| The Fragile | |||||
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| Studio album digipak by Nine Inch Nails | |||||
| Released | September 21, 1999 | ||||
| Recorded | 1998-1999 at Nothing Studios, New Orleans | ||||
| Genre | Industrial rock | ||||
| Length | 103:38 (CD) 112:20 (12") 106:25 (CS) |
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| Label | Nothing Records | ||||
| Producer | Trent Reznor, Alan Moulder | ||||
| Professional reviews | |||||
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| Nine Inch Nails chronology | |||||
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The Fragile (also known as Halo Fourteen) is a double album by Nine Inch Nails released in 1999. The Fragile is the fourteenth official Nine Inch Nails release and the band's fourth major release. It was preceded by The Downward Spiral and is followed by With Teeth. It is the first album to feature the NIN logo on the cover.
Contents |
History and structure
The album itself features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy metal-laden guitar. While The Fragile received critical acclaim from many, it did not have the same commercial success as The Downward Spiral (variously attributed to the different musical climate in 1999 compared to 1994, and insufficient promotion by Interscope Records). The cover artwork was designed by David Carson. The first single from The Fragile "The Day the World Went Away" was released several months before the album. The b-side track "Starfuckers, Inc." was included on the final album and became a video single itself. Reznor described The Fragile in a 1999 interview:
| “ | "There's a general theme to the album of systems failing and things sort of falling apart. In keeping with the idea of making everything sound a little broken, I chose stringed instruments because they're imperfect by nature. Although it may not sound like it, most of the album is actually guitar - and that includes the orchestral sounds and weird melodic lines. When it came to instruments that I didn't really know how to play - like the ukulele or the slide guitar - we were able to get some really interesting sounds by making the studio the main instrument."[1] | ” |
Narratively speaking, the album is an unofficial continuation of The Downward Spiral. Here, Reznor compares the lyrical content of the two albums:
| “ | “I wanted this album to sound like there was something inherently flawed in the situation, like someone struggling to put the pieces together. Downward Spiral was about peeling off layers and arriving at a naked, ugly end. This album starts at the end, then attempts to create order from chaos, but never reaches the goal. It’s probably a bleaker album because it arrives back where it starts—[with] the same emotion.” The album begins “Somewhat Damaged” and ends “Ripe [With Decay].”[2] | ” |
The song "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" is credited in the album's booklet as "for clara", suggesting that the song's topic, like "The Day the World Went Away", is about Trent's Grandmother, Clara Clark [1]. The song "Just Like You Imagined" was featured in trailers for the movie 300. It was ranked #390 in the book 'The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time' by Martin Popoff. Oddly enough, a user on the Nine Inch Nails message board Echoing the Sound has noted that a McDonald's in his local London, England, just outside the Warren Street tube station, has a wallpaper design clearly reminiscent to the album's artwork [2][3], going so far as directly lifting certain frames from promotional teasers for the record [4].
Releases
- Nothing Records / Interscope Records 0694904732 - CD
- Nothing Records / Interscope Records 0694904731 - 12" Vinyl
- Nothing Records / Interscope Records 0694904734 - Cassette
Track listing
All songs written by Trent Reznor, except as indicated.
CD version
Disc One (Left)
- "Somewhat Damaged" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 4:31
- "The Day the World Went Away" – 4:33
- "The Frail" – 1:54
- "The Wretched" – 5:25
- "We're in This Together" – 7:16
- "The Fragile" – 4:35
- "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
- "Even Deeper" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 5:48
- "Pilgrimage" – 3:31
- "No, You Don't" – 3:35
- "La Mer" – 4:37
- "The Great Below" – 5:17
Disc Two (Right)
- "The Way Out Is Through" (Trent Reznor/Keith Hillebrandt/Charlie Clouser) – 4:17
- "Into the Void" – 4:49
- "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
- "The Mark Has Been Made" – 5:15
- Contains a 30 second hidden piece of 10 Miles High in the pregap.
- "Please" – 3:30
- "Starfuckers, Inc." (Trent Reznor/Charlie Clouser) – 5:00
- "Complication" – 2:30
- "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:13
- "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
- "Underneath It All" – 2:46
- "Ripe (With Decay)" – 6:34
Vinyl version
Disc one
- "Somewhat Damaged" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 4:31
- "The Day the World Went Away" – 5:01
- "The Frail" – 1:54
- "The Wretched" – 5:36
- "We're in This Together" – 7:17
- "The Fragile" – 4:35
- "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
- "Even Deeper" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 6:14
Disc two
- "Pilgrimage" – 3:41
- "No, You Don't" – 3:35
- "La Mer" – 5:02
- "The Great Below" – 5:17
- "The Way Out Is Through" (Trent Reznor/Keith Hillebrandt/Charlie Clouser) – 4:17
- "Into the Void" – 4:49
- "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
- "The Mark Has Been Made" – 4:43
Disc three
- "10 Miles High" – 5:13
- "Please" – 3:30
- "Starfuckers, Inc." (Trent Reznor/Charlie Clouser) – 5:00
- "Complication" – 2:30
- "The New Flesh" – 3:40
- "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:20
- "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
- "Underneath It All" – 2:46
- "Ripe" – 5:15
Cassette version
Tape one
- "Somewhat Damaged" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 4:31
- "The Day the World Went Away" – 4:33
- "The Frail" – 1:54
- "The Wretched" – 5:25
- "We're in This Together" – 7:16
- "The Fragile" – 4:35
- "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
- "Even Deeper" (Trent Reznor/Danny Lohner) – 5:47
- "Pilgrimage" – 3:31
- "No, You Don't" – 3:35
- "La Mer" – 4:37
- "The Great Below" – 5:17
Tape two
- "The Way Out Is Through" (Trent Reznor/Keith Hillebrandt/Charlie Clouser) – 4:17
- "Into the Void" – 4:49
- "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
- "The Mark Has Been Made" – 5:15
- "Please (+appendage)" – 6:19
- "Starfuckers, Inc." (Trent Reznor/Charlie Clouser) – 5:00
- "Complication" – 2:30
- "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:13
- "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
- "Underneath It All" – 2:46
- "Ripe (With Decay)" – 6:34
Personnel
- Tom Baker - Mastering
- Adrian Belew - Guitars ("Just Like You Imagined", "The Great Below", "Where Is Everybody?")
