Whats This Playlist All About? The NIN mastermind cherry-picks from his own catalog to gift us with a soundtrack for soaking in the beautiful sadness of solitude. His only tip: "Darkness optional but recommended."What Do You Get? Reznors bleakest but most seductive instrumentals, mostly from his film scores with main collaborator Atticus Ross. Theres no shortage of minor keys, moaning drones, and endless black holes of white noise. The mood is not all nihilistic, though; in fact, the way the songs flow—patiently, almost placidly—allows for ample moments of blissful reflection. Darkest Moment: Theres something truly disorienting about the weirdly pitched drones weaving through Reznors soft piano jabs on "Soft Trees Break the Fall" from The Social Network. Its even more terrifying to think about listening to this while scrolling through Facebook.What Did He Forget? While a few tracks from the underrated Still are here, that releases glistening finale "Leaving Hope" would have been a fine addition. But perhaps that ones better with the lights on.Should You Dare Play This in the Presence of Others? We wouldnt. This stuff can take you to dark places you never knew existed.
