CD Thoughts: Nine Inch Nails - With Teeth

[disneyfan1313]

(random I realize..but I know there are some NiN fans here who might want to share their thoughts)

 

So I just got back from driving around and listening to the new CD that was released tonight at Midnight (got it at the Virgin Megastore at Downtown Disney). Sigh. It's .....OK. I guess part of me wants to reclaim that feeling that I got when I listened to NiN in high school.. that feeling that Trent understands my angst.. that pure driven feeling of Pretty Hate Machine and TDS. I shoulda seen it coming down the pike over the last few CDs... This isn't a bad CD.. Heck.. it's got some great tracks on it. It just feels kinda muddled and thrown together and without the story of TDS or the creative WTF feeling of The Fragile. Perhaps it will grow on me..

The standout tracks to me are...

2. You know what you are? A driven, creative and angry track that feels like old school NiN. Creative sounds and mixing.

4. The Hand That Feeds - The *very* radio friendly single that really is catchy and gets better as you realize the depth to the song.

6. Every Day is Exactly the Same - Probably going to be the next single.. very catchy and a great Trent whine sound.

8. Only - Hmm.. even tracks only good? Weird and good in a fragile kinda way.

13. right where it belongs - Great trance/ driving song.

[Sir Clinksalot]

Haven't picked it up ... yet. Not yet midnight here on the West. But I will probably get it Wednesday.

 

A mediocre NIN album is better than most other albums out these days. But yeah, Pretty Hate Machine and The Downward Spiral are certainly their best.

 

I will post my review after I get it.

[FlyingScooter]

I've only heard the radio cut: (not sure of the title) bite the hand that feeds. I like it, but it doesn't seem to have the, pardon the pun, bite that their other songs had.

The only thing that sounds differant are the synths. They have no punch to them.

This is probibly just an evolution thing. Look at the changes metalica's gone thru.

[Mind Eraser]

With Teeth? I've listened a few times (I bought it at midnight on iTunes), but unfortunately, nothing really grabs me. In my opinion, it sounds a lot like The Fragile, but not even as good, nor as heartfelt. I need to listen to the album a lot more before my real opinions are formed. I miss the days when Trent made a song like "Hurt" that could bring tears to my eyes. This is why NIN has continually been rejected from my "Number One Favorite Band" position. Unlike Marilyn Manson, NIN has the tendency to disappoint sometimes. Whereas, Manson always keeps me thrilled with his music and shows. I've seen Trent live only once and it wasn't anything to write home about. Manson, on the other hand, I've seen six times and every show left me just exhausted - emotionally and physically.

 

 

-kip-

[Sir Clinksalot]

Yeah, this year has kinda blown for me as far as favorite bands releasing albums. First Garbage's "Bleed Like Me" was mediocre (though repeated listenings have certainly raised my opinion of it, I still hear it as their worst album).

 

Now "With Teeth" comes out and I just feel - detached from it. First off, there's the length. 54 minutes for a NIN album? Are we sure this isn't an EP? The Downward Spiral was a full 70 - 75 minutes, and Fragile stretched over 2 discs. Granted, both of the previous albums had lots of trance-y instrumental angst in them, but in those cases I felt like the lulls between the rage of a "Day the World Went Away" or a "Star*uckers, Inc" were needed. There's some good tracks here, but like that Garbage CD, this feels like the least of Reznor's efforts.

 

I mean, compare this to the building themes and overall tone of Downward Spiral - apples and orange seeds.

[shepp]

Okay, I just saw NIN in concert twice last week...without ever haviing listened to the current CD, I'm afraid. I thought the shows were great, the band really tight, and live, "The Hand That Feeds" rocks hard. And "Hurt" was awesome. Both nights. As was "Head Like A Hole."

 

But hey, at some point adolescent nihilistic angst just seems...warmed over. Now that Reznor's supposedly clean and sober, visibly buffed up, and a certifiable rockstar survivor, I'm sorry, but the question did cross my mind: Just what the hell is he still so pissed off at?

[Sir Clinksalot]

I had no clue that Reznor has cleaned himself up (which is funny, because you always thought you wouldn't be surprised when that cheerful bloke turned up dead). As long as he doesn't find religion and scrap all his earlier material, I'm cool with that.

 

I'm hoping seeing NIN live will turn my feelings on this album. That's happened plenty of times in the past, where I just didn't "get" the album until I saw the songs performed live. "Beautiful Garbage" and Butch Walker's "Left of Self-Centered" were both albums that fit that category.