... 'Broken' wasn't really a full release, but a stop-gap EP to fill the five year gap between that and the 1989 debut ('Pretty Hate Machine').
Only six tracks are listed, two of which are relatively short instrumentals. The other four are, however, all classics, and there are two 'hidden' ... Read review
As a placeholder between the full-length "Pretty Hate Machine" and "The Downward Spiral", ... more
Broken packs a serious punch. Angrier and less poppy than "Machine", this EP is full of noisy hooks, if such a thing is possible (check out that guitar riff on th...
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As a placeholder between the full-length "Pretty Hate Machine" and "The Downward ... more
Spiral",Brokenpacks a serious punch. Angrier and less poppy than "Machine", this EP is full of noisy hooks, if such a thing is possible (check out that guitar riff on the full-throttle "Wish"), and much closer aesthetically to the industrial subgenre that informs Trent Reznor's music. As song titles like "Help Me I Am in Hell" suggest,Brokenis a work of undiluted rage, which is, of course, a big part of its appeal. --Genevieve Williams
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Advantages: Four NIN classics, plus two good bonus tracks Disadvantages: The short length, and tracks 7-97
It wasn't really until Trent Reznor's masterpiece 'The Downward Spiral' that Nine Inch Nails dethroned Ministry as the largest industrial band on the planet. 'Broken' wasn't really a full release, but a stop-gap EP to fill the five year gap between that and the 1989 debut ('Pretty Hate Machine').
Only six tracks are listed, two of which are relatively short instrumentals. The other four are, however, all classics, and there are two ... ...7-97 each consist of a three second silence, before we get to these extra songs - a cover of Adam Ant's 'Physical' and 'Suck' (which I'll get to later).
Since there aren't many songs, I'll say a bit about each - I'll keep it short though, because otherwise I'll just be repeating myself (they are rather the same).
'Wish' is a catchy little number, although you won't want to be singing the chorus out loud on the bus. 'Last' ... more
It wasn't really until Trent Reznor's masterpiece 'The Downward Spiral' that Nine Inch Nails dethroned Ministry as the largest industrial band on the planet. 'Broken' wasn't really a full release, but a stop-gap EP to fill the five year gap between that and the 1989 debut ('Pretty Hate Machine').
Only six tracks are listed, two of which are relatively short instrumentals. The other four are, however, all classics, and there are two 'hidden' bonus tracks too, which are worth a listen. Tracks 7-97 each consist of a three second silence, before we get to these extra songs - a cover of Adam Ant's 'Physical' and 'Suck' (which I'll get to later).
Since there aren't many songs, I'll say a bit about each - I'll keep it short though, because otherwise I'll just be repeating myself (they are rather the same).
'Wish' is a catchy little number, although you won't want to be singing the chorus out loud on the bus. 'Last' is maybe the worst of these four, but it still has another fairly simple repetitive chorus that makes it pretty catchy. 'Happiness In Slavery' is memorable too, all about "I have found You can find Happiness in slavery" (relatively upbeat there!). My favourite of all is probably 'Gave Up', with a theme in the lines of 'Sin' - "It took you To make me realise It took you To make me feel alive"
As I said, I think they're all classic songs. To underline that, I think I've heard all four played in goth clubs (alongside the likes of bigger hits 'Closer', 'Heresy' and 'Head Like A Hole') and two of them were still in the set list for last year's 'And All That Could've Been' live album/DVD.
It's not an EP I was able to appreciate quickly, but then very few of NIN's songs are what you'd call 'immediate'. Musically it's probably their heaviest output - whereas 'Pretty Hate Machine' now has some rather dated 80s synths, this is more guitar-based and in line with Ministry, Rammstein, etc. The song writing is up there with Trent's most angst-ridden best too, and sticks in your head like 'Sin', 'Sanctified' and 'Reptile' (much as I love 'The Fragile', I'm not sure it really had any songs like this...)
