At this EXACT moment in time, I’m listening to the new Saul Williams album, The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust, out today (which is fortuitous timing when you consider this). Williams collaborated with Trent Reznor of NIN on this release and they’re releasing it Radiohead/Public Enemy-style: you can either download the album for free, or you can pay a mere $5. I’ve sung high praise about Williams before, and something tells me that this album is going to be a highlight of his career. I’m only two songs in — I’ll follow-up with a proper write up later — but early reports from trusted sources confirm this hunch. Do your ears (and liver) a favor and put the $5 you would have spent on an after-work beer towards this release. GET IT HERE.
13 comments
puck says:
Nov 1, 2007
oh, i love and respect saul williams so much. is it weird that he’s kind of a tranny idol for me?
yeah, i guess that’s weird considering his cisgenderedness.
Taylor says:
Nov 1, 2007
Not necessarily… he’s a very active, outspoken guy, and he’s all about equality and rights on so many levels, so it definitely makes sense in that regard.
Py Korry says:
Nov 1, 2007
I just downloaded the album and will give it a few spins.
Taylor says:
Nov 1, 2007
Awesome! Let me know what you think…
Nick says:
Nov 2, 2007
I’ve always been more of a fan of his written work than his music although I definitely liked “List of Demands (Reparations)”. I’m definitely giving this a shot, but really? “Sunday Bloody Sunday”? Really?
Taylor says:
Nov 2, 2007
Yes, really! And it works. It was a ballsy move, but I think he pulled it off.
Py Korry says:
Nov 2, 2007
Okay, I heard the first 4 tracks, and thought they were pretty good. For some reason, I was expecting Sunday Bloody Sunday to go in a different direction, but for the most part, it remained close the original. I do like Convict Colony, but since I haven’t given the entire album a spin, I’m sure there are other songs I’m going to warm up to.
Alex says:
Nov 7, 2007
I can’t say I’m completely digging the new album, especially with it being produced by Trent Reznor. But there are some gems on there: I’m especially enthralled with “Black History Month”. Respect to the “Radiohead model” of distribution, too.
Taylor says:
Nov 7, 2007
I completely understand – when I first heard it, I was taken back by just how Trent Reznor it is – but when you think about his last album and how harsh some of the beats were, it’s not really an unnatural progression for Saul. It’s very, very Trent, but I think there’s still plenty of Saul all over it. I would have been curious to see if he could’ve progressed to something similar on his own, but I don’t know that he would of. I think this bodes well for his next work, too – hopefully he’ll have learned some new tricks from Trent and take those in his own direction.
Py Korry » Blog Archive » Mix Six “All Smashed Up!” says:
Nov 9, 2007
[…] “Sunday Bloody Sunday” U2/Saul Willams (feat. Trent Reznor) Taylor at T-Sides did a post on the new Saul Williams album with the “Pay what feel like paying” price tag for downloading. I did download it and there was a cover of “Sunday Bloody Sunday” in the song list. So, why not compare the two versions and see how the cover holds up to the original. […]
Brieneporie says:
Mar 15, 2011
Nowhere so busy a man as he than he, and yet he seemed busier than he was.
ZeloClodlerma says:
Apr 5, 2011
People desire to separate their worlds into polarities of dark and light, ugly and beautiful, good and evil, right and wrong, inside and outside. Polarities serve us in our learning and growth, but as souls we are all.
ZeloClodlerma says:
Apr 6, 2011
If I go to a concert or sporting event I usually go in a VIP entrance. And leave the same way.