A question about NIN and Trent Reznor??

Question

What is your opinion on how Trent operates ( or used to )? He would go into the studio and do everything himself. Nine Inch Nails was basically his back up band.

I am not sure if he still does that these days. But I think it is an interesting approach.

Answer 1

This shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. Trent is essentially an island, a true loner in every sense of the word. We are talking about not just a musician but also a celebrity in that virtually nothing is known about his personal life. Not that it should matter, but I find it amazing how little we know about the man considering he's been a famous person for twenty years. The only way you can guard your privacy that fiercely is to be super removed from daily human contact.



As far as how Trent operates, it shouldn't be any surprise that he works best alone. He's fiercely independent and doesn't take well to being told what do. This accounts for his legendary struggles with major labels early in his career. For all intents and purposes, Nine Inch Nails was never a group. It's always been a solo act. The members other than Trent are nothing more than interchangeable parts of a machine or hired guns. It's all Trent. NIN is nothing more than a nickname for the real man behind the curtain.



For the record, I don't think it's strange that he works best alone. Some people are just wired that way and for us to pass judgment on it would be a dubious proposition.

Answer 2

I think it's a tad bit strange, but look at the results! Amazing music...



And... what musicianship to be able to play enough instruments well enough to do something like that, not to mention the writing ~ no one to collaborate with, etc.



The strange part is that you'd have to be quite a loner and into your own head to work this way. Does this surprise anyone who's a fan? I think not.



I, personally, can't relate, being the "people person" I am... but I'm sure others can, and... it's still produced an amazing body of work. So hey ~ if it works for him, it works for me, 'cause I *loves* me some Trent!!

Answer 3

This, for me, is interesting...



The only song I know is 'Dead Souls' {and I have literally just found out it's a cover song!}, and I never would have guessed that it was by a 'one man band'.





As Migh says, rather like early Mike Oldfield, although he did bring in some guest musicians on his early albums {including his brother}, and on later albums got the people he felt best suited his work, but he was always fully in creative control of the music. I guess it was a bit like a composer hand-picking the members of the orchestra...

Answer 4

his approach was good for me... he was a 'man with a plan' imo, not all that uncommon in the world of Industrial/Electronic music... there have been a fair few 'visionaries'- talented multi- instrumentalists in that field... look at Al Jourgensen when he started out with Ministry (well... 'Twitch' era), Steve Stapleton with Nurse With Wound, Jim Thirlwell and his gazillion projects, Boyd Rice and NON, Monte Cazazza etc... it's the kind of music that can be produced by just one artist, though in most cases additional musicians are used in the live setting of course.



I totally love 'Pretty Hate Machine' 'cos i see it like that, his 'vision'... he had been in bands before, but decided to adopt the 'persona' of NIN and produce his unique work. I have much admiration for such artists... so yeah great 'm.o.' imo lol!

Answer 5

My opinion is the same as for Todd Rundgren--it's quite an accomplishment. Todd has done it MANY times. The following albums are all TR--writing, playing, producing:

Hermit of Mink Hollow

Healing

A Wizard, A True Star

Liars

Arena



and half of Something/Anything and Initiation. (I think there's more...)

Answer 6

Johnny Cash

Answer 7

Worked like a charm up through the Fragile.



Seems like he had a lot of ideas and thoughts and anger to express.



And it avoided the ego clashing that destoys so many bands.



I don't htink it is his approach that has changed... I just think that when you make your name by producing angry music, eventually, as you grow up and mature, you tend to become more introspective, and just can't run on the raw emotions that they did when they were younger and the world was balck and white.



It is just hard to maintain being psissed off all the time. I think that is more the reason you see bands liek NIN and Metallica lose their edge...it has nothing to do with selling out, becuase they ar ebeing true to who they are NOW, instead of being like Slayer and trying to pretend that they are still pissed 18 year olds. (which tends to go from making truly angry music to looking like a cartoon version o fyourself.)



I can't think of one singel "Angry " musician that has truly kept that creative fire that their single minded self-righteous indignation coupled with simplistic world view allowed them to have in their youth. Not NIN, not Megadeth, not Metallica, and definitely not Slayer.



Lets face it...getting old kinda sucks, cause you just don't have the energy, or the fanatical fervor you once had.

Answer 8

Some Nine Inch Nails songs are amazing. If those songs were made by him solo, then he should probably keep going in that direction.

Answer 9

Looking at his earlier albums compaired to the last 3 releases I would say go back to doing it yourself (if he isn't).

Answer 10

i like all NIN albums