And All That Could Have Been\nNIN\nNothing Records\nTrent Reznor's music is anything but fragile. His dark industrial sounds jump out of the shadows, and the painful lyrics carry a backbone. The music of Nine Inch Nails is more action and less whine -- though he's pissed off, the music is a statement, not album upon album of crying, like some other dark rock artists.\nLive the band is no different. And All That Could Have Been, the brand new live disc (released on the same day as an enhanced CD and DVD of the same product) is 16 tracks of energy, anger and passion from 2000's Fragility U.S. tour. The tour features Reznor joined by musicians Danny Lohner, Jerome Dillon, Charlie Clouser and Robin Finck. \nBeing the first live Nine Inch Nails album, its release has been preceded by much fanfare on the part of public relations reps. Though it features no 20 minute long guitar solos or jam sessions, the live album adds a new dimension to Reznor's complexity. \nThe songs don't seem to vary too much in the live versions, but they come off as less manufactured. If you compare a studio album to Reznor's dyed hair and black clothes, And All That Could Have Been is catching a glimpse of him naked. You can hear the voices screaming in the background, but the music is still in focus, and even somewhat pared down.\nFrom my limited knowledge of Reznor's work, the track selection couldn't have been better. The album starts out with an explosive beginning to "Terrible Lie" and continues to build on that first momentum. Dipping and climbing in passion with "March of the Pigs" and "The Frail," you're brought right back up to fever pitch with "Gave Up." \nAs all good artists should, Reznor leaves the most well known songs for the last third: "Closer," "Head Like a Hole" and "Star****ers, Inc." Even though you've heard the tunes over and again, you will want to hear them one more time by the end of the album.\nMaking the most noise with the softest sound, the album ends with "Hurt." Mournfully black, there are no words needed to describe the feeling the last song leaves you with. \nOverall, And All That Could Have Been is a necessary addition to a serious NIN collection, and a good introduction to the music for a beginner. Reznor spins you around in his world, and lets you go with a lingering melody.\n
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