THE DEATH OF THE MIX TAPE
​
Picture
  • Blog
    • Wordpress Feed
  • REACHING OUT:
  • SHOW PICS
  • MY TOP 100 SONGS OF ALL TIME

THE SKY IS NOT THE SAME( OR THE TOP TEN NINE INCH NAILS B-SIDES)

9/9/2015

0 Comments

 
When a band has as many albums and off shot projects as Reznor’s NIN, things can get deep pretty fast. For many, the studio albums and music video’s for singles are the only exposure they’ve ever gotten, and they’re happy with that. For others though, the countless singles, soundtrack contributions and remix albums are just as important as the original studio works. Today we’re discussing nin’s top ten best b-sides. This list is pulled from basically everything that isn’t on official albums, and I’d like to say it delves even deeper into what makes this band so ripe, with decay. Enjoy!

10. Gone,Still, And All That Could Have Been, CD
For my money, this song and the rest of the supplemental cd laid the groundwork for the wonderfully textured works we’d get from Reznor in the forms of the various Fincher scores he created, but this song will always be among his best and most focused. At an immediate two minute and thirty six seconds, “Gone, Still,” isn’t some sprawling piece of music, but rather acts as slow, weary transition among many of his more heavy hitting works. Perfect background music.

9. Get Down Make Love, Sin Single
One of the first band shirts I ever got was the “Sin” single shirt, but the reason for that was simple. “Get Down Make Love” stuck out in my head at an early age. Brilliantly done in a vastly different way than the Queen original, it’s one of the better industrial songs of the band's early career, and thankfully I’ve gotten to see it performed live. One of the best things about the track is it’s ability to stand on it’s own and not be overshadowed by the still brilliant original. Reznor screams and howls through the chorus, and the thumping nature of the track make it hard to not get into it.

8. Piggy(Nothing Can Stop me Now), Further Down the Spiral
This is likely an unpopular opinion, but this is easily my favorite version of “Piggy.” While TDS version is good, this bombastic and rough around the edges remix better compliments the desperation inherent in the songs bones. The background elements and beats flow freely and make the song develop a new beat, while Reznor’s remotely hushed lyrics peak in and out during the more intense sections. As far as remixes go, this is the one that succeeds over the original, and should be held up as such.

7. the New Flesh, We’re in This Together Single
Maybe one of the creepiest openings ever in the nin canon, which is saying a lot, but the way in which “The New Flesh,” bubbles under the surface and gradually loses itself is one of the most tension filled aspects of the band as a whole. You can literally hear the strings being pulled apart at the seams and before you know it Reznor is imploring the listener to ”Give it to Me.” This is a exquisite track that belongs prominently in the world of “The Fragile,” but I can see why it wasn't included in the actual format of the record.

6. the Perfect Drug, Lost Highway OST
This is likely the best known song on this list, but while it’s a brilliant track, it only makes it to number six on the best nin b sides. The track is full of nearly perfect execution, and even though it’s never been played live even a single time, it’s still one of the best songs to rock out too. It’s a damn shame that it's not played too. Rumor has it the drum sequence is otherworldly hard, but that’s part of what makes the song so great. It has its heavier element, but it’s very chipper in the melody of the vocals and to this day remains a great pop song, albeit one that is slightly hard to embrace.

5. A Violent Fluid, March of the Pigs Single
This blink and you’ll miss it interlude is maybe one of the better intro music type songs Reznor ever recorded, and while it’s only slightly over one minute, the way it slinks in and zero’s on it’s prey in a very science fiction way is what draws me to the song. It signals the arrival of a benevolent force, with conquering on it’s mind, and an appetite that knows no limits.This nearly singular beat runs rampant through the track, and as quickly and with as much fury as it arrived, it’s gone.

4. Metal, Things Falling Apart
This Gary Numan cover was initially done over a decade ago as part of the remix album that followed “The Fragile,” and while some of the songs aren't the best, ‘Metal” delivers in a wonderful way. For me it harkens back to the production quality of “Broken,” with it’s in your face beats and rough edges while continuing to redefine the concept of what thought provoking industrial could be in the beginnings of the aughts. Reznor lets loose fluidly during the first course of the song, but by the end it builds to a hauntingly atmospheric track that perfectly conveys how well nin is able to move from one area to the next.

