MP3: “Zoo Station (U2 Cover)” by Nine Inch Nails

Nine Inch Nails may be on temporary hiatus, but a sober Trent Reznor seems to have found time to make a contribution to Q Magazine’s 20th anniversary tribute compilation of U2′s Achtung Baby between an upcoming full-length How To Destroy Angels record and the score to David Fincher’s The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (due in December). The track is mellow, atmospheric and features an impressive vocal delivery from Trent (yes, really). Atticuss Ross co-produced and programmed the track. Download “Zoo Station (U2 Cover)” by Nine Inch Nails here or stream it below:

Trent Reznor Wins Golden Globe

Wow!

Trent Reznor Nominated For Golden Globe

Today’s Golden Globe nominations revealed that Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross’ score for David Fincher’s near-perfect The Social Network was nominated for “Best Original Score.” This is Reznor’s first Golden Globes nod, although he has twelve Grammy nominations with two wins (for 1992′s “Wish” and 1995′s “Happiness in Slavery (Live)”). It’s uncertain if the Academy Awards will figure out that the soundtrack contains a brilliantly re-worked version of “35 Ghost IV” from 2008′s Ghosts I-IV that is cleverly titled “A Familiar Taste.” Johnny Greenwood (Radiohead) was disqualified from a potential Oscar nomination for his There Will Be Blood score for a similar reason in 2007.

Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross – A Familiar Taste by hralupka

Deerhunter @ Starlight Ballroom

Although the bathrooms at the Starlight Ballroom were once referred to as “the apocalypse” by Grizzly Bear frontman Ed Droste a few years back, some of my favorite shows have been performed here (TV on the Radio, Girl Talk, etc.). Deerhunter had no issues overcoming the elements of the world’s end and gave the most inspired performance of their four shows I’ve attended. The varied setlist and extended jams were a nice surprise for longtime fans but may have confused new fans looking for only straight performances of new and highly accessible songs like “Revival” and “Helicopter.” Thankfully, Deerhunter aren’t ready for mainstream radio just yet.

Frontman Bradfox Cox was extraordinarily enthusiast most of the night. The usually reserved Cox (at least since the days he wore dresses opening up for Nine Inch Nails during the Cryptograms era) could be found headbanging during guitar solos and adding new vocal melodies to various songs. The energy was appreciated by some in attendance, but Philly proved to be a disappointing crowd. I don’t care if this show was a weekday makeup for a weekend pool party from the summer. I will never be able to understand how lines at the various bars at the Starlight Ballroom could file in during extended jam sessions for “Nothing Ever Happened” and “He Would Have Laughed,” both approaching the 10-minute mark. Shame on you, Philly!

“We need your youth energy and your youth culture so that we can survive. The median age of this band is 87 years old. We’re looking for a new vessel … you know like in Being John Malkovich … it’s a movie.” – Bradford Cox (disappointed by the reaction).

This was the first Deerhunter show I’ve attended where guitarist Lockett Pundt sang live. He’s recorded vocals on several albums, but Cox has usually taken on those duties live (at the previous three shows I’ve attended). Pundt sang lead vocals for two songs, “Desire Lines” and “Fountain Stairs.” He did admirably on the first track, and the band extended the performance of the song into a highlight-worthy jam session, which they did for several songs in the set. His vocals for “Fountain Stairs” were not nearly as impressive.

Another highlight of the set was some kind of live, 80s-style reinterpretation of “Rainwater Cassette Exchange.” The new arrangements were inspired. When the show ended, Cox and company revisited the stage for an encore that included “Memory Boy” and “Fluorescent Grey,” and Cox jokingly introduced each song as the other. Overall, it’s just not possible to get better than this for a $15 ticket. Deerhunter may be the best live band that cannot sell out a small club. Go check them out now before they turn into Arcade Fire.

You can check out a high quality stream of the previous night’s show in Washington, D.C. by NPR’s All Things Considered here.

