I still remember when this track "leaked" early. It was the first song I heard off the album. The verse was nice, but when the chorus started my jaw hit the floor.
The perspective is a desperate rebel from the “Backwards initiative” faction. This track also has embedded images in the static. Should be an eye opener for the world today.
I always felt like this song was from the perspective of animals forgotten and abandoned in a shelter, post apocalypse. The souls of vengeful animals who died in that building… “our bones, our skin, we will not let you in”…
Such a badass song. Trent all whispery then he's all yelly in the chorus and such. Satisfying. Plus the hidden creepiness and Trent Gollum.. like... more of this style Trent!
I have a theory why he didn't bring in a choir and decided to do all the vocals himself. Activism can feel very lonely, especially fighting against something much bigger than yourself. He is his own army, representing all the oppressed.
thank you for making a series out of these song, i’m looking forward to the end of the album. love your thoughts and analysis, these bring me back to appreciate this album even more.
I thought it was the perspective of “The Presence “ as this one also had a hidden image of the big hand coming out of the sky hidden in it , which was found with a spectrograph. Now whether the Presence was “ real “ or simply the hallucinations of former military turned resistance fighters in the story was purposely left to interpretation from what I recall . One things for sure it wasn’t Pilgrims lol Really would of been interesting if he had went forward with making it into an HBO mini series as he had planned . It got green lit from what I recall ....always been curious what happened .
I always took it as a west coast hip hop composition but in the “ future “ and then further glitched out by sending it back through time via quantum encryption ala the Solutions Backwards Initiative .
This song always reminded me of that monologue (or is it a... duologue?) in Fight Club right before shit hits the wall. "We cook your meals. We haul your trash. We connect your calls. We drive your ambulances. We guard you while you sleep. Do not fuck with us."
I never felt this before this listen, but I really feel like the vocals in the verses especially remind me so much of young Trent, like Downward Spiral's monotone "machine voice".
As for the perspective, I always assumed it was bugs or roaches or something. they crawl, they swarm, they're resilient, and they're there when you get home and will probably out-survive our species.
Thank you for making all these analysis videos! I am not super knowledgeable on the theory, and these videos taught me a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. The effect on his voice is accomplished with using a vocoder with a noise input I think?? Year zero is such a cool murky album. I’m really excited for in this twilight, because that sound feels like the end of the world, it’s fantastic. The greater good video is going to be so cool simply because how off putting it is. I know some of that is done with frequency shifting, there’s something going on there to make the song feel wrong. It’s interesting to see what Trent was doing in this album. A lot of modulator blippy folly percussion, subtle tape work, ring modulation. After you’re finished with year zero, can you please (no pun intended) analyze please off of The Fragile? The vocal harmony on that song is some of my favorite vocal work of his, a lot of fragile has good Trent vocals.
The very first track I had access to before the release. My ears were not as keen to Trent's sorcery back then. Later I bought the album. I remember driving around like a madman to hyperpower. I remember really liking "The warning" track. My interpretation of his music was very juvenile & shortsighted at 17 years old. As a lifelong fan, you all can relate to changing perspective with continued listening throughout the years. One wee morning I was leaving a house party at dawn. "Zero sum" fit nicely into that drive home. Like Trent, I recovered from hardcore narcotic & alcohol dependance. I feel like I've grown in esoteric enlightenment alongside Trenty & his albums. Like we're reaching apotheosis. As we both feel uncomfortable in our own skin around groups of postmodern hive-minded hypnotized brain dead progressive human simulacra archetypes. Your average American really is a socially engineered robotic character preprogrammed with generic speech & characteristics. As we are programmed by Trent's wizard warlock magic. That one layer is very creepy on my violent Heart btw.
