Nine Inch Nails - Year Zero

Only two years later, and Trent Reznor has finished his second album after coming out of retirement. With promises of at least one more and a movie to tag along with an alternative reality game in the mix. So much after having promised nothing. Trent takes a different spin on life in this album. Focusing on the government and politics, he lashes out at post 9-11 government actions. The way they are starting to control us more, putting a leash around our necks and making sure we do only what they allow us to do. This new CD is something a little different than his older stuff. Listening is kind of hard at first, with weird beats, and a low voice in the background, but once you get into it, it's worth listening to. Me I'm Not is a true work of art, with the catchy chorus "Hey/Can We Stop/Me, I'm Not." There is no doubt this is about the way the government is treating the people in the US. Hyperpower is about as close as you are going to get to his old style music. Survivalism, isn't that bad with pretty good beats, and one of the few songs were you can actually hear what he is singing. The titles of each song are strong and speak volumes without even listening to the song. This CD is worth at least a listen to because it is so much different than what you might find out there today in alternative music. Some songs may have had little thought actually given to them, if he had put some more time into them he may have had one of the best albums heard in awhile. The Great Destroyer has one part that sounds like Saturday morning cartoon from the 70s, "I am the Great Destroyer," then a bunch of noise just follows, and I do mean noise. Almost every song is about the 1984ish attitude that is a growing concern in society. The game associated with the CD is even more convincing with apocalyptic art connected to codes and hidden messages. When you buy the CD you will have just a plain black cover, but once it's played it turns a tanish color with a binary code that leads to a certain site. Check out the Wikipedia page to stay updated on found clues, and impressively designed web pages. I give the album 3.5 out of 5, but I am sure once I start to get use to it, it will be around a 4.5 out of 5. It is different, but stuff like this takes getting use to. Reznor is on to something with the government and his ideas may open the minds of others, hopefully for best, and prevent the US government from gaining any more control over its people. This album is more about the message than the music, Reznor doesn't care what people really think about his music this time around. This is something he did while on tour, and he just wanted to put it out there for the true fans.