MP3: “Theme For Tetsuo: The Bullet Man” by Nine Inch Nails

Trent Reznor recently provided an instrumental theme song for the third installment in The Tetsuo Project cult film series about humans that mutate into metal. In the context of the films, the noisy track fits perfectly. You can download “Theme For Tetsuo: The Bullet Man” by Nine Inch Nails here or stream it below:

MP3: “USA Boys” by HEALTH

HEALTH is having a good week. First, they released their shock-inducing gore-core video for Get Color standout track “We Are Water” (see below). The video was directed by Eric Wareheim (of the comedy duo Tim and Eric). Now, they keep tradition by preparing the release of another remix album (due June 22). The first track off DISCO2 is actually not a remix. It’s a new HEALTH track that was recorded in superfan Trent Reznor’s LA-based studio and mixed by NIN studio guru, Alan Moulder. The influence is apparent, as the track is definitely one of their best to date. You can download “USA Boys” here or stream it below:

“We Are Water” video directed by Eric Wareheim

Fishpork’s 100 Favorite Tracks of the 2000s

This is an attempt at the impossible. Here are our 100 favorite songs of the past decade (featuring multiple tracks from Animal Collective, The Knife, Radiohead, and Elliott Smith). Our top two choices are more like 1a and 1b. Be patient, as the page needs to load the embedded songs.

1. Panda Bear – “Bros” (2007)

2. The Knife – “We Share Our Mother’s Health” (2006)

3. Animal Collective – “For Reverend Green” (2007)

4. Grizzly Bear – “While You Wait For The Others” (2009)

5. The Knife – “Heartbeats” (2003)

6. Grizzly Bear – “The Knife” (2005)

7. LCD Soundsystem – “Someone Great” (2007)

8. TV on the Radio – “Staring at the Sun” (2003)

9. Crystal Castles – “Crimewave” (2008)

10. Beirut – “Ciloqut” (2007)

11. Thom Yorke – “Harrowdown Hill

12. Animal Collective – “Derek” (2007)

13. Nine Inch Nails – “Me, I’m Not” (2007)

14. Beck – “Lonesome Tears” (2002)

15. At The Drive-in – “One Armed Scissor” (2004)

16. Animal Collective – “Grass” (2005)

17. Deerhunter – “Nothing Ever Happened” (2008)

18. Atlas Sound – “Recent Bedroom” (2008)

19. Panda Bear – “Comfy in Nautica” (2007)

20. System of a Down – “Chop Suey” (2001)

21. Animal Collective – “Peacebone” (2007)

22. Battles – “Atlas” (2007)

23. Error – “Jack the Ripper” (2004)

24. Enon – “Pleasure and the Privilege”

25. Elliott Smith – “Son of Sam” (2000)

26. Animal Collective – “Did You See the Words” (2005)

27. The Knife – “Marble House” (2006)

28. LCD Soundsystem – “All My Friends” (2007)

29. Thom Yorke – “Analyse” (2006)

30. The Flaming Lips – “Ego Tripping at the Gates of Hell” (2002)

31. Girl Talk – “Smash Your Head” (2006)
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32. A Perfect Circle – “Judith” (2000)

