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'''''The Fragile''''' (also known as '''''[[Halo numbers|Halo 14]]'''''), released on September 21, 1999, is the fourth studio album by [[Nine Inch Nails]]. The album features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. While it received critical acclaim from many, it did not receive the commercial success that its predecessor, ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]],'' did (attributed variously to the difference in musical climate, and insufficient promotion by [[Interscope Records]]).

The album features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. While it received critical acclaim from many, it did not receive the commercial success that its predecessor, ''[[The Downward Spiral (halo)|The Downward Spiral]],'' did (attributed variously to the difference in musical climate, and insufficient promotion by [[Interscope Records]]). Prior to its release, the single ''[[The Day The World Went Away (halo)|The Day The World Went Away]]'' came out on July 20; following ''The Fragile,'' ''[[We're In This Together (halo)|We're In This Together]]'' was released in three parts on December 14. A collection featuring several [[Remixes|remixes]] and new material from ''The Fragile'' was released as ''[[Things Falling Apart]]'' on November 21, 2000.The album was produced by [[Alan Moulder]], though it was originally going to be produced by Rick Rubin.[https://www.mtv.com/news/wmzp4p/star-producer-rick-rubin-signs-on-for-nine-inch-nails-album]

* "The Wretched," "We're in This Together," "Even Deeper," "Pilgrimage," "The Mark Has Been Made," "10 Miles High," "The New Flesh" and "I'm Looking Forward to Joining You, Finally" all do not crossfade as on the CD version, because these songs either end or begin their respective sides

The track list for the double cassette releases of ''The Fragile'' follow the CD track list, save for the insertion of "[[+Appendage]]" onto the end of "Please" on US and EU some other countries' copies. The first tape splits between "Just Like You Imagined" and "Even Deeper," while the second tape splits between either "Please (+ Appendage)" and "Starfuckers, Inc." (most US versions) or "Starfuckers, Inc." and "Complication" (non-.  "+Appendage" is included on all US cassettes and on several other countries', such as Thailand and also Poland. "+Appendage" is listed, but not actually included, in the tracklistings of some US versions)countries' cassettes, such as Europe and South Korea. Other countries''The Fragile'' was cassette releases, such as the final NIN release to be officially issued on cassette. Subsequent albums have been issued on cassette in other countriesPhilippines, Malaysia, and Mexico, omit "+Appendage" entirely, though they are of questionable authenticityfrom both the tracklisting and the tape.

[[Image:FragileInst.jpg|thumb|''The Fragile Instrumental'' Artwork]]''The Fragile Instrumental'' was made available on June 30th, 2015 exclusively via Apple Music. It contained instrumentals of every track, with some also being alternate versions (see the [[Remixes#The_Fragile_Era|remixes]] page for details.)It also contained three previously unheard tracks: "[[The March]]" (instrumental), "[[Hello, Everything Is Not OK]]" (instrumental) (a demo of "10 Miles High"), and "[[Can I Stay Here?]]" (instrumental). It is also notable that it contains the first non-cassette version of "+Appendage". It was released along with ''[[With Teeth (halo)|With Teeth Instrumental]]''.

It also contained three previously unheard tracks:====Track List====*"[[The March]]Frail" (Instrumental)*and "Pilgrimage"[[Hellowere not included in the playlist posted on Apple Music, Everything Is Not OK]]" (Instrumental) (a demo of "10 Miles High")*"[[Can I Stay Here?]]" (Instrumental)but were still available as tracks on the service.

