Sometimes life is just a big disappointment. I had such high hopes for this album I think maybe I thought it would be too good. It was a disappointment.
I have to remember the importance of this album and the importance of what Trent Reznor is doing, but I also have to remember that I’m reviewing the musical content of this album. The importance and signifigance of this album is higher than any other album on the market, it’s a shame the music hasn’t lived up to this.
The Slip reminds me of Year Zero. It’s decent but it just doesn’t suck you in. It lacks an edge that makes you want to listen to this album more than twice. It’s got that signature NIN sound but it’s almost like a poor man’s imitation. There’s nothing that makes you feel like your listening to something special, which is a shame considering it’s a major mark in the progression away from major record labels etc.
There are however a few shining lights. ‘Discipline’ is one of those. It’s got a great driving beat with a delicate mix of heavy bass and guitar with light piano, and yet there’s still a lot of room and space that gives the song a very airy, spacey feel.
Echoplex is also a shining light. Based around the same ‘template’ as ‘Discipline’, it is again a driving beat, crunchy guitars but with a light feel to it. The piano work on this album seems to be more derived from ‘Ghosts’ than any other NIN output. This is particularly highlighted on ‘Lights in the Sky’, a song that reminds me of Radiohead’s ‘Pyramid Song’. This is probably the pick of the bunch.
On the production side it’s a bit of let down. It feels rushed and Reznor’s vocals are all too often in the background. Considering the high standard he produced in 10 weeks on ‘Ghosts‘ it almost feels as if this was put out too soon. It could do with more attention, but maybe that’s what he was aiming for.
Maybe this album’s a grower but I don’t think I’ll be in a rush to listen to it again. It just doesn’t have enough quality. It’s overflowing with filler tracks and it hasn’t received the time it may have deserved before being finalised and released. But, as I’ve mentioned this album deserves a lot of public and media attention for the thump it’s given the music industry. The industry needs to change and I still think Reznor is one of the leading men to change it.
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Tags: discipline, echoplex, free music, ghosts, lights in the sky, major record labels, music industry, nin, nine inch nails, pyramid song, radiohead, the slip, trent reznor, year zero
