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Year Zero
by Nothing Records
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$17.99 |
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$13.99 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. |
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$4.00 (22%) |
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Audio CD
Publisher: Nothing Records
Japanese pressing of the 2007 album from Trent Reznor and friends. This is Part One of a two-part concept album set some 15 years in the future and is a vision of that future, a cautionary tale of a world we could be living in if current world events stay on the path we are set on. 16 tracks including the first single 'Survivalism'. Universal.
Nine Inch Nails' sixth studio release, Year Zero takes the concept album further than it may have ever gone before. In advance of its release, URLs were hidden in tour t-shirts, music- and image-filled USB drives were 'found' at concerts, and dozens of websites have been packed with conspiracy stories that all involve the year 2022 or 'Year Zero.' Each clue is part of a cohesive whole, requiring a listener to follow an exhaustive web trail to grasp the entire tale. Focusing specifically on the music, "The Beginning of the End," the powerful first vocal track, is like the sonic and lyrical equivalent of an emotional ascension to a rollercoaster's peak, with the last few cacophonic seconds equaling the fall of individual freedoms. "Survivalism," Year Zero's first single, follows with guest vocalist/Slam artist Saul Williams pumping up the passion in its urgent chorus. While still industrial in genre, it's clear that Trent Reznor's musical evolution finds him bringing more mellow songs to the mix than he has on previous discs ("The Good Soldier," "The Greater Good," "In This Twilight") as well as an increased number of funk-affected rhythms, specifically in standout tracks "Capitol G" and "Me, I'm Not." Devotees of NIN's harder sound will appreciate the metallic crunch of "My Violent Heart" and "Meet Your Master." On the whole, the Nine Inch Nails we hear on Year Zero is less focused on producing heavy music and more focused on delivering its heavy, conspiratorial doomsday message. --Denise Sheppard
| Customer Reviews: |
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| Exploration of Mainstream Music Subject B: NIN: Album #5: Year Zero: Thoughts: Hmm...so I push the button and it makes noises? |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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...I'm going to say this right now...this is the last review of a NIN album (aka Subject B) that I'm going to do for a while...I've listened almost constantly to Trent's work for a week and I'm in need of a change...
...so...Trent sobered up and made "With Teeth" by far their worst album so far...so what Trent have to lose with this? Apparently the instrumentals of this album were made on his laptop during touring and promoting With Teeth...could he possibly keep up the good work with extensive touring and instrumental sample compositioning? Well...they all definitely have an obvious structure if that's what you think...
...Trent has also decided to be less introspective in this album and focus solely on insulting the US government...as a Brit I can honestly say he probably made some points but I wasn't paying attention...let's gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
Hyperpower 8/10: Starts with a nice little drum track (lots of cymbal) and a synthed bass line...this is an instrumental introductory track and I have normally enjoyed the soundscapes Trent can create on his instrumental tracks...this one is nothing special but makes such a nice change to With Teeth I really don't care...at least the intro didn't rip off Kid A this time round...ends with crazy screaming and random static like riots in the streets leading to...
The Beginning of the End 7/10: Well well well...well well well WELL!!!! Takes the pop sensibilities of the previous album and adds much more synth to it...I don't think it's anything special at all...in fact when I realised how much I disliked this song I disliked it quite a bit...it's an ok track but just doesn't show me any magic...
Survivalism 8/10: Besides the fact that they took the first note from the main riff of "The Hand That Feeds" and repeated it over and over again...it's a very nice trance like song...Trent's vocals are ok and they snap into staccato in the chorus with synthed sound and guitar wavering all over the place...I can understand why this was picked as a single...it's a good hard hitting song with lots of complex melodic samples layered over it...the laptop work becomes very present on this song...besides the wavering guitar...the concept of Survivalism was also an interesting concept...possibly based around in this concept world that everyone is now fending for themselves...
The Good Soldier 8/10: Starting with a calm synthed drum line Trent starts singing in an awkwardly nicey way with the bass every now and then dominating the sound with its low power...I'm glad the bass has been brought back up in the mix for this album...he then adds some MIDI piano for that dark sinister feel...it's a good way to make a chorus instead of his sudden "I'M GOING TO BE LOUDER FOR THE CHORUS!!" Which I don't mind but sometimes Trent overdoes it...there is then a very interesting melodic synthed guitar track that adds a nice new dimension to the track before it finally ends...
Vessel 8/10: Taking more advantage of the stuff that can be done with his laptop he adds a lot of layers of loud noises with subtle drones (though they are very hard hear) and of course Trent then just nicely whispers/typically yells over it...the chorus is ok as the key changes between the voice and the awkward increase of pitch (usually used when we want to ask questions) is interesting...but I can't help thinking the tone is slightly...irritating...overall Trent's done some good sampling...but he needs to learn how to do good choruses again because his formula is running dry...
Me, I'm Not 9/10: Some very dark synthy sounds that transfer into Trent's vocals...there isn't much to analyze...but I shall admit it's a very strong song...filled with dark mechanical emotion that seems to muffle out all other thoughts...reminds me of some of future sound of london Dead Cities music...not entirely...but the way the atmosphere makes me feel...does seem to bring me back to that...but a very good dark and mechanical track...I think someone has a laptop to thank...
