NINE INCH NAILS
THE FRAGILE
by Duncan Fowler

This CD is hot! The reason it is hot is that it comes in a card package, and not a plastic one. Card is much hotter than plastic. It is also hot because it has a booklet inside. That’s hot! Hot again, because you get not one, not one and a half, but two CD’s inside! That’s really hot.

The first song I heard off the album was The Day the World Went Away, on triple j. To be honest, I was disappointed (but, it’s a creeper). It wasn’t Closer. It wasn’t even close to any of the fine tunes on The Downward Spiral. But okay. Trent was just pissing us off. Then came Starfuckers, Inc. A song with a swear word is always a killer (plenty more on this album). I never understood the opening lines off the radio, but they are worth repeating here:

my god sits in the back of the limousine

my god comes in a wrapper of cellophane

my god pouts on the cover of a magazine

my god’s a shallow little bitch just trying to make the scene

Finally we were back to the real NIN. Trent’s vivid depictions of oral sex and the great Carly Simon tribute (?) had me satisfied.

Next off the radio was We’re in this Together Now, around the time it was the feature album on the j’s. (being feature album didn’t do this record justice). Although it has to be said that the music all the way through the album is pure genius, the lyrics and vocal style on We’re in this Together Now are just awesome. If Closer wasn’t a love song, then maybe this one is (lyrics include ‘we will make it through some how, you and me, even after everything, you’re the queen and I’m the king, nothing else means anything’, but any romantic notions are tempered by, ‘awake to the sound as they peel apart the skin, they pick and they pull, trying to get their fingers in’).

It was time to buy the album. (If you’re thinking of buying the album, shop around, I’ve seen it as low as $34.95.) There are two discs, titled ‘left’ and ‘right’.

I listened to the two albums straight through. Sitting there listening to the music, I had this sense that I was in over my head, that the music was too intense for me. The music ebbs and flows between classic NIN in-your-face sounds and more mature, thoughtful sounds. I have to say that every time the sounds calmed down, I wasn’t left waiting for the next in-your-face gush, but rather, fearing it. Intensity at its best.

This is the scheme of the whole album, and it works. There is more than enough high-energy music to keep the most ambivalent listener interested, while the new sounds offer a great experience for those wanting to stretch their music to new limits.

Musically, the sound is nothing but intense. It has a sparser sound than a band like Tool, but it is well produced, and you aren't left feeling that anything is missing from the album. The sounds flow better than, for example, the majority of KoRn’s Follow the Leader.

Lyrically, Reznor is fucked up. This leads to great lyrics. Whether you are fucked up yourself, or just like listening to other people who are fucked up, the lyric book is nothing but a great read.

Choosing favourites is hard. We’re in this Together Now and Starfuckers, Inc. are probably the two easiest to get into straight away. Into the Void is my favourite at this stage (I was waiting to hear ‘you let me violate you’). Somewhat Damaged is a great opening track, and epitomises the intensity I referred to. But the whole album is full of great sounds and powerful lyrics, and to choose favourites is really just reflecting my tastes and not the quality that is found throughout the album.

This is a great album for all NIN fans, and also for anyone who is looking for something new and challenging in their music. It’s not easy listening, but hey, it wouldn’t be Trent if it was.