Controversial Nine Inch Nails opinions

[OSLIN]

Honestly, getting rid of both tracks would have been my true honest opinion but didn't want to ruffle anyone's feathers due some of the immense love for Year Zero on here.

But I agree, both tracks, especially TBITE, feel kinda out of place musically with the rest of the album. Survivalism would be a better opener.

I tried sitting down today and listen to the album from start to finish. I just find myself getting bored throughout, so less tracks could help the experience.

I worded my last response incorrectly. I don't mind Hyperpower! at all as the opener, I think it feels like it belongs on that album and gives a feel for what is ahead. I think you can just jump to Survivalism after that and the album really wouldn't skip a beat. TBOTE and Capital G are really the only songs I find could have been left off.

[OSLIN]

I agree that "The Beginning of the End" seems superfluous to the narrative and sonically a little out of step with the rest of the LP. I still love it, but if you were condensing the album, yeah, I'd leave that one out. And "Hyperpower!" to "Survivalism" does work well. I think "Capital G" is a killer song with some of the better lyrics on the album; I don't even begin to get the hate for it.

If I had to boil another song off of the album, my first pick would be "Vessel": I don't care for it sonically, and I think it covers similar ground to "My Violent Heart." I've also found "Meet Your Master" to be terribly unexciting, but lyrically, I guess it can be argued that it does advance the narrative.

In no way do I hate the song Capital G. To me it's more like a preference in flow to the album. It's a bit more poppy then most of the tracks, besides God Given. Plus a bit on the nose with references to George Bush, government, Guatemala, etc..
All those damn G's.

I don't mind the song, it's like Starfucker's Inc. on the Fragile. Do I dislike that song? Not in the least but when it comes to the flow of the album it throws me a little off. Sometimes in a good way, but mostly it distracts a little bit and I find myself skipping these tracks more often when I'm casually listening.

[OSLIN]

Okay, I can accept that, I suppose. I feel obligated to state that the "G" is officially for "greed," but I'm also like 99% sure you already know that. The other "G" references I don't mind because I enjoy multireferentiality. Ever read Jonathan Franzen's The Corrections? The word "corrections" means something distinct and different in every section of the novel, while simultaneously always meaning the same thing. It's delightful.

But man, I think "Capital G" sticks out way less in the context of Year Zero than "Starfuckers" on The Fragile. I actually think it fits perfectly with the mosaic of styles on the LP because none of it completely matches any of the rest of it.

Out of curiosity, is that how intensely most of y'all register the difference in tone?

Yeah I agree Starfuckers is a little more jarring. Yes, I forgot to mention Greed another "G". I think Capital G as a concept is very Year Zero, I think its just the going from the sci-fi sounds of Vessel and Me I'm Not to this horn blasting, The Way you Make me Feel beat is a bit jarring. Again good song, just something that throws you a little. Def prefer it over TBOTE.

[WorzelG]

I can't listen to Capital G because I just can't get past the vocals, I get that it's playing a character but it makes me cringe and I have to skip it

[high def ultra-realism]

I would love to hear "Gunshots by Computer" sung by TR live


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[clarktrent]

IMO Fixed is superior to Broken in almost every single way. One of the best albums NIN's ever come out with in fact.

[Senateguard33]

IMO Fixed is superior to Broken in almost every single way. One of the best albums NIN's ever come out with in fact.

I agree with this statement.

IMO Year Zero Remixed is far superior to Year Zero, it's more alive and colorful.

[HWB]

I personally think Year Zero Remixed, looking back to it, is kinda overrated. Controversial opinion for a controversial opinion..

[Papagolash]

I don't care for Fixed at all, it's easily my least favorite remix release.

[BRoswell]

I think Fixed is just too much of a "fuck you" to be listened to properly. It feels like it's designed to punish the listener, which is fine, but comes off kind of silly now.

[Khrz]

Fixed is actually the first NIN album I heard, I only sought Broken (which I only found in cassette version back then) because of it being mentioned on Fixed's sleeve. My first reaction was "holy shit that fucking rocks" which led to Broken being "well, okay that's also good". Fixed will always have a special place in my heart, that was the album none of my friends could bear to listen to, that was *my* thing.

[ultimatebdp]

I can't listen to Capital G because I just can't get past the vocals, I get that it's playing a character but it makes me cringe and I have to skip it

I'm with you on disliking the vocals/lyrics, but the instrumental version of Capital G is greatness!!

[ChipRock]

Fixed was my first Nine Inch Nails purchase, if I remember correctly. It was the cheapest NIN in the shop at the time. Anyway, as with most NIN remix records it might be patchy, but it has a very special place in my heart. Gave Up and Happiness In Slavery are fantastic mixes that still get a lot of play.

Talking of songs that we do skip - I made myself a NIN Singles playlist the other day, and it's really helped me get back into the big 'hits' like Wish and Head Like A Hole, and dare I say even Starfuckers, which sounds better in the context of a compilation than it does on The Fragile. It's easy to dismiss those tracks sometimes, so if you're the same as me then do give it a go.

Can't think of anything particularly controversial to add to this, but I am struggling to understand the negative vibes towards Hesitation Marks. It's an awesome record, and you're weird if you don't like it. *runs away, giggling*

[Khrz]

You know, I never do this, but I feel like we have good rapport. So. Ahem.

"seeked"???

Sorry.


Sekt.

