Random NIN Thoughts

[witte]

excellent theory

[eversonpoe]

I think NIN could learn a lot from studying Rolling Stones.

like how to put out the same album every few years for the last 3+ decades?

look, i love the stones' early stuff, and they've had a few great songs in the last 35 years, but that's it. they haven't done anything interesting or innovative in a loooooong time. whereas TR+AR keep putting out stuff that sounds new and intriguing (even when it's not great it's still interesting). the last thing i want them to do is take a page out of the stones' book.

[chuckrh]

I think NIN could learn a lot from studying Rolling Stones.

like how to squeeze every last possible dollar out of their fans, totally coast on past glories for 2+ decades, burn fans who spent big money to travel to vegas for a show then cancel so they could make even more money playing a billionaires party? yes they did put out a servicable record a few years ago but it was all covers of classic blues songs. its to the point that it is embarrassing. the last decent tour was 15 years ago & that was a celebration of past. i used to be a huge stones fan but the last show i saw in 2012 was very disappointing & bigger bang tour wasn't much better. they play the same set that keeps getting shorter with maybe 2 songs that are a bit different from usual. its like they have become a parody of themselves & it makes me sad. they are like 1 of those bands on the native american casino circuit except they have better pr. & this really hurts to say: keith has pretty much lost it. he hasn't been the same since he fell out of the coconut tree. his playing is just not good now. i think trent & nin are just fine doing what they are doing & i wouldn't change anything. i am perfectly willing to take the ride wherever trent & his muse want to take me.

[Detunez]

I never realised how good Sunspots is, before today. one of my new favourites now.

[joplinpicasso]

One fantastic cover The Big Come Down:



and one ...fantastically questionable cover of The Big Come Down:

[paul_guyet]

One fantastic cover The Big Come Down:



and one ...fantastically questionable cover of The Big Come Down:

Oh internet...

[Ribbitman]

I never realised how good Sunspots is, before today. one of my new favourites now.

it's been in my top 5 for a long time

[SM Rollinger]

I think NIN could learn a lot from studying Rolling Stones.

I would love to hear Trent do a cover of Brown Sugar.

Or better yet Bitch. The Rez could rip it up on the saxophone wit da skills we know he has.

#while_im_still_here_is_underrated2018

[thevoid99]

I would love to hear Trent do a cover of Brown Sugar.

Or better yet Bitch. The Rez could rip it up on the saxophone wit da skills we know he has.

#while_im_still_here_is_underrated2018

What about.... "Hot Stuff", "Hey Negrita", or "Emotional Rescue"?

[Victor Newman]

like how to squeeze every last possible dollar out of their fans, totally coast on past glories for 2+ decades, burn fans who spent big money to travel to vegas for a show then cancel so they could make even more money playing a billionaires party? yes they did put out a servicable record a few years ago but it was all covers of classic blues songs. its to the point that it is embarrassing. the last decent tour was 15 years ago & that was a celebration of past. i used to be a huge stones fan but the last show i saw in 2012 was very disappointing & bigger bang tour wasn't much better. they play the same set that keeps getting shorter with maybe 2 songs that are a bit different from usual. its like they have become a parody of themselves & it makes me sad. they are like 1 of those bands on the native american casino circuit except they have better pr. & this really hurts to say: keith has pretty much lost it. he hasn't been the same since he fell out of the coconut tree. his playing is just not good now. i think trent & nin are just fine doing what they are doing & i wouldn't change anything. i am perfectly willing to take the ride wherever trent & his muse want to take me.

I'm talking about how awesome Rolling Stones' songcraft was in their golden period. Their open A tunings and Bo Diddley strumming style. NIN could learn some different kinds of playing skills. I'm talking about the music and music skills and song craft. Rolling Stones released some of the greatest rock albums of all time according to hundreds of credible and well-respected critics.

[Krazy]

One fantastic cover The Big Come Down:

Unless one is into karaoke or American Idol, uhhhhh... no.

[Ribbitman]

I love 10 Miles High and The New Flesh so much and am sad they were never on the CD version

[chuckrh]

I'm talking about how awesome Rolling Stones' songcraft was in their golden period. Their open A tunings and Bo Diddley strumming style. NIN could learn some different kinds of playing skills. I'm talking about the music and music skills and song craft. Rolling Stones released some of the greatest rock albums of all time according to hundreds of credible and well-respected critics.

