Happy Birthday, Trent

Y’all know I couldn’t let this birthday go unnoticed. After all, the birthday boy in question is the reigning two-time Stone Coldest Fox, as ordained by LET (and let’s face it, he’ll probably be a three-timer by the time the end of 2010 rolls around). He’s also a damn fine musician, as the legions and hordes of Nine Inch Nails fans will attest to. And while NIN is currently on an indefinite hiatus, that hasn’t stopped this guy from keepin’ on keepin’ on (check out How To Destroy Angels to get more Trentness).

And so, it’s time to break out your favorite Nine Inch Nails record (may I suggest perhaps The Downward Spiral?), have a glass of whatever tickles your fancy, and join me in a rollicking birthday toast to the man, the myth, the fox: Trent Reznor.

mp3: Discipline (Nine Inch Nails from The Slip)

Stone Coldest Fox of 2009: Trent Reznor

As we’ve said before, and will happily say over and over, we’re definitely not above a little objectification here at Les Enfants Terribles. We’re equal opportunity objectifiers, and we love us some smut. After all, someone’s gotta put the sex in “sex, drugs, and rock’n’roll.” With that in mind, I’d like to present my favorite Best Of category, celebrating the sex appeal of the guys who make the music we love. Last year, in my inaugural homage to the foxiest of foxy rock’n’rollers, I listed ten dudes who are, in my humble opinion, some of the sexiest men around. This year I thought better of that idea, not because I had a hard time choosing guys for the list but because when you boil it down it really isn’t fair. There’s one man who really personifies foxiness, one man who is like walking sex, one man who can out-smolder anyone and everyone. That man owned this title in 2008, and he’s repeating as my Stone Coldest Fox of the Year for 2009. May I introduce to you, again, the one and only Trent Reznor, and he could teach most of the dudes I know a thing or two.

What is it that makes Trent so overwhelmingly and irresistibly appealing, you might be wondering. Well, there’s plenty. Naturally, no one can deny that the man was given a good start by the genetic craps shoot. Be it Downward Spiral Trent in bondage gear or “Perfect Drug” Trent decked out in Edwardian velvets, or the current Trent-carnation of pure sex and bulging biceps, he’s a beautiful man. In addition, he’s got plenty of other things going for him, such as his stage persona. Rarely have I seen someone so intense during his performances. And I’ll say this, never underestimate the attractiveness of putting everything you have into a show, guys. It only makes us ladies curious about what else you might be so intense about.

Also enticing is the fact that he’s in his 40s. To some of us girls, this means that he’s worldly and wise, and has probably been around the block a time or two. Experience is oh-so alluring. Trent’s been in the music industry for quite a long time, and he’s seasoned. He’s a pro. He’s gotta be, to have survived for so long in such a tough business. And this tenacity and success does a lot to bolster his already sky-high sexiness. Oh yeah, and there's that whole super talented thing, too.

But perhaps what makes him the most lust-worthy of musicians is, as I can finally say from firsthand experience, his presence. Trent in the flesh is stiflingly sexy. Ladies, let me tell you, you haven’t lived until you’ve been enveloped in a bear hug from this man. And only someone with the slow-burning hotness of Trent Reznor could get away with saying something like, “I wanna be covered in boobs.”

Bottom line: Trent Reznor is the reigning king of foxes, at least as far as this here site is concerned. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I feel a swoon coming on.

mp3: Sin (Nine Inch Nails from Pretty Hate Machine)

Zut Alors!: Sharing is Caring

Dearest friends,

As we all know, the economy is still a big old nasty piece of work these days. I'm feeling it, and I'm sure pretty much all of you are feeling it.

However, there's a matter that I wish to bring to your attention, and it is my hope that at least some of you will be able to participate.

You already know how highly we think of Mr. Trent Reznor around these parts, and both Chris and I subscribe to TR's Tweets. It was one of those Tweets that alerted me to what I'm now going to bring to your attention. Here's the message that Trent posted to the NIN site:

"A Letter from Trent:

This is for something important. Eric De La Cruz is dying and needs a heart transplant. He keeps getting turned down for a transplant list because he's on Nevada Medicaid, and there are no transplant centers in Nevada. We want to get involved and hopefully so do you, so we're extending a hand. His sister Veronica (former Anchor and Internet Correspondent for CNN) has started a campaign to save his life.

