Customer Reviews

Perfect Drug

5 star:		(24)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(19)

 

 

I'm sick and tired of the blind worship people give to Trent Reznor as if he is some kind of deity for the industrial music scene. Yes, the man is a brilliant musician and producer who pushes the limits of technology and sound design to their utmost, but he wasn't the first to do this. Throbbing Gristle, Einstürzende Neubatuen, Coil, any of these names ring a bell people? Hell, even Coil have remixed NIN to make versions ever more frightening than what Trent's done. Don't get me wrong, I love NIN and I think Trent is an amazing talent, but I'm tired of people trashing this CD because it doesn't sound like NIN or because Trent only did one version. That's the whole point of remixes, to hear OTHER artists' interpretation of a song or songs. If a NIN song is going to be remixed by Meat Beat Manifesto, I don't expect it to sound like NIN, I expect it to sound like Meat Beat Manifesto. Get over it people, just because it has the NIN name to it doesn't mean it'll sound like NIN. To those of you who complained about this, you should've known better.

So with that in mind, I think "The Perfect Drug" EP is great! All the mixes are different, running the range from dub to trance to industrial. Meat Beat Manifesto's version starts things off with Jack Dangers' quintessential blend of frenetic beats, and dub basslines. Even the bits from the original song sound more like random samples as opposed to a remix. My personal favorite is the "Plug" version. It's so ethereal and ambient, with amazing textures and sounds. It also seems to retain the most tracks from the original song, and the beats are just infectious. The NIN version is interesting because it bears little resemblance to the original song. It's not so much an interpretation as it is a completely new song with just a few bits from the original thrown in to tie it in. It's hard, it's fast, and it's industrial. The version by Spacetime Continuum is great for its trance-like feel, but it doesn't go as far as one might hope. The Orb version is perhaps the weirdest, with perhaps the most interesting synth sounds on the whole CD. The import edition of this CD has the original song as the last track.

I think the CD is a wonderful example of how electronic music translates across its own subgenres, and if anything shows off the talents of all who contributed. I choose not to look at it as a single or a remix CD, but rather a compilation of different electronic artists with a common theme, that theme being NIN's "The Perfect Drug." If people would try to look at it this way, I think there'd be less disappointment. But then again, so many people are justly blindly following the NIN-Army that they don't care, it has to be NIN or nothing (and yes, that is a bit of a pun). I like NIN, and I have most of the CD's, but to hate something because it doesn't sound like NIN is just plain arrogant. Give this CD a chance, it's actually really good.

I bought this because i like the song, perfect drug, but unfortunatley, it was nowhere to be found on this disc which consists of remixes, which, in my opinion are so interpretive of the original song, that there are few resemblances to the original at all. So i was a bit disappointed. But of course if you are a hardcore NIN fan, you'll have to have this, but if you aren't as hardcore, but like NIN, this isn't worth it, you're better off buying the Lost highway soundtrack if you want The original version of perfect drug.

This single features five remixes, each by a different artist, of "The Perfect Drug", arguably one of Trent Reznor's finest moments. However, while Nine Inch Nails tracks have been remixed by others in the past (Aphex Twin and Coil appear on Further Down the Spiral), this album leaves much to be desired. In each of its incarnations, the song has been rendered almost unrecognizable from its original version. The five lengthy tracks seem to merely cycle through various industrial loops, switching gears only when the repetition becomes annoying. In most of the mixes, the full extent of the song's vocals is the line "You are the perfect drug" repeated over and over or occasionally fading in and out in the background. Even the remix by Trent himself, which is probably the best track on the disc (the only one that even sounds like Nine Inch Nails) seems drawn out and somewhat boring. Being a huge fan, I can't say I'm sorry I bought this album but I was disappointed in the quality of the material. I was also very disappointed (not to mention shocked and confused) to learn that the original song was not on the particular version of this album that I purchased. The bottom line: I'd recommend this only to die-hard fans.

I sort of have mixed feelings about this remix album of the song "the perfect drug." I knew the original wouldn't be on it, and that was fine with me. I love to get any NIN singles because there's always cool remixes. And this is because they are done by Trent Reznor himself, or by him and others.

