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The Fragile

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Untitled

The Fragile (also known as Halo 14) is a double album by Nine Inch Nails released in 1999. The Fragile is the fourteenth official Nine Inch Nails release and the band's fourth major release. It was preceded by The Downward Spiral and is followed by With Teeth. The album opened to mixed responses in 1999. The album itself features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. From a technical standpoint, the album is quite an achievement. While The Fragile received critical acclaim from many, it suffered disappointingly poor commercial success.

The first single from The Fragile "The Day the World Went Away" was released several months before the album. The b-side track "Starfuckers, Inc." was included on the final album and became a video single itself. "Starfuckers, Inc." was the only single from The Fragile that saw moderate commercial success as a single and music video.

Reznor described The Fragile in a 1999 interview:

"There's a general theme to the album of systems failing and things sort of falling apart. In keeping with the idea of making everything sound a little broken, I chose stringed instruments because they're imperfect by nature. Although it may not sound like it, most of the album is actually guitar - and that includes the orchestral sounds and weird melodic lines. When it came to instruments that I didn't really know how to play - like the ukulele or the slide guitar - we were able to get some really interesting sounds by making the studio the main instrument."[1]

Narratively speaking, the album is an unofficial continuation of the The Downward Spiral. Here, Reznor compares the lyrical content of the two albums:

“I wanted this album to sound like there was something inherently flawed in the situation, like someone struggling to put the pieces together. Downward Spiral was about peeling off layers and arriving at a naked, ugly end. This album starts at the end, then attempts to create order from chaos, but never reaches the goal. It’s probably a bleaker album because it arrives back where it starts—[with] the same emotion.” The album begins “Somewhat Damaged” and ends “Ripe (With Decay).”[2]

Prior to its release, Trent Reznor said many things about the direction of The Fragile would take and what it would include that did end up happening. In particular, he said that he was very interested in intelligent dance music and that the new album might incorporate this genre.[citation needed]

Releases

Track listing

CD version

"Left" disc

  1. "Somewhat Damaged" – 4:31
  2. "The Day the World Went Away" – 4:33
  3. "The Frail" – 1:54
  4. "The Wretched" – 5:25
  5. "We're in This Together" – 7:16
  6. "The Fragile" – 4:35
  7. "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
  8. "Even Deeper" – 5:47
  9. "Pilgrimage" – 3:31
  10. "No, You Don't" – 3:35
  11. "La Mer" – 4:37
  12. "The Great Below" – 5:17

"Right" disc

  1. "The Way Out Is Through" – 4:17
  2. "Into the Void" – 4:49
  3. "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
  4. "The Mark Has Been Made" – 5:15
  5. "Please" – 3:30
  6. "Starfuckers, Inc."– 5:00
  7. "Complication" – 2:30
  8. "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:13
  9. "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
  10. "Underneath It All" – 2:46
  11. "Ripe (With Decay)" – 6:34

Vinyl version

Disc one

  1. "Somewhat Damaged" – 4:31
  2. "The Day the World Went Away" – 5:01
  3. "The Frail" – 1:54
  4. "The Wretched" – 5:36
  5. "We're in This Together" – 7:17
  6. "The Fragile" – 4:35
  7. "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
  8. "Even Deeper" – 6:14

Disc two

  1. "Pilgrimage" – 3:41
  2. "No, You Don't" – 3:35
  3. "La Mer" – 5:02
  4. "The Great Below" – 5:17
  5. "The Way Out Is Through" – 4:17
  6. "Into the Void" – 4:49
  7. "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
  8. "The Mark Has Been Made" – 4:43

Disc three

  1. "10 Miles High" – 5:13
  2. "Please" – 3:30
  3. "Starfuckers, Inc." – 5:00
  4. "Complication" – 2:30
  5. "The New Flesh" – 3:40
  6. "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:20
  7. "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
  8. "Underneath It All" – 2:46
  9. "Ripe" – 5:15

