But I've always seen him as something else entirely and I was excited and happy to hear him reach out to listeners like me on this record. The disc begins much as you would expect a NIN's record to start... There's some odd ticking sound that reminds me of a metronome. Underneath that, you've got Tuvan monks droning and a crazy person from an old recording shouting ahead through time. It's builds to a point and BOOM, 'Copy Of A' kicks in with a frantic synth line.
This is where Reznor achieves his status with me... No matter who you are, or what kind of music you like, no one can deny; when these beats kick in, he is FUNKY as hell! He may not offer up the soulful cries of a white male diva, but he gives his listeners something even more powerful... He give us rhythm.
'Copy Of A' has a fantastic build. The synth lines feel like jelly being spread over the crispy crackers of the drum track. It fills every hole and the whole thing bubbles like it's boiling; turning into something. The joke about a copy being a copy of a copy isn't lost on anyone. Especially Reznor's fans who grew up buying CDs. Many of them still feel out of touch with the digital file sharing and there's a lot to be said for a file deteriorating the more it's shared.
'Came Back Haunted' is the next track, and like its predecessor, this number continues the incredible momentum of the record and pushes you further down this winding trail into wonderland. Easily one of the strongest tracks on the record and one of the single releases. So far, we're batting 100%. And that's when 'Find My Way' shows up. You feel like someone's pulled the plug out of the wading pool. Even the strange noises can't fill the gap between the two songs. But as it goes along, the song builds with a progression of sound layers that flesh it into something more glorious than what you thought it was going to be. When 'All Time Low' starts you think the disc is heading in a completely self indulgent and whiny direction until that beat kicks in and you're jarred to your senses. This is a deep foreboding beat. Undeniable and fearless. The whimsical turn it takes toward the end of the track only enhances its strength. An excellent number! 'Disappointed' is up next and honestly, when I first read the title, I couldn't get the song of the same name by Electronic and the Pet Shop Boys out of my head. That is until the song started. This song never satisfies you. Instead, Reznor seems to ask a billion rhetorical questions. And you want satisfaction. But that half fulfilled state is where he wants to leave you. Mostly because 'Everything' pays it off within its first seconds. Heralding back to old fashioned rock n' roll, this number is as bracing as it is exciting and fun. I've never heard Reznor sound more carefree in a vocal delivery.
'Satellite' is next and it's got a deep full rhythm that reminds me of some of the best tracks funk pioneers like George Clinton and Sly Stone would make. 'Various Methods Of Escape' is a tensely wound number that feels like it's going to spring out of your hand at any moment. There's an apprehension in the arrangement that is strongly conveyed to the listener. And when he quietly confesses he thinks he could lose himself in you, it's like waking from a dream with a splash of cool water. Shocking you back to reality. 'Running' starts out sounding like something you'd have heard in the 90's and then he smooths it out and this is a track that adds some hypertension and sucks you back into the narrative of the disc.
'I Would For You' is another song of proclaimed dedication to the object of his desire. If he could change, escape from the man he is, he would for you. And if you're listening to this and being drawn in by it, that feels extremely personal. 'In Two' relies heavily on a choppy arrangement to make you feel off balance. It's followed by 'While I'm Still Here'; and this song feels like he's trying to get away from something that's smothering him. He loves you, but he's trapped. And now he needs space to breathe. It takes an unusual turn when actual horns are added. Then the song devolves into 'Black Noise' and we go out as strangely as we came in. But this is not the end. Oh no.
Put the bonus disc in and you have even more reasons to fall in love with NIN all over again. The first mix of 'Find My Way' is a blend of Church organs and small sounding electronic blips. And yet somehow, this minimalist approach to the song is actually very powerful. It's well done and adds a dimension to Reznor's sound he's never had before. Remember that strange ending that happens on 'All Time Low'? Well, on this mix, it starts the song rather than ends it. The drumming and the softer arrangement are both oddly intoxicating and make the song even more compelling. Finally, 'While I'm Still Here' mix maintains the creepy exit of the first disc and leaves you cautiously optimistic of his return.
In the end, I was happy to hear Reznor put some massive beats in some of his songs and bring back that deeper funk groove we pretend is something else because we don't understand it. But it's there. And he's done it again. Given you more reasons to spend your time listening to his CDs rather than just about anything else useful in your life. If you're an off and on fan, this is one you don't want to miss. But don't take my word for it. Go to his soundcloud account and listen to some of it if you're not sure you want to buy it.
And then... But it.
My final words: WORTH THE TIME, EFFORT AND PRICE. DON'T MISS OUT ON THIS ONE.
NINE INCH NAILS - HESITATION MARKS DELUXE EDITION
01. The Eater Of Dreams
02. Copy Of A
03. Came Back Haunted
04. Find My Way
05. All Time Low
06. Disappointed
07. Everything
08. Satellite
09. Various Methods Of Escape
10. Running
11. I Would For You
12. In Two
13. While I'm Still Here
14. Black Noise
BONUS DISC REMIXES
01. Find My Way (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)
02. All Time Low (Todd Rundgren Remix)
03. While I'm Still Here (Breyer P-Orridge 'Howler' Remix)
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