Let's talk about this masterpiece called THE FRAGILE

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to one of the best albums of all time. We can listen to some tracks, I'll share my thoughts, listen to your thoughts, play some parts. Looking forward to sharing this with y'all!

[MetFreak]

The Fragile was a foundational album for me. It is one of my top Lifetime albums. It literally brings me to tears every listen.

[y_jimb]

To me, We're In This Together and The Fragile are a perfect representation of a doomed relationship, especially when taking into account the story of The Downward Spiral. This person was never able to fix themselves, but now he's in a new relationship and he thinks he can fix her. He's building her into his perfect untouchable porcelain doll and building a wall around her to keep everyone else out, and we know it's not going to work, and of course it doesn't even survive the end of disk 1. I know The Fragile is not really a concept album or story to the extent that TDS was, but at the least those two tracks seem to fit into the same narrative.

[EYErobot]

This album absolutely blew my mind on first listen. The Way Out Is Through brought me to tears coming off La Mer/The Great Below. The Fragile has been and will likely remain my favorite NIN record. There are no bad songs.

[Sound-management]

15 years ago I was a confused high school based in China, I listened to this album day and night. It dragged me out of the teenage dark hole. It helped me make few friends who love NIN too. It inspired me to make the desicion of pursuing a music career. Then I went to the US music school when I was 27. Finally watched NIN live in boston, and it was still so unreal for me. Now I am a professional composer. My life wouldn't be like this without this album. It encouraged me to become a better person.

Thank you so much for sharing this. It brings back my memories. 😭

[Nitelifebuzz]

This album was my introduction to NIN. As an immigrant, I was just getting into this type of music. Manson was all over the airwaves, and Sept 1999 I saw Trent perform "The Fragile" at the MTV VMAs. A couple weeks later when the album was released I took the risk and bought the double CD. First song "Somewhat Damaged" caught me. So much rage. so much anger. So much beauty.
I spent the next few weeks digesting this body of work and today I still claim it as my favorite NIN album. From then I worked my way backwards into the NIN discography.

[meetmyr]

This album saved my life several times

[BenWoning]

Hi Ixi, your passion for music is contagious, you've inspired me to revisit the NIN catalogue, especially this album.
I've only seen them once many years ago and at the time i wasn't really into them outside of singles but i'll always respect Trent's integrity.
At the gig, between songs, he told us how disgusted and pissed off he was when he found out how much the label was charging for their cd's.
So he told the 10 000 or so in the crowd to go out and steal the album and that he'd rather we got it for free, than line the pockets of the label exec's.
Was funny, but he made a good point.

Keep doing your unique thing Ixi, it comes across as fresh air across the stagnant pond that is most youtube content these days.
Oh and thanks for the 90's nostalgia videos, just the album art in the thumbnails was enough to bring the memories running back....
back when albums were consumed as a whole body of art.

[mollyesanborn]

A three hour video all about my favorite album? Yes! Can't wait to watch :)

[underthemayo]

Just Like You Imagined. Best NIN song. Maybe best song period. Subbed just for that!

[atrus]

The Fragile was the biggest album anticipation moment in my life. I was in grade 12. Heard about it early, watched all the teasers, VMA performance, everything. Got TDTWWA single when it came out. I even skipped school to go buy it on release day, because I couldn’t wait until after school. I loved it from the first note. Listened to the whole thing first time. Quite a journey. Helped expand little 17 yo me’s musical horizons. Not actually a huge NIN fan anymore, but they (he) had a very big, lasting impact. I still listen from time to time, mostly out of nostalgia.

[DemonCleaner]

I recently revisited this album and I think it might be one of my fave albums of all time in terms of composition and production. In high school music class our teacher asked us to bring in a cd and play one song for the class and I picked just like you imagined. The teacher was legit impressed and cranked the song up so loud ;)

[MidnightMechanic]

You want a common motif? Water. This is the album he was contemplating suicide by drowning on. Sinking, spinning, arms of undertow, the great below, adrift and at peace. Just imagine how scary and tragic it would be if this was his last album ever.

[bjornwad]

in Ripe (with decay) you said that it felt like Summer, with the insect sounds, and I'm realizing now that since he recorded it in New Orleans, those sounds reflect his environment... the bayou!

[Juan]

Sorry I missed most of the stream. Specially since The Fragile is my favourite NIN album. I fell into NIN because of the intro of SE7EN. As a graphic designer, the intro really fascinated me, and set to that alternative take of Closer really helped in that. I loved TDS as soon as I had a listen to it. Again, as a graphic designer I loved the way Trent played with sound layers, and juxtaposes colour and texture in the album. In my mind, this was akin to what I was doing on the page. To me, Trent was doing sonic graphic design.

But this was somewhere around 1995-1996-ish, so I was a bit behind other fans. When I really got into loving the band, The Fragile was pointing it's nose. The Fragile was my first NIN album bought as it came out. Many would follow. The soundscape of the album consolidated what I felt with TDS. And, lo and behold, they also brought the most influential graphic designer of the 90's aboard to design the packaging: David Carson. That sealed the deal, Trent is, at least in my head, a graphic designer playing with a different set of tools and canvas.
To me, Trent was at his peak maturity musically when he did this album. I feel "The Fragile" is "Led Zeppelin IV". It's "Dark Side of the Moon". It's the album that galvanizes a band, a musician, that masters his craft.

Once again, thank you Ixi for indulging us in this pleasure.

p.s.: I thought your reaction at 1:25:09 was because what you played sounded like "Find my Way", from Hesitation Marks... It wasn't, but I think it should be noted!

[bryananderson]

When he sings 'underneath it all' in the fragile motif 😍. Thanks for pointing out that its in We're in this together now!

[FlyingLapMedia]

So fun to have a guided tour of an album I've listened to a million times. Amazing how you can hear something for the first time with the help of a new light. Thanks for making this. Appreciate the insight.

[aschen]

the live version of the frail. perfectly. such love

[newhorizonsforfifty]

This is one of just three albums that I have ever listened to twice in a row on first listen. It was so important to me at the time, dealing with loss of family and relationship and being about as low as I'd ever been. My favorite album of all time and one of the top 20 albums ever made.

[theechothief]

I've been stopping by here every now and again, and i'm always impressed by your breadth of NIN knowledge, but not only that. Anyone can be a NIN superfan. You're so much more than that (as I'm sure you know), and we all appreciate the hell out of you. So glad you're part of the NIN community. Much love.

[CapeRides]

Missed the live stream due to the country I stay in... Going to enjoy this... Can't wait for a breakdown on Pilgrimage 😁😁😁