Today, November 22nd, is the release date of the CD version of Trent Reznor's remastered version of his group Nine Inch Nail's groundbreaking 1989 debut Pretty Hate Machine (the double vinyl version of this remastered  version follows in two weeks on December 7th). This remastered version of the 21 year old industrial rock album, fittingly retitled Pretty Hate Machine: 2010 Remaster, should not be confused with another reissue of the same album from five years ago by his old label (now out of print).

That 2005 version was not overseen by the ever meticulous Reznor, who completely wrote, arranged, programmed and performed the original album and who oversaw the new digital remastering from the newly unearthed original tapes with NIN engineer Tom Baker. The new remastered version (now an eleven song album) includes a bonus track, NIN's version of Queen's "Get Down Make Love." This song, as any true NIN fan will tell you, was originally the B-side to the single version of the album track "Sin" and was produced by Al Jourgensen under the alias Hypo Luxa. This brand new NIN remastered re-release follows Reznor's recent success at scoring, in collaboration with Atticus Ross, the soundtrack for David Fincher's popular movie The Social Network. But what makes this remastered version of Pretty Hate Machine worth getting, especially if you own(ed) the original, is that Reznor has totally cleaned up and revamped the sound. It's now louder and sparklier, with the vocals and instrumental mix sounding more clean and cohesive than ever. I say go to Amoeba and get it, or wait two weeks for the vinyl version to be released. Meantime, here is NIN doing a supercharged version of the album track "Sin" live at Woodstock 1994.

So last week was a bit busier and next week will again be super busy. But these things come in waves. Just two albums coming out today worth talking about. I will not be wasting your time talking about the new Avril Lavigne. So I am totally impressed with this dude: it seemed like he was off taking a long break for a while, but then he put out a great new album a couple years ago, With Teeth. It kind of surprised me.

And now Nine Inch Nails is back with a new one already Year Zero.  Trent Reznor basically is NIN. He has been creating music for us for almost 20 years now.


2007 is actually the 20th anniversary of Trent's appearance in Light of Day with Michael J. Fox and Joan Jett. You might need to watch it again to catch him in a bar scene playing keyboards in "The Problems." Michael J Fox and Joan Jett are like the rock and roll bar band Carpenters as a brother and sister band called the "Barbusters." Gena Rowlands is amazing as always as their mother. Joan Jett is not only a rocker but a single mom in the movie!



Trent started his career with the brilliant album Pretty Hate Machine on TVT records, an album that basically invented a whole new type of music. It also had a huge influence on many bands. I know many people who still regard it as one of their favorites. He made industrial music that was more accessible and catchy than most. The songs actually kind of flowed and had lyrics that made sense. His albums are always dark and futuristic. This new album will for sure not upset any of his fans. Year Zero is dark, intense and brilliant.