3. Adrift and At Peace, Quiet
Another from the “Quiet” tracks, this song is among the most floaty and spatially full songs ever recorded by the band. Elements of “La Mer” and “The Great Below” are present here, but “Adrift and At Peace” is able to sit poised and cool and stand on it’s own two legs. In the three minutes the song rarely picks up pace, but that seems to be in line with the vibe and aesthetic of the track. The listener is meant to be at peace, and peace implies an easy voyage, and the instrumentation of the song absolutely sets you at a slower, more content pace.

2. Home, With Teeth B-Sides
This song is just so incredible. Seriously it might be the best thing that ever came from “With Teeth” existing in the world. Now, “WT” isn’t a terrible album, but for better or worse it has moments that are completely forgettable. “Home” however, is one of the bright moments. This is a track so good I genuinely wish it had been included on the record, but for whatever reason it isn’t. The drumming is feracious and concentrated, while Reznor’s slow sullen voice doesn’t hit full full stride until the two minute mark, but it’s gone just as swiftly. The song doesn’t have some bug operatic moment in terms of the instrumentation, but it’s not needed at all. It’s a heavy down tempo song that fills the space it needs to, and leaves hints of what’s to come in places it deems safe.

1. Burn, Natural Born Killers OST
And finally we arrive at number one.Created for the absolutely brilliant “NBK” film, Reznor makes a song so full of resentment and anger that you can feel it enveloping you as it takes your senses over. The beats are brilliant, and the story of seeing what you're meant to become, for better or worse is captivating. The vocals are an arrangement of hushed and violent, which may sound weird, but it’s generally a song about going all the way into the worse ports of yourselves, and finally getting to a point where you’re “Gonna Burn this whole world down.” Speaking of the buildup and breakdown, it’s one of the better ones ever created by Reznor, and to this this day that sections inspires many a fist pumped at concerts. In conclusion, “Burn” isn’t only the best non album format nine inch nails track, but also a song that is fundamentally perfect in the vein of violent industrial music. Thanks for reading.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Landon Murray is a music connooisseur who craves sounds of all shapes and textures. He's seen over 2000 bands and looks forward to welcoming you into his world of sound, 

    Archives

    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    August 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014

