Cost: $0.75US
Page Count: 256
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails deserved a much better book than the short unauthorized biography cobbled together by Tommy Udo.
Without question, Nine Inch Nails changed the musical landscape when they (he) released the album Pretty Hate Machine in 1989. Sure, bands like Skinny Puppy and Ministry were creating albums in the same vein around the same time. However, Pretty Hate Machine took the gristle of those bands, polished them up, and made "industrial music" safe and palatable to the masses.
Over the years, Reznor has continued to churn out classic albums his own way and with a certain amount of musical integrity. Basically, Trent Reznor has created a beast that is held in the highest regard of rock and roll.
The Story Of Nine Inch Nails fails to build up to this level. Very little of the book is new or revelatory. If anyone has read articles (or even fucking Wikipedia) about the band, they would have a pretty firm grasp of what the band's history is or what they are all about.
It's no wonder this book is Unauthorized. There's no way in hell that Reznor would sign on for this...basically a book version of Behind the Music.
One striking thing about this book: Udo spends sooooo much time during the period of The Fragile. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why. Maybe it's the author's favorite NIN album? Maybe he wrote the book during the time of release of the album? Fuck...I just don't know. Couldn't figure it out during reading and still cannot now.
Anyway, in a nutshell: If you are not aware of Nine Inch Nails AT ALL, then maybe this book will be good for you. Because if you aren't familiar with the band then I'm sure it would be a fun read under the rock you currently live under. However, if you are at least vaguely familiar with the band then it would be best to skip it.
Trent Reznor and Nine Inch Nails deserved a much better book than the short unauthorized biography cobbled together by Tommy Udo.
Without question, Nine Inch Nails changed the musical landscape when they (he) released the album Pretty Hate Machine in 1989. Sure, bands like Skinny Puppy and Ministry were creating albums in the same vein around the same time. However, Pretty Hate Machine took the gristle of those bands, polished them up, and made "industrial music" safe and palatable to the masses.
Over the years, Reznor has continued to churn out classic albums his own way and with a certain amount of musical integrity. Basically, Trent Reznor has created a beast that is held in the highest regard of rock and roll.
The Story Of Nine Inch Nails fails to build up to this level. Very little of the book is new or revelatory. If anyone has read articles (or even fucking Wikipedia) about the band, they would have a pretty firm grasp of what the band's history is or what they are all about.
It's no wonder this book is Unauthorized. There's no way in hell that Reznor would sign on for this...basically a book version of Behind the Music.
One striking thing about this book: Udo spends sooooo much time during the period of The Fragile. For the life of me, I cannot figure out why. Maybe it's the author's favorite NIN album? Maybe he wrote the book during the time of release of the album? Fuck...I just don't know. Couldn't figure it out during reading and still cannot now.
Anyway, in a nutshell: If you are not aware of Nine Inch Nails AT ALL, then maybe this book will be good for you. Because if you aren't familiar with the band then I'm sure it would be a fun read under the rock you currently live under. However, if you are at least vaguely familiar with the band then it would be best to skip it.
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