Let's face it. David Bowie's 1983 album Let's Dance and 1984's Tonight are probably all the reason anyone needs for walking out on Bowie's music altogether, and possibly throwing all the older stuff in the trash.
Let's face it. The 1990s are much better. I've got my Nine Inch Nails. And, if "Heart's Filthy Lesson" is any sample, I've got my violent, angsting, bizarre David again. This is the Bowie of the 1970s, and he's been nursing a grudge. If you don't know what I mean, get someone to lend you a copy of Heroes or Low. Or Diamond Dogs. Or The Man Who Sold the World. Or almost anything Bowie did between 1971 and 1980. (Almost -- my advice would be to avoid Young Americans).
I've heard that Trent Reznor was once asked what song he wished he'd written, and he replied "Always Crashing in the Same Car", from Low. I believe it. It's a heavy, dark, suicidal bitch of a piece. Kind of reminds me of "i do not want this". And, of course, as I have repeatedly pointed out, "Beauty and the Beast" from Heroes is possibly the first real "industrial" music.
And the obvious musical similarity between the opening of Bowie's "Breaking Glass" and NIN's "piggy" cannot be overlooked. I'm listening to them together by chance as I was writing this. Switching back and forth, I find that "piggy" is slower, a bit heavier. I also find that "Breaking Glass" loses no impact by comparison. I fool with my stereo until they're playing simultaneously. My god, those drums complement each other. It's almost like listening to a duet at this point. It's almost perfect. I can trace the sound of NIN in the Bowie. The drums. They're together. I saw a quote on alt.music.nin just after the Hartford show. "Someone should tell Bowie he's not Trent...." You tell me who's trying to be who now. It's so clear.
"Heresy" has just reared its head on my stereo. I'm sure you remember "Beauty and the Beast"? Try this one, why don't you. Play these together. Want a surprise? Bowie's drowning out NIN. On the same stereo, with the same volume setting, Trent's backup. Splendid, brilliant backup, but backup. "Beauty" is heavier, harsher. I can scarcely hear Trent screaming "God is dead" in the back. It's excellent. It's stunning. I'm crying. I can't believe that people would walk out on this David Bowie. I can't believe that they can't hear how perfect it is that NIN is touring with Bowie. "Beauty" sounds harder. More demonic. I mentally graft Trent's voice onto it. He should cover this song. The sound of "heresy" has given the song an edge that it was missing before.
"Thank God heaven left us..."
"God is dead...""Standing on our feet..."
"If there is a hell..."I'm not trying to put down Trent. I think he's absolutely brilliant. It would be a blatant falsehood to say otherwise. But you know, Newton was great because he "stood on the shoulders of giants". Trent's standing on David's shoulders, as David is standing on Bob Dylan's.
And one more thing. NIN is a big-name band, capable of supporting its own tour. I ask you why Trent would want to take second place to David Bowie, unless he counted himself as lucky to get it -- unless he had some sort of desire to perform with Bowie. Unless there's something he sees in the man and the music that makes it worthwhile for him. I wish some of his fans would bother to stay and see what it is.
Want a major mindfuck? I've got one for you. Want two of the most brilliant minds in music today? We've got that too. It's called the Outside tour. David Bowie with very special guest Nine Inch Nails. How often does anyone get an opportunity like this? A rock legend, whose heartrending voice can tear you apart if you let it. And a rock legend in the making, with echoes of that same ultimate pain.
-- laura j. valentine