History Music / TheFragile1999

Not to be confused with the Music/{{Yes}} album ''Fragile''.

''The Fragile'' is the third studio album by Music/NineInchNails, released in September 1999.
The album was recorded at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans, taking over two years to make.

* SuicideBySea: One possible reading of "The Great Below". It has been suggested that Trent's original plan was to have a female vocalist sing the climactic part of the song, but for whatever reason this didn't end up happening.

[[AC: Left Disc]]

[[AC: Right Disc]]

[[AC: Outtakes]]

The album was recorded at Trent Reznor's Nothing Studios in New Orleans, taking over two years to record and produce.

Around a year after release, the album (like its predecessor) received a remix album titled ''Things Falling Apart'', which featured a cover of the Music/GaryNuman song "Metal", as well as new tracks such as "10 Miles High" and "The Great Collapse". The album reached #67 on the Billboard chart but was critically panned.

* DeclarationOfProtection: "The Fragile."

* LoudnessWar: The album marked a substantial increase in NIN's participation in this trope, particularly as compared to ''Music/TheDownwardSpiral''. It still has dynamics in the quiet parts, but when it gets loud, HOLY BALLS IS IT LOUD.

Their previous album, ''Music/TheDownwardSpiral'', brought the band huge success and fame, with the single "Closer" being their highest-charting to date. The album is seen by some to be a continuation of the storyline of ''The Downward Spiral'', taking the interpretation in which the [[spoiler:main character does not die from his suicide attempt]], although the album [[NewSoundAlbum sonically differs a great deal]] in the sense that it eschews distorted and gritty instrumentation in favor of a more art rock-esque approach. Soundscapes, electronic beats, ambient noise, rock-laden guitar, and the usage of melodies as harmonies are all exhibited on the album. It's also unique since it's a DistinctDoubleAlbum split into "left" and "right" discs around 50 minutes each in length.

* ClusterFBomb: "Starfuckers, Inc."

* RecurringRiff:
** "The Frail" and the chorus of "The Fragile" share a melody.
** See MoodMotif above.

Around a year after release, the album (like its predecessor) received a remix album titled ''Things Falling Apart'', which featured a cover of the Music/GaryNuman song "Metal", as well as new tracks such as "10 Miles High" and "The Great Collapse". The album reached #67 on the Billboard chart but was critically panned. In 2016, as part of the band's campaign to release all of their albums on vinyl, they announced a special four-LP version of the album called ''The Fragile: Deviations 1'' available through pre-order only which contains altered or instrumental formats of all of the songs combined with new songs written during the recording of ''The Fragile''.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: The promotional radio edit of "Starfuckers, Inc." is called "Starsuckers, Inc.", and censors every swear (aside from the word "whore") as well as the words "suck you" and "taste" (in the context of fellatio). It additionally replaces the song's non-explicit bridge entirely (although this was more for legal reasons - since it's a mildly changed version of "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon).

-->''I bet you think this song is about you.''

Their previous album, ''Music/TheDownwardSpiral'', brought the band huge success and fame, with the single "Closer" being their highest-charting to date. The album is seen by some to be a continuation of the storyline of ''The Downward Spiral'', taking the interpretation in which the [[spoiler:main character's suicide attempt is unsuccessful]], although the album [[NewSoundAlbum sonically differs a great deal]] in the sense that it eschews distorted and gritty instrumentation in favor of a more art rock-esque approach. Soundscapes, electronic beats, ambient noise, rock-laden guitar, and the usage of melodies as harmonies are all exhibited on the album. It's also unique since it's a DistinctDoubleAlbum split into "left" and "right" discs around 50 minutes each in length.

* {{Bowdlerise}}: The promotional radio edit of "Starfuckers, Inc." is called "Starsuckers, Inc.", and censors every swear (aside from the word "whore") as well as the words "suck you" and "taste" (in the context of the previous phrase). It additionally replaces the song's non-explicit bridge entirely (although this was more for legal reasons - since it's a mildly changed version of "You're So Vain" by Carly Simon).

** According to Trent Reznor in an interview, [[WhatCouldHaveBeen the album itself was supposed to be a sequel]] to [[Music/TheDownwardSpiral it's predecessor]] in which the main protagonist goes from being happy after recovering from his [[NoPunIntended downward spiral]] (Left side) to depressed (Right side), then trying to find another hope only to lose again.

* DownerEnding: As described by Trent:

* CallBack: "The Wretched" contains the line: "Back at the beginning / Sinking, spinning..." which may be a reference to the title of the previous album ''The Downward Spiral''.

* EpicRocking: Eight of the 23 tracks are over 5 minutes long, with two of these being over six minutes.

# "Can I Stay Here" (4:25) (Found On The Fragile: Deviations 1 and The Fragile Instrumentals)

* {{Bowdlerise}}: The promotional radio edit of "Starfuckers, Inc." is called "Starsuckers, Inc.", and censors every swear as well as the words "suck you off" and "taste" (in the context of the previous phrase). It additionally replaces the song's bridge entirely (although it wasn't particularly explicit).
** The bridge was replaced for legal reasons - since it's a mildly changed version of You're So Vain by Carly Simon.

-->''"The clouds will part and the sky cracks open\\

** The words "nothing can stop me now" from The Downward Spiral appear again on the album, but this time in French on the track "La Mer".
** A variation of the line "and all that could have been" appears in both The Wretched and The Great Below. The same line also ended up being the title of both a live album, and a song on the acoustic EP Still.
** The line "I can still feel you" appears on The Great Below and Underneath It All, both of which are the last vocal tracks of their respective sides.
** "Slipping away" is referenced in both the title track and Into The Void
* ConceptAlbum: Loosely - there are underlying concepts of decay and brokenness.

* MoodMotif: The riff that opens the very first track on the album, Somewhat Damaged, later reappears in La Mer and Into The Void, both times as a slightly different rendition both rhythmically and in key. These three are some of the darkest songs on The Fragile.
* LighterAndSofter: The album has far more quiet tracks and moments of beauty than The Downward Spiral.

-->"''The clouds will part and the sky cracks open\\

just to push you down''"
-->--'''Nine Inch Nails,''' "''The Wretched''"

''The Fragile'' is a 1999 album by Music/NineInchNails. Their previous album, Music/TheDownwardSpiral, brought the band huge success and fame, with the single "Closer" being their highest charting to date. The album is seen by some to be a continuation of the storyline of Music/TheDownwardSpiral, taking the interpretation in which the [[spoiler:main character's suicide attempt is unsuccessful]].

The album reached #1 in the Billboard 200 chart on release, and has been certified double platinum.

Around a year after release, the album (like its predecessor) received a remix album. The album, titled ''Things Falling Apart'' featured a cover of the Music/GaryNuman song "Metal", as well as new tracks such as "10 Miles High" and "The Great Collapse". The album reached #67 on the Billboard chart.

!! The Way Out Is Tropes:

* TextlessAlbumCover: The band's logo is the only text appearing on the cover of the album.
* TitleTrack: "The Fragile". Although the exact title doesn't appear, the word "Fragile" appears in the lyrics.

* Danny Lohner: Drum programming, ambiance

* Leitmotif: The riff that opens the very first track on the album, Somewhat Damaged, later reappears in La Mer and Into The Void, both times as a slightly different rendition both rhythmically and in key.

* ArcWords: The words "nothing can stop me now" appear again on the album, but this time in French on the track "La Mer".