[Tommy_Macbeth]

Hesitation Marks has some of the most addicting: Came Back Haunted, Copy of A, All Time Low, Satellite and emotional similar(to me) songs: Find My Way, Various Methods Of Escape, I Would For You, Everything, In Two, While I'm Still Here. I can remember in 2014 when I was 14 years old listening to Hesitation Marks and thinking it was so boring and awkward and, to be honest, weak. Over time it grew on me until I listened to it a few times all the way through a month or two ago and realized I loved it. It's uplifting but not in a cheesy/preachy way. With Teeth and Hesitation Marks are really similar to me actually: 14 tracks, not a concept album but still tells little stories, some really accessible songs but still meaningful.

[Halo Infinity]

This is more of a controversial question than an opinion.

I have wondered, especially since The Fragile: Deviations 1 came out, if there was by any chance that perhaps The Fragile in some ways has a bit more of a legendary status and overall mystique than The Downward Spiral? (Questioning The Downward Spiral already makes me feel like I'm treading on thin ice, but I really am both genuinely and seriously curious.)

There is no question, at least to me, that TDS gets the lion's share of the overall applause and lauding in and outside of ETS though, but there probably just might be a type of legendary status and mystique of TF that TDS probably doesn't seem to have. Perhaps it has to something do with the expectations and hype being the follow-up to TDS after 5 years? Even Trent himself admitted that it would stick out in ways that his previous records at the time didn't, with the possibility of it even pissing some people off. TF clearly held up in the long-run and arguably seems to be one of the, if not the most loved NIN album around here.

Anyway, I was just wondering. (TDS also undeniably has a lot of legendary status and mystique attached to it as well, along with his other earlier works, but this is me just wondering what other people thought about that, assuming that it also occurred to them.)

With that being said, like most people here, I love both albums and have flipped both of them next to each other so many times, but the overall stories and the fan-base's reactions/reception of both records have always intrigued me.

[Tommy_Macbeth]

This is more of a controversial question than an opinion.

I have wondered, especially since The Fragile: Deviations came out, if there was by any chance that perhaps The Fragile in some ways has a bit more of a legendary status and overall mystique than The Downward Spiral?

The Fragile is much less well known among casual NIN fans. Unfortunately, it'll always be stuck in the Spiral's shadow. As dark and uncomfortable as TDS is, it's very clean, and lean, and very accessible for what it's about. The Fragile, not going to lie, is kinda ugly: it's long, tedious, more honest imo. It takes much more listens to enjoy than TDS. Eventually though, you'll see it: the beauty and mystery of this epic piece. When I picture Trent making TDS, I imagine him working in the creepy studio by himself, but he was also touring and, in the public eye, on top of the world, surrounded by people. With The Fragile, I imagine him on an island, with all the time in the world, no one looking at him, pouring all of his feelings into something. It takes work to appreciate it, but when you finally do, it's magical (cheesy but really).

edit: literally going to listen to it now again lol got plenty to study for so this is perfect!

[Sutekh]

I agree, I think the fragile is what music hacks call a "fan favourite", a bit like master of puppets by metallica or pornography by the cure, not as well known as black album or disintegration, but held in higher esteem amongst fans

[Tommy_Macbeth]

I agree, I think the fragile is what music hacks call a "fan favourite", a bit like master of puppets by metallica or pornography by the cure, not as well known as black album or disintegration, but held in higher esteem amongst fans

Exactly. Even though I like TDS better, I...respect The Fragile more. It's hard to explain.

[InvitingmeAway]

I think that And All That Could Have Been is an amazing song, one of my favorites. I just don't hear many people talk about that song.

[Papagolash]

Exactly. Even though I like TDS better, I...respect The Fragile more. It's hard to explain.

While The Downward Spiral is my favorite album, his best work is The Fragile.

[Kulerage]

I think that And All That Could Have Been is an amazing song, one of my favorites. I just don't hear many people talk about that song.

I think the general consensus is that it's a very emotional song and one of the best from Still.

[Disassociative]

I think that And All That Could Have Been is an amazing song, one of my favorites. I just don't hear many people talk about that song.

I think the general consensus is that it's a very emotional song and one of the best from Still.

It kills me inside a little that apparently it was rehearsed for the Wave Goodbye tour but not performed. Would have been amazing to have a live performance of that exist.

[fillow]

It kills me inside a little that apparently it was rehearsed for the Wave Goodbye tour but not performed.

Source? because it's the first time I read this.

[hologram parade]

i remembering hearing that it was the great below that was rehearsed, never heard anything about aatchb the actual song being almost played at a show - that would have been amazing obviously

[Disassociative]

Source? because it's the first time I read this.

i remembering hearing that it was the great below that was rehearsed, never heard anything about aatchb the actual song being almost played at a show - that would have been amazing obviously

The ninwiki says that Justin Meldal-Johnsen tweeted that it was rehearsed. No direct link to the tweet though but i'm sure that's information been sitting on the wiki for years and I'm sure I read the tweet itself at one point but it would take absolutely forever to find it now. Twitter needs a better way to find old tweets.

http://www.nin.wiki/And_All_That_Cou...en_(song)#Live

[InvitingmeAway]

It kills me inside a little that apparently it was rehearsed for the Wave Goodbye tour but not performed. Would have been amazing to have a live performance of that exist.

That's disappointing

[AndItKeepsRepeating]

The Perfect Drug is not a good song

[nowimnothing]

The Perfect Drug is not a good song

You're right. It is a great song!

[Ryan]

The ninwiki says that Justin Meldal-Johnsen tweeted that it was rehearsed. No direct link to the tweet though but i'm sure that's information been sitting on the wiki for years and I'm sure I read the tweet itself at one point but it would take absolutely forever to find it now. Twitter needs a better way to find old tweets.

http://www.nin.wiki/And_All_That_Cou...en_(song)#Live

Did loads of searching just now and these are the closest tweets I can find:

https://www.twitter.com/ash512/status/7445600648

https://www.twitter.com/justinmj/status/4152811346