 | Tracklist:
1. HYPERPOWER!
2. The Beginning Of The End
3. Survivalism
4. The Good Soldier
5. Vessel
6. Me, I'm Not
7. Capital G
8. My Violent Heart
9. The Warning
10. God Given
11. Meet Your Master
12. The Greater Good
13. The Great Destroyer
14. Another Version Of The Truth
15. In This Twilight
16. Zero-Sum
| Ranking: #99 for 2007 | |
| | other reviews | insomniac15 (5)
Year Zero, in my opinion, is the best NIN album ever built around a meticulous concept... | Porter W. Richards (5)
The most disturbing, uneasy album released in years keeps Nine Inch Nails a relevant band as proves ... | Matt Conrad (4.5)
A noisy, pessimistic view of the future...... | got tool? (4.5)
The best NIN release since "The Downward Spiral". Both frightening and touching, the album is a huge... | Ben (4.5)
Trent Reznor releases his noisiest, most coherent album since 1994's "The Downward Spiral."... | Edmund Blackadder (4.5)
The Nine Inch Nails vision of the future; bleak and cold, yet catchy and all around brilliant.... | John Cruz EMERITUS (4)
Trent Reznor makes an easily digestible album with hooks galore, heart, and loads of what we have co... | montague (4)
Something left in NIN? You better believe it.... |
On 118 Lists
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| Summary: Message to Trent: Anyone is capable of writing a politically inspired album. You are capable of writing beautiful music. Stick to what you do best! |
4 of 6 thought this review was well written
NIN- Year Zero
Now before I begin, I should let you know that NIN has been one of my favorite bands since the age of 13, so I definitely have some bias writing this review. However, it shouldn’t stop me from tearing this album apart.
When I think of Nine Inch Nails, a few key words come to mind: angst, emotion, intensity, passion, to name a few. I see absolutely none of those on this album. I have absolutely no problem with bands adjusting their style, so long as it’s some kind of creative and musical evolution. When listening to the NIN discography between Pretty Hate Machine and The Fragile (Trent Reznor’s masterpiece IMO), one can see a definite forward progression. With each step, he takes something from the old and incorporates it into his new material, while adding new elements along the way to create his own signature style. Between 2000 and 2005 however, the progression made by Trent isn’t like anything we’ve seen in the past. Where’s the feeling? Where are the instrumental epics that Trent is known for? Where are the sound-scapes that can drive you into a schizophrenic rage or carry you into a serene dreamland? These days NIN sounds terribly uninspired.
The whole composition of this album is a complete mess. Rather than creating an album, it seems that Trent wrote a handful of songs and threw them on a CD (after all, he did write most of this CD while on tour). On The Fragile and The Downward Spiral, there are almost no silent moments. Each song carried in and out by Trent’s gift to create ambient noise.
The first track, “The Beginning of the End” doesn’t seem to really go anywhere. It starts off with some incoherent chords and a monotonous drum beat that carry it through the entirety of the track. At this point, I’m not convinced that this album is worth the hype Trent tried to stir up. By track three, “Survivalism” Trent brings back some sounds that sound like they would fit more appropriately on 1989’s Pretty Hate Machine. Unfortunately, any potential once held by this song is ruined by the incredibly annoying electric drum kit. I realize that I am a drummer, and most percussionists have an opposition to electric kits, but I really feel like it pulls away from the intensity that Reznor is known for
Another thing that bothers be about this album is the songwriting. Nearly every song follows a traditional “intro, verse, course, verse, course, outro” formula. Anyone who known anything about NIN knows that Trent is capable of writing amazing compositions, but this time around he has a blueprint that’s been duplicated for nearly every song on the album.
Now, let me give credit where credit is due. The lyrics here are well thought out.
She gave us all she had but
We went and took some more
Can't seem to shut her legs
Our mother nature is a whore
This reminds us that although, Trent has abandoned his deeply personal writing, and taken on more of a political subject matter, it’s still the same guy behind the microphone. His vocals on the other hand, although they aren’t horrible, just sound uninspiring.
