 | Tracklist:
Ghosts I
1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4
5. 5
6. 6
7. 7
8. 8
9. 9
Ghosts II
1. 10
2. 11
3. 12
4. 13
5. 14
6. 15
7. 16
8. 17
9. 18
Ghosts III
1. 19
2. 20
3. 21
4. 22
5. 23
6. 24
7. 25
8. 26
9. 27
Ghosts IV
1. 28
2. 29
3. 30
4. 31
5. 32
6. 33
7. 34
8. 35
9. 36
| Ranking: #49 for 2008 | |
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On 21 Lists
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| Summary: An album like no other; All chains are broken and the textures and sounds of Ghosts I-IV are explored with grace and beauty. |
2 of 4 thought this review was well written
Sputnik isn’t cutting Nine Inch Nails enough slack these days, and it’s pissing me off. You would think that after a 20 year career of mostly quality material, Nine Inch Nails would be heralded a little more than they are. From starting out their career by releasing one of the most alternative and diversified albums of its decade, Pretty Hate Machine. It was an album like no other from the dreaded 80s. With blending electronica and rock together so seamlessly and flawlessly, the album catapulted industrial music miles ahead of where it was. Then following Pretty Hate Machine with(in my insignificant opinion) a complete masterpiece; The Downward Spiral. A conceptual album so strong in its quality of songs, its coherency, its emotional connectivity, its originality. Although many disagree with me, I put The Downward Spiral above almost every album I have ever heard, and feel it is one of music’s greatest achievements. Such darkness, beauty, pure awesomeness can only be rivaled by a few select albums. God damn I love that album…
Anyways
After the pretty crappy,(The Fragile) to luke-warm,(With Teeth) to relatively solid(Year Zero) releases that Nine Inch Nails has came out with in the past ten years or so, by 2008, I had feared that Trent and his merry band of stand-ins had run out of ideas, and quality for that matter. With Year Zero having it’s major ups, but obvious downs(16 god damned tracks), it had seemed to me that maybe Nine Inch Nails were down for the count. I was contented with Nine Inch Nails’ output and wouldn’t have been asking for anything until around 2009. But then of course Trent had to copy Radiohead and release his digital download. What was unexpected was the completely spontaneous, without-warning release. All of sputnik stroked their beards at the 36 instrumentals coming their way.
It is certainly an unexpected thing to come about. I, being the absurd NIN fan that I am, jumped around in giddy at the relative quality that played through my headphones. Ghosts I-IV is completely barrier-free and is something that seems incredibly appropriate for Nine Inch Nails. If there was ever a band to release 36 instrumental tracks, it would be Nine Inch Nails. It seems like a daunting and over-whelming listen, but as soon as the first track’s soothing piano chords grabs hold of you, you will be lost in the brilliant atmospheres, the rich textural layers and the abstract and experimental beauty that is the album.
From beautifully constructed piano interludes, to hi-fi distorted industrial pieces, all types of music and sound are captured. The album completely breaks free from what is normally expected from Nine Inch Nails, or any band for that matter. The immense mood this album has is indefinable. One that is dirty, gritty, but somehow beautiful in its own way. Most tracks use completely un-orthodox production, instrumentation or sound in general. I-4 begins with an acoustic guitar being strummed, but to be completely crashed over by a violently distorted guitar. II-10 blends hand-claps, muddled guitar and piano chords, go figure. III-21 is almost all done with xylophones, with an infectious and fast section at the beginning with some bass underneath. IV-30 has random sounds mashed together to set the stage for a beautiful, melancholy piano piece. If Ghosts I-IV should be credited with anything, it’s the unique and bold production of all of these tracks.
The album does have its weak points. II-15 is simply annoying, with some breathing and light playing of a marimba. III-27 tries to be a hard-bidding, rocking track and really doesn’t do anything except adding some over-whelming distortion in the song. Some(a fare share, really) of the instrumentals are downright bad, but you can’t possibly expect that 36 tracks of instrumental songs will all be good. Not to mention that 2008 has another album with 30-plus tracks with some inconsistency. (cough, Soundtrack To Vacant Life, cough) But the lack-luster tracks can be forgiven, because they are easily out-weighed by the albums strong and glorious points. II-13 is an absolutely beautiful, tender piece of piano balladry. With such simplicity, it cascades an effect that I’ve never heard from Nine Inch Nails. II-17 is a delicately textured piece, with a gloomy, yet somewhat peaceful elegance to it. IV-28 is the album’s most epic tune. It begins with a simple bassline, but with other instruments entering throughout the piece, building towards a wondrous anthem.
The bold and daring production and unique experimentation is impressive, not to mention the absolutely entrancing and wonderful odyssey this album takes you on. So sputnik can gripe all they want about Nine Inch Nails, but I am one to believe that they are always innovating and thinking of new ways to please their audience, but retaining their trademark sound that is always conveyed in every album. Ghosts I-IV is nothing like the band has ever done before, and I doubt any band could have done it as well as they have. You can understand the tantrum I threw after seeing that absolutely none of the staff featured this in their 2008 lists.