Capital G 9/10: It wouldn't matter whether I liked this song or not...I only have to listen to it once and Trent's voice going "I pushed the button derm dee derm dee derm DUH!!" Is in my head for the rest of the day...the lyrical content is probably pretty strong in contrast to the other songs...but what stands out for me is the trippy laptop noises after the choruses (to which the chorus is somewhat predictable) and of course Trent's infectious vocals that won't get out of my head...
My Violent Heart 8/10: Again starting with some synthetic drums...Trent talking incredibly quietly this time and the bass also thumping very lightly in the background...Trent then starts singing...still oh so quietly as everything builds up to the chorus...a very trippy sample filled and interesting rhythm...this then contrasts with the very quiet verse...after that it sticks with section B until the end...they need a change...I won't be so generous in my marking with the next track...
The Warning 7/10: A drum beat is covered with some computer altered guitar...followed by Trent singing...it's not awful or anything but he kind of killed the buzz by entering...for me anyway...some evil synths are added reminiscent of Pretty Hate Machine...the guitar then re-enters and does its...thing...but yeah...the track just seems to plod along quite calmly...if it weren't for all the samples and altered instruments though this track would be pretty boring...
God Given 7/10: Starting with the usual random drum sampling...and the usual whispery vocals...by this point I'm craving something slightly different from Trent's crazy mind...maybe something that's actually calm and soothing in contrast...just something to make the eerie atmosphere slightly more sinister...because by this point I can pretty much predict Trent's formula...
Meet your master 8/10: Very nice random plinky notes start off Trent's awkward from falsetto to regular voice descend in pitch...it adds a nice awkward melody and harmony to it...the chorus is ok...but yet again...it's a little predictably with the quiet/loud formula...but I like the plinky notes and the singing in the verse so much...it gets 8...
The Greater Good 10/10: A drum track with awkward calm screeches in the background that have an awkward choral feel to them...the bass then enters very quickly grounding the track to the floor as some interesting xylophone effects are used to create a cold and mechanical ostinato...piano is then added for that nice dark organic feel within a cold machine...I've always enjoyed Trent's instrumental tracks...and in contrast to the other tracks I've heard before it...this just makes this track stand out even more...if you were interesting in The Downward Spiral and the instrumental tracks especially then you should enjoy this track...
The Great Destroyer 9/10: I like this song...the melodic structure is different to the others which makes a change and the guitar chords give it this real emotive feel...however...as the track progresses Trent tries to return the track to his basic rules by adding lots and lots of samples in his favourite key signatures...and of course then a very loud Bass which is forever whammed downwards with lots of crazy plinky notes invades the entire track...but I liked it so I don't mind...
Another version of the truth 9/10: Starting with some quiet sounds...the piano is added to this calm static noise...the track retains its subtlety for a while which makes me think this is perhaps going to be a calm instrumental track...and Trent does well with calm instrumental tracks (note that With Teeth had no instrumental tracks)...the piano very kindly treads around the cold atmosphere already generated...something about hearing piano on such an industrious album...it always feels really soothing...
In this twilight 9/10: Continues the dark atmosphere from the previous atmosphere very well turning it into a cold screechy and bass dominated sound...Trent's vocals add a real human aspect to the track however and it's very nice to hear...the way his voice echoes makes it sound like he's the only person left on the world...
Zero Sum 9/10: And so it ends with a calm eerie sound...drums machines coming in and out of noise with the piano calmly playing...Trent whispers "Do you remember the time?"...after a minute the bass within the track morphs the song into a more darker and staccato sound...Trent's singing becomes more noticeable...but it then returns to the dark desolate sound of section A...Section A and B are repeated until the end...a great way to end this album...with a dark and introspective look on our lives...the world in Trent's concept land is dead...
...this album definitely gets better near the end with the sound being more lifeless and desolate like Trent's older work...the earlier tracks are more linked to pop structures with Trent's newer stuff but this album is definitely worth a listen if you like any of NIN's previous stuff...you'll either like it or hate it though...
...from all the albums I've reviewed in ranking order this is how good I thought the albums were:
1. The Downward Spiral
2. Pretty Hate Machine
3. Year Zero
4. With Teeth
...now that I am done with NIN for now I have been asked now for this experiment to review Marilyn Manson...seeing as Trent was an associate of Marilyn will I find anything of interest?
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| good CD |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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I used to love NIN, now not so much. My sister loves this CD, my tastes have changed so it only got 3 stars.
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| good paranoid fun |
| Customer Rating: 4 out of 5 |
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It isn't my favorite CD; it definitely took a little warming up to, but I still think Trent is a genius.
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| Good, but sounds like B-sides.... |
| Customer Rating: 3 out of 5 |
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"Year Zero" is like NIN"s "Piscies Iscariot". Its good stuff, but it sounds like B-sides. The only tracks I really like are the final three-Another Version of the Truth, In This Twilight, and Zero Sum. Does not rank with other NIN albums, sorry.
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| One of the best |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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This is one of the best albums from NIN, is a big step beyon Fragile and With Teeth.
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Hyperpower!
The Beginning Of The End
Survivalism
The Good Soldier
Vessel
Me, I'm Not
Capital G
My Violent Heart
The Warning
God Given
Meet Your Master
The Greater Good
The Great Destroyer
Another Version Of The Truth
In This Twilight
Zero-Sum
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