June 25, 2010
How to Destroy Angels
In working on NIN for 20 years Trent Reznor established a particular sound in his music that now never fails to be implanted in anything he touches. It’s this likeness that somehow connected Pretty Hate Machine and The Slip and also managed to set NIN as a whole apart from all other artists. And despite NIN’s apparently indefinite hiatus, this nice little mold hasn’t gone anywhere. It’s sitting right here with the words “How to Destroy Angels” written on it. There’s only one difference: Reznor isn’t singing.
O-kay, o-kay, I know. So first Trent gives us an entirely instrumental album several times longer than the cumulative NIN discography at that time and then releases an EP featuring the vocals of some chick named Mariqueen Maandig (who is his wife I guess)? Is he insecure? Perhaps. But if it makes you feel better, I’m 100% sure Trent is still writing lyrics. (Phew!)
I suppose it’s not really as bad as it sounds. While How to Destroy Angels’ debut EP does draw from NIN’s sound considerably, to the point it’s difficult to call it “influence”, at least that influence works off of Ghosts I-IV more than the The Slip. Despite a severe lack of banjo, it’s essentially five fleshed-out Ghosts tracks overlaid with some boring chic—oh, I mean Maandig’s vocals. I suppose the unforced hint in her voice sort of lends itself to the music, sometimes giving off a sort of mysterious/sexy vibe, but it’s mostly just boring. It’s apparent that her voice lacks substance just from the EP’s dreary opener, “The Space in Between,” which falls into monotony in parts where Maandig’s voice isn’t heavily backed with noisy electronics and screeching guitars.
As the EP is primarily a twist on a familiar theme, few things come unexpectedly here. Most songs can easily compare with NIN’s more recent work. The hi-hat in the danceable “Fur Lined” has led the song to be labeled a combination of “Discipline” and “Only”. “The Believers” could be a mix of “4 Ghosts I,” “26 Ghosts III,” and “37 Ghosts V” with a hint of Year Zero influence in the final breakdown. The melancholy “A Drowning” is a Ghosts re-working of “Lights in the Sky” / “Right Where It Belongs”.
Though somewhat predictable now, the instrumentation in this last song, “A Drowning,” is more developed and mature than that in most Ghosts tracks and definitely The Slip. Well, what did we expect Trent to be doing after NIN? Getting the most pretty and depressing piano melody ready for us, of course! Even Mariqueen’s voice sounds better in this one. You almost think she might allow it to stretch out a little and take a risk during the lines where she sings “I don’t think I can”, but alas, I suppose she really can’t.
Rating: 5.5/10
P.S. I'm seeing Portugal. the Man tonight. So ready to hear some American Ghetto live!
Posted by Anna at June 25, 2010 12:45 PM