Nine Inch Nails - The Slip

The Slip (2008, Null) Nine Inch Nails' seventh studio album. ***1/2

Trent Reznor is even more of a perfectionist than Billy Corgan, lead singer and basically commander of Smashing Pumpkins, a similar role that Reznor plays for Nine Inch Nails; he writes all the music and sings all of it, and the "band" that is Nine Inch Nails has always had a constant rotating group of members, so much so that either NIN is Reznor's alter ego or his back-up band. And that's what shocked everyone when only a few months after the release of Ghosts I-IV, a sprawling four-disc set of instrumentals, he would follow it with The Slip. Normally, Reznor spends years - upwards of five - crafting an album. But now he is free of a major label above his head, and apparently that has inspired him to make more music.

The Slip is a mixed bag, with probably the strangest progression an album has ever taken. The opener is a signature soundscape that leads into the foot-stomping, fist-pumping anthemic "1,000,000," which features a killer riff and hollow but excellently minimalist drum backing. It then drops off for a few songs, which keep the momentum but lose the feeling and inspiration. Easily listenable, sure, and especially so for the fan - who, by the way, should be creaming their pants due to Reznor's sudden awakening - but the slag doesn't wear off until "Head Down," a perfect blend of a factory-like drum rotation with electronic ambience floating and building in the background, topped with Reznor's full delve into an emotional vocal performance. From there the piano ballad of "Lights in the Sky" drones by, echoing classical tastes of Bach, which leads into "Corona Radatia," another model Reznor soundscape. All in all the album has some very strong moments, and while some seem almost half-assed, it still is great listening. Recommended, indeed. (1,000,000, Echoplex, Head Down)

Review on YouTube: Nine Inch Nails - The Slip