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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