Recommended Tracks:
II-13*
II-17
III-21
IV-28
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 1.5
Then following Pretty Hate Machine with(in my insignificant opinion)
you don't need to say IMO (or in this case IMIO) in your own review as it pretty much states your own opinion.
This is a pretty good review, even though I don't like NIN at all.
Digging: Kool G. Rap - 4, 5, 6 | | | Album Rating: 4
Hyperbolic fanaticism ftw
Digging: My Chemical Romance - The Black Parade | | | Album Rating: 3.5
Sputnik isn’t cutting Nine Inch Nails enough slack these days,
I really doubt that Sputnikmusic has any real influence on the world of music today hahaha (well maybe a little). Alot of reviews I read about NIN are pretty positive for the most part.
A conceptual album so strong in its quality of songs, its coherency, its emotional connectivity, its originality.
Lose all of the it's in the commas and lose the last comma and replace 'its' with 'and'. The sentence would read better like this:
"A conceptual album so strong in its quality of songs, coherency, emotional connectivity, and originality."
Ghosts I-IV is nothing like the band has ever done before,
Ghosts I-IV is nothing like *Trent Reznor* has ever done before,
You have your ideas in place and they flow well. However, I would just lay off some of the wishy-washy jargon that makes this album seem more like a 4.5-5.
Digging: Ulcerate - Of Fracture and Failure | | |
I think you meant "two decades" or "twenty years" in your first paragraph.
This review is good but it is obvious you have not listened to ambient before.
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enjoyed the review. album(s) ok.
After the pretty crappy(The Fragile)
what the hell bro. The Fragile was pretty kick ass if you ask me.This Message Edited On 12.27.08
Digging: David Bazan - Curse Your Branches
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
The review whilst OK, succumbs to overt fanaticism (this does indeed sound like a 4.5/5) and though I may seem slightly cynical and self important, to call The Downward Spiral one of the most original concept albums ever made and then claiming it better than almost anything else you have heard doesn't say a lot about your judgment/ listening skills. Not to say that tds is bad, it's a very good album but it sounds like you need to listen to more music in general.
Psilocybin does sound about right on the assumption that you have not listened to the ambient genre in depth before as well. There was an excellent staff review for this album on here which called this a flawed yet brave attempt at Trent making his own "My Life in the Bush of Ghosts" I thought that comment was damn spot on. My advice is to check that album out, it might change your opinion on things.
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I found this album for 9 dollars brand new and it was the first NIN I bought. For me, probably the best place to start although I haven't bought a bad NIN record yet. Could still be one of my favorites. On a side note I found the hilariously mispriced album "The Slip" for 8 dollars brand new when it was clearly supposed to be 25.
Digging: Charles Mingus - Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus Mingus
| | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
the fragile is great, but apart from that I liked the review ;)
and yeah, this should get more recognition, as it is indeed one of the best albums he has done in a quite a while.
Digging: The Kilimanjaro Darkjazz Ensemble - Here Be Dragons | | | Album Rating: 3.5
I like it in bits and pieces...i don't just play this through and through.
Digging: The End - Elementary | | | Album Rating: 4 | Sound Off
not all four of them at once. but each of the "suites" works well as one piece of music.
| | | Album Rating: 3
I loved TDS and The Fragile. Year Zero was Reznor's best work since The Fragile. Pretty Hate Machine was alright, for its time it was quality I suppose. With Teeth was atrocious. As for Ghosts, I listen to a lot of ambient and I think Reznor extends himself way to far on this. If it was somewhat shorter I'm sure it would have a better effect. The Slip was a surprisingly solid release.
Digging: PJ Harvey - Dry | | | Album Rating: 4
Kickass album, one of the best on the year.
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I could swear this album had already been reviewed...
Digging: Paloma Faith - Do You Want the Truth or Something Beautiful?
| | | Album Rating: 4
It was...prolly got lost in that crash thingo.
| | | Album Rating: 4
ya, the reason I wrote this review was mainly because I was confused as to Porter W. Richards and a few other reviews of this were all gone.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
I was confused as to Porter W. Richards and a few other reviews of this were all gone.
That's a good thing (Porter's review that is hahaha).
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What happened to the review that called this "Brian Eno on training wheels"? Is it because of the server crash that occured last year?
Digging: Pavement - Slanted and Enchanted
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
Yes it is.
| | | Album Rating: 4
The Fragile being crappy.. wow. That's one hell of a opinion you got there. Good review anyway. You may like what you like and so on. 
| | | Album Rating: 1.5
This is pretty much Trent Reznor running out of ideas and ripping off every ambient album in the history of music.
It's pretty lol, but its better than Year Zero.
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