Eric's situation shines a bright light on a broken health care system, and his particular set of problems are being addressed on the political front, aiming for reform in addition to the need for immediate financial help to keep him alive TODAY. I think we can help with the latter.

Here's what we're offering - three options:

If you have a ticket to a NIN/JA show: if you donate $1,000 to this cause, we'll invite you to come hang out with us before the NIN/JA show of your choice. You and a guest can watch NIN and Street Sweeper Social Club's soundchecks, eat dinner backstage with us, take pics / get autographs and watch the show from the side of the stage if you'd like.

If you donate $300, you and a friend can join us for NIN and SSSC's soundchecks and a handshaking / hug session before doors open at the NIN/JA show of your choice.

If you do NOT have a ticket to a NIN/JA show: if you donate $1,200 to this cause, we'll invite you to come hang out with us before the NIN/ JA show of your choice and provide 2 tickets (best available). You and a guest can watch soundcheck, eat dinner backstage with us, take pics / get autographs and watch the show from the side of the stage if you'd like.

100% of the money collected from this will go directly to Eric's fund.

I hope you'll consider helping out with this.

Sincerely, Trent Reznor

DEADLINE FOR DONATION PACKAGES IS 5:00PM (PST) 2 DAYS PRIOR TO EACH NIN/JA TOUR DATE.
NO MORE DONATIONS CAN BE ACCEPTED FOR THE FOLLOWING DATES* 5.21.09 SANTA BARBARA, CA [SANTA BARBARA BOWL]* 5.22.09 MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA [SHORELINE AMPHITHEATRE]* 5.24.09 GEORGE, WA [THE GORGE - SASQUATCH FESTIVAL]"

Like I said, I know times are super tight for everyone these days. As of now, this fundraising effort has raised over $600,000 to help Eric. We all know how completely and totally fucked the health care system is in this country, and this is a way to help someone who really, really needs it who might not make it otherwise. If you can, I would urge you to consider donating. You can even donate $10, which I know is a lot for many of us. I can't even begin to say how awesome this is, what Trent and co. have done, because if you think about it, not many bands at all would consider doing something like this (in an era in which some bands will charge you simply to meet them, with the money going to them as opposed to an actual pertinent cause). So, in closing, sharing is caring, and what better way to share than helping someone who is truly in need. It'll warm your heart, guaranteed.

Happy Birthday, Trent

He's been a regular fixture on this here site for quite some time now, so it's only right to wish LET's Sexiest Man of 2008 and Great Hope of the Music Industry, Mr. Trent Reznor, a very, very happy birthday.

Trent is currently in the midst of the NIN/JA tour with Jane's Addiction, and if you've never seen Nine Inch Nails, well, a) this is your last chance and b) it's a must-see event. Yours truly will be seeing the show when it rolls along to the DC area, and I hope you've been able to get your mitts on some tickets. I have no doubt that it'll be one of the best shows of 2009.

Reznor Named King of All Things Social Media

Sometimes I worry that I write far too much about Trent Reznor, but, damnation, the guy is so far ahead of the game when it comes to the current state of the music industry, I can't help myself.

We've told you about numerous free albums, samplers and tracks he's posted for free on his site. If you haven't seen it, the guy's a Twitter freak, too.

Well, all that apparently was child's play, as the sumbitch now has officially launched his own iPhone app (Android and Blackberry ports allegedly are in the works). Now, I'm still playing with the thing myself, but it could be the most genius thing I've ever seen, wis-à-vis a band marketing itself through Web 2.0 outlets. Not only does this thing allow access to a boatload of music and videos, but it also has the vaunted "Nearby" feature, essentially a GPS/Twitter mixture that allows users to post their current thoughts and locations, ostensibly allowing like-minded NIN fans to get together to do whatever like-minded NIN fans do. I imagine it involves wearing a lot of black, but I digress.

