Albums of the Year - #8: Nine Inch Nails - "Hesitation Marks"

Rating: 8.3/10

Editor's Note: Check out my earlier, more in-depth review of the album here:

http://factsforwhatever.blogspot.com/2013/09/album-of-week-nine-inch-nails.html

Arriving half a decade after The Slip and just under four years past Nine Inch Nails' last live show, Hesitation Marks is technically a comeback record. Though the period between records wasn't nearly as lengthy as, say, the gap between My Bloody Valentine albums, Trent Reznor did declare his decade-spanning project to be over back in 2009, at least for a little while. When he eventually did decide to return as Nine Inch Nails, Reznor came back with Hesitation Marks, a lengthy, fourteen-track album full of some of the group's heaviest and most jarring tracks since the turn of the century.

When I first reviewed Hesitation Marks upon release, I gave it a rating of 7.8. As you can see above, my opinion of the album has only improved since. The standout tracks I wrote about back in September remain among the best. "The Eater of Dreams" is still relentlessly creepy, "Came Back Haunted"'s bleeps and bloops sound more cohesive and thought-out, and "Copy of A" is one of the few tracks in FIFA 14 that I haven't grown tired of yet. (For the record, "Worship You" and "We Sink" are still amazing). "Everything" made my top 20 songs of the year, thanks to its harsh production and torrential mood swings. That said, some tracks which I liked back in September, I now love in December.

Album of the Week: Nine Inch Nails - "Hesitation Marks"

Rating: 7.8/10

Trent Reznor's one-man industrial machine Nine Inch Nails has done it again. Coming off a hiatus in which he scored The Social Network, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo, earning an Oscar in the process for the former, he's left no doubt that he's still got the amazing musical talent that was so evident on 1994's extremely dark The Downward Spiral. During this time he also wrote the theme for the immensely popular first-person shooter Call Of Duty's latest installment, Call of Duty: Black Ops II, as well as his first release as How to Destroy Angels. Now, he's gone back to what made him famous in the first: making great Nine Inch Nails record.

Released this past Tuesday, Hesitation Marks can be seen mainly as a toned-down version of The Downward Spiral. Dark themes are still present, but the instrumentation and production are less harsh, the lyrics less vulgar and more nuanced. This is not to say the album is weak in any way; comparing an album's intensity to The Downward Spiral is like comparing an album's angst to Nevermind; it just can't be beat. Instead, Hesitation Marks wallows in a more subtle kind of despair, one that's less direct and more hushed. Whereas The Downward Spiral showcased youthful fury and turmoil, Hesitation Marks manifests a more mature anger, with somewhat hopeful moments shining through every now and again. Still, it's a considerably grim album, categorized by repeating keyboard blips and Reznor's signature growl. It's one of those records that gets better with each listen - streaming it as I write, I'm noticing things I hadn't picked up on before and I don't think I've yet enjoyed it more than I am right now.

Instrumental opener "The Eater of Dreams" sets an eerie tone straight from the get go just by its title alone. The fifty-three second track creaks along before distorted yells make their way into the mix, preparing the listener for the next thirteen tracks aptly. Up next is the bleak "Copy of A," which opens with an unembellished keyboard riff and gradually evolves into a full-on synth wash in a similar manner to the second half of Reznor's controversial and explicit hit "Closer." Violent lyrics are still present here ("I am just the finger on a trigger"), but so are more introspective ones ("I am just a shadow of a shadow of a shadow, always trying to catch up with myself"). It's one of the stronger songs here, and deserved its single status.

Lead single "Came Back Haunted" slots in at third, and contains some of the best lyrics and melodies on the record. Reznor's vocals really stand out here, as he sings with a sense of renewal after an apparent near-death experience ("Saw some things on the other side"). The synth work here is magnificent here as well, and I consider it the best song on the record.

 "Find My Way"  is definitely one the quieter, slower, simpler songs on the album, but it also one of the most desperate ones. A disjointed drum pattern and poignant lyrics such as "Lord my path has gone astray, I'm just trying to find my way" depict an older Reznor possibly regretting some of his actions. The first four tracks of the album are all fantastic in their own unique way, which speaks volumes to how great of a musical mind Trent Reznor is.

