Nice shiny title for a review don’t you think? The new NIN album is called ‘The Slip’ and all. Thought I’d use it before someone else does. Actually it refers not only to the album itself but also to the fact that Reznor is giving it to you in its entirety for free (in case you haven't heard), on his official site, at the quality level of your choice, with nothing required but an email address. A first for any artist of Nine Inch Nails’ stature. So has Trent Reznor slipped up? The answer to this question on both counts, my friends, is no.
Starting with the music, ‘The Slip’ has some solid tracks. Prodigal guitarist Robin Finck comes to his senses and returns from sporadic touring and a thus-far fruitless recording effort that is the unachievable next Guns N’ Roses album. Staying in the NIN lineup are masterful drummer Josh Freese and keyboard wiz Alessandro Cortini. The legendary Alan Moulder mixes and co-produces with Reznor again, part of a proven formula. ‘The Slip’ brings us back to more familiar territory after the synth-driven, beat-based, and almost guitar-less ‘Year Zero’ and the strictly instrumental ‘Ghosts I-IV.’ The music is sonically dynamic, often deeply textured and aggressive, alternating between abrasive, catchy, and eerie. And then of course there are the simple, dark and vague lyrics, albeit delivered with a cool voice. If you’re a NIN fan, it’s not necessarily anything you haven’t heard, but it’s probably more of what you like so you’ll dig the album. And I mean come on, it’s free.
So why then is he setting aside the $5 model used for ‘Ghosts’ and giving this away? Since his contract ended with Interscope, Trent Reznor has been waving his futuristic ‘F U’ flag high and proud at the major labels, leading the charge for artist independence. But the fact is he can afford to give this away for nothing where others can’t or won’t. He’s his own label now and his fan base is strong and loyal enough that he can expect to do very well with his upcoming tour. (A fan base that knows him, b.t.w. because major label support helped make sure that they’ve heard ‘head like a hole’ and ‘I want to f_ck you like an animal’ a billion times by now on the radio and going waaay back, mtv). The guy has consistently shown tremendous talent and savvy not only artistically but also in terms of marketing (whether the ARG thing was intended that way or not). This free album is great publicity for the tour.
Having said that, Trent Reznor deserves appreciation not only for his caliber of work for almost 20 twenty years, but also for his chutzpah in continuing to force the current issues facing the puddle of flux we call the music industry to the forefront. He’s made peace with his former labels and can do whatever he wants. I’m sure he could do some sort of Madonna/Live Nation-style deal if he wanted to really cash in. But he’s an artist’s artist. The first I heard of who made multitrack sessions available for his fans to remix for free. One of the good guys. He knows the value of music is not going away by any means, but it is changing into something new and we as consumers, much more so than artists or labels, are in the position to determine what that will be.