The bonus tracks are musically similar, but a bit different from NIN's usual offering. The Adam Ant cover reminds me a little of 'Something I Can Never Have'. 'Suck', meanwhile, is an anti-religious rant "There is no God up in the sky No sign of heaven anywhere in sight". If you enjoyed 'Heresy' then this is another great, though it might well offend some… It was originally recorded by Martin Atkins' Pigface project, featuring Trent Reznor on vocals (that version is available on the Pigface 'Preaching To The Perverted' best of/rarities package). I don't know what it is, but I don't think it sounds quite as good here - I'm assuming it was re-recorded with the NIN line up - but it's still a good track (another that made 'And All That Could've Been', by the way).
Other than the short length (only six 'proper' songs) I couldn't have much to complain about given the music on offer - and even that's not much of an issue when the songs are so good and the EP's only priced as a mini-album (normally £6.99 on Amazon, you may be lucky enough to find it cheaper). My two main complaints then are non-musical...
Firstly, tracks 7-97 are a pain. Unless you can program '98' straight into your CD player, there's a lot to skip through. It would've been better (if they wanted such a hidden track) to put three minutes of silence on track 7 and the extra songs on 8 and 9...
The card case is quite nice aesthetically - with four flaps folding out to reveal the disc, the initials NIN and lyrics to the regular songs (but not the hidden ones). It is a bit fiddly though, and doesn't fit a regular CD rack either.
Those niggles can easily be put aside. If you're even a casual NIN fan, then this is well worth owning. Even if you're not, but like Stabbing Westward, Fear Factory, Rammstein and Ministry, then this may be a good introduction to the band, dwelling on their heavier side. It's not a 'collectors only' item like some of the remix EPs by any means.
Don't confuse this (in the orange case) with the blue 'Fixed' remix EP based on these songs.
Advantages: If you're in the mood it's great - 5 stars! Disadvantages: If not it's a touch 1 dimensional, 2 stars.
...Anger
The flame covered Broken by Nine Inch Nails (Henceforth referred to as NIN) is quite possibly the angriest album ever recorded. And I’m talking proper, deep, burning anger. Not Slipknot style ‘my parents won’t let me smoke’ anger. Recorded way back in 1992 a lot of the anger is directed at NIN’s former record label, TVT (Who kindly charge great amounts for the first NIN album – hence me not owning it) and ... ...releases there is a companion ‘version’ CD of Broken, amusingly titled – Fixed. I’ll be reviewing it just as soon as it gets here, it’s currently in a sorting office somewhere in Sussex. Anyway – on with the CD… All 99 tracks of it.
* Pinion *
This is a nothing track, just a slow plodding affair which builds in volume over the course of a minute. Basically it’s just an introduction to…
* Wish ...
yhwman 02.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broken - Nine Inch Nails
Advantages: Sheer spitting rage if you like that kind of thing Disadvantages: It blew up one of my speakers
...Pretty Hate Machine and the Broken E.P. The difference is so extreme that rumours state that there was an unreleased album produced before 'Broken' that has never seen the light of day. The Broken E.P. very nearly takes the award for the most insanely furious cd that i own. This E.P. go's way beyond the realms of aggression and can be frightening in it's intensity.
The cd case shows 6 tracks on the cd but after track 6 you find 91 tracks of four ... ...is an all out assault on an Adam Ant track, and 'Suck', a harder reworking of a track Trent Reznor recorded with the industrial supergroup Pigface years ago. This is a pain in the arse if your cd player only has a track forward button.
The first track 'pinion' just consists of a guitar loop fading in for about a minute. This track only exists so that the rolling drum loops of the next track 'wish' sneak up on you instead of kicking you in the face ...
crustypaul 26.01.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broken - Nine Inch Nails
Advantages: Original, heavy, sincere music. Disadvantages: Not to everybody’s taste.