Nine Inch Nails' aggressive, intimidating side only appears in small glimpses on Hesitation Marks, but more cynical moments can be found on tracks five and six, "All Time Low" and "Disappointed." "All Time Low" is certainly the more violent of the two, with lyrics like "get down on the floor" speaking for themselves. The second of the two is more of a warning than anything else, as a muffled Reznor cautions the listener, "If i were you, I wouldn't trust a single word I say." Reznor has always been an extremely intelligent guy, and his albums tend to follow one of two paths; either he tries to make a political statement, as he did with "The Hand That Feeds" and the entire Year Zero record, or he writes an album exploring the depths of human psyche, usually the negative parts. The latter of the two is definitely what he's going for here, and I think it's both more unique and effective. While many other bands have used music to speak their minds, Reznor's personal struggles give him a rare combination of insight into feelings of depression and the musical genius to portray those emotions accurately. Reznor's music has always been pretty emotionally transparent, and the schizophrenic seventh song "Everything" embodies this excellently.

"Everything" starts of as a jovial, head-bopping pop-punk riff & vocal line one might find on a Jimmy Eat World album. But, if one listens closely, there is a hint of cynicism in his voice as he sings "I've survived everything," but not without a dash of pride. Soon, however, the apparent happiness of the verse transforms into a panicked, quickly derailing chorus that calls the speaker's sanity into question. "All the walls begin dissolve away," Reznor states without bothering to add the particle 'to' to the infinitive, adding, "Do your hands begin to shake, shake, shake, shake, shake?" Then the verse returns, more content than ever before. This wild swing of emotions will absolutely catch you off guard, another thing Reznor does so well. The song may be talking about someone who is saying goodbye and has conflicting emotions of peace and terror.

Though still strong, the second half of the album drags on a little too long, and some of the songs begin to blend together. Standout tracks here the slow-burning "Various Methods of Escape," the pleading "I Would For You," and the looming instrumental finisher "Black Noise."

All in all, Hesitation Marks covers all of the expected bases from a Nine Inch Nails record and then some. Songs like "Came Back Haunted" and "Everything" are immediate classics, fitting in seamlessly with other legendary NIN tracks. "Copy Of A," "Find My Way," and hold their ground as well and should by no means be overlooked. While there's nothing that compares to the gloomy masterpiece "Hurt" here, and nothing is quite as abrasive as past songs like "Heresy" or "Big Man With a Big Gun," Reznor's latest output is still something to take notice off. The man's a legend, and shows that nearly twenty years after his most insurmountable achievement and almost 25 years into a career that he still has what it takes to mark a beautifully dark album. Listen to key tracks below, and check out some of Nine Inch Nail's other works on iTunes/YouTube/Spotify, etc. while you're at it.

Key tracks: "Copy of A," "Came Back Haunted," "Find My Way," "Everything"

Nine Inch Nails & HAIM Free Downloads!

I've always loved finding good songs available online to download for free legally. Well, this week has given us two gems to add to our music libraries.

First off, Nine Inch Nails have put "Copy Of A" up for free download via Amazon. The track is the second single from NIN's Hesitation Marks, slated for release this fall, following lead single "Came Back Haunted." It sounds like it could've been a less-visceral  B-side from their legendarily dark 1994 record The Downward Spiral. The group, which in reality is essentially Trent Reznor with touring musicians, has a history of releasing free music, as their 2008 output The Slip was made available in its entirety for free via the band's official website. Pick up "Copy Of A" on Amazon for free here. Amazon is a great place for free MP3's in general, with bands such as The National, Best Coast, Spoon, and Savages all previously releasing free music on the site.

Next up is "The Wire" from up-and-coming California trio HAIM (rhymes with time). The indie-pop group consists of three sisters, and has often been compared to '70's trailblazers Fleetwood Mac. After releasing several EP's, the band is set to release its first full-length in a few months. "The Wire," their latest single, is up for download on iTunes as their "Free Song of the Week." The link is easily visible from the iTunes store homepage, or you can find it in the "Free on iTunes" tab under "Music." Listen to the new song belong, as well as the Nine Inch Nails track.

Top 5 Cover Songs

Taking another musician's work and trying to make it your own while staying true to the original is one of the most daunting tasks in the music industry. However, these ten artists managed to pull off near-perfect cover songs. Without further ado, here's my list of the top five cover songs of all time.

