Music reviews. CD reviews. Critically hip!

I like to listen to a lot of stuff from a variety of genres, but when it comes down to it nothing is better to me than Nine Inch Nails.

The one-man band Trent Reznor created Nine Inch Nails back in 1988, and over the years the band has gone in several directions and experimented. Reznor has an extensive background in music, dating back to when he was a child, and his experience shines through by comparison to many other "industrial" and rock artists.

I think that the best example of NIN's greatness is the deluxe version of "And All That Could Have Been." it includes a taste of the amazing live performance (which I have been witness to) and the softer, bare-bones studio performance of the second disc (also available seperately as "Still"). The album's two discs provide a contrast in mood and performance, but still manage to be spot on. Some of the performances even out-shine their studio predessors, showing the concert as completely different animal from the studio recording. This is, of course, with the help and input of the live band, who skillfully take already great songs to the next level.