Year Zero is a NIN album for fans and non-fans alike...
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Released in 2007, Year Zero proved itself to be an exceptional album that did not get all the recognition it deserved. In placing a USBM (U.S. Bureau of Morality) Warning with a 1-866 number encouraging people to call to report people who have “engaged in subversive acts or thoughts”, it created a stir among fans and non-fans alike.
The packaging follows Nine Inch Nails’ trademark paper die-cut folds, and (like the lyric book) has excellent illustrations that vividly project the mood of the album as a whole.
Although Year Zero is listed under the Alternative genre, it maintains the industrial roots NIN is known for. When I listen to this, I don't just want to listen to one song; I want to fully experience and enjoy each track from start to finish. This is not just an album: it is a full, vibrant story with specific details, character development, and incredible flow.
I myself have not closely followed NIN’s music over the years and have only recently begun to listen avidly (partially because of this album), but it’s safe to say that Year Zero stands out not only from Trent Reznor's work, but from much of the North American mainstream music industry's body of work in the last ten years.
It's very rare for me not to be able to come up with any negative criticisms for something, but this is one of the best albums I have listened to from any artist ever. I mean this very literally. I know this was well-received by Nine Inch Nails fans, but even if you aren't one I would recommend that you get Year Zero anyway.