Broken is the 1992 EP follow up to Nine Inch Nails debut ‘Pretty Hate Machine’. Although it is not a full-length album it is a brilliant CD and the music is amazing. The production sounds excellent (much better than Pretty Hate Machine) and this makes the music sound even better. Nine Inch Nails sing about emotions, painful emotions. Broken is therefore a dark CD and it sounds very angry and tormented in places. This is music from the ... ...perfectly with distortion and electronic samples.
The track listing is as follows:
1. pinion
2. wish
3. last
4. help me I am in hell
5. happiness in slavery
6. gave up
98. physical
99. suck
NB – tracks 98 and 99 on the CD are bonus tracks that come after tracks 7-97 being 3 second blank tracks… They are not actually listed on the CD case.
‘Pinion’ and ‘help me I am in hell’ are instrumentals. Pinion ...
tendril- 11.06.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broken - Nine Inch Nails
Advantages: Supreme Electro Thrash Disadvantages: Too short
...as after the short intro Broken fully kicks into the electro hardcore fury of Wish. Combined a heavy electronic backing with thrashing Ministryesque guitars riding over the surface.Iit sets the standard which the rest of the album maintains. The vicious attack on the senses continues with Last. Again the song brinks on the edge of chaos, but Mr Reznor manages to keep the whole thing in check perfectly balancing noise and structure. What follows next ... ...slam mauling of Adam Ant's Physical the other an updated version of Suck a track Trent Reznor originally recorded for the Pigface Gub album. Broken has to rate as one of the most staggeringly powerful mini albums released. A must buy for all fans of heavily demented music. ...
SidneyJames 25.05.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful Review of Broken - Nine Inch Nails
Advantages: Raw, if you like that! Disadvantages: loud with not much soft
This EP/mini album from 1991 from Trent Reznor’s NIN is classic angsty industrial music. This follows debut album ‘Pretty hate machine’ which came out 1989. That effort was very much in the 80’s styling and sounded a little too electro for a modern rock fan's taste. This effort however came out 1992, when raw rock music was a force to be reckoned with again. This is the real first gutsy effort from Reznor and rocks much more ... ...crafty intro, a processed riff that starts off quite and very gradually gets loud. Whatever you do don’t turn up the volume because its seems to quiet!! First Track Wish starts off with a fast pounding drum beat with very angst vocals and a very dirty guitar riff. Being industrial music, the drums are sampled and/or machines and the heavy guitars are sampled and played with very much by Reznors’ studio wizadry. Wish is a very upfront ...
joey_rza 23.07.2001
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: helpful Review of Broken - Nine Inch Nails
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Reviews which might be of interest for "Broken - Nine Inch Nails"
Advantages: A couple of good songs Disadvantages: A lot of dull of noise
Broken was the first NineInchNails album to have a complimentary versions album, the rather predictably titled “Fixed”. However unlike the other versions album it’s a fairly weak effort, surely NIN’s worst release. Trent Reznor is at his most industrial on this album, crashing, squealing, screaming, clanking etc take precedence over any tune. So after that less than promising introduction, onto the tracks themselves.
* Gave Up *
Opening with a siren and a distorted guitar things although this is all the song does for a long time while the vocals come in. Pretty dull really. Then after over a minute of that the vocals get all broken up and a fairly dancy beat comes in and this keeps going for several minutes, somewhat expectedly the song never really lifts itself out of the dull category, which is a shame ...
Advantages: Some very good remixes Disadvantages: Some rather overlong self indulgent remixes
Further down the Spiral is the remix companion of The Downward Spiral. Like the Fixed album of Broken remixes, the songs are treated with a sonic sledgehammer by a selection of artists including members of NineInchNails, Jim Thirwell (aka Foetus), Coil and rather surprisingly the Aphex Twin.
With the array of talent on board, you just know that this is going to be a startling album. The fact that the remixers have been given a free reign also means that some of the album sounds incredibly different to The Downward Spiral. Apart from a live version of Hurt and the remains of lyrics the musical similarities between the bulk of the two albums is incredibly small.
First up is a remix of Piggy by Rick Rubin which turns the song into a more trashy number with a constant techno pulse and breakbeat behind it. This is one of the remixes ...