It was released along with #"Somewhat Damaged" (instrumental) - 4:53#"The Day The World Went Away" (instrumental) - 6:19#"The Wretched" (instrumental) - 5:57#"We're In This Together" (instrumental) - 7:36#"The Fragile" (instrumental) - 4:46#"Just Like You Imagined" (alt) - 3:41#"Even Deeper" (instrumental) - 6:17#"No, You Don'[[With Teeth t" (instrumental) - 3:18#"La Mer" (alt) - 4:55#"The Great Below" (instrumental) - 5:25#"The New Flesh" (alt) - 3:41#"The Way Out Is Through" (instrumental) - 4:27#"Into The Void" (instrumental) - 4:45#"Where Is Everybody?" (instrumental) - 4:54#"The Mark Has Been Made" (alt) - 4:46#"The March" (instrumental) - 3:42#"Please" (haloinstrumental)|With Teeth Instrumental]]'', and is exclusive to the Apple Music platform. It is also notable that it contains the first non-cassette version of 3:30#"+Appendage"(instrumental) - 3:17#"Can I Stay Here?" (instrumental) - 4:22#"Hello, Everything Is Not OK" (instrumental) - 5:12#"Starfuckers, Inc. " (instrumental) - 5:09#"Complication" (alt) - 2:54#"I'm Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally" (instrumental) - 4:18#"The FrailBig Come Down" and (instrumental) - 4:04#"Underneath It All" (instrumental) - 3:21#"PilgrimageRipe (With Decay)" were not included in the playlist posted on Apple Music, but are still available as tracks on the service.(alt) - 4:34

<p>—Reznor [httphttps://www.theninhotline.netcom/archives/articles/xart180manager/display_article.shtmlphp?id=780]</p>

Note that whilst "[[Anomaly]]" has been confirmed to be the working title of "The Way Out Is Through", the final titles for "[[Rotation]]" and "[[Stained]]" have not been revealed; "Underneath It All" may be the final title for the latter, based on its prominent lyrical use of the word. Stated in an interview with the [[Nailed]] Podcast, [[Charlie Clouser]] believes that "Rotation" is an early iteration of "[[The Big Come Down]]", but could not say for certain.

In a question and answer session with NIN fans, Reznor hinted at the reissue of ''The Fragile'' for early 2010, a statement repeated via the [http://twitter.com/nineinchnails/status/4157519090 official twitter account], calling it an "ultimate reissue." [[Rob Sheridan]] has since mentioned that the project is delayed due to packaging decisions, and as yet there is no new release date. [[Alan Moulder]] has completed a 5.1 surround sound mix for the reissue.[http://recforums.prosoundweb.com/index.php/mv/msg/32698/502417/0/#msg_502417] In a nin.com post about the 2020 Dolby Atmos version of ''[[The Social Network Soundtrack]]'', Reznor hinted at a possible Dolby Atmos version of ''The Fragile'' in the future.

This edition of the vinyl also comes with a digital download card and a booklet containing photos and an essay about the sequencing of the album, written by Bob Ezrin.

The album was supported by a tour that visited North America, Europe, Australia and Japan. The chaos of earlier tours was beginning to subside and the shows were somewhat more focused on production and good precise performance. During the North American portion of the tour, three tall rectangular screens were lowered mid-set for showing pieces of film. Despite the fact that Trent Reznor was in the throes of addiction during this tour, it was well-received by fans and critics alike. The [[Fragility 2.0]] tour was filmed and released as ''[[And All That Could Have Been (halo)|And All That Could Have Been]]'' on 2-disc DVD (both Dolby Digital and DTS versions) and VHS in 2002. It was also released as a live CD, at one point combined with a second disc of re-constructed material and new songs called ''[[Still]].'' ==Live==A number of songs from this album [[NIN_songs_never_played_live|have not been played live]], including non-CD tracks "10 Miles High" and "The New Flesh". During the [[Cold And Black And Infinite Tour]] in 2018, several shows teased the possibility of hearing ''The Fragile'' in its entirety, with the first four songs on the album starting the show, but then breaking the sequence with non-''Fragile'' songs.

