-generated. I searched the internet for recommended playlists in anticipation of the album’s release. What immediately drew me to the music in these playlists were the endless waves of jarring guitars, pulsating beats, and synthesizers galore that backed the aggression of leader and sole member Trent Reznor’s vocals. Depending on the tune, you either want to punch a motherfucker in the face or wallow in desolate despair when the composition is just right. (“Hurt” is probably all of industrial rock’s most bleakly depressing song.) Since that time, I’ve become more familiarized with Reznor’s work and each album has a special place in my heart for a multitude of reasons. The monolith that is The Fragile, a near two-hour double album, has a far more special reservation.

     Upon its release in late summer of 1999, The Fragile has cemented itself as a fan favorite and made the rounds in “best of” lists over the course of its two-decade existence. Emotionally and structurally challenging (there are 100 minutes of soundscapes, ambience, and art-rock elements to digest), the album sets itself apart from the era’s dying alternative rock and makes a sonic departure from the band’s huge 1994 breakout, The Downward Spiral. That album’s brash and gravelly sounds (coupled with a televised Woodstock performance seen by millions) put the band in full attention of the industry and audiences. The Fragile greatly differs in sound and is a concept album in which Reznor shares depression and raw angst through beautifully intricate arrangements. There is estrangement and anguish. His vocals are vulnerable, melodic, and gentler, a contrast from his violent and frequently angry singing in previous works. The album opens with “Somewhat Damaged”, a loud and aggressive number that is a Nails’ trait, but isn’t entirely indicative of the remaining 22 songs. The thick and heavy layers of guitar continue with a touch of shoegaze in the second song “The Day the World Went Away” and then goes completely soft with merely piano and very slight electronic background by the third song, “The Frail.” It quickly picks up with more dissonant distortion and heavy drumming on standout single, “We’re In This Together”. Throughout the first disc’s 12 songs of textural vastness, there almost isn’t a moment to breathe. It isn’t until the second disc that the listener can finally realize the scope of the musical matter and can take an easy yet careful approach to listening. The second half of The Fragile takes a “quieter” turn and overall, the album features the most instrumentals from Reznor on a Nails album to date. The lack of lyrical content in songs like “Just Like You Imagined”, “La Mer”, and “Ripe With Decay” makes for a broader emotional palette. Reznor perfectly combines heavy guitars, mercurial atmospherics, electronic drones and beats, and aggressive singing while also delivering the most heart-rending, minimalist, and immersive work that presently remains one of his most stand out works. Make no question about it; it is a very subduing album. Special appearances by Adrian Belew, Page Hamilton, and Dr. Dre enhance this must-have for any Nails fan and general audiences looking for immaculate song crafting.

photo: @mr_peefer

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