Spring Break
The Second Coming Of 'Year Zero'
CD Review
Stephen Ortiz
Issue date: 11/28/07 Section: Focus
Earlier this year, Trent Reznor, the man that is Nine Inch Nails, released "Year Zero," a concept album about the end of mankind, and one of his best releases in his career that now spans almost two decades.
Now it seems that the holiday season has come a little early for the die hard NIN fans thanks to "Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D" - or "Year Zero Remixed," for those who don't speak leetspeak. "R3M1X3D" is exactly what it sounds like, a remix album to "Year Zero," except instead of being remixed by Reznor himself like Linkin Park's "Reanimation," the album was remixed by friends and acquaintances of the "Hurt" singer.
Not all 16 of the original tracks were remixed, however - missing are "The Greater Good" and "The Good Soldier" - and the remixes are hit or miss when it comes down to their overall quality. The real magic of "Halo 25" (each Nine Inch Nails release- be it EP, live album, etc.- is numbered as such) is in its second disc.
The disc, a DVD-ROM, contains all 16 of the original open source master tracks from "Year Zero" so fans, DJs or whoever else may pick up the disc can remix the tracks themselves. The feature works with both Windows-based PCs and Macs. Based on experiences with Macs, the whole process is pretty straightforward: insert the disc, open the folder labeled Garage Band and choose which song you would like to open. The rest is up to the user and how good they are with Garage Band and music in general.
The entire idea is just cool - major points for Reznor for giving his fans the opportunity to do this - and even if you're not musically gifted, it's just neat to know you have the power to remove a lyric or the vocals entirely of a track.
The majority of the tracks are worth the purchase, even if they are hindered by a few atrocities. Opening the album is "Gunshots By Computer," a remix to the original's opener, "Hyperpower!" The track was done by poet/musician Saul Williams, a friend of Reznor's and a featured poet on Def Poetry Jam. The track is charged and fierce. The original had no vocals, purely instrumental, but now Williams drops two verses and a chorus over the music. Williams also puts his personal touch on "Survivalism," but this time leaves Reznor's vocals right where they belong.
Now it seems that the holiday season has come a little early for the die hard NIN fans thanks to "Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D" - or "Year Zero Remixed," for those who don't speak leetspeak. "R3M1X3D" is exactly what it sounds like, a remix album to "Year Zero," except instead of being remixed by Reznor himself like Linkin Park's "Reanimation," the album was remixed by friends and acquaintances of the "Hurt" singer.
Not all 16 of the original tracks were remixed, however - missing are "The Greater Good" and "The Good Soldier" - and the remixes are hit or miss when it comes down to their overall quality. The real magic of "Halo 25" (each Nine Inch Nails release- be it EP, live album, etc.- is numbered as such) is in its second disc.
The disc, a DVD-ROM, contains all 16 of the original open source master tracks from "Year Zero" so fans, DJs or whoever else may pick up the disc can remix the tracks themselves. The feature works with both Windows-based PCs and Macs. Based on experiences with Macs, the whole process is pretty straightforward: insert the disc, open the folder labeled Garage Band and choose which song you would like to open. The rest is up to the user and how good they are with Garage Band and music in general.
The entire idea is just cool - major points for Reznor for giving his fans the opportunity to do this - and even if you're not musically gifted, it's just neat to know you have the power to remove a lyric or the vocals entirely of a track.
The majority of the tracks are worth the purchase, even if they are hindered by a few atrocities. Opening the album is "Gunshots By Computer," a remix to the original's opener, "Hyperpower!" The track was done by poet/musician Saul Williams, a friend of Reznor's and a featured poet on Def Poetry Jam. The track is charged and fierce. The original had no vocals, purely instrumental, but now Williams drops two verses and a chorus over the music. Williams also puts his personal touch on "Survivalism," but this time leaves Reznor's vocals right where they belong.
Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 2
Steven Flores
posted 11/29/07 @ 12:16 AM EST
Correction.
There is a remix of "The Good Soldier" by Sam Fogarino of Interpol plus two alternate mixes of "Vessel" by Bill Laswell and two more remixes of "Capital G" by Switch & Ladytron on the vinyl version of the album. (Continued…)
David LeBeau
posted 11/29/07 @ 1:33 AM EST
the coolest part about this disc is that some of the tracks on this album were done by fans then released subsequently for the fans. if you are not a nin fan or a techno/dance/trance anything-electronic kind of fan, then this is for your friends that are. (Continued…)
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