33. Radiohead – “Idioteque” (2000)

34. Tapes N’ Tapes – “Manitoba” (2006)

35. TV On The Radio – “I Was A Lover” (2006)

36. Radiohead – “Reckoner” (2007)

37. Fever Ray – “Coconut” (2009)

38. Animal Collective – “My Girls” (2009)

39. Built to Spill – “Things Fall Apart” (2009)

40. Wilco – “I’m Trying to Break Your Heart” (2002)

41. Modest Mouse – “Tiny Cities Made of Ashes” (2000)

42. Animal Collective – “Leaf House” (2004)

43. Modeselektor – “Happy Birthday” (2007)

44. Arcade Fire – “Wake Up” (2004)

45. Autolux – “Blanket” (2004)

46. MGMT – “Time to Pretend” (2007)

47.  Built to Spill – “Conventional Wisdom” (2006)

48. Wilco – “Side With the Seeds” (2007)

49. Elliott Smith – “Happiness/The Gondola Man” (2000)

50. Avey Tare – “I’m Your Eagle Kisser” (2007)

51. Department of Eagles – “Waves of Rye” (2008)

52. Animal Collective – “Summertime Clothes” (2009)

53. Radiohead – “2+2 = 5″ (2003)

54. Dredg – “Sang Real” (2005)

55. While Lies – “Farewell to the Fairground” (2009)

56. Grizzly Bear – “Ready, Able” (2009)

57. Matisyahu – “King Without a Crown” (2005)

58. Modest Mouse – “Paper Thin Walls” (2000)

59. Dillinger Escape Plan – “When Good Dogs Do Bad Things” (2002)

60. Elliott Smith – “Twilight” (2004)

61. Deerhunter – “Flourescent Grey” (2007)

62. Holy Fuck – “Lovely Allen” (2007)

63. LCD Soundsystem – “Never As Tired As When I’m Waking Up” (2006)

64. The Notwist – “Boneless (Panda Bear Remix)” (2008)

65. Liars – “Nothing Is Ever Lost or Can Be Lost My Science Friend” (2004)

66. The Mars Volta – “Inertiatic E.S.P.” (2003)

67. The Notwist – “Solitaire” (2002)

68. Of Montreal – “The Past is a Grotesque Animal” (2007)

69. Queens of the Stone Age – “Tangled Up in Plaid” (2005)

70. Radiohead – “Jigsaw Falling Into Place” (2007)

71. Saul Williams – “Raised To Be Lowered” (2007)

72. Autolux – “Great Days for the Passenger Element” (2004)

73. Sigur Ros – “Untitled 8″ (2002)

74. Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs – “Maps” (2003)

75. Portishead – “Threads” (2008)

76. Sufjan Stevens – “Chicago” (2005)

77. Ugly Casanova – “Things I Don’t Remember” (2002)

78. Animal Collective – “Brothersport” (2009)

79. Radiohead – “Pyramid Song” (2001)

80. Nine Inch Nails – “Only” (2005)

81. El-P – “Flyentology” (2007)

82. Queens of the Stone Age – “No One Knows” (2002)

83. Ghostface Killah – “Shakey Dog” (2006)

84. Modest Mouse – “Missed the Boat” (2007)

85. UNKLE – “Persons and Machinery” (2007)

86. Amon Tobin – “Verbal” (2002)

87. The White Stripes – “Denial Twist” (2005)
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88. Tomahawk – “Captain Midnight” (2003)

89. Modest Mouse – “Bukowski” (2004)

90. Sigur Ros – “Hoppipolia” (2005)

92. Fuck Buttons – “Sweet Love For Planet Earth” (2008)

93. Bon Iver – “Skinny Love” (2008)

94. Built to Spill – “In Your Mind” (2001)

95. The White Stripes – “Icky Thump” (2007)

96. Does It Offend You, Yeah? – “We Are Rockstars” (2008)

97. Dub Trio – “Not Alone” (2006)

98. Modest Mouse – “The World At Large”

99. The Walkmen – “In the New Year” (2008)

100. Nine Inch Nails – “The Great Destroyer (Modwheelmood Remix)” (2007)

Trent Reznor Quits Twitter, Cites Metal Sludge

You knew it was only a matter of time before all the controversy involving the hatemongers on Twitter vs. Trent Reznor and his new fiance Mariqueen Maandig came to a screeching halt. Reznor tweeted for the last time a link to a message on the NIN forums announcing the end of his “interesting experiment.” Reznor’s latest online conflict occurred with a blogger named Fred W. Garrett, who questioned Trent’s motives for raising money for Eric De La Cruz’s heart transplant and his treatment of fans who won tickets through his Twitter contests. Trent also mentions the term Metal Sludge and describes it as:

Metal Sludge is the home of the absolutely worst people I’ve ever come across. It’s populated mainly by unattractive plump females who publicly fantasize about having sex with guys in bands. Kind of like a role-playing game where people NOBODY will fuck make up stories about their incredible sexual encounters with people they WISH they could fuck.

He also gives some advice for the contingency:

Cutter’s tip for my friends there: remember to cut along the length of vein, not across. Bigger payoff.

In his Twitter-less universe, Reznor does have a plan:

I have business in the real world to attend to including wrapping up the live version of NIN, DOING some cool new shit and spending as much time as possible with the most amazing woman in the world.

You can read the lengthy message here.

NIN/JA @ PNC Arts Center

For a tour that is supposed to present the last performances for Nine Inch Nails as we know them (him), it seemed awkward for Trent Reznor and company to play a set before Jane’s Addiction (a band that hasn’t been relevant in 15 years). As it turns out, the outdoor venue ended up sucking a lot of the life from their performance, and Jane’s Addiction proved they deserved to headline. Gone were the breathtaking lighting rigs from last year’s “Lights In The Sky” shows and the sporadic small venue shows. Instead, we get $80 seats that practically require binoculars. I avoid the PNC Bank Arts Center at all costs, as there is very little to get excited about. However, an exception needed o be made when NIN is playing their last area show after twenty years. Unfortunately, it was the least memorable performance I’ve seen by the band.

