Ego-Trip Remixed

Having mentioned Trent Reznor in my previous review, I though it only appropriate that I comment on the big, self-obsessed lug. Now don't get me wrong, in fact Nine Inch Nails are actually my favourite band/concept/whatever and have been since I heard the 2,000 mph drums on 'Mr. Self Destruct' on his masterpiece, 'Downward Spiral', but I'm worried that Trent's going down a path many have trodden and regret: Politics.
Reznor once said in an interview not that long ago, somewhere between seven to five years ago that politics didn't interest him at all, although his latest works and affiliated memorabilia have been nothing more than a foray into anti-war and anti-Bush sentiments that have rattled the cages of NIN fans and Bill O'Reilly alike. His current incarnations are a far cry from his manic depressive days as...a manic depressive actually and lack the raw emotion and blind fury that heralded 'Downward Spiral' and pushed 'Hurt' into the most played lists of iPods, cassettes and pirate radio stations worldwide and instead focus more on heavily synthed and digitised melodies over simulated drumbeats and rhythm machines.
In a little over 2 weeks time Reznor will release the companion to 'Year Zero', entitled 'Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D' or 'Year Zero Remixed'.
Much like 'Further Down the Spiral', 'Remixed' will feature 14 tracks of Reznor's own work remixed by fans and known music names alike. To be released as a digital, CD/DVD-Rom and vinyl simultaneously, Reznor leaves plenty of ground for fan input with the CD/DVD combo containing the entire Year Zero tracklisting as GarageBand files to be remixed yet again.
Since Reznor's releasing of 'The Hand That Feeds' as a GarageBand file several years ago, literally hundreds of remixes of NIN songs exist out there in cyberspace, but he has handpicked those deemed worthy to appear on 'Remixed'.
It will feature, among others, Saul Williams, veteran open mic poet and hip-hop fusion pioneer and vocal critic of the Iraq war. Also featured will be Olof Dreijer of Icelandic elctro-pop duo The Knife and Liverpudlian synth ensemble 'Ladytron'.
It promises to be an interesting album, being NIN's last with Interscope Records, prompting Reznor to herald the future of his band as a "totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label", a move that was followed by none other than...Madonna? Yes it appears the pop queen has ditched Warner Bros Records and adopted 'Live Nation', a newly formed record company, for the next ten years.
'Year Zero Remixed' hits shelves, iTunes and vinyl shops everywhere on November 20th.