Episode 8 in the 10 songs that most affected my life series. Its 1994 (again). Im standing in the Virgin Megastore on Champs-Elysées (I just bumped into Dave Grohl shopping for CDs a few minutes before the following episode unfolds, incidentally; very cool guy). Yes, yes. I know the Megastore is gone and so are CDs. Its 1994, remember ? Anyway - the new Nine Inch Nails CD is out. Its called The Downward Spiral. Whatever little I know of NiN (basically the Broken EP released 2 years prior, which a friend has recommended - and its Fixed remixed counterpart) I love already. Depeche Mode-styled gloomy-but-catchy electronics, amped up to the power of 1,000 by punishing industrial beats, layer upon layer of distorted, maniacally twisted, carefully deformed sounds, and self-loathing lyrics spat-out in the most incredibly, achingly, touchingly enraged voice. Makes Joy Division (which I was getting into at the time) sound like the Carpenters (which I wasnt - that came later, with, you know - age). Everyone says at the time that the new album is in the same vein, but better - meaning worse. They had a new releases section in the Megastore at the time, with headphones to sample whatever was fresh out. I remember putting them on, pressing play, and standing there paralyzed for the next 74 minutes. Ive never, EVER heard music so incredibly, painfully, melodically, brutally cathartic as this - before, or since. Whenever Im on stage and I need to go to the bottom of that dark pit in my stomach where all the anger and frustration hides, and stir it up and let it out to turn it into something people actually enjoy - this is the song I hear. Be warned - its not for everyone, and its not for every moment. But it made me realize just how far music could go, if you just grab your inner chaos - and shape it up with a modicum of control. And of course it turned me into a lifelong fan. If youve seen David Finchers outstanding The Social Network, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, or Gone girl,then you know the work of Trent Reznor, the genius singer-songwriter-guitarist-keyboardist-performer-producer behind the Nine Inch Nails name : he created the soundtracks to these with long time partner Atticus Ross. Of course these explore the more melodic and atmospheric sides of his work : back in 1994, he was still having his therapy in public. And Im pretty sure whoever the shrink was wore a Hazmat suit and a bulletproof vest. Enter Mister Self-Destruct - possibly the scariest song ever made. So, Trent - whats up ? https://youtube/watch?v=Ce3xOgg9mtk
Posted on: Fri, 28 Nov 2014 09:23:56 +0000
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