Cassette version

Tape one

  1. "Somewhat Damaged" – 4:31
  2. "The Day the World Went Away" – 4:33
  3. "The Frail" – 1:54
  4. "The Wretched" – 5:25
  5. "We're in This Together" – 7:16
  6. "The Fragile" – 4:35
  7. "Just Like You Imagined" – 3:49
  8. "Even Deeper" – 5:47
  9. "Pilgrimage" – 3:31
  10. "No, You Don't" – 3:35
  11. "La Mer" – 4:37
  12. "The Great Below" – 5:17

Tape two

  1. "The Way Out Is Through" – 4:17
  2. "Into the Void" – 4:49
  3. "Where Is Everybody?" – 5:40
  4. "The Mark Has Been Made" – 5:15
  5. "Please (+appendage)" – 6:19
  6. "Starfuckers, Inc." – 5:00
  7. "Complication" – 2:30
  8. "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" – 4:13
  9. "The Big Come Down" – 4:12
  10. "Underneath It All" – 2:46
  11. "Ripe (With Decay)" – 6:34

Personnel

  • Steve Albini - Engineer
  • Tom Baker - Mastering
  • Adrian Belew - Guitar
  • Heather Bennet - Vocals (Background)
  • Paul Bradley - Programming
  • Buddha Boys Choir - Choir, Chorus, Chant
  • Buddha Debutante Choir - Vocals (Background)
  • Di Coleman - Vocals (Background)
  • Charlie Clouser - Programming, Atmosphere, Synthesizers
  • Melissa Daigle - Vocals (Background)
  • Paul DeCarli - Programming
  • Jerome Dillon - Drums
  • Dr. Dre - Mixing Assistant
  • Bob Ezrin - Album Sequencing Assistant
  • Mike Garson - Piano
  • Page Hamilton - Guitar
  • Tracy Hardin - Vocals (Background)
  • Leo Herrera - Engineer
  • Keith Hillebrandt - Programming, Choir, Chorus, Sound Design
  • Danny Lohner - Drum Programming, Ambiance, Synthesizers, Guitar
  • Clint Mansell - Choir, Chorus
  • Alan Moulder - Producer, Engineer, Mixing
  • Dave Ogilvie - Engineer
  • Brian Pollack - Engineer
  • Trent Reznor - Vocals, Guitars, Cello, Piano, Synthesizers, Programming, Producer
  • Elquine Rice - Vocals (Background)
  • Terry Rice - Vocals (Background)
  • Bill Rieflin - Drums
  • Barbara Wilson - Vocals (Background)
  • Leslie Wilson - Vocals (Background)
  • Steve Duda - Programming, Choir, Chorus, Percussion, Violin
  • Eric Edmonson - Choir, Chorus
  • Cherry Holly - Trumpet
  • Doug Idleman - Choir, Chorus
  • Marcus London - Choir, Chorus
  • Denise Milfrot - Vocals (on La Mer)
  • Judy Miller - Vocals (Background)
  • Gary I. Neal - Vocals (Background)
  • Christine Parrish - Vocals (Background)
  • Adam Persaud - Choir, Chorus
  • Martha Prevost - Vocals
  • M. Gabriela Rivas - Vocals (Background)
  • Nick Scott - Choir, Chorus
  • Rodney Sulton - Vocals (Background)
  • Stefani Taylor - Vocals (Background)
  • Nigel Wiesehan - Choir, Chorus
  • Willie - Cello
  • Martha Wood - Vocals (Background)

Chart Positions

Album

Year Chart Position
1999 The Billboard 200 #1
1999 Top Canadian Albums #2
1999 Top Internet Albums #1
2000 The Billboard 200 #1

Singles

Year Single Chart Position
1999 "The Day the World Went Away" The Billboard Hot 100 #17
1999 "The Day the World Went Away" Canadian Singles Chart #1
1999 "We're In This Together" Modern Rock Tracks #11
1999 "We're In This Together" Mainstream Rock Tracks #21
1999 "Starfuckers, Inc." Modern Rock Tracks #39
2000 "Into The Void" Modern Rock Tracks #11
2000 "Into The Void" Mainstream Rock Tracks #27
2000 "Into The Void" Canadian Singles Chart #4


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