Fuzzy Lion

Trent is at it again, and by “at it” I mean being awesome. Today he has released yet another completely free download for us all to enjoy.

Light In the Sky is a five-song tour EP that features high-quality mp3s of bands that will be contributing to the Nine Inch Nails summer tour, as well as a Trent track “Echoplex” which is part of his last free album The Slip.

Tracklist
1. “To Fix the Gash In Your Head” – A Place To Bury Strangers
2. “We Are Rockstars” – Does It Offend You, Yeah?
3. “Crimewave (Crystal Castles vs. HEALTH)” – Crystal Castles
4. “Like New” – Deer Hunter
5. “Echoplex” – Nine Inch Nails

Head on over to http://dl.nin.com/lightsinthesky/signup to get your own free copy of industrial/electronic goodness.

NIN has this cool little flash player thing that supposedly will auto-update all the time with new content. You can also download the free edition of Ghosts I-IV through it. Enjoy.

The awesomeness that is Trent Reznor has taken yet another step to re-invent the music industry by releasing the surprise album Ghosts I - IV today. Ghosts is a four-volume, 36 track instrumental album that is available to purchase as a digital download for only $5, a double CD for $10, and a few other “limited edition” formats for a higher price. For those on a tight budget (i.e. cheap), you can download 9 of the tracks, (Ghost I) for free.

Visit http://ghosts.nin.com for more details.

Trent Reznor is sick of his label charging so much for his music, so he does what any reasonable person would do: encourage others to steal it!

2005 was an odd year for music, as many people have complained that making their “best-of list” has been quite tough. I will say that it was pretty easy for me to make my Top 10 list, but unlike last year, there wasn’t a huge surplus of records left off.

I have included a link to the albums on Amazon should you decide to purchase them. I’ve also included some standout tracks should you want to go to iTunes (or your favorite file-sharing service) and get yourself acquainted with these fine, fine albums.

Without further ado, I present the Fuzzy Lion Top 10 Albums of 2005:

10. Nine Inch Nails - “With Teeth”
Best Tracks: “All the Love In the World” / “Only” / “Right Where It Belongs”

09. Mike Doughty - “Haughty Melodic”
Best Tracks: “Looking At the World From the Bottom of a Well” / “I Hear the Bells” / “Madeline and Nine”

08. Nada Surf - “The Weight Is a Gift”
Best Tracks: “What Is Your Secret” / “In the Mirror” / “Concrete Bed”

07. Ivy - “In the Clear”
Best Tracks: “Nothing But the Sky” / “Thinking About You” / “Keep Moving”

06. Clap Your Hands Say Yeah - “Clap Your Hands Say Yeah”
Best Tracks: “Over and Over Again (Lost & Found)” / “Details of the War” / “By the Skin of My Yellow Country Teeth”

05. Gratitude - “Gratitude”
Best Tracks: “Drive Away” / “All In a Row” / “Last”

04. Ben Lee - “Awake Is the New Sleep”
Best Tracks: “Whatever It Is” / “Catch My Disease” / “Apple Candy”

03. Death Cab For Cutie - “Plans”
Best Tracks: “I’ll Follow You Into the Dark” / “What Sarah Said” / “Brothers On a Hotel Bed”

02. Sigur Rós - “Takk…”
Best Tracks: “Glósóli” / “Hoppípolla” / “Sæglópur”

01.Billy Corgan - “TheFutureEmbrace”
Best Tracks: “Mina Loy (M.O.H.)” / “The CameraEye” / “I’m Ready”

As an honorable mention, I’d like to highly recommend Shout Out Louds - “Howl Howl Gaff Gaff.” The import version was one of my favorite records of 2004, but it was released in the US this year with a llot of different tracks. If you can get your hands on both versions, definitely do it, as they’re both equal amazing.

This is one of the best videos I’ve seen in years.

The video was directed by David Fincher, the same guy who brought you “Seven” and “Fight Club.”

If you missed either of the two NIN
shows at Hammerstein a short while ago, you’ll have a second chance to
see Trent Reznor and Co. as they’ve announced a Fall Tour that will see
them play Madison Square Garden on November 3.

Queens of the Stone Age will be the support act.

The rest of the tour dates can be found here.