The Fragile 227649 226003076 2008-07-16T11:57:27Z Twsx 1964288 fixing genre capitalization mistakes per [[Wikipedia:MUSTARD#Capitalization|WP:MUSTARD]] -> [[Wikipedia:Manual_of_Style_(capital_letters)#Musical_genres|MOS:CAPS]] + cleanup. {{Infobox Album <!-- See Wikipedia:WikiProject_Albums --> | Name = The Fragile | Type = studio | Longtype = [[digipak]] | Artist = [[Nine Inch Nails]] | Cover = nin-the_fragile800.jpg | Released = [[September 21]], [[1999]] | Recorded = 1998–1999 at Nothing Studios, [[New Orleans, Louisiana|New Orleans]] | Genre = [[Industrial rock]] | Length = 103:39 (CD)<br/>112:20 (LP)<br/>106:25 (CS) | Label = [[Nothing Records|Nothing]] | Producer = [[Trent Reznor]], [[Alan Moulder]] | Reviews = * [[Allmusic]] {{rating-5|3}} [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:stkbikp0bb59 link] * ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' (A-) [http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,270840,00.html link] * [[Pitchfork Media]] (2.0/10) [http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/record_review/20391-the-fragile link] * [[Robert Christgau]] (B) [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=nine+inch+nails link]| * ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' {{rating-5|4}} [http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/320556/review/5942006/thefragile link] | Last album = ''[[Closure (Nine Inch Nails VHS)|Closure]]''<br/>(1997) | This album = '''''The Fragile'''''<br/>(1999) | Next album = ''[[Things Falling Apart]]''<br/>(2000) }} '''''The Fragile''''' (also known as '''''[[Nine Inch Nails discography#Halo numbers|Halo 14]]''''') is a [[concept album|concept]] [[double album]] by [[United States|American]] [[Industrial rock]] act [[Nine Inch Nails]], released in 1999 on Reznor's [[Nothing Records]]. The album is Nine Inch Nails' fourth major label release and the fourteenth halo. The album continues the plot of ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', despite the complete change in sound and style of the album. Instead of heavily distorted instruments, and gritty industrial sounds, the album relies much more on soundscapes, electronic beats, [[ambient music|ambient]] noise, and [[heavy metal]]-laden guitar, such as in the single "[[Starfuckers, Inc.]]" Trent Reznor describes the album's plot and story as "a theme of things falling apart." Reznor has also said the album is bleaker than ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', despite the more aggressive, depressing tone of that album. Many songs on the album borrow bass, guitar, and keyboard lines from other songs on the album; most notably "The Frail" piano becoming "The Fragile" guitar and the bassline used in "La Mer" reappearing in "[[Into the Void (Nine Inch Nails song)|Into the Void]]". ==History== The album was not as much of a commercial success as ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', most likely accredited to [[Interscope Records]]' lack of promotion of the album, and the lack of a stand-out single.{{Or|date=May 2008}} Despite a strong start at #1 on the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] Top 10, the album quickly slipped out of the [[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]] Top 10 only a week after its release, and Reznor was forced to provide funding for the subsequent North American tour out of his own pocket.<ref name="Bleak">{{cite journal | title= Rock's outlook bleak, but this Nail won't bend | author= Soeder, John |journal = Cleveland.com |date=[[2000-04-09]]}}</ref> The cover artwork was designed by [[David Carson (graphic designer)|David Carson]]. The first single, "[[The Day the World Went Away]]", was released two months before the album. "[[Into the Void]]" and "[[We're in This Together]]" proved to be the album's most successful singles. The [[B-side]] track "[[Starfuckers, Inc.]]" was released on the album as a track at the last minute {{Fact|date=May 2008}}, and became ''The Fragile'''s last single. Reznor described ''The Fragile'' in a 1999 interview: {{cquote|"There's a general theme to the album of systems failing and [[Things Falling Apart|things sort of falling apart]]. In keeping with the idea of making everything sound a little broken, I chose stringed instruments because they're imperfect by nature. Although it may not sound like it, most of the album is actually guitar - and that includes the orchestral sounds and weird melodic lines. When it came to instruments that I didn't really know how to play - like the [[ukulele]] or the slide guitar - we were able to get some really interesting sounds by making the studio the main instrument."