Sadly though, the last really good whole album was 1981 (Tattoo You). & that was sort of leftovers from the Emotional Rescue sessions for the most part. There have been good songs here & there since then but not many. Conversely, I think the 2 EPs last year (especially Add Violence) stand up with the rest of the NIN catalog. We won't even get into the soundtrack stuff. Some of that is absolutely stunning. 35 years is a pretty long time to wait for a good record. I liked some of Bridges to Babylon but there was a lot of filler. Remember, I was hard core Stones fan. I conned my parents into letting me drive to Boulder from Seattle to see the Some Girls tour when I was in high school. I'm just disappointed in the current Stones thing. I heard a tape from the first weekend of Desert Trip that was shockingly bad. The main problem I think is Mick has taken over & its all about the benjamins now. From Let It Bleed through Exile, nobody could touch the Stones. That's a pretty good run & they had a few more flashes. They should just retire now. The advantage that Trent has is NIN is Trent (& Atticus now). Everybody else can be replaced with no trauma for him. It's a singular vision with no one else competing to run things. Interesting tidbit: for me the Stones decline really began in earnest when it was decided to bring in back up singers. The last tour that Keith did the primary backup vocals was 1982 Europe. It changed the sound & dynamics a lot. The more extra musicians they added, the more it became the Rolling Stones Revue. Currently, Chuck Leavell is running the live band musically. He's a fine musician but totally wrong for them. Brought that jam band ethos into it & it's not pretty. As Mick once famously said "too many notes man".

[paul_guyet]

used google image to find a better quality (3200x)

My only issue is they didn't capture his neck beef in the late 2000's.

[ickyvicky]

it's been in my top 5 for a long time

I always think of Meathead's vacuum cleaner sketch for this song. Always cracks me up.

[Bachy]

I wonder if while Trent was composing part of The Fragile if he may have been inspired by Stanley Kubrick’s The Shining. Some of the instrumentation really fits in with that film, and if you listen to “The New Flesh,” that feels absolutely in the same headspace. I’ve watched the film so many times, and while listening to its outstandingly eerie score, it sounds like something that Trent might compose.

[Substance242]

Sometimes a song plays in me head, and I realize it is somewhat related to what is happening around me or to me at the moment. Or I suddenly realize some WORDS are changed so it fits my current state. Words! And, I am no that good in english language, nor do I think I understand the songs that good to do this consciously by decision. It's like there was someone else in me having fun, like "hey, let's play him THIS SONG and see if he realizes why". :-) Don't worry, I'm OK and sober, it's just strange realization when this happens and I'm like "wait, where is THIS coming from...??" This thread because it happens with NIN mostly, maybe I feel NIN more than other music?

Edit: "in ME head" - see? I can't fricking speak english! :-)

[EndlessLoveless]

And the "starfuckers era" wasn't an era. It was one music video and I don't remember that look beyond it. If a video counts as an era, where's deep Trent, covered in Orange and green. Muscle Trent should be in there.

[opal]

If a video counts as an era, where's deep Trent, covered in Orange and green.

You just reminded me that I haven't listened to Deep in a while ... *Puts it on*

[fillow]

There also should be a r_d r__e era

[paul_guyet]

There also should be a r_d r__e era

For me...every era is the red robe era.

[katara]

I love 10 Miles High and The New Flesh so much and am sad they were never on the CD version

You forgot +Appendage.

It's criminal that we still don't have a lossless version with vocals even 19 years later.

[botley]

People dragging the Stones in this thread... what is your deal? Totally disagree with @chuckrh about their last 35 years sucking. Yeah they have shaky moments, but that's a feature, not a bug — I had tickets for the cancelled Vegas arena show and it had nothing to do with the corporate gig (they played two Desert Trip shows where Jagger blew out his voice with laryngitis and then a second arena show afterwards when he got better, which I couldn't stay for — probably lost more in sunk costs cancelling than they did playing the private date).

Reznor has every musical influence under the sun. He just grew up in a time when the Stones were already one of the biggest bands ever so I doubt he likes them much, except as a point of comparison which no band could ever dream to live up to — think about what it would mean for the same handful of guys playing over 2000 shows in countless countries (many of which NIN has never even considered visiting) for enormous crowds decade after decade. It's their genius songwriting combined with stagecraft that allowed all of that to happen. Along with incredible work ethic and commitment to the art — not just dollar signs. Although it is very expensive being a fan. Can't we agree to put a pin in that? NIN stuff isn't cheap either.

[chuckrh]

People dragging the Stones in this thread... what is your deal? Totally disagree with @chuckrh about their last 35 years sucking. Yeah they have shaky moments, but that's a feature, not a bug — I had tickets for the cancelled Vegas arena show and it had nothing to do with the corporate gig (they played two Desert Trip shows where Jagger blew out his voice with laryngitis and then a second arena show afterwards when he got better, which I couldn't stay for — probably lost more in sunk costs cancelling than they did playing the private date).

Reznor has every musical influence under the sun. He just grew up in a time when the Stones were already one of the biggest bands ever so I doubt he likes them much, except as a point of comparison which no band could ever dream to live up to — think about what it would mean for the same handful of guys playing over 2000 shows in countless countries (many of which NIN has never even considered visiting) for enormous crowds decade after decade. It's their genius songwriting combined with stagecraft that allowed all of that to happen. Along with incredible work ethic and commitment to the art — not just dollar signs. Although it is very expensive being a fan. Can't we agree to put a pin in that? NIN stuff isn't cheap either.

