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Trent Reznor/NIN does not give up.

They just released another free album, entitled “The Slip.”

You can download it over here: http://theslip.nin.com/, for free.

One of the most interesting things, is the mainstream use of BitTorrent as a distribution method (for all but the MP3 version). We really are entering into uncharted waters, both with distribution and revenue models. Despite other artists doing similar things, we’re seeing lots of permutations on the “free music” model lately.

Why all this legitimate free music all of a sudden, though? Do the concerts really make the artists that much money? Or, is it all just a fad (like Radiohead reported earlier this month? I really hope not. The retail store is on its way out of the music selling business – unless we start seeing digital kiosks real soon.

I hope that artists learn to make this digital world work for them, by charging for high quality versions and letting the fans decide what it’s worth. NIN isn’t accepting any money for “The Slip.” If I wanted to give them money, I couldn’t. That’s unfortunate.

I’m counting on mankind and music lovers around the world to be honest with themselves and the artists they like to hear. Call me an optimist. So, instead of buying another beer next weekend, and murdering your liver, go download GHOSTS I-IV, and pay for it, it’s worth it. Even if it is a wild foray into a very unique genre.

Update: I really am enjoying this album, almost as much as the previous instrumental album, GHOSTS I-IV.

I’ve been following Erik Natzke’s blog Jot for a while now. He’s an extremely talented artist. Check out this post about the NIN Ghosts community videos:

Trent Reznor is inviting people to contribute visuals to audio from his latest release, Ghosts. These are a few contributions I came up with today using some reclaimed footage.

Only really unfortunate thing is that it the videos need to be published to You Tube.
Here and Here are links to versions of them in much better quality.

Trent Reznor’s newest minimalist instrumental album is an amazing feat. The music is beyond the grasp of most of the public. Yet, Reznor, with his early rock-death-metal-electronica releases in his career, made himself so well known and thus made it possible for him to release such an abstract instrumental album. This is one of the most substantial minimalist electronic albums – maybe, of all time.

But, the coolest thing about the album, is the artwork. Aside from the tons of extras you get by just paying $5 for the CD, each song has it’s own high-res image to go along with the song. The artwork is really spectacular. Definitely pick this album up, even if it’s just for the cool wallpapers.