The Fragile

I'd listen to the words he'd say,
but in his voice I heard decay.

The clouds will part
And the sky cracks open
And God Himself
Will reach His fucking arm through
Just to push you down
Just to hold you down

—Nine Inch Nails, "The Wretched"

The Fragile is a 1999 album by Nine Inch Nails. Their previous album, The Downward Spiral, brought Trent Reznor and the band huge success and fame, with the single "Closer" being their highest charting to date. The album is seen by some to be a continuation of the storyline of The Downward Spiral, taking the interpretation in which the main character's suicide attempt is unsuccessful.

The album was recorded at Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans, taking over two years to record and produce.

The album reached #1 in the Billboard 200 chart on release, and has been certified double platinum.

Around a year after release, the album (like its predecessor) received a remix album. The album, titled Things Falling Apart featured a cover of the Gary Numan song "Metal", as well as new tracks such as "10 Miles High" and "The Great Collapse". The album reached #67 on the Billboard chart.

Personnel:

  • Trent Reznor: vocals, nearly all instruments
  • Danny Lohner: drum programming, ambiance
  • Charlie Clouser: programming, synthesizers
  • Adrian Belew: guitars
  • Mike Garson: piano
Tracklist

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" (5:48)
  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)
The Way Out Is Tropes
  • Arc Words: The words "Nothing can stop me now" appear again on the album, but this time in French on the track "La Mer".
    • A variation of the line "And all that could have been" appears in both "The Wretched" and "The Great Below". The same line also ended up being the title of both a live album, and a song on the acoustic EP Still.
    • The line "I can still feel you" appears on "The Great Below" and "Underneath It All", both of which are the last vocal tracks of their respective sides.
    • "Slipping away" is referenced in both the title track and "Into the Void"
  • Concept Album: Loosely - there are underlying concepts of decay and brokenness.
  • Epic Rocking: Eight of the 23 tracks are over 5 minutes long, with two of these being over six minutes.
  • Lighter and Softer: The album has far more quiet tracks and moments of beauty than The Downward Spiral.
  • Textless Album Cover: The band's logo is the only text appearing on the cover of the album.
  • Title Track: "The Fragile". Although the exact title doesn't appear, the word "Fragile" appears in the lyrics.

And when the day arrives
I'll become the sky
And I'll become the sea

And the sea will come to kiss me
For I am going
Home

Nothing can stop me now.

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