5. Dinosaur Jr. - "Just Like Heaven" (originally by The Cure)
Dinosaur Jr.'s version of The Cure's hit single, "Just Like Heaven," starkly contrasts the original in production and instrumentation, yet manages to leaves the foundation intact. The original track is a highly-polished, precise piece of '80's pop-rock, with shimmering guitars and clean drums. Dino Jr.'s take, on the other hand, features all the classic components that are identifiable with the western-Massachusetts band; sludged-out guitars, trashy drums, and chaotic, bursting-at-the-seams energy levels. Eventually, metal-esque screams of "NO!" infiltrate the chorus. Still, J Mascis & co. keep the song's structure up until the cover ends abruptly before the beginning of the last verse.



4. Pavement - "The Killing Moon" (originally by Echo & the Bunnymen)
'90's alt-rock gods Pavement took a stab at Echo & the Bunnymen's 1984 classic, "The Killing Moon," at a BBC concert in 1997. The song was later released in 1999 on an EP. Their cover version takes the tempo down a notch and includes Stephen Malkmus's signature vocal styles to create a unique revision of the song recently made re-famous by an Audi commerical during the 2012 Super Bowl. The cover still includes all of the original's major assets, including the famously long guitar solo.



3. Jimi Hendrix - "All Along the Watchtower" (originally by Bob Dylan)
This cover is a classic example of a reworked version of an already great song that became more well-known than the original. Whenever one rock legend covers another, you know you're in for a treat, and this track is no exception. "All Along the Watchtower" is one of Hendrix's most beloved songs, and its guitar solo is widely celebrated and considered by some to be the greatest of all time. The track has major cultural significance as well, as it is often associated with the Vietnam War and the late-1960's peace movement in the USA. This song only solidified Hendrix's status as a legend, which lands it at #3 on this list.



2. Nirvana - "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (traditional folk song, arrangement by Lead Belly)
There's no denying Kurt Cobain had the ability to touch people with his music. Nirvana's rebellious punk attitudes connected with an entire generation of people who felt like they didn't belong. Taken from their legendary 1994 MTV Unplugged set, perhaps the most famous concert of all time outside of Woodstock, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" showcases Cobain at his most sincere, his most raw, and his most transparent. What starts off as a simple folk song quickly evolves into Kurt's chilling, pleading howls or paranoia ("My girl, don't lie to me") and despair ("I'm going where the cold wind blows"). It's an instant classic, one that will surely never go away. (The performance starts at about the 0:50 mark, but there's some golden dialogue between Nirvana and the crowd right beforehand.)



1. Johnny Cash - "Hurt" (originally by Nine Inch Nails)
Did you really not see this coming? If not, allow me to enlighten you with a bit of background story. The original song, the closing track to 1994's dark, introspective examination of topics such as depression and violence, very authentically depicts suicidal thoughts and actions.When Johnny Cash released his own version of the controversial track, fans and critics alike were taken aback. But, instead of portraying suicide like the original, the country legend's take served as a final goodbye to his family, friends, and fans. He sounds as if he's apologizing for all of his wrongdoings. When he sings "I hurt myself today," it doesn't come across as a physical action. Instead, it seems like he is acknowledging how his poor decisions  end up hurting himself more than others. It's an absolutely haunting song; lyrics such as  "What have I become, my sweetest friend?" and "Everyone I know goes away in the end" pack just as hard a punch as they did when Trent Reznor spoke them, yet it's an entirely different kind of punch. While it still comes from a man nearing the end of his life, it comes from a place of regret instead of a place of hate. Often called Cash's epitaph, it was accompanied by an equally amazing and chilling music video, showing a decrepit Cash in a lonely, ornately decorated mansion.

Seven months later he was dead.

"Hurt" epitomizes everything a great cover should be: it completely changes the intended meaning of the lyrics without betraying the original; it transitions flawlessly across genres, from gloomy industrial rock to a saddened country lament; and, perhaps most importantly, sounds fantastic. Even original songwriter Trent Reznor to say the following: "Tears welling, silence, goose-bumps... wrote some words and music in my bedroom as a way of staying sane, about a bleak and desperate place I was in, totally isolated and alone. [Somehow] that winds up reinterpreted by a music legend from a radically different era/genre and still retains sincerity and meaning — different, but every bit as pure." The debate over whose version is better still rages on, but one thing's for sure: Johnny Cash went out with a bang, and left the world with one last incredible song to enjoy. The video is just as beautiful as the track, especially taking into consideration the surrounding circumstances of Cash's failing health, so I highly recommend paying close attention.