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Nine Inch Nails
I’m gonna bet that Trent Reznor is a ‘glass-is-half-empty’ kind of guy. It’s weird to think that he’s gotten rich and famous by exposing his dysfunctional psyche, but there’s an awful lot of people who seem to relate to his bleak message, especially within the context of this live collection, where the crowd noise swells with each debilitating burst of anger. And All That Could Have Been contains over seventy minutes of music that amounts to a mind-numbing assault on the senses. Musically, it’s as dark as the lyrics, which are relentlessly hateful. Emotionally, it’s like hitting yourself repeatedly in the head with a rock.
I sure hope that it’s cathartic for Reznor and his fans to dig this deep into negativity, because it’s disturbing as all hell to anyone else, sort of like crawling into the consciousness of a serial killer in the midst of a sweaty rage. "Hey Pig" is absolutely outrageous in its callous challenge, virtually spitting insults at the perceived adversary. The underlying question here, though, is whether these diatribes of rage are really meant for someone else. After all, you can’t hate anyone with this much vigor unless you are full of self-loathing and/or partially deranged. For this CD to ‘work’ for me, I had to conjure up faces of people who I dislike, some famous, and others who are just assholes. In this daydream state, the music became almost fun as I imagined them hearing "Hey Pig" as if it were directed straight at them. What cruel pleasure!
Much like "Helter Skelter" allegedly held a gruesome connotation for Charles Manson, though, I wonder what might happen if this music becomes embraced by a deranged lunatic with a weak psyche. I’m not too sure Reznor would accept responsibility for expediting anti-social thoughts (or dangerously maniacal behavior). Listening to this CD on headphones while on an airplane, I felt downright paranoid. The music contained in this live set is very powerful, but I grew uncomfortable listening to Reznor screaming about how horrible life is, especially when I’m not really with him on that point. Is there no bright side at all? Is there no relief? Can anything make you happy? I can’t buy into Reznor’s persona, because I cannot believe he’s that miserable all of the time. If he is, then I don’t really want to know about it, and I certainly don’t envy him. I shudder just thinking about it. Then again, maybe he writes angry, provocative lyrics simply because it’s successful. If so, then why should I succumb to anything so cynical?
Nine Inch Nails is disturbing in a manner similar to my general distaste for Joy Division albums. I mean, Ian Curtis was depressed, said so, and killed himself. I’d rather not go that route, since suicide isn’t one of my short-term career goals. I don’t want to be a psychopath, either. I have to admit, though, that Reznor’s rage holds a certain attraction. The music is incredible, too. Songs like "Gave Up" and "Wish" couples the technical perfection of Peter Gabriel with the raw energy of early Minor Threat, which is no easy task.
There’s something inherently contradictory, though, in hearing live versions of such misanthropy; Reznor is communicating from a stage by singing about his wretched inability to communicate. On the one hand, he hates everyone and ceaselessly blames the world for his condition. On the other, he blames himself and overflows with self-loathing. All the while, the crowd cheers in unison for their beloved anti-hero, praising the man who vents their rage for them. As for me, I’d just as soon take a pill, but I cannot deny its conviction.
Grade: 
 
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