"The Fragile - Nine Inch Nails" Kind of Underwhelming?

 

    I know what people are going to say "Nine Inch Nails is such a critically acclaimed band how did you find them underwhelming at all". I mean, part of the reason I found them so underwhelming was because of the immense hype behind them. Now don't get me wrong, I didn't hate this album, it's just that I saw so many people give it near perfect scores that I was just confused, I knew that they were a relatively noisy band and frankly I'm ok with that, but then I listened to the whole thing, and I just ended up wanting more out of them. My friend CJ really hyped this album up hard, he told me that it was loud and abrasive and that it was industrial metal but listening to it just made me go oh? Perhaps I'm missing something but I really wish Trent Reznor sang more, and that this album just had more. It's so unbearably long to the point where any song that doesn't really have any action on it shows quite hard. So without further ado, here are my ratings of The Fragile.

The Fragile – Nine Inch Nails

Disc 1

Somewhat Damaged – 65/100 This songs cool I guess. I suppose I’m not that too into the whole noisy thing. Sadly, it didn’t hurt my ears, I guess I’m too used to bad pop-punk production and hyperpop, but it wasn’t really giving me anything.

The Day The World Went Away – 70/100 This song is already starting off more interesting. I just expected something louder and faster from this album I guess? It isn’t really that abrasive or grating to me, but also I’m not finding it too interesting either?

The Frail – 50/100 This is a piano ballad. Kind of an interesting choice considering everything else so far but a good introduction I guess. Am I supposed to rate it high or something for being simple?

The Wretched – 75/100 Probably my favourite track off the record so far. I don’t know if I just find it underwhelming, like the sounds are cool, I can see why its called industrial metal, but there hasn’t been a song that’s made me go “Wow” yet

We’re In This Together – 85/100 Ok we’re definitely getting somewhere with this album

The Fragile –  70/100This track is fine but nothing too memorable to me to be honest.

Just Like You Imagined – 80/100 This track goes kind of hard I can’t even lie.

Even Deeper –  60/100 I think its definitely become more interesting here but nothing to really write home about in my eyes

Pilgrimage – 50/100 It’s not bad, but just another track I kind of just left on and forgot about.

No, You Don’t –  65/100 Definitely better than the pilgrimage but this record is more boring than I thought? The sounds used are cool but nothing really grabs my attention.

La Mer – 55/100 They speak French.

The Great Below – 70/100 Ending off on a strong note I see. I suppose I just wanted more singing or more anything. I guess this is why I was never that into more ambient music.

Disc 2

The Way Out Is Through – 65/100 Hmm cool opener but my point still stands. I feel like that one episode of Community where Chang is asking Abed for more, personally I just need something more.

Into The Void – 60/100 Again the songs on these albums are fine but I still do feel like they’re missing that oomf to really make me enjoy it more.

Where Is Everybody? – 80/100 Is that a guitar I hear? This song kind of bangs at least we’re getting on the right track with it again. It’s kind of fun it’s got a little bite in its step.

The Mark Has Been Made – 60/100 Nothing bad, and I kind of enjoy the cool production/beats from some of these songs but again this entire album just generally feels underwhelming.

Please – 70/100 Yay Trent Reznor is singing, I can only imagine what would happen if he did this more often.

Starfuckers, Inc. – 75/100 While them singing Starfuckers Incorporated is quite corny, Trent Reznor singing has done wonders for an album with good production and that has him sing like 30% of the time despite being ridiculously long.

Complication – 70/100 Damn. At the very least this song is more fast which is a nice change of pace.

I’m Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally – 60/100 Once again I feel like nothing much happens in this song. While I think Trent signing is a good thing, it isn’t when nothing much else happens in this song.

The Big Come Down – 75/100 Twangy guitar is back which is a welcome change. It actually has some movement too so overall good job team.

Underneath It All – 50/100 Quite forgettable to be honest.

Ripe (With Decay) – 55/100 I barely paid realized this song was on, I was just thankful this album was over.

Final Score: 70/100

Personally, to me no album should be this nauseatingly long. While I commend those that do try and make it worth my while, it will almost never live up to the lofty expectations set upon it. It could have the same percentage of good material as an album half its size, but by the time you reach almost two hours, it becomes almost impossible for its flaws to not be glaring, and for the listener to not disengage at least a tiny bit. What would I have changed? Probably just more action and Trent Reznor singing, in a lot of the songs I felt like there wasn’t much movement, the beats and production were good but there was nothing else to carry it, like it was too stripped back one might say? This album certainly wasn’t as loud or noisy as I thought, but it certainly didn’t live up to the high expectations I had seen put on it.