    Categories

    All
    30 Seconds To Mars
    90's Rock Bands
    ALIVE 2007
    Al Jourgensen
    ALL THESE THINGS THAT I'VE DONE
    Animal Collective
    Animal Collective Merriweather Post Pavillion
    Anti-Christ Superstar
    Antics
    Arcade Fire Suburbs
    Arcade Fire Top 10
    Armenian Rock Music
    ART OF COMPOSING
    As The Palaces Burn
    Avalanches Since I Left You
    Badmotorfinger
    Beach House
    Beastie Boys Ill Communication
    Beck Odelay
    Best Albums Of 2015
    BEST ALBUMS OF 2020
    Best Albums Of The 1990's
    Best Albums Of The 2000's
    BEST ALBUMS OF THE 80'S
    Best Albums Of The 90's
    Best Bjork Songs
    Best Black Sabbath Songs
    Best Concerts Of 2015
    Best Converge Songs
    Best Driving Music
    BEST KILLERS SONGS
    Best Lamb Of God Songs
    Best Metal Albums
    Best Metal Albums Of The 2000's
    Best Slayer Songs
    BEST SONGS OF 2020
    Best System Of A Down Songs
    Bjork Homogenic
    Black Sabbath
    Bon Iver
    Bounce Music
    Canadian Music Duo
    Children Of The Grave
    Chris Cornell
    CHVRCHES
    Comeback Albums
    COURTNEY BARNETT
    Cradle Of Filth
    Daft Punk Great Album
    DAFT PUNK LIVE
    Dan Deacon Best Songs
    Dan Deacon Interview
    David Bowie
    David Bowie Guests
    Death From Above 1979
    Deftones
    Dimmu Borgir
    DISINTEGRATION ALBUM REVIEW
    EAGLES OF DEATH METAL
    FLAMING LIPS
    FOLKLORE ALBUM REVIEW
    Foo Fighters
    FOO FIGHTERS COLOUR AND THE SHAPE
    Great Albums Of The 90's
    Great Driving Records
    Great Interpol Tracks
    Great Southern Trendkill
    Halloween Weekend
    HANS ZIMMER
    Heartbroken Love Songs
    History Of Black Sabbath
    History Of Pantera
    Homogenic Songs
    Iceland Singer
    IDLES
    Interpol Best Songs
    Iron Maiden
    Jane Doe
    Jeff Buckley
    Joshua Homme Queens
    Judas Priest
    Kevin Parker Genuis
    KILLER MIKE EL-P
    Killswitch Engage
    LATERALUS ALBUM
    Liam Finn
    Loveless Great Album My Bloody Valentine
    M83
    MASSIVE ATTACK 100TH WINDOW
    Massive Attack Best Album
    Mastodon Leviathan
    MC HAMMER 2 LEGIT TO QUIT BAD VIDEO
    Mechanical Animals
    MEGAN THEE STALLION
    Mellon Collie And The Infinite Sadness
    Meshuggah Nothing
    Michael Jackson Dangerous
    Ministry
    MUMFORD AND SONS BEST SONGS
    Muse Top 10 Songs
    Neutral Milk Hotel
    New Orleans Music Festival
    New Orleans Republic
    New Wave Of American Heavy Metal
    Nineinch Nails
    Nine Inch Nails Sad
    Nirvana In Utero
    Nothingface
    Nothingface Violence Review
    Outkast
    Ozzfest
    Ozzy Osbourne Vocals
    Panda Bear
    Pantera History
    Paranoid
    POLITICAL RAP
    Portishead
    PORTISHEAD DUMMY
    Post Rock New York
    Queens Of The Stone Age Great Albums
    Queens Of The Stone Age Top Ten
    Queen Triumphant Songs
    RADIOHEAD Best Songs
    Radiohead Ok Computer
    RADIOHEADS BEST ALBUM
    Radiohead Top Ten
    Rage Against The Machine Debut
    RAMING DJAWADI
    Randy Blythe
    Reign In Blood
    ROBERT SMITH
    RUN THE JEWELS
    RYAN ADAMS
    Salem Metal Converge
    Shaky Knees Festival
    Shaky Knees Music Festival
    Shameless Love Of Taylor Swift
    Slayer
    Smashing Pumpkins Best Songs
    Songs For The Deaf
    Songs For The Deaf Queens Of The Stone Age
    Soulfly
    Soundgarden
    STORY OF NINE INCH NAILS
    Superunknown Album
    Tame Impala
    TAME IMPALA LONERISM
    TAYLOR SWIFT
    The Beatles Driving
    THE CURE
    THE CURE BEST SONGS
    The Downward Spiral Great Album
    THE KILLERS TOP TEN
    The Physical World
    The Strokes
    THE WEEKND
    Thrash Metal
    Tony Iommi Guitar
    TOOL
    TOOL GREAT ALBUMS
    TOOL TOP TEN
    Top 10
    TOP 40 ALBUMS OF THE 2010's
    TOP SONGS OF 2015
    Top Ten Bjork Songs
    Top Ten Black Sabbath Songs
    Top Ten Interpol Songs
    Top Ten Lamb Of God Songs
    Top Ten Ministry Songs
    Top Ten Slayer Songs
    Top Ten System Of A Down Songs
    Toxicity
    TRENT REZNOR
    Triumphant Songs
    Turn On The Bright Lights
    Tv On The Radio
    Type O Negative
    Valentines Day Songs
    Vinnie Paul Drumming
    Voodoo Music Experience
    Warpaint
    Watch The Throne
    Weezer Blue Album
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Best Songs
    Yeah Yeah Yeahs Top Ten Songs
    YOSHIMI

    RSS Feed


    Are you looking for the old Wordpress blog posts?
    Wordpress Feed

Background Image
Site by Shake&Blur
Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.