Nine Inch Nails: The Slip (The Null Corporation)
7.5/10


If you asked me ten years ago if I ever thought Trent Reznor would remain relevant in 2008 I would have laughed in your face. The idea of a musician -- one who's so highly regarded for cranking out industrial-rock tunes and alt-radio anthems for a niche audience -- staying relevant and fresh in today's musical landscape seemed impossible. Nowadays, people will turn their backs on a band faster than you can say "Clap Your Hands Say Yeah."

The Slip challenges any preconceived notion that Reznor is far from retirement. The raw, fuzz-driven barrage of "1,000,000," "Discipline" and "Head Down" are undeniably powerful, yet still smell like classic Reznor trying to get as close to the audience as possible without ever spilling a drop of sweat. The music continues to pound with unforgiving digital rhythms, while allowing samples of dark textures to roam freely (see "Corona Radiata") across ten tracks of smoldering rock. 

As Reznor continues to embrace the D.I.Y. format (his records are free!) it will be interesting to see how his next run of albums compare. He also has a strong yearning to be a part of today's indie market -- he did choose Crystal Castles, Deerhunter and A Place to Bury Strangers as his opening acts -- but he doesn't seem like he's making any leaps into unfamiliar territory either. Maybe it's his desire to stay, or at least be perceived as, raw and youthful? That works for me.



- Scott McDonald