ghosts

Trent Reznor, leader of Nine Inch Nails, has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to both making music and delivering that music to his fan base. Year Zero, his 2007 album, showcased how far his disdain for the music industry has reached… In case you missed it, he released most of it (and some might argue, all of it) for free. He even went as far as asking his audience to steal his album rather than pay for it.

While most musicians make no secret of the fact that CD Album sales are a miniscule part of their income (for most bands, a bulk of their money is generated from touring), Reznor is the first to out-and-out call for a criminal act in relation to acquiring his music.

His latest album, is another “test” of the power of the internet. Nine Inch Nails is now offering Ghosts I – IV, a brand new 36 track instrumental collection in a number of ways. You can download 9 tracks for free, or all 36 (with a booklet) for as little as $5. There are also options for hardcore fans (including a super bonus $300 collection that is making me wet in ways I had not thought possible) that are sure to generate much more income for Reznor than would have been previously possible under the control of a record label.

According to nin.com, the new record is “almost two hours of new music composed and recorded over an intense ten week period last fall, Ghosts I – IV sprawls Nine Inch Nails across a variety of new terrain.”

Trent Reznor explains, “I’ve been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years, but by its very nature it wouldn’t have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective – dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams. I’m very pleased with the result and the ability to present it directly to you without interference. I hope you enjoy the first four volumes of Ghosts.”

As you can imagine, I downloaded this entire album the moment it was available. I have been listening to it non-stop for two days and can tell you that this might be his best album to date. It rocks in ways that I can’t possibly convey to you without hitting you in the forehead with a meat cleaver of orgasmic love.