strangely enough, I feel the same way. I really don't like his music (maybe a song or two) but he is an intelligent well-spoken and incredibly interesting human being...and always enjoyable to watch interviews.

That's actually when his drug use was at it's highest and his manager made off with pretty well every penny he ever made. And I agree it's his best work.

I think his wife may be having a good influence on his work.

~spidey

I was expecting something good to come out of How to Destroy Angels(how can a name inspired by a Coil EP NOT lead to something good?)

Upon seeing their latest video, though, I've got mixed feelings.
Musically, I really like it, as it reminds me a bit of bands like Oneiroid Psychosis or Android Lust, but the video just goes right back to that teen-angsty, urban/trailer park squalor image that put me off most NIN.

THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE THE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

Of course it gets annoying when he's constantly associated with "gawth" but shoot, it's even more annoying that he was blamed for Columbine. Eh.

Nine Inch Nails? eh.. I like them but.. completely overrated. Oh well.

Go listen to some Einsturzende Neubauten. Woot.

I don't if I would say he's "overrated..." I do know that his fan-base pretty damn annoying. I do know that Einsturzende Neubauten is far closer to the original definition of "Industrial," but I wouldn't call Trent "Overrated."

I respect what some of the industrial musicians are trying to do, but, speaking personally, any industrial music that does not have a metal edge can be without a doubt some of the most mindnumbingly BORING music ever created [and yes, there is the odd exception].

Industrial-orientated music i genuinely like:

Killing Joke

Some recent Fields of the Nephilim [not totally industrial metal, but a strong influence on it]

Some Rammstein

-- Thu Jul 22, 2010 2:14 pm --

I think that I'm allowing my annoyance with Trent Reznor as a person interfere with my appreciation of his music, some of which is admittedly quite good. Damn solemn, self-important, self-righteous prick!

I felt that way about System of a Down at one point, I was like damn Daron Malakian is such a fucking douche, I want to punch his face OH GOD HIS VOICE
lol

Also, to the mainstream thing, of course that's my opinion.. I think I should say, to even it out, mainstream for an industrial band. =P

I thought the vocalist's name was Serj Tankian.

I'm not a huge Rammstein fan, although I like some of their material. However, the fact that you included them in your list indicates that there is some justice, for whatever that's worth!

I personally have never listened to Rammstein. In fact, this song, is the closest I have ever gotten.

Then again google "Rammstein Tatu Moskau/Polchasa bez tebya"

Generally, I can't really listen to any "industrial" without a sense of dark ambience or experimental madness.
To me, that's what makes the genre.

Hell, even "new school" groups like Skinny Puppy had that, which still tied them to the darker generation of bands like Coil, SPK, Current 93, Nurse With Wound, and so forth.

To me, most of this "industrial rock" genre just has this modern, grungy, normalized, humanized edge to it that takes a lot away from the music.

Anyhow, just personal taste, I guess. I always prefer music to be "nightmarish", rather than "cool" or "catchy".

Wow. Nice interpretation of the lyrics.

I still think Black Nail Cabaret's version is more powerful, though.

I don't see whats so special about How To Destroy Angels, they sound exactly like I expected :
NIN with a female vocalist.

More specifically it sounds like Trents wife singing over tracks from his "Ghosts" album *shrugs*

The music sounds better than NIN due to actual bass involved and no irritating power chords, but anyways......
I guess I'm just not interested in "everyday, modern, mundane, average joe, easy for ordinary people to relate to" kind of subject matter/imagery.