" `The Perfect Drug' Versions" has remixes, but all of them except for one are done by different artists. These artists being Meat Beat Manifesto, Plug, Spacetime Continuum, and The Orb. The songs are all right, but they don't compare to what Reznor can do with his songs. Track 3 was done/remixed by Nine Inch Nails and it shows. It's the only one on the CD that does the song justice. (It actually sounds like something you would hear on the "Fight Club" soundtrack.) The remixes are good, but could've been much better.

I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who just "kinda" likes Nine Inch Nails. If you're a die hard NIN fan then this is something that is worth checking out. My feelings are somewhat mixed about this CD, but my overall impression is that I'm content with it. Just wished there were more remixes by Trent Reznor himself. Other than that, it's still a cool CD to have if you are a big NIN fan.

If you want an excellent remix collection, look for the "Closer" and "Closer to God" CDs. Now THOSE are outstanding remixes.

I love NIN (I couldn't bring myself to give this disc less than five stars), but the only reason I bought this was to complete my collection. Only the German and Australian imports have the original song on the single (which mystifies me), so don't buy this expecting it to be on there. Like I said, if you are a diehard NIN fan and want to complete your collection, or if you want to hear the remixes, by all means go for it. If not, buy the Lost Highway soundtrack or the We're In This Together single. I don't remember which one it's on (there are three We're In This Together singles, yellow, green and orange in color, from different countries with different track listings) or buy the single for Into the Void.

I'm a big fan of NIN, I collect all thier CD's, DVD's and VHS tapes and I LOVE 99.9% of everything I've heard and seen, including the remix CD's. This CD falls into the .1% of "Hate It" category. I would prefer to get my teeth drilled to having listen to the CD again. I'll keep it in my collection because I am a Collector.

I understand that Reznor has never been that happy with this particular song, whether it was about his drug use at the time, the over-produced qualities of the song, or all the other stuff that I've heard about whyever. But when I first learned of this single I had thought it was different VERSIONS of the song, like remixes but retaining the usual structure of the song, like what NIN had done with David Bowie's 'I'm Afraid of Americans', but this is quite unlike that in every way.

But what's worse than 5 boring techno tracks with little samples of the original pasted on is the fact that the original version is not on here (though it is included on the UK release I think). I thought it was being that one of the 'versions' was by Nine Inch Nails, assuming I did that if I didn't like the rest of the tracks I'd still have the original, but no.

So, if you don't like any shapes, forms, or stinking piles of techno leave this alone, and get the Lost Highway soundtrack instead, a brilliant compilation album to an equally brilliant movie, not to mention the fact that you get two additional NIN tracks, plus two remixes by Reznor of the Bowie song 'I'm Deranged, to fill your NIN obsession.

The reason that many are disapointed with NIN's cd's is because they buy it expecting what they get other places: music written for radio, and to sell cd's. Sure Trent's music is written in the hope that people can appriciate it, but it is not meant for it. The singles and remixes are no exception, and in fact they are even more geared towards hardcore fans. But I will add, if you really want the single for this that you heard on the radio, get the import version of this cd. It is the version that contains the singles that make everyone love a band, till the radio likes something else.

When i first heard The Perfect Drug, I was blown away, it's an amazing song, so I of course snapped up The Lost Highway soundtrack and then this CD when it was released. To my complete surprise, The Perfect Drug was not on the disc! In it's place were 5 unrecognizable remixes. Sub-par at best, this release was a great disappointment, and while the remixes were not all bad, they did completely wreck an otherwise beautiful song, and that is unforgiveable. So needless to say, this CD single is best avoided unless you a fan of the remixers or a NIN completist.

I'll admit, I bought this CD for th original version and I was very dissapointed when looked closer and found out the original version wasn't on it. I gave the CD a chance just because I love Reznors work and thought it would be ok. It is an ok CD in small doses. Some of the remixes are very repetitive and it gets to the point where they are just annoying. The best track is Reznors own remix. This is definitely only a CD for people who are obsessive NIN fans. Those who like NIN but aren't obsessive would not enjoy this CD at all. The best thing about this was when I realized the original wasn't on it so I bought the Lost Highway soundtrack. If you liked the original just buy that.