Yes, it’s great that Trent Reznor has sobered up and defeated his inner demons. And I suppose this is why we are now saying “goodbye” to this part of his musical career. Hopefully, he will continue to share his unique abilities with the world in another capacity. With that said, the watered down versions of tracks that served as therapy for all of Trent’s past emotional instability were awkwardly out of context and should have not been included in the set list. I do appreciate the gesture that he is playing the deep and rare tracks that longtime fans want to see performed for the last (first and last in some cases) time. However, ingenuously transforming these tracks from soul searching catharsis into stadium anthems with unscripted “heys,” “woohoos” and handclaps seemed marred by pretense. “Mr. Self-Destruct,” “Last,” “March of the Pigs,” “Reptile,” and “Gave Up” need to be sealed up to serve only as the abrasive, self-loathing, and genre defying classics they are.

In all fairness, twenty years is a long time to share your self-hatred with the world without following the road paved by Ian Curtis or Kurt Cobain. We saw a glimpse of what could happen when Trent’s self-loathing is redirected toward political apocalypse with the impressive Year Zero project. Trent promises there is more to come. We didn’t see much reason to get to the show early enough to see Tom Morello’s new band, Street Sweeper Social Club (Audioslave and The Nightwatchmen were achingly diluted and bland). The “Wave Goodbye” tour had a lax camera policy, and we captured some of the performance. Unfortunately, tripods and additional audio gear were not allowed, so the shaky cam and overmodulation of the sound were unavoidable.

(Mark)

After NIN finished their encore with a whimper by playing “Hurt,” the lights went on and stage change began.  After 15 minutes Jane’s took the stage and immediately went into one of the best songs ever written, “Three Days.”  The last and only time I heard this song live was at the Hammerstein Ballroom for the ”Relapse Tour” in 1997 with Flea replacing Eric Avery on bass.  It was immediately clear just how much Avery’s style and execution is irreplaceable.

I’ve been a hardcore fan of more than 15 years, yet my expectations were not high.  I anticipated to find the show nostalgically entertaining at best.  However, even after an 18 year layoff their sound was unbelievably tight thanks to the return of Avery’s precise bass playing.

As the band continued through classics such as ”Ocean Size” and “Pigs in Zen,” the highlight was a powerful delivery of “Then She Did.”  Avery’s infectious bass lines and Navarro’s shifting guitar rhythms brought chills, and Perry’s voice sounded stronger than it had during the last semi-reunion shows.  Jane’s Addiction put forth a solid live performance and filled a void that was 15 years overdue.  Better late than never.

(Pete)

“Gave Up”

“Mr. Self-Destruct”

Trent Reznor Raises Money For Good Cause By Hanging Out With Fans

Trent Reznor (NIN) is offering some VIP treatment for fans who are willing to donate some much needed funds to help Eric De La Cruz, a 27-year old who is in dire need of a heart transplant. A letter on the NIN web site reads:

A Letter from Trent:

This is for something important. Eric De La Cruz is dying and needs a heart transplant. He keeps getting turned down for a transplant list because he’s on Nevada Medicaid, and there are no transplant centers in Nevada. We want to get involved and hopefully so do you, so we’re extending a hand. His sister Veronica (former Anchor and Internet Correspondent for CNN) has started a campaign to save his life.

Eric’s situation shines a bright light on a broken health care system, and his particular set of problems are being addressed on the political front, aiming for reform in addition to the need for immediate financial help to keep him alive TODAY. I think we can help with the latter. 100% of the money collected from this will go directly to Eric’s fund. I hope you’ll consider helping out with this.

Sincerely, Trent Reznor

A $10 “just donate” option has been added to the three donation options originally posted:

If you have a ticket to a NIN/JA show: if you donate $1,000 to this cause, we’ll invite you to come hang out with us before the NIN/JA show of your choice. You and a guest can watch NIN and Street Sweeper Social Club’s soundchecks, eat dinner backstage with us, take pics / get autographs and watch the show from the side of the stage if you’d like. If you donate $300, you and a friend can join us for NIN and SSSC’s soundchecks and a handshaking / hug session before doors open at the NIN/JA show of your choice. If you do NOT have a ticket to a NIN/JA show: if you donate $1,200 to this cause, we’ll invite you to come hang out with us before the NIN/ JA show of your choice and provide 2 tickets (best available). You and a guest can watch soundcheck, eat dinner backstage with us, take pics / get autographs and watch the show from the side of the stage if you’d like.

More info on this rewarding fan/charitable opportunity can be found here. Trent posted further details about what the general experiences would be like for fans who decided to purchase one of the more expensive donation options here.

UPDATE: In less than 48 hours, $542,212 has been raised. According to the video above, this will be more than enough for Eric to get his heart transplant. Job well done, NIN fans!

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