I've seen the Stones over 20 times going back to 1978. A little comparison: premium seat (so called) for Stones MGM Grand 2012: $750. Incredible seat NIN Hard Rock 2017 = $100. Last great record of original material: Stones = 1981, NIN=2017. I could go on. Granted the Stones have more years than NIN. The Stones legacy is great but for me they are tarnishing it now. Streets of Love, bleh! We'll just agree to disagree. BTW, I have actually met Keith & Bobby Keyes (RIP, another huge loss for the Stones sound). Both were really nice.

[botley]

I worked for the Stones briefly, on the Bigger Bang tour rehearsals. Wasn't really into them before that, I had seen them once on the Licks tour but I was underwhelmed. Then I really got up close and understood why they were great and continue to be so. They are probably going to continue touring and recording this year, which is amazing. 56 years and counting.

[Bachy]

That “Goddammit” in the middle of “Physical (You’re So)” is fucking fantastic.

[Ribbitman]

Fucking Ruiner man

Those blaring cathedral like brass horns during the chorus are the coolest thing ever put on a record.

[chuckrh]

I worked for the Stones briefly, on the Bigger Bang tour rehearsals. Wasn't really into them before that, I had seen them once on the Licks tour but I was underwhelmed. Then I really got up close and understood why they were great and continue to be so. They are probably going to continue touring and recording this year, which is amazing. 56 years and counting.

very cool. i saw several shows on bigger bang & licks tours, including @ the joint before they remodeled it on licks. mgm the next night (sticky fingers night) was 1 of the best shows i've seen. i did see 1 great 1 on bigger bang. motley crue opened in seattle & portland & evidently ronnie had a little too much fun preshow in seattle. to the point where he couldn't really play. the solo on tumbling dice sounded like sonic youth & not in a good way. you could tell mick was pissed off. after that, he got turned way down & keith did all the heavy lifting with blondie chaplin helping out. keith was unreal good that night. i think the genesis of my ennui is i was so disappointed in 2012. it was such a mediocre show & i spent big bucks on it. they had bloody mick taylor & only let him play on midnight rambler (highlight of the show). then special guest katy perry. bleh. bb king was in town & it would've been special if they had him in that role. opportunity lost. anyway, i'll always love the stones. maybe they'll put out 1 more great record. that would change things for me. i guess at this point in my life, NIN is just much more relevant in numerous ways. i like how trent keeps challenging his fans. there's a vid up on youtube of the whole vegas show in october. it was just so mighty. i was sitting front row balcony (i'm disabled so can't do the floor & i had pneumonia) & NIN just destroyed me. my only gripe would be i wanted more! i've got fairly diverse tastes & was in the music biz for 25+ years (until it went away), so have seen & heard a lot. some current & long time faves are the cure, drive-by truckers, wilco, flaming lips & neil finn. have enjoyed the dialog with you.

[botley]

very cool. i saw several shows on bigger bang & licks tours, including @ the joint before they remodeled it on licks. mgm the next night (sticky fingers night) was 1 of the best shows i've seen. i did see 1 great 1 on bigger bang. motley crue opened in seattle & portland & evidently ronnie had a little too much fun preshow in seattle. to the point where he couldn't really play. the solo on tumbling dice sounded like sonic youth & not in a good way. you could tell mick was pissed off. after that, he got turned way down & keith did all the heavy lifting with blondie chaplin helping out. keith was unreal good that night. i think the genesis of my ennui is i was so disappointed in 2012. it was such a mediocre show & i spent big bucks on it. they had bloody mick taylor & only let him play on midnight rambler (highlight of the show). then special guest katy perry. bleh. bb king was in town & it would've been special if they had him in that role. opportunity lost. anyway, i'll always love the stones. maybe they'll put out 1 more great record. that would change things for me. i guess at this point in my life, NIN is just much more relevant in numerous ways. i like how trent keeps challenging his fans. there's a vid up on youtube of the whole vegas show in october. it was just so mighty. i was sitting front row balcony (i'm disabled so can't do the floor & i had pneumonia) & NIN just destroyed me. my only gripe would be i wanted more! i've got fairly diverse tastes & was in the music biz for 25+ years (until it went away), so have seen & heard a lot. some current & long time faves are the cure, drive-by truckers, wilco, flaming lips & neil finn. have enjoyed the dialog with you.

Likewise! If you wanna take a deep dive into some more Stonesmania check out my podcast.

[bobbie solo]

Fucking Ruiner man

Those blaring cathedral like brass horns during the chorus are the coolest thing ever put on a record.

those little rapid fire synth lines that start right when the first verse kicks in do it for me.

Plus I always heard what you're describing more as aggressive, distorted, jarring keyboard sounds...not brass horns. Interesting.