Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross: The Social Network Soundtrack

The reason I want to see David Fincher's much-publicized Facebook movie, The Social Network, isn't the prospect of Jesse Eisenberg portraying Mark Zuckerberg as a self-righteous jerk on the silver screen. No, I'm far more intrigued by the way producer Atticus Ross and NIN mastermind Trent Reznor's dark, minimalist soundtrack will work within the seemingly drab contexts of college drama, website design, and legal troubles. What I've heard so far is reminiscent of the eerie soundscapes and muted pianos found on Nine Inch Nails' instrumental outing Ghosts I - IV, and that's a good thing. Download a free five track sampler of The Social Network Soundtrack here.

How To Destroy Angels FREE EP

How To Destroy Angels, the collaboration between Trent Reznor, wife Mariqueen Maandig, and Atticus Ross, have released their much-hyped debut self-titled EP through their site for free, as well as in several different other priced packages. The EP boasts six tracks of fuzzed-out industrial rock and artwork that looks straight out of a Star Trek original series set piece. If you are a fan of anything Reznor/Nine Inch Nails, download this IMMEDIATELY. After a quick first listen, I can already say this is going to be one of my favorite releases of the year. Maandig proves to be a great vocalist, her soft, mysterious voice an excellent counterpoint to the noisy arrangements. Songs like "Parasite" and "BBB" simply rock, and the introspective "A Drowning" is one of Reznor's most hauntingly beautiful compositions.

Get the EP here.

As you wait for your download, check out "Fur Lined." Ross and Reznor lay down a dance beat as Maandig's distant vocals echo away. Later own, heavy, jerky guitars join in the fray.

How To Destroy Angels - "Fur Lined"

How To Destroy Angels - "The Space in Between" video

How To Destroy Angels is a collaboration between Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor, his wife and former vocalist of West Indian Girl Mariqueen Maandig, and producer Atticus Ross. The band recently released the video for the "The Space in Between" off of their eponymous upcoming EP. It's a pretty interesting video, presenting the aftermath of a brutal murder scene in a hotel room. Maandig's corpse sings along as it slowly catches fire, and Reznor spends the video lying face down on the floor, covered in blood. A typical upbeat venture for Reznor. The music itself sounds like Maandig's vocals were pasted on top of a long lost Nine Inch Nails instrumental, and that's not a bad thing. Her smooth, quiet delivery provides a stark contrast to the rumbling, ominous programming behind it, lending a sense of cold detachment to the track.

"How To Destroy Angels" drops sometime this summer. Watch the video for "The Space in Between" below.