This album is a follow-up after the epic 'The Fragile' album in 1999.
NIN hasnt made much progress in this space between 1999 and now, but they now release the album 'With Teeth' in May 2005.
--The Review--
1. All the love in the world:
This song is more of a pop song rather then Industrial. It seems to be very dull at the start for at least 3 minutes but then the texture of the song builds up with live drums banging on the floor tom and then guitars coming in, the vocals seem to build up creating a more upbeat rhythm. Give this song time to sink in then you will find it enjoyable.
Rating: 4/5
2. You Know Who You Are:
Dave Grohl stars in this song as the drummer, which he is menacing at on this song, its fantastic. This song is totally different to the previous one, this is more of an Industrial Rock song, with loads of angry lyrics and vocals and massive distorted guitars, this is a very good song.
Rating: 4.5/5
3. The Collector:
Dave Grohl is also on this one with another fantastic performance. The Bass playing is catchy with Trent Reznor's vocals suiting this song perfectly. The downside of this song is that it is too repetitive, even though it is a short song.
Rating: 3.5/5
4. The Hand That Feeds:
This is the first single on this album to be released and what a good desicion to make. The song is excellent with a very catchy bass line with drums making a kind of disco rhythm with it. Vocals are excellent as always with well thought through lyrics. The keyboards make the solo performance which fits in to the song.
Rating: 5/5
5. Love is Not Enough:
This has mostly drums and bass really with angry vocals. The Chorus consists of the same drum pattern and some rhythm guitaring. The song is basically the same all the way through but it grows on you eventually.
Rating: 4/5
6. Everyday is Exactly The Same:
This song has at the intro basically just a piano playing a few notes at a slow pace, but then a sudden breakout of the drums and keyboards playing the rhythm of the song straight away with vocals with it. This song is the most heart-warming in the album and one of the best. It is superb with its sequence and imaginative layout of the whole song. Vocals are nice and not angry and instrument playing is not loud.
Rating: 5/5
7. With Teeth:
People say that this a very repetitive song, it is but in a good way as it can be very catchy with its complicated drum fills and wierd guitar playing. the bass gives it the extra boost of making it a strange song. The Vocals suit the song and it has a short piano playing at the middle which calms the nerves of the song down but then an outbreak of the rhythm returning can make you jump if you put up the volume.
Rating: 4/5
8. Only:
This is mostly a synthisised based song with sounds like a type of song from the album 'Pretty Hate Machine'. The Song sounds like an 80's style song at the start but then changes slowly as the song progresses through, with vocals becoming more and more angry and music adding more texture of distortion. It is another catchy song on this album and also is one of the best.
Rating: 4.5/5
9. Getting Smaller:
This song is full of aggression with the rhythm guitars being the main point here. It has good riffs on the verses and chorus. The Vocals are full of aggression with lyrics. The song can get repetitive but it that is overshined.
rating: 4/5
10. Sunspots:
This starts of with an easy drum beat with a low noted bass line powering the song along. The vocals seem to be quiet at the verses but the whole song picks up strongly at the choruses with bass line beginning to pick up fuzz distortion slightly. Not much to say about it but it is a very good song.
Rating: 4.5/5
11. The Line Begins To Blur:
This is mostly based on keyboard again with electronic drums being aggressive with effects. The Vocals are again angry but the chorus seems to calm down with a nice tone effect on it. The ending has a nice solo at the end on guitar which has a nice finishing touch to it.
Rating 4.5/5
12. Beside You In Time:
This song is a bit too repetitive with its keyboard effects. There isnt much texture in this song for at least 3 minutes, thats when it picks up a lot with its more textual keyboard effects and drums. The Vocals are ok and the overall song is ok but it can get boring.
Rating: 3.5/5
13. Right Where It Belongs:
This song is beautiful with its perfect vocals and nice piano sequences. This is it for the song but the whole song is beautiful. It has a nice atmosphere for the album and and it is wort listening to.
Rating: 5/5
14. Home (UK Bonus Track):
This song is mostly drums and vocals but it is a very good song to listen to with its wierd beat to it and lyrics. The intro has a kind of indian style guitaring feel to it with is totally different to the song itself. Overall the song is very listenable.
Rating: 4/5
15. Right Where It Belongs v.2:
This song is the same concept of the original but it has a different piano style with more of a chord progression then a arpeggio style. It seems more boring but it is still listenable.
Rating: 4/5
Overall this album has many moments on it and its a decent follow up to The Fragile. This album is excellent in its every right and should be worth being paid attention to.
Overall: 4.5/5