If you've got an iPhone, I strongly suggest checking this thing out, regardless of your feelings on NIN, as this should be the future of what bands start doing in the future. Assuming that is the case, me likey. Me likey a LOT.

To get your iPhone app, click here.

The Stone Coldest Foxes in Musicdom

We’re not above a little base objectification every now and again here at Les Enfants Terribles. And there’s plenty to ogle these days in the music biz. Bearing that in mind, I decided to put together a list of the guys who make my little heart go pitter-patter, make me swoon, and get me all hot and bothered.

So what’s it take to make it on my list, you might be wondering? I'm harder to please than you might think. It’s all about having that certain something, be it a saucy come hither glint in the eyes or a sassy wiggle of the hips during a gig. In some cases it's subtle, but in others it's about as subtle as a thrust of the crotch. These guys have foxiness in spades in a variety of ways, and that one pictured to the left is the hottest of the bunch. But I think you’ll agree, any way you slice it these ten are pretty darned hot to trot.



10. Matt Berninger (The National)

9. Hamilton Leithauser (The Walkmen)

8. Jarvis Cocker (ex-Pulp)

7. Gruff Rhys (Super Furry Animals)

6. Tim Burgess (The Charlatans)

5. Jason Pierce (Spiritualized)

4. Calvin Harris

3. Peter Hayes (Black Rebel Motorcycle Club)

2. Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age/Eagles of Death Metal)

1. Trent Reznor (Nine Inch Nails)

Zut Alors!: Is Trent Reznor the Future of On-Line Entertainment?

Every now and again (OK, twice), an artist will make a move that I feel is as important, if not moreso, than the music s/he makes. Back in the day, I really got behind Pearl Jam bucking the whole Ticket Bastard system, essentially telling the established machine that they weren't buying into it. PJ stopped making big budget videos and reached out directly to the fans to keep their music alive. Seeing as they remain one of the largest selling concerts of the year whenever they tour, obviously it worked for them.

Trent Reznor has been doing something similar, though still distinctly different, enough to make me sit back and say, "wow." Apparently feeling less than enchanted with his relationship with the Interscope record label, TZ made the announcement back in October of 07 that he was dropping the label and that Nine Inch Nails would henceforth be "a totally free agent, free of any recording contract with any label." So it was with probably little surprise that on March 2, 2008, NIN made their first on-line offering with Ghosts I-IV, a 36-track series of CDs. With this one, fans can opt for anything from a completely free download of the first nine songs to shelling out $300 for the "ultra deluxe limited edition package," which includes such goodies as "an exclusive, four-LP 180 gram vinyl set in a fabric slipcase, and two exclusive limited edition Giclee prints in a luxurious package," amongst other things.

Sure, Radiohead already went this route (though they weren't the first, either), and if this was all Reznor was doing, I'd be less impressed. Remember "Year Zero" from last year? How many of you got into the alternate reality game (ARG) that went along with the project? Eerie websites, free songs on memory sticks left in bathrooms, a special concert--they guy really got into the entire idea of reaching out beyond the limitations of just a CD and its packaging and truly embraced what today's tech had to offer. I'm not a huge fan of the whole Web 2.0 theory, but if such a thing exists, Trent seems to have his finger squarely on its pulse. (Read more about the ARG side of things in this great Wired article. In the interest of full disclosure, I didn't get too involved with this aspect, as the A.I. game that launched the genre confused the hell out of me, though I did follow the articles that were written about it.

For the record (CD?), I ordered the $10 package of Ghosts this morning and, while I haven't had a chance to download it yet, I'm looking forward to doing so tonight and then getting my two actual CDs in the mail in a little bit. Hopefully, Trent is on the forefront of two very important movements. First, being in the vanguard of using an all-inclusive media package to entertain us, musically, visually and mentally. I, for one, really dig that. And if it just so happens that he's helping to drive the stake through the heart of record labels that don't seem to give much of a shit about the fans, well, I'm A-OK with that, too.

To get your copy of the latest offering from NIN, go here. It's up to you how much, if anything, you want to spend.

I'll be back hopefully no later than next week with the LET take on the albums.