For our first Classic Album Review (They Aren’t THAT Old) review, I decided 
to do the most distorted, worst quality, most down and gritty album to come out in a LONG time: “Broken” by Nine Inch Nails.
This album does have a interesting story behind it. After Nine Inch Nails’ first album, “Pretty Hate Machine,” Trent Reznor’s record company wanted him to make another, radio-friendly album. Now Trent didn’t want to make “Pretty Hate Machine 2,” so throughout the course of many months, Trent went to different recording studios under pseudonymous to keep the record company off his back.
You tell by the first into track that this is a lot different them “Pretty Hate Machine.” It’s harder. It’s darker. It’s almost “The Downward Spiral Jr.” if you really think about it. But this mini-album (it only has six tracks and two hidden tracks for a total of eight tracks) or EP as many call it (they think it’s not long enough to classify as a full length album) pack one HELL of a punch and don’t think of it as a The Downward Spiral clone, I only said that to compare the grittyness.
Track 1 – Pinion: This intro song is actually one hell of a song. Yes, it basically repeats the same 2-4 notes over and over, but they are badass notes! 4/5
Track 2 – Wish: One of NIN’s most famous songs, Wish is the first real song and you better cover your balls because if you don’t, you are going to be punched there with the fist of awesome. The guitar is distorted to the point that you it just sounds like static, but it works very well. The drums are fast paced and hard hitting. The synth, as always, is awesome. Trent’s vocals round it out and puts the “HOLY” in “HOLY S**T.” Trent Reznor always jokes because he won a Grammy for this song and always says he wants his headstone to say: “Trent Reznor. Said “Fist F**k.” Won a Grammy.” 5/5
Track 3 – Last: Now, here is where the album loses some steam. Don’t get me wrong, I love this song, but the chorus ruins it for me. The verse and bridge has some of the hardest guitar I have heard in a song and Trent’s screaming just makes this the perfect song to riot to. The drums add that extra “Umph” to push the song over the cliff of awesome into the pit of Epic Win. BUT… the chorus stops it about half way down and makes the song stuck between awesome and epic win status. I mean you take this extremely hard rock song that just makes you want to punch some one in the face or start a riot and slow it down with the chorus and it just loses steam. 3/5
Track 4 – Help Me I Am In Hell: This short 1 minute 56 second break is a nice calm before the storm that is “Happiness In Slavery.” The guitar is at it’s cleanest here and it adds this desolate feel to the song. 4/5
Track 5 – Happiness In Slavery: Ah, the ever so controversial Happiness In Slavery. This song just barely cuts it for me. I think it isn’t that well of a song, but the awesome guitar and Trent’s awesome screaming makes this song JUST passable. 2/5
Track 6 – Gave Up: The last “real” song on the album, Gave Up is a very well done outro track. The drums are freaking crazy, especially during the verses. Trent’s screaming, once again, makes this song even awesomer, but this has less screaming then any other non-hidden track he sings on this album. The flanger or whatever effect put on his voice during the verse ruins it a teeny-TINY bit because it sounds like he is singing underwater. The guitar is also once again very hard hitting. The about 5-10 second guitar solo during the bridge is classic NIN style and it works awesome. The lyrics “I tried. I gave up.” really sends a message of all around fail and the glitched ending works perfectly. 4/5
Hidden Track 1 – Physical (You’re So): So, after 99 one second tracks, we find not one, but TWO hidden tracks. Hidden track one is actually a cover of an “Adam Ant” song. Now wait while I listen to it…
I read the lyrics before hand and it didn’t sound like the kind song I’m into but Trent’s voice makes it somewhat more tolerable. It’s actually kinda funny. It’s pretty calm until the first chorus, then it’s a full out attack. Nothing but the hardest notes, the most staicy synth, and Trent’s signature screaming. I think it stretches out a BIT too long but, it’s a decent track. 2/5
Hidden Track 2 – Suck: The completely last song, Suck, is also hidden. The verse is pretty calm, but don’t think you can take off your cup JUST yet. The chorus comes full force like a nuke. Fast, hard, and freaking awesome. The guitar is very funky in the verses and punches you, once again, in the nuts during the chorus. Trent is surprising clam during the verses, but during the chorus, he screams at possibly his loudest on the whole album. The bridge is a classic NIN guitar solo. You know! When the guitar sounds like a radio set on the wrong station and getting nothing but static! It’s a very well done ending track and a good farewell to the listeners of “Broken.” 4/5
Overall: 3/5. This was so hard to rate overall. It’s better then average, but I’m not sure if it can get the very good mark. It’s a very good album, not their best work, but definitely not their worst. The guitar is hard hitting and distorted to the max throughout the whole album. Trent is screaming and very pissed throughout the whole album. The drums are freaking amazing in some of the songs, and it’s just freaking awesome overall. I would suggest buying this. Not downloading, BUYING. If you buy it, there is TONS of extra stuff, even an extra disk!