<ref name="ABCNET">[http://www.abc.net.au/rage/guest/1999/NIN.htm 21 August 1999] Last accessed [[April 15]], [[2007]].</ref>}} The song "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" is credited in the album's booklet as ''"for clara"'', suggesting that the song's topic, like "The Day the World Went Away", is about Trent's Grandmother, Clara Clark. {{Fact|date=May 2008}} The song "[[Just Like You Imagined]]" was featured in trailers for the movie ''[[300 (film)|300]]''. The fragile was ranked #390 in the book 'The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time' by [[Martin Popoff]]. ==Critical Response== The majority of critics responded to The Fragile positively with major publications such as Entertainment Weekly and Spin bestowing large amounts of praise upon it. Entertainment Weekly awarded the album with the an A- and Spin gave The Fragile a 5/5 in addition to rating it as their favorite album of 1999. However not all critics were as receptive. Among these was Pitchfork Media who, in their review, gave The Fragile the low rating of 2/10. The Fragile has grown to become a favorite amongst both critics and fans. ==Tour== In support of ''The Fragile'' the [[Nine Inch Nails live performances|Nine Inch Nails live band]] reformed for the Fragility tour. The tour began in late 1999 and lasted until mid-2000, spanning Europe, Japan, New Zealand, Australia, and North America.<ref>{{cite news | url = http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=LVRB&p_theme=lvrb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0FD3937E043E83C4&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D | title = Quite a Contrast | first = Doug | last = Elfman | work = [[Las Vegas Review-Journal]] | date = [[2000-06-02]] | accessdate = 2008-02-01 | format = fee required}}</ref> The tour consisted of two major legs, labeled Fragility 1.0 and Fragility 2.0. The live band lineup remained largely the same from the previous tour in support of ''[[The Downward Spiral]]'', featuring [[Robin Finck]] on guitar, [[Charlie Clouser]] on keyboards, and [[Danny Lohner]] on bass guitar.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1429780/19990804/guns_n_roses.jhtml | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | title = Guitarist Robin Finck Leaves GN'R To Return To NIN | date = [[1999-08-04]] | publisher = MTV.com}}</ref><ref name="1.0">{{cite web | url = http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432650/19990928/nine_inch_nails.jhtml | publisher = MTV.com | accessdate = 2008-02-08 | title = Nine Inch Nails Line Up European Shows, But States Must Wait | date = [[1999-09-28]] | first = Robert | last = Mancini}}</ref> Reznor held open auditions to find a new drummer, eventually picking then-unknown [[Jerome Dillon]].<ref name="Modern Drummer">{{cite web | url = http://www.moderndrummer.com/updatefull/200001232 | title = Jerome Dillon – New With NIN | publisher = ''[[Modern Drummer]]'' | accessdate = 2008-02-09 | last = Rashidii | first = Waleed}}</ref> In 2002, the tour documentary ''And All That Could Have Been'' was released featuring performances from the Fragility 2.0 tour. While making the DVD, Reznor commented on the tour in retrospect by saying "I thought the show was really, really good when we were doing it",<ref name="Rolling Stone">{{cite web | url = http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/5931442/nin_doing_fragility_dvd | title = NIN Doing Fragility DVD | author = Saraceno, Christina and Austin Scaggs | publisher = ''[[Rolling Stone]]'' | date = [[2001-06-08]] | accessdate = 2008-02-01}}</ref> but later wrote that "I can't watch it at all. I was sick for most of that tour and I really don't think it was Nine Inch Nails at its best."