Advantages: Christ on a bike it's heavy Disadvantages: widdly-woo guitar solos
fury to pull it off without it just sounding like little boys being rude and daring.
My favourite track on the album is 'Rise'. Once again this track feature guitar playing thats so fast it really shouldn't be humanly possible but also has chunky gated riff sections where the gaps between the guitar chuggering are more important than the sounds themselves. For sheer apocalyptic fury this track is unequalled except possibly by the 'Broken E.P.' by NineInchNails. Unlike the majority of thrash albums the lyrics on this track and on most of the album actually do have something positive to say instead of just pointless ranting. The basic premise seems to be that oppression and hatred are totally unnecessary and even though you might have to live in this world you don't have to be a part of it if you believe in yourself enough.
Obviously ...
Product Information for "Broken - Nine Inch Nails" »
Product details
Title
Broken
Performer
Nine Inch Nails
Genre
Rock & Pop
Sub Genre
Industrial
Release Date
10/1992
Recomended Retail Price
8.99 GBP
Original Release Year
1992
Label / Distributor
Island / Universal Music
Producer
Trent Reznor; Flood
Pieces in Set
1
Studio / Live
Studio
Stereo
Stereo
Format
Performer
EAN
731451414725
Additional notes
Album Notes
Nine Inch Nails: Trent Reznor (vocals, various instruments). Additional personnel: Martin Atkins, Chris Vrenna (drums), Maise (background vocals). Having caught the public's attention with his catchy, chart- topping PRETTY HATE MACHINE, Trent Reznor was free to experiment with music less accessible to the mainstream. While his more fickle fans were disappointed with BROKEN, the faithful heard in it Reznor's true genius. Dark and edgy, BROKEN cuts the silence like a dirty knife--no singalong anthems here. Only hard-hitting rhythms and no-holds-barred metal riffs flavor this sophomore effort. In BROKEN one can hear the artist maturing and simplifying his craft; Reznor succeeds here without relying on the trappings of pop formulas. The product of a burst of creative energy, BROKEN spawned a companion release of remixes, titled FIXED. From the tight, rapid-fire succession of chords that begins "Pinion" to the beautiful and dreamy jingling guitar of "Help Me I Am in Hell," BROKEN proved that Reznor was to remain a force in the alternative music scene.
Album Reviews
Village Voice (3/2/93, p.5) - Ranked #3 on the EPs list of the Village Voice's 1992 Pazz & Jop Critics Poll. Spin (12/92, p.94) - Highly Recommended - "...If The Who had decided to go industrial, BROKEN is probably what it would have sounded like, based on the slamming energy that Nine Inch Nails exudes..." Musician (11/92, p.101) - "...Louder and busier [than PRETTY HATE MACHINE], BROKEN recasts techno-gloom as a grand symphony....Big noise rains down in sheets, with grinding guitars and mangled synths boosted beyond distortion levels...a swell funhouse ride..." Q (12/92, p.130) - 3 Stars - Good - "...along with Ministry's recent PSALM 69, this can be considered some sort of landmark in the bleak wastes of industrial metal....the mastery of dynamics is never less than compelling. Cult status guaranteed..." NME (10/10/92, p.39) - 7 - Good - "...an incredibly aggressive but still quite electric musical approach....BROKEN shows all the signs that Trent Reznor has shaken off the shackles of influences and found his own suitably idiosyncratic niche..." Option (1-2/93, p.105) - "...displays the dynamics and fierce melodicism that made PRETTY HATE MACHINE so huge....[Reznor's] success has not made him a happy camper..." Alternative Press (11/92, p.51) - "...the deranged and screaming guitar chords are so clear, precise, and real, that one can actually feel each individual string vibrating....a strong and welcome follow-up to an exciting debut..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Pinion
2.
Wish
3.
Last
4.
Help Me I Am In Hell
5.
Happiness In Slavery
6.
Gave Up
7.
Physical
8.
Suck
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08/08/2000
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