Nine Inch Nails
Discipline

The Nine Inch Nails with a "surprise". Nice, huh? They did it, "They did it again, f... yes!".

A normal band, after releasing a mega album of 36 - yes, 36 - instrumental tracks, would have sat back to see the reaction from the fans. Will the reception be good or bad? Instead, they, or rather he, the mercurial Trent Reznor, thought that meanwhile, a single would be a good tease for the audience, and so less than two months after "Ghosts I - IV", he rolled out "Discipline", a track with all the trappings, complete with music and lyrics finally. A gift, to be interpreted by each as they like.

And indeed, it would be great to record the reactions to its release. What could it be? A diversion, like the intermission between one part and another? Let's not forget that, before "Ghosts", Trent had left halfway through the monumental project he had in mind for "Year Zero"... And indeed the cover art working and the fun video posted on YouTube refer back to the 2007 album. Reznor and the others appear dressed as modern soldiers in war territories, with camouflage and boots. Or could it rather be a preview of an album? Already??? Or simply a track parallel to the main Ghosts initiative, so that the NIN, while watching the project's evolution, satisfy the insatiable with traditional songs once in a while?

Well, anything is possible when it comes to the reversed N.

Let's enjoy the single, a successful mix between "With Teeth", particularly "The Hand That Feeds", and the Ghosts with the indispensable piano and other sound echoes, with a splash of "Fragile", especially Left, also because that album is a watershed in the band's production. "Discipline" is danceable and aggressive, so much so that in the video Trent and company seem to parody the Village People with that black jacket, mesh on the chest, black glasses, and cap while a disco ball comes down from above. Towards the end, the synthesizers pump, and the track is more than ever a dance floor hit. But what surprises me is the voice. It sounds like the Reznor from three years ago. Didn't they overdo it in the studio? ... Well, um...

Apart from the artistic evaluation, a commendation for this latest operation. The track can, indeed must be downloaded for free, as TR warns, and you can do so easily from the site, where it was made available from day one, when American radio stations were broadcasting it. The NIN are increasingly doing it on their own. Another point in favor of our man. And he's accumulating many during this period.

 Especially compared to Radiohead, whom I also love. I refer to yesterday's news that Thom Yorke would backtrack by declaring that the free download of "In Rainbows" was just an experiment, albeit successful, but now they're returning to tradition. That is, to records and CDs. What do you think about the matter? Not to mention Enrico Ruggeri, who claims to hope for the Internet's blackout... just because he doesn't trust or understand the medium. Are you kidding?!? Do we want to go back to the Stone Age???

Instead, Metallica side with the NIN, ideally, and now decide to rely on online distribution... precisely them, among the first anti-Napster crusaders... Anyway, they are welcome. Sure, strange things are happening.

A bit of Discipline to everyone.