- Heather Bennet - Vocals (Background)
- Paul Bradley - Programming
- Buddha Boys Choir - Choir, Chorus, Chant
- Buddha Debutante Choir - Vocals (Background)
- Di Coleman - Vocals (Background)
- Charlie Clouser - Programming, Atmosphere, Synthesizers
- Melissa Daigle - Vocals (Background)
- Paul DeCarli - Programming
- Jerome Dillon - Drums (on "We're In This Together")
- Dr. Dre - Mixing Assistant (on "Even Deeper")
- Bob Ezrin - Album Sequencing Assistant
- Mike Garson - Piano (on "Just Like You Imagined", "The Way Out Is Through" and "Ripe (With Decay)")
- Page Hamilton - Guitar (on "No, You Don't")
- Tracy Hardin - Vocals (Background)
- Leo Herrera - Engineer
- Keith Hillebrandt - Programming, Choir, Chorus, Sound Design
- Danny Lohner - Drum Programming, Ambiance, Synthesizers, Guitar on "Somewhat Damaged", "Just Like You Imagined", "The Great Below", "Complication"
- Clint Mansell - Choir, Chorus
- Alan Moulder - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
- Dave Ogilvie - Engineer
- Brian Pollack - Engineer
- Trent Reznor - Vocals, Guitars, Cello, Piano, Synthesizers, Programming, Producer
- Elquine Rice - Vocals (Background)
- Terry Rice - Vocals (Background)
- Bill Rieflin - Drums (on "La Mer")
- Barbara Wilson - Vocals (Background)
- Leslie Wilson - Vocals (Background)
- Steve Duda - Programming, Choir, Chorus, Percussion, Violin
- Eric Edmonson - Choir, Chorus
- Cherry Holly - Trumpet
- Doug Idleman - Choir, Chorus
- Marcus London - Choir, Chorus
- Denise Milfrot - Vocals (on "La Mer")
- Judy Miller - Vocals (Background)
- Gary I. Neal - Vocals (Background)
- Matthew Nicholls- Vocals (Background)
- Christine Parrish - Vocals (Background)
- Adam Persaud - Choir, Chorus
- Martha Prevost - Vocals
- M. Gabriela Rivas - Vocals (Background)
- Nick Scott - Choir, Chorus
- Rodney Sulton - Vocals (Background)
- Stefani Taylor - Vocals (Background)
- Nigel Wiesehan - Choir, Chorus
- Willie - Cello
- Mason Kemmer - violin, donair supplier
- Martha Wood - Vocals (Background)
Chart positions
Album
| Year | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|
| 1999 | The Billboard 200 | #1 |
| 1999 | Top Canadian Albums | #2 |
| 1999 | Top Internet Albums | #1 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | "The Day the World Went Away" | The Billboard 100 | #17 |
| 1999 | "The Day the World Went Away" | Canadian Singles Chart | #1 |
| 1999 | "We're In This Together" | Modern Rock Tracks | #11 |
| 1999 | "We're In This Together" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | #21 |
| 1999 | "Starfuckers, Inc." | Modern Rock Tracks | #39 |
| 2000 | "Into the Void" | Modern Rock Tracks | #11 |
| 2000 | "Into the Void" | Mainstream Rock Tracks | #27 |
| 2000 | "Into the Void" | Canadian Singles Chart | #4 |
References
- ^ 21 August 1999 Last accessed April 15, 2007.
- ^ Nine Inch Nails: A Ransom Review Last accessed April 15, 2007.
External links
- nin.com
- Halo 14 Lyrics
- Halo 14 at NINCollector.com
- discogs.com: The Fragile (US 2xCD)
- discogs.com: The Fragile (US 3x12")
- discogs.com: The Fragile (US 2xCassette)
| Preceded by Ruff Ryders' First Lady by Eve |
Billboard 200 Number-one Album October 9, 1999 - October 15, 1999 |
Succeeded by Human Clay by Creed |
![[4]](http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c329/plastkasse/MAXX.jpg){kind=link}