Nine Inch Nail’s Trent Reznor has teamed up with hip hop poet Saul Williams to produce the fabulously titled album ‘The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust!’
The album contains a cover of U2’s Sunday Bloody Sunday. You can listen to the song on Williams’ MySpace.
Reznor and Williams have decided to follow into Radiohead’s footsteps by making the album available for free, or for 5 dollars, which ever you decide. You can choose to get either a 192kps MP3 version, a 320kbps MP3 version or lossless FLAC version. Hello! I think I hear a round of applause. “All files are 100% DRM free, and can be played on any device. MP3s are encoded with LAME v3.97 and love.” Amen.
Saul Williams on the choice of song:
I was an exchange student to Brazil when I was 16. Up until that point
in my life the ONLY music I listened to was Hip Hop. That year away
was pivotal, not only because I was at the heights of puberty in
Brazil….but also because it exposed me to more music than I ever
cared to listen to: along with all the Brazillian music which I still
treasure: Sinead O’Conner. Morrisey. New Order. Depeche Mode. And
definitely U2. The first time I heard Sunday Bloody Sunday, I was in a
club in Manaus which is a city in the middle of the Amazon. When I
heard those drums come through the speakers I was hooked. I think they
had played Blue Monday right before it. The kids were going wild. I
remember watching this dude dance, wishing I was as cool as him. That
song stuck with me. I suggested it to Trent as a possible cover
thinking he would hate it as an obvious choice. He loved the idea and
started working on the music immediately. The only music I added to
his composition ( aside from my O O O O Ode to Beyonce…..just
kidding) was the 808s. What’s the use of a hip hop head covering a
famous rock song without using 808s?
To introduce the new album to his fans, Reznor sent out the following mail shot:
NiggyTardust!
As many of you know, I’ve been working closely with Saul Williams on his new record. We’ve spent many hours together in hotel rooms, busses, backstages
and studios around the world working on something we knew was great. This is
the most involved I’ve been with any project outside NIN since Antichrist
Superstar, and I’ve been impatiently waiting for the chance for you to hear
it. Well… guess what?
The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of NiggyTardust! has arrived! After my
own recent dealings with record labels we decided to release it directly to
you. Head over to http://www.niggytardust.com for all the details. Register
now and you can download the record November 1st. Working on this project
was a real pleasure. Saul was interested in breaking boundaries / crossing
genres / defying expectations and we learned a great deal from one another
in the process. When asked about the sound of the record, I’ve had to resort
to “… I really don’t know HOW to describe it.” That’s a good thing more
than ever these days.
A word on the way we’ve chosen to release this. There are obvious
similarities in how Radiohead just released their new record and the way
we’ve chosen to. After thinking about this way too much, I feel we’ve
improved upon their idea in a few profound ways that benefit you, the
consumer. You obviously will be the judge of this in the end. One thing that
IS very different in our situation is that Saul’s not the household name
(yet!) that Radiohead is, and that means we need your support on this more
than ever. If you like what you hear, spread the word.
I hope you enjoy the music,
TR
Well, I’ve heard horrendous covers of U2 for a long time but, you know what? This cover actually sounds quite good. And definitely you can hear Trent Reznor’s influence on this track.
Well, I’ve heard horrendous covers of U2 for a long time but, you know what? This cover actually sounds quite good. And definitely you can hear Trent Reznor’s influence on this track.
I’ve always held the opinion that a cover version should be equal to or better than the original piece it covers. While I wouldn’t say that the Saul Williams cover is better, it certainly stands equal in its own way to the brilliant original. I’d strongly recommend the Niggy Tardust album too.
I’ve always held the opinion that a cover version should be equal to or better than the original piece it covers. While I wouldn’t say that the Saul Williams cover is better, it certainly stands equal in its own way to the brilliant original. I’d strongly recommend the Niggy Tardust album too.
This cover of SBS rocks..go forth and purchase
This cover of SBS rocks..go forth and purchase
Trent is still mourning the loss of ‘Hurt’ to Johnny Cash. Here’s an admirable attempt at a killer cover of his own.
Trent is still mourning the loss of ‘Hurt’ to Johnny Cash. Here’s an admirable attempt at a killer cover of his own.
What a piece of trash!!! My lawnmower sounds better than that.
What a piece of trash!!! My lawnmower sounds better than that.
sry, but i hate it.
sry, but i hate it.
Doesn’t do it for me either…
The first time this guy heard SBS was in a club in the middle of the Amazon, where the kids were going wild, so maybe that explains something.
I can just never hear SBS as a “club”-type, danceable song. And it really needs the staccato guitar….I mean, that’s like covering “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and leaving out the line “when I feel my finger on your trigger”. Oh wait…
Doesn’t do it for me either…
The first time this guy heard SBS was in a club in the middle of the Amazon, where the kids were going wild, so maybe that explains something.
I can just never hear SBS as a “club”-type, danceable song. And it really needs the staccato guitar….I mean, that’s like covering “Happiness is a Warm Gun” and leaving out the line “when I feel my finger on your trigger”. Oh wait…
good cover, love the nine inch nails essence gives it a dirtyish feel to it…. It’s not meant to be a club version. It’s just Saul’s style I think his voice is amazing and most of his other the song suits what he is about.
well done
good cover, love the nine inch nails essence gives it a dirtyish feel to it…. It’s not meant to be a club version. It’s just Saul’s style I think his voice is amazing and most of his other the song suits what he is about.
well done
I’ve been a Saul Williams fan for a while and a NIN fan since birth so perhaps I’m biast but this is a great song and the rest of the album is even better. Trents influence is very clear but I’m pleased to see Saul’s strong individuality shinning through.
As for making the album avaiable for free, a bold move. I chose to pay the $5 and would pay more given the chance. This is something I wouldnt often say given the state of music at the moment.
I’ve been a Saul Williams fan for a while and a NIN fan since birth so perhaps I’m biast but this is a great song and the rest of the album is even better. Trents influence is very clear but I’m pleased to see Saul’s strong individuality shinning through.
As for making the album avaiable for free, a bold move. I chose to pay the $5 and would pay more given the chance. This is something I wouldnt often say given the state of music at the moment.
This is an awesome cover. I am very impressed with it, as I hav e been with almost everything Trent Reznor has ever done. True, it doesn’t sound exactly like the original, but that’s the point! It’s *supposed* to have an Industrial feel to it, and who better to pull it off than the Nine Inch Nail himself? Five stars!
This is an awesome cover. I am very impressed with it, as I hav e been with almost everything Trent Reznor has ever done. True, it doesn’t sound exactly like the original, but that’s the point! It’s *supposed* to have an Industrial feel to it, and who better to pull it off than the Nine Inch Nail himself? Five stars!
better than the orignal IMO – then again, only Trent could make U2 sound good.
better than the orignal IMO – then again, only Trent could make U2 sound good.