My favorite track on Year Zero is by far Zero Sum. The eerie keyboards and muddled vocals at be beginning of this track really capture what Trent is capable of. When the course kicks in, one feels this kind of apocalyptic wave rolling over them. The end of this album reminds us that we’re all going to burn in hell, but for some reason there’s some light at the end of the tunnel. Classic Reznor!
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 2.5
My First review! Any criticism is appreciated!
Digging: Bjork - Homogenic Digging: Bjork - Homogenic | | | Album Rating: 4
First of all, welcome. Second... might want to do some re-reading and editing. I highly doubt you intended to say "furry of rage" in the second paragraph. Also I know that you mean "When the chorus kicks in" when you say "When the course kicks in" in regards to Zero Sum, but it doesn't hurt to clean it up.
Otherwise this is an okay review. The structure could use a little work... and given that this is the only review under a 4, I think you should have taken more care to defend why you think it is an average album. For example, don't just tell us the album is a complete mess, give us instances that made you feel this way while listening to the album or some such.
Differences in personal opinion aside, I do think you could make a valid argument if you sharpened the review up so don't hesitate to do so. And again, welcome to the site.
Digging: Gotan Project - Luntico Digging: Gotan Project - Luntico | | | Album Rating: 3.5
The conclusion seemed pretty abrupt, as you didn't really restate anything from the beginning. The Beginning of The End is track 2, not track 1. Track 1 is Hyperpower.
You didn't mention anything from the entire meaty center of this cd. Capitol G, My Violent Heart, and The Great Destroyer at least deserve some mention.
Also, a few typos here and there.
Pretty good review though. It's nice to have a review that's mostly negative, even though I disagree.
It seems like you would have liked this more if it was by someone else.
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moar examples plz. kthxbai.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
not a bad review, but i do completely disagree. imo this album is up there with the fragile and TDS
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mhm, aim to go with some more detail. It's a little short. But other than that, it's a decent effort  This Message Edited On 12.04.07
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
To be honest, this gets more boring with every listen. Good first review.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
This didn't deserve the neg that someone gave it, so I'll vote.
| | | Album Rating: 2.5
Thanks for the comments. I'll deffinitely take some of this stuff into consideration, and tweak my review a little bit.
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I agree with the review's problems with the album, but not enough of the hate.
NIN blows
Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace Digging: Neurosis - Times of Grace
| | | Album Rating: 3
What an over-rated album, NIN are pretty bad. Great first review
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Oh, and have a vote.
| | | Album Rating: 2
Great review, a little editing here and there should help touch it up a bit. Other than that, this is the most accurate review for this album so far.
The whole composition of this album is a complete mess. Rather than creating an album, it seems that Trent wrote a handful of songs and threw them on a CD
You nailed that point on the head!
Digging: Vaura - Selenelion Digging: Vaura - Selenelion | | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
well u know how to prove your points, and u can talk music very well, but ur being pretty harsh. Calling the album not intense isnt fair, Hyperpower!? No angst: My Violent Heart? No emotion: In This Twilight? No passion: Capital G?
Now I do agree political albums are getting stale, thanks to Green Day, but Trent did a nice job with it and as a whole its not perfect but its well done in alot of ways.
| | | Album Rating: 2
Trent took a concept that has been done numerous times before and just rehashed it. Sorry, this album is by far his worst.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5 | Sound Off
well he put an interesting twist on it, but it has been done before. Musically it's brilliant though, with teeth is the worst though.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
I didn't read the review. Too angry that you gave it a 2.5. I hate you. As a reviewer not as a person. Your probably very nice.
| | | Album Rating: 1
Boring Concept, really boring music, and bland vocals= bluh.
| | | Album Rating: 3.5
though i feel this is NIN' s weakest effort, it's still a good listen
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