<p>I wanted this album to sound like there was something inherently flawed in the situation, like someone struggling to put the pieces together. Downward Spiral was about peeling off layers and arriving at a naked, ugly end. This album starts at the end, then attempts to create order from chaos, but never reaches the goal. It’s probably a bleaker album because it arrives back where it starts—[with] the same emotion”emotion. The album begins “Somewhat Damaged” "Somewhat Damaged" and ends “Ripe "Ripe [With Decay]".</p>

==Composition and inspiration==In one interview, Alan Moulder stated that the album started out with 173 different pieces or musical ideas, and the cover of [[Gary Numan]]'s "[[Metal]]" had been completed when the album sessions began.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9CrXjiTnwN8] He also stated in a different interview that 120 songs were recorded[https://www.soundonsound.com/people/alan-moulder-recording-nine-inch-nails-smashing-pumpkins], so it is likely that some of the 173 pieces were merely seeds of inspiration that were never developed into anything usable. The orginal large amount of song ideas was evidently whittled down before they even reached the demo stage, as Reznor stated in a 2000 interview that he demoed 47 songs, which he then chose from when deciding which ones to write lyrics for.[https://www.theninhotline.com/archives/articles/manager/display_article.php?id=935] During a podcast with [[Skinny Puppy]]'s cEvin Key, [[Danny Lohner]] revealed that Reznor was inspired by Tom Waits' ''Bone Machine'' when making ''The Fragile'', and that "Somewhat Damaged" was written and originally demoed around the time of "[[The Perfect Drug (song)|The Perfect Drug]]".[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r8AJHQGtnsI] ''Bone Machine'''s use of Harry Partch-style found object percussion influenced the unique percussion on certain parts of the album. Reznor stated in an interview with ''Guitar World'' that My Bloody Valentine and their album ''Loveless'' (also produced by Moulder) were influences during the recording. He also revealed that the majority of the guitar sounds on the album were played on a Parker Fly guitar, utilizing its piezo pickup.[http://www.nin-pages.de/2000_Guitar_World_Juni_englisch.htm] This guitar sound was also likely used on "The Perfect Drug" and later showed up on some tracks from ''With Teeth''. ===Alan Moulder on Songwriting===

A look through David Carson's book ''Fotografiks'' reveals that the top section of the album cover is from a photo of Öxarárfoss waterfall in Iceland and the bottom section is from a closeup photo of the inside of some kind of seashell. The flowers on the back cover are widely assumed to be a variety of Indian Paintbrush. He explained further in an image on his website:

*[[Page Hamilton]] - Guitar (on "No, You Don't") - '''uncreditedunconfirmed'''

*[[Danny Lohner]] - Drum Programming, Ambiance, Synthesizers, Guitar on "Somewhat Damaged", "Just Like You Imagined," "The Great Below," "Complication"

*[[Alan Moulder]] - Producer, Engineer, Mixing

*[[Brian Pollack ]] - Engineer *[[Trent Reznor]] - Vocals, Guitars, Cello, Piano, Synthesizers, Programming, Producer

*Thank you very much: Cemal Adiguezel, Gretchen Anderson, Simon Baeyertz, Roy Bennett, Nancy Berry, Michael Blum, Steve Bottomley, [[David Bowie]], Steve "Coco" Brandon, Tim Buckley, Karen Ciccone, Paul Connolly, Melissa Daigle, Daisy May, Renee Dodson, Duane Fogg, Ernie Fortunato, Ken Friedman, Gerry Gerrard, Erin Gilligan, Robert Hales, Toni Halliday, Page Hamilton, Mike Harris, Dan Hill, Doug Idleman, Stuart Issleib, Leslie Kaufman, Martin Kierszenbaum, Sam Kirby, Paris Langford, John Lewis, Tim Lightfoot, Tiffany Luning, Clint Mansell, Denise Milfort, Tina Montalbano, Mike Montero, Chuck Ortner, Dean Parker, [[Mark Pellington]], Lynn Pompey, Gina Pontius, [[Kim Prevost]], [[Porter Ricks]], Rodney Robertson, Lu Rojas, [[Mark Romanek]], [[Rick Rubin]], Barry Sanders, Trish Schultz, Nick Scott, Winston Simone, Jeff Slippen, Nick Stern, Rick Szekelyi, Tony Thompson, Tomato, Bob Uzzo, Ed Vigueira, Larry Weinstein, Nigel Wiesehan, Angele Ylisastigui, Dawn Zillich, Sioux Zimmerman, Aqua Marine, Brennan's, Clavia, DigiDesign, Jason Lamb and Dod, eMagic, Sean Wilhelmson and EMU Systems, Rob Timmons and