the heel press

February 23, 2007 - 08:19 PM

hats off to trent and camp indeed. thanks for postin this don. frackin even tay from lil brother is bloggin about it over on myspace. 

Friday, February 23, 2007

    
The marketing for this new Nine Inch Nails album is fuckin genius, yo...

While writing this, I figured that most of my fans could probably give two fucks about a new Nine Inch Nails record, but the creativity and careful planning behind this album is something that artists in ALL genres of music can learn from.  Stuff like this truly inspires me.

Short Version:
This nigga Trent Reznor done ETHERIZED the 'Concept Album' game.

Long Version:
The new Nine Inch Nails album, "Year Zero," is due in stores 4/17/07, but the concept and even moreso the marketing behind this record is nothing short of fucking genius.

To support the record, Trent created a series of bizarre fictional websites and message boards that take place in a not-so-distant future where church and state are totally in cahoots, human beings have no civil liberties, and the government puts drugs in the public water supply to fight bio-terrorism.

The album's first single, "Survivalism," was supposedly leaked via a flash drive that was left in a bathroom stall during a NIN show in Barcelona.

I've been a NIN fan for a minute, but I urge any and everybody to check out these websites associated with the album*. The creativity behind projects like this are what keeps my hope for music alive. Even if you aren't a fan of the music, I think Trent's assumptions about America's future are dead on, and the planning that went into the whole "Year Zero" storyline is really amazing:

(*Note- to really read what's on these sites you have to highlight the words....once you get there, you'll understand what I'm saying.....)

http://anotherversionofthetruth.com/ (click and drag on this picture long enough and watch what happens)

http://iamtryingtobelieve.com/ (official website of Parepin, the drug that's fed into the public water supply)

http://www.churchofplano.com/ (the government-run church of Year Zero)

http://www.consolidatedmailsystems.com (the mail service of Year Zero...to access the site type in 'nooneimportant' where 'citizen_unknown' is......try to click on any other section and watch what happens..)

http://105thairbornecrusaders.com/ (the military troop where the Sniper, a character in Year Zero, received his training)

http://www.uswiretap.com (contains several 'classified' documents.........to
access the site, type in case number 71839J......this one is probably the scariest site...if you REALLY wanna be freaked out call 216 333 1810....)

http://www.bethehammer.net/ (the Sniper's 'blog,' if you will......this one is HIGHLY recommended reading)

http://artisresistance.com (the site to download desktops and wallpaper, but done with a twist....once accessing the site, try to click and highlight any words and watch what happens....)

For more insight on the album, storyline, and other hidden goodies, you can check out the NIN forums (found here: www.echoingthesound.org) There's literally layers upon layers of stuff to be discovered.....(I mean, links to mp3's being given in MORSE CODE? WHAAAT?!?!?!)

In any event, hats off to Trent Reznor.  I ain't been this inspired by an album idea since "Death Certificate."  The 'concept album/educated entertainment' murder game hath officially been layeth down flat.  Gotta step my game up, yo.....

Peace,

Tay