Trent Reznor is just like everybody else. In his own little way, he produces music that grabs attention like other artists can, climbs the same Billboard charts, and sells out just as many live shows as people of his kind of fame can also easily do. Mr. Reznor is like an automobile engine: They are all the same, but different. His constant initiation of writer's block eras that people like to call a hiatus are nothing every other musician hasn't experienced before. This isn't anything to get worked up about. He is no genius for becoming a musical recluse several times throughout his career. Of course, given the time and ability this man can accomplish anything. From one of the greatest concept albums of all time to the definitive industrial work,
The Fragile. So the shady do-it-all decides its time again to shroud his efforts in blackness and produce a load of traditional suspense and anticipation for his next release,
With Teeth. Making what he apparently desired with his seemingly limitless deadline, he released upon the rock world the inevitable that every frontman must face in his career: the average album.
At least by Nine Inch Nail's standards. Listening to something of this kind after being quite the avid fan of the band (erm) in the past, is sort of like a blow to the head. Just done with a pillowed fist with a note pasted to it, reading, "Well? What the hell were you expecting?" I was expecting greatness. I was expecting
Downward Spiral all over again. I had my hopes up way, way too high. What I got was a watered down version of Reznor's debut, just puked out and peppered with electronica. I should have known the mountain range had come to a stop with
The Fragile. A double-disc with almost as many mediocre tracks as sky-sailing masterpieces. But it was loved. Loved so much by so many. What you should try to hear when inserting this album into your player are the shards of something once so kingly and powerful. Listen to it, and expect the ballad of a fallen monarch. 'Cause that's what you'll get.
Despite its obvious downsides and misplaced production,
With Teeth like all of Reznor's works has its defining moments. It will not fail to amaze you that Trent is still his genre's master of originality, and possibly one of the best thinkers the music world in general has ever spawned. Not much here sounds directly reminiscent of his previous works, but as stated earlier
Pretty Hate Machine makes a control freakish cameo on the album, sort of the guy above the stage holding the strings. But what is hanging off the strings is something different: its a pure science experiment. Wow, thats new, huh? Trent Reznor performing an experiment. Unheard of. Alright, sarcasm aside WT is the new chemistry project assigned to you after weeks upon weeks of mindless drivel. Explosions don't play much of a role in this one, though. Your not splitting atoms here - you want to instead mix chemical A (the PHM CD) and chemical B (Aphex Twin's blind, deaf, mentally retarded daughter/son) and see what comes of it.
Now Trent Reznor, being the fountain of ingenuity that he is made a little special something for you. A true, blue 100% not subliminal single. You've heard
The Hand That Feeds, right? Your a NIN fan, right? Well what do you make of that? Its pop music. Perhaps not something completely and totally new to Reznor's limitless library but not what anybody was probably anticipating from the 1999 dropoff 'til now. Its not
his strong point. Pop is
everybodies strong point. Not a soul on this earth with the ability to hear can't hum a tune that sounds the least bit catchy to them. Nine Inch Nails is an Industrial outfit (heh). There's another thing you would do good to remember whilst listening. Moving on, the real upsides of the album. Not for the sake of ranting, either.
Halfway through this you should realize that it isn't as bad as I'm making it out to be. That's cause you haven't pryed at it yet, or you simply have opposite musical tastes as me.
With Teeth is nothing short of a very appealing album. Of course it can get old, but its fun to listen to. Casual listeners will enjoy hearing this new side of Reznor. His past work may not have seemed too inviting to somebody who wasn't up on him, constantly kissing his ass starting 1994. If you want a real rock-type shift from the Industrial norm, then I would highly,
highly recommend this. WT is a crucial piece of music in getting into the genre itself. You won't forget the album if you use it as a starting point. Reznor incorporates flawless vocal performance as usual, alongside his interesting drum talent (effects) and the usual simple, raw guitar that flows perfectly and bites through to your brain from the ears. The simplistic mastermind does it all again. And again. And...
Again we were forced to sit and wait on our impatient asses for Trent Reznor's long awaited 'masterpiece'. And it was good, no doubt about that. I doubt he is even capable of producing a warped wacksterpiece of musical nihilism. What a talent that boy is. But what it all boils down to is that everything has its downsides, no matter how polished and seemingly brilliant it may be (an effect crying fanboys should experience after recieving this as a supposed compliment after the long years of wait). The next one'll be sublime. This is the mountain amongst the chain of volcanoes. Not too shabby, but not much else either.
Credits:
Mr. Trent Reznor is the embodiment of self-production.
