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<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) CSS's "Donkey" (click to enlarge) Nine Inch Nails' "The Slip"   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Melanie Munk, Features Editor munk@heraldnet.com   Published: Monday, July 21, 2008 Liner notes: Nine Inch Nails' "The Slip" By Andy Rathbun Herald Columnist Nine Inch Nails "The Slip" Why care?: Nine Inch Nails say 1.4 million people downloaded "The Slip" since the band made it available for free on May 5 at theslip.nin.com. Now, the album sees release at brick and mortar stores, although it appears it will remain free online. Trivia: Since leaving his major label home, Trent Reznor, the group's mastermind, has been catering to his cultlike fan base more than ever. According to the Los Angeles Times, he staged a pseudo treasure hunt earlier this month that had fans following a map to a drain pipe, where concert tickets were stashed. High points: "1,000,000" and "Discipline" both deliver with Reznor's usual blend of industrial rock, techno and pop, a sound that's made him a staple in the hard rock diet since the early 1990s. Andy says: The album hurts itself with its second half, as Reznor goes on a few fragile detours into toothless industrial rock and dull ambience, but overall, "The Slip" never spirals out of his grasp. Grade: B-plus CSS "Donkey" Why care?: The dance rock band from Sao Paolo, Brazil, puts out its second album for Seattle's Sub Pop Records. Trivia: CSS stands for "cansei de ser sexy," Portuguese for "tired of being sexy." The group attributes the phrase to pop star Beyonce Knowles, who guitarist Ana Rezende has said the group enjoys, even if they think that particular remark was "retarded." High point: The infectious, upbeat track "Beautiful Song" stands out, in part because it doesn't fall in with the group's usual sound, which can be synthed out and shouty. Andy says: The album falls short. CSS's live show is supposed to be stellar, but "Donkey" feels middling, with too many songs running together, sounding alike. It reminds me of a slogan used by the group's label, Sub Pop Records: Not the best, but pretty good. Grade: C-plus Andy Rathbun, Herald Columnist, arathbun@heraldnet.com, 425-339-3455

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