<ref>{{cite web | archivedate = 2007-05-14 | archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070514173115/http://www.nin.com/access/7_21_04/index.php | url = http://www.nin.com/access/7_21_04/index.php | title = Access | first = Trent | last = Reznor | authorlink = Trent Reznor | publisher = [[Nine Inch Nails]] | date = [[2004-07-21]] | accessdate = 2008-02-01}}</ref> ==Track listing== The CD version is the shortest of releases, missing the "Appendage" from the cassette version of "Please" as well as extended versions that appear on the vinyl release. The vinyl release is the longest version of ''The Fragile'', containing tracks "10 Miles High" and "The New Flesh", songs later to be released on CD singles for the single "We're In This Together". The vinyl version is missing the "Appendage" which appears at the end of the "Please" cassette version and "With Decay" which appears at the end of "Ripe" on the CD and cassette versions. The vinyl version also contains extended versions of some songs. The cassette version of the album is identical to the CD pressing, with the addition of "Appendage" tagged onto the end of "Please". Presented is the CD track listing. {{tracklist | headline = Disc one (''Left'') | all_writing = Trent Reznor, except where noted | title1 = Somewhat Damaged | note1 = Reznor, Danny Lohner | length1 = 4:31 | title2 = [[The Day the World Went Away]] | length2 = 4:33 | title3 = The Frail | length3 = 1:54 | title4 = The Wretched | length4 = 5:25 | title5 = [[We're in This Together]] | length5 = 7:16 | title6 = The Fragile | length6 = 4:35 | title7 = [[Just Like You Imagined]] | length7 = 3:49 | title8 = Even Deeper | note8 = Reznor, Lohner | length8 = 5:48 | title9 = Pilgrimage | length9 = 3:31 | title10 = No, You Don't | length10 = 3:35 | title11 = La Mer | length11 = 4:37 | title12 = The Great Below | length12 = 5:17 }} {{tracklist | headline = Disc two (''Right'') | title1 = The Way Out Is Through | note1 = Reznor, Keith Hillebrandt, Charlie Clouser | length1 = 4:17 | title2 = [[Into the Void (Nine Inch Nails song)|Into the Void]] | length2 = 4:49 | title3 = Where Is Everybody? | length3 = 5:40 | title4 = The Mark Has Been Made | note4 = Contains a 30 second hidden piece of "[[10 Miles High]]" in the [[pregap]]. | length4 = 5:15 | title5 = Please | length5 = 3:30 | title6 = [[Starfuckers, Inc.]] | note6 = Reznor, Clouser | length6 = 5:00 | title7 = Complication | length7 = 2:30 | title8 = I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally | length8 = 4:13 | title9 = The Big Come Down | length9 = 4:12 | title10 = Underneath It All | length10 = 2:46 | title11 = Ripe (With Decay) | length11 = 6:34 }} =="The New Flesh"== "The New Flesh" is a reference to a line in the 1983 cult movie [[Videodrome]] ("Long live the new flesh"). It is the basis for a song by [[Nine Inch Nails]] of the same name, and also serves as the topic matter of "0-0 (Where Evil Dwells)" by [[Wiseblood]], "All Hail the New Flesh" by [[Strapping Young Lad]], and "After the Flesh" by [[My Life with the Thrill Kill Kult]], among others (see [[Videodrome]]). The NIN song appears on the [[vinyl]] version of ''[[The Fragile]]'' ([[1999]]), disc 1 of the European and Japanese "[[We're in This Together]]" 3-disc [[Single (music)|single]], and the Australian "[[Into the Void]]" single. In ''The Fragile'' era, [http://www.nin.com nin.com] released "The New Flesh (version a)" (1:22) and "The New Flesh (version b)" (1:07). While "The New Flesh" has never been played live in the traditional sense, instrumental portions of "The New Flesh" [[Fade (audio engineering)|crossfaded]] quickly into "Pinion" formed a prerecorded intro to the ''Fragility'' tour shows of 1999 and 2000. The snippet was included on the [[DVD]] version of ''[[And All that Could Have Been]]'' (2002). Sometimes the finale of the intro featured [[Trent Reznor]] screaming "give it to me, I can take it." The same combination was used in some shows of the 2006 ''[[With Teeth]]'' tour. ==Personnel== * Tom Baker – mastering * [[Adrian Belew]] – guitars ("Just Like You Imagined", "The Great Below", "Where Is Everybody?") * Heather Bennet – backing vocals * Clinton Bradley – programming, technical assistant to Bob Ezrin, programming at mastering * Buddha Boys Choir – choir, chorus, chant * Buddha Debutante Choir – backing vocals * Di Coleman – backing vocals * [[Charlie Clouser]] – programming, atmosphere, synthesizers * Melissa Daigle – backing vocals * Paul DeCarli – programming * [[Jerome Dillon]] – drums ("We're in This Together") * [[Dr. Dre]] – mixing assistant ("Even Deeper") * [[Bob Ezrin]] – album sequencing assistant * [[Mike Garson]] – piano ("Just Like You Imagined", "The Way Out Is Through", "Ripe (With Decay)") * [[Page Hamilton]] – guitar ("No, You Don't") * Tracy Hardin – backing vocals * Leo Herrera – engineer * Keith Hillebrandt – programming, choir, chorus, sound Design * [[Danny Lohner]] – drum programming, ambiance, synthesizers, guitar ("Somewhat Damaged", "Just Like You Imagined", "The Great Below", "Complication") * [[Clint Mansell]] – choir, chorus * [[Alan Moulder]] – producer, engineer, mixing * [[Dave Ogilvie]] – engineer * Brian Pollack – engineer * [[Steve Albini]] – engineer * [[Trent Reznor]] – vocals, guitars, cello, piano, synthesizers, programming, producer * Elquine Rice – backing vocals * Terry Rice – backing vocals * [[Bill Rieflin]] – drums ("La Mer") * Barbara Wilson – backing vocals * Leslie Wilson – backing vocals * Steve Duda – programming, choir, chorus, percussion, violin * Eric Edmonson – choir, chorus * Cherry Holly – trumpet * Doug Idleman – choir, chorus * Marcus London – choir, chorus * Denise Milfrot – vocals ("La Mer") * Judy Miller – backing vocals * Gary I. Neal – backing vocals * Matthew Nicholls– backing vocals * Christine Parrish – backing vocals * Adam Persaud – choir, chorus * Martha Prevost – vocals * M. Gabriela Rivas – backing vocals * Nick Scott – choir, chorus * Rodney Sulton – backing vocals * Stefani Taylor – backing vocals * Nigel Wiesehan – choir, chorus * Willie – cello * Mason Kemmer – violin, donair supplier * Martha Wood – backing vocals ==Chart positions== ===Album=== {| class="wikitable" ! Year || Chart || Position |- | 1999 || The Billboard 200 || #1 |- | 1999 || Top Canadian Albums || #2 |- | 1999 || Top Internet Albums || #1 |} ===Singles=== {| class="wikitable" ! width="33" rowspan="2"| Year ! rowspan="2"| Song ! colspan="65"| Chart peak positions |- ! width="55"|[[Billboard Hot 100|US]]<br/><ref name="Billboard charts search">{{cite web | title = Billboard Music Charts - Search Results - Nine Inch Nails | publisher = ''Billboard'' | url = http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/esearch/searchResult.jsp?No=0&Ntt=nine+inch+nails&Ntk=Keyword&Ntx=mode+matchallpartial&an=bbcom&Ex=1&N=37&Ns=FORMATTED_DATE|0 | accessdate = 2007-09-28}}</ref> ! width="55"|[[Modern Rock Tracks|US<br/>Mod]]<ref name="Billboard charts search" /> ! width="55"|[[Mainstream Rock Tracks|US<br/>Main]]<ref name="Billboard charts search" /> ! width="55"|[[Canada|CAN]]<br/><ref name=top40charts>{{cite web | url = http://top40-charts.com/song.php?sid=19633&sort=chartid&string=survivalism | title = Nine Inch Nails Survivalism | publisher = Top40-Charts.com | date = [[2007-04-22]] | accessdate = 2007-06-01 }}</ref> ! width="55"|[[UK Singles Chart|UK]]<br/><ref name="UK singles">{{cite web | title = Chart Stats - Nine Inch Nails | publisher = Chart Stats | url = http://www.chartstats.com/artistinfo.php?id=595 | accessdate = 2007-09-28}}</ref> |- | align="center" rowspan="3"| 1999 |"[[The Day the World Went Away]]" |align="center"|17 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|1 |align="center"|— |- |"[[We're In This Together]]" |align="center"|— |align="center"|11 |align="center"|21 |align="center"|— |align="center"|39 |- |"[[Starfuckers, Inc.]]" |align="center"|— |align="center"|39 |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |align="center"|— |- |align="center"| 2000 |"[[Into the Void (Nine Inch Nails song)|Into the Void]]" |align="center"|— |align="center"|11 |align="center"|27 |align="center"|4 |align="center"|— |} "—" denotes releases that did not chart. ==References== {{reflist|1}} ==External links== *[http://www.nin.com Nine Inch Nails official site] {{start box}} {{succession box | before = ''[[Ruff Ryders' First Lady]]'' by [[Eve (rapper)|Eve]] | title = [[Billboard 200|''Billboard'' 200]] [[Number-one albums of 1999 (USA)|number-one album]] | years = [[October 9]] - [[October 15]], [[1999]] | after = ''[[Human Clay]]'' by [[Creed (band)|Creed]] }} {{end box}} {{Nine Inch Nails}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Fragile, The}} [[Category:Nine Inch Nails albums]] [[Category:1999 albums]] [[Category:Double albums]] [[Category:Concept albums]] [[Category:Albums produced by Trent Reznor]] [[Category:Albums produced by Alan Moulder]] [[de:The Fragile]] [[es:The Fragile]] [[fr:The Fragile]] [[id:The Fragile]] [[it:The Fragile]] [[hu:The Fragile]] [[pl:The Fragile]] [[pt:The Fragile]] [[fi:The Fragile]] [[sv:The Fragile]]