Home > Columbus Music > CD Review > Nine Inch Nails, 'Ghosts I-IV'

Backstory: Finally free from his label, Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor surprises his legion of fans with a two-disc, instrumental, Internet-only album, a la Radiohead. Your move, Pearl Jam.

Why you should care: Not only has Reznor released some of the most forward-thinking music of the last two decades, but he's a digital pioneer; every song on the record is creative-commons licensed, meaning all it takes to remix it is the will and the way.

Verdict: After huge download problems (the day the record went up, some downloads—including Metromix's—didn't work at all), some of the slew of songs stands up, thanks to NIN trademarks: industrial-sounding beats, chainsaw guitars and roaring drums. Nearly as many are quieter, piano-led trysts, almost lounge-party friendly (if you happen to be friends with Edgar Allen Poe's relatives). But there are two huge things lacking: Reznor's still-powerful, oppressively resilient voice, and any sense of self-editing—leaving the listener with what amounts to a bloated, inessential collection of nice-to-listen-to beats, rather than a barrier-breaking full-length.

X-Factor: A limited run of 2,500 copies of the album were available on vinyl, signed by Reznor, for the low price of $300. They sold out almost immediately.

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