jamesq | Nine Inch Neil

The Bruce was channel surfing the other day when he came across an interview with Trent Reznor. During the interview Trent was trying to say he was just a normal guy despite:

1) Having no color in his wardrobe other than black.
2) Building his recording studio in an former funeral home.
3) Living in Anne Rice's old mansion in New Orleans.

"Is this guy some kind of Goth?" I asked, somewhat hesitatingly.
"Are you kidding?", said the Bruce, "Trent Reznor is the Goth."

Discovering that I had never heard Nine Inch Nails, Bruce immediately thrust Pretty Hate Machine into my hands.

"Listen to this" he said.

After several days I got around to it. In fact, I'm listening to it as I right this entry.

So what do I thing?

I think Nine Inch Nails is a harsh, bitter collection of screaming cacophony alternating between neurotic and disturbing. Which is to say I really really like it!

Listening to Trent Reznor is a little like listening to Henry Rollins - if Henry Rollins could sing, and write decent lyrics, and compose good music. Actually, I guess it's nothing like Henry Rollins at all.

Pretty Hate Machine was released in 1989, which puts me about 12 years behind the loop as far as ol' Trent is concerned. On the other hand, if I had discovered them when I was 22 I probably would have turned into quite the Goth asshole. As redheads don't look that good in dingy colors this is probably a win-win situation for me. Of course, my hair wouldn't have stayed red for long.

So now I find I'm like those lucky bastards who have never read Guy Gavriel Kay - Imagine having all that ahead of you!