Regarding why he chose to vocalize this way in this song, my guess would be that the vibe is supposed to be revolt against those who rule, so it always gave me the impression of "We're an army too, and we're coming for you"
When I heard this track for the first time back in the day. I assumed trent took on an islamic terrorist's persona. Someone who got radicalized after being a first hand witness of our war's "collateral damage", and driven by vengeance alone. But I guess it was another character in this 12-monkeys style theme he had running throughout the album
It sounds like it’s from the perspective of a war veteran.. maybe? Idk. The beginning gave me that vibe. Then it gets kind of apocalyptic and I don’t know anymore. Maybe zombies.. or refugees?? Lol
Loving the video’s but is it possible to move the images on screen a tad? I’m watching on a vibrant tv and the worry for burn-in starts to seep in, especially with stagnant white images. I know this isn’t something you may not have thought about because this is for the most part an auditory experience, but I find myself bringing up screen savers to try and prevent potential burn in. Usually not that big a problem but when the videos start to eclipse half an hour it’s worrisome. Regardless I’ll still be watching and listening, love your interpretations and breakdowns.
This album came out late in the GWB presidency. I think the perspective is perhaps from a member of the military that was disillusioned with their political leaders.
I still remember when this track "leaked" early. It was the first song I heard off the album. The verse was nice, but when the chorus started my jaw hit the floor.
And we were not ready. I didn't think NIN could still catch me off guard but when this track "leaked" I was like "what IS this?!"
The perspective is a desperate rebel from the “Backwards initiative” faction. This track also has embedded images in the static.
Should be an eye opener for the world today.
it's a good revolution song
I always felt like this song was from the perspective of animals forgotten and abandoned in a shelter, post apocalypse. The souls of vengeful animals who died in that building… “our bones, our skin, we will not let you in”…
Such a badass song. Trent all whispery then he's all yelly in the chorus and such. Satisfying. Plus the hidden creepiness and Trent Gollum.. like... more of this style Trent!
gosh, you going through this album is just reminding me how rad it is, from start to finish. it's never gone out of my rotation, though.
I have a theory why he didn't bring in a choir and decided to do all the vocals himself. Activism can feel very lonely, especially fighting against something much bigger than yourself. He is his own army, representing all the oppressed.
This has to be my favorite NIN song! Iirc, this was the first song leaked as part of the ARG
The drum samples are from a sample pack.
Big Fish Audio/Atomizer’s “Atom Heart Digital Drums” sample CD.
It’s Track 15 (I think).
thank you for making a series out of these song, i’m looking forward to the end of the album. love your thoughts and analysis, these bring me back to appreciate this album even more.
This song has never been played live
The drum at 12:28 sounds so much like the drum in Bjork's Human Behaviour, I can't unhear it. It's such a distinct drum sound.
I thought it was the perspective of “The Presence “ as this one also had a hidden image of the big hand coming out of the sky hidden in it , which was found with a spectrograph.
Now whether the Presence was “ real “ or simply the hallucinations of former military turned resistance fighters in the story was purposely left to interpretation from what I recall . One things for sure it wasn’t Pilgrims lol
Really would of been interesting if he had went forward with making it into an HBO mini series as he had planned . It got green lit from what I recall ....always been curious what happened .
I always took it as a west coast hip hop composition but in the “ future “ and then further glitched out by sending it back through time via quantum encryption ala the Solutions Backwards Initiative .
And the cool meta aspect, put this through a static reader on a PC, and you get images embedded in the static.
@@shanepye7078 yeah.
The spectrogram.
This song always reminded me of that monologue (or is it a... duologue?) in Fight Club right before shit hits the wall. "We cook your meals. We haul your trash. We connect your calls. We drive your ambulances. We guard you while you sleep. Do not fuck with us."
I just have to say that you are simply the best music citic on CZcams. I love the way you embrace the core of musicology. Peace✌️
13:43 I’ve never knew that. 😳
@17:42 voice crack maybe , but it sounds like Trent doing his best Jg Thirlwell aka Foetus impersonation in the vain of Throne Of Agony lol
Excited for The Warning!
Yes!!! 2nd favorite non-Ghosts NIN track of the 21st century. God I love it
I never felt this before this listen, but I really feel like the vocals in the verses especially remind me so much of young Trent, like Downward Spiral's monotone "machine voice".
Winning!!!!
Your first every time XD
This is so much content!
6:40 Acid Pro is the best
As for the perspective, I always assumed it was bugs or roaches or something. they crawl, they swarm, they're resilient, and they're there when you get home and will probably out-survive our species.
So Bowie
Thank you for making all these analysis videos! I am not super knowledgeable on the theory, and these videos taught me a lot. Thank you for sharing your knowledge with the world. The effect on his voice is accomplished with using a vocoder with a noise input I think??
Year zero is such a cool murky album. I’m really excited for in this twilight, because that sound feels like the end of the world, it’s fantastic. The greater good video is going to be so cool simply because how off putting it is. I know some of that is done with frequency shifting, there’s something going on there to make the song feel wrong.
It’s interesting to see what Trent was doing in this album. A lot of modulator blippy folly percussion, subtle tape work, ring modulation.
After you’re finished with year zero, can you please (no pun intended) analyze please off of The Fragile? The vocal harmony on that song is some of my favorite vocal work of his, a lot of fragile has good Trent vocals.
The very first track I had access to before the release. My ears were not as keen to Trent's sorcery back then. Later I bought the album. I remember driving around like a madman to hyperpower. I remember really liking "The warning" track. My interpretation of his music was very juvenile & shortsighted at 17 years old. As a lifelong fan, you all can relate to changing perspective with continued listening throughout the years. One wee morning I was leaving a house party at dawn. "Zero sum" fit nicely into that drive home. Like Trent, I recovered from hardcore narcotic & alcohol dependance. I feel like I've grown in esoteric enlightenment alongside Trenty & his albums. Like we're reaching apotheosis. As we both feel uncomfortable in our own skin around groups of postmodern hive-minded hypnotized brain dead progressive human simulacra archetypes. Your average American really is a socially engineered robotic character preprogrammed with generic speech & characteristics. As we are programmed by Trent's wizard warlock magic. That one layer is very creepy on my violent Heart btw.
Regarding why he chose to vocalize this way in this song, my guess would be that the vibe is supposed to be revolt against those who rule, so it always gave me the impression of "We're an army too, and we're coming for you"
When I heard this track for the first time back in the day. I assumed trent took on an islamic terrorist's persona. Someone who got radicalized after being a first hand witness of our war's "collateral damage", and driven by vengeance alone. But I guess it was another character in this 12-monkeys style theme he had running throughout the album
that extra "shit" is sooooo creepy!!!!!!! OMG!!!!
With no evidence whatsoever, I am convinced that the voice sample in the “Extra Shit” track is David Bowie.
It sounds like it’s from the perspective of a war veteran.. maybe? Idk. The beginning gave me that vibe. Then it gets kind of apocalyptic and I don’t know anymore. Maybe zombies.. or refugees?? Lol
do i almost constantly hear the word "dysfunction" through the verses, between main vocal parts? or am i hearing things?
Loving the video’s but is it possible to move the images on screen a tad? I’m watching on a vibrant tv and the worry for burn-in starts to seep in, especially with stagnant white images. I know this isn’t something you may not have thought about because this is for the most part an auditory experience, but I find myself bringing up screen savers to try and prevent potential burn in. Usually not that big a problem but when the videos start to eclipse half an hour it’s worrisome.
Regardless I’ll still be watching and listening, love your interpretations and breakdowns.
never thought of that! I'll try to keep this in mind in the future.
This album came out late in the GWB presidency. I think the perspective is perhaps from a member of the military that was disillusioned with their political leaders.
Song also really spoke to me as a vet from OIF that didn't agree with our reasoning for being there.
Nightmarish. If I walked into a haunted house anticipating fear and they played the extra shit part I would run to the opposite side of earth
*BLACK LIVES MATTER!!!* ✊🏽✊🏾✊🏿