European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - June 10, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Nine Inch nails a on disc the angry Beauty of mental claw Marks by Deedee Arrington Doke staff writer anger is a shocking but Beautiful thing in the hands of Trent Reznor. If the gory verbiage of bands aspiring to be musical Stephen Kings create the equivalent of a bad Friday the 13th movie then Reznor s nine Inch nails is the psychological shocker that scorches itself on one s memory. And that s just the effect of the recorded words and music Reznor puts out under the Moniker nine Inch nails. In concert the Jackhammer ferocity and fury of Reznor s nihilistic vision were amplified 10-fold recently on the Frankfurt music Hall stage in Germany before a crowd that was at least half american. The 14 songs of nine Inch nails current album the downward spiral practically comprise a suite of its own jagged glory. But instead of performing the industrially symphonic Spra intact Reznor varied his mix of songs in a show that left barely a Gap for breath Reznor and his four Man stage band played in Black jumpsuits with Short pants Black stockings with holes and powdery White makeup accentuated with Black eyeliner and lipstick. Microphones and musical instruments took vicious beatings with Reznor slamming the Mike stands to the ground As he swept around the stage. Once they fell stage technicians quickly came Forward to right them again a routine that kept them stepping Lively for the entire show. Reznor also threw the microphone into the audience a time or two and members of the Phalanx of Security men in front had to scramble to get it Back. One keyboard did t survive the pounding it took. But As an american concertgoers observed Reznor just paid big Bucks to have his House a better known As the House where the Manson family murdered actress Sharon Tate and others a torn Down Quot that keyboard s just a couple of thousand dollars. He can afford it Quot the concertgoers said a. A a stage diving was a no go a one diver is said to have split his head open earlier that night when he crashed into a Metal pole. Ambitious divers could t resist the urge to try but when they reached the stage targe unfriendly men appeared from the sidelines to firmly push them Back. splashing the audience and his band with water from a never ending Supply of plastic bottles Reznor at Orie Point simulated a sex act with a water bottle then grabbed his deadlocked guitarist and fiercely kissed him. He dismissed the guitarist with a shove into the audience. Yet one More commodity for the Security men to retrieve and push Back onstage. Dim witted stage Patter in t Reznor s Stock in Trade and he offered Only one Brief pronouncement during a nonstop musical Parade that included a scathing March of the pigs with its non sequitur Coda the Catchy but agony riddled closer the closest thing to a love song in Reznor s repertoire get Down make love big Man with a gun and reptile. On reptile lights created yellow and Green Scales on the band members faces and bodies a Light ining effect Only topped at show s end with the ultimate heart stopper. The grand finale a spectacularly simulated nuclear bomb explosion precluded any possibility of an encore. Intense minutes of blinding lights reverberating sound and smoke Clouds a following a cataclysm of primal self a sopping Trent Reznor is the instrumental Whiz and songwriter behind the industrialized anguish of nine tech nails. Swamp Ophelia indigo girls epic f Only Emily Saliers and am Sray weren to so acutely aware that we re listen or the Folk rocking duo labors to imbue every Lyric with heart or mind expanding meaning sometimes sapping the music s bracing insouciant spirit. They come through with a few songs that adroitly balance earnestness and gracefully emphatic playing notably touch me fall and dead Man s Hill. A Jean Rosenbluth los Angeles times n Gatz we truss South Central Cartel gawk ral has. Cruising the a Hood dodging bullets attacking enemies chasing women partying with homies. You be heard it All before. While the Cartel s second album does no to Advance the Art of gangsta rap the group does a fair Job of recreating the tensions of Hood life. Touches of humor make this a Tittle better than most. A Dennis Hunt los Angeles times teenager of the year Frank Black Elektra member Pong William Mulholland the three stooges cd radios Frank Black does and he sets these and other preoccupations into the vigorously inventive swirl of Punk garage psychedelic progressive Rock that launched his Post pixies career so auspiciously last year. A pop Rock enthusiast and iconoclast of the first order Black deserves the same Salute that he offers . Water Baron Mulholland 016 o6. A Richard Cromell los Angeles times Black for a amps Scott Childress hints allegations and things left unsaid collective soul Elding Retro leaning tune ulness with an alternative Southern Fried Edge this Georgia quintet has forged an uplifting infectious amalgamation. The hit single is Shine a warm Bluesy Romp with an irresistible chorus. This diverse debut May be too predictable for musical pundits but it s still an ardent Effort. A Katherine Turman los Angeles times rap singles 1. Regulate Warren g. And Nate Dogg 2. Fund afield a brat 3. Got me waiting heavy d amp the Boyz 4. Sweet potato pie Domino 5. Pumps and a bump Hammer 6. Players Ball outcast 7. Brooklyn the Brooklyn dodgers 8. Worker Man Patra 9. Dunkie butt 12 gauge 10. Back in the Day Ahmad album Rock tracks 1. Shine collective souls 2. Backwater meat puppets 3. Big empty Stone Temple pilots 4.1 need your love Boston 5. Black Hole Sun sound Garden 6. Take it Back Pink Floyd 7. Far behind Candle Box 8. Disarm smashing pumpkins 9. Keep talking Pink Floyd 10. No one to run with Ailman Brothers ban jazz albums 1. Breathless Konny g 2. After the storm Norman Brown 3. Hardcastle Paul Harden St i e 4. Post Lotty incognito 5. Smooth Gerald Albright 6. Sax by the fire John Tosh 7. Restless James 8. Heart to heart Diane Schuur . King 9. The Benoit Freeman project the Benoit Freeman project 10. Love Nancy Nancy Wilson focus a entertainment Arrington Doc editorial Morrison listing contributors stall writers Marian Hamilton sue a Turnbo Nancy l. Tornor also Ferenc Haj Las Joe Olano. Send entertainment news tips Story ideas and listings to the stars and stripes entertainment unit 29460, Apo a 0921 1 or Post Ach 1 1 14 37. 64270 Darmstadt Germany Telephone Dan 348 6830. A. Oul99 001390 Tel fax gg195 901410 outside Germany ii country cede is 49 drop the 0 from the prefix. A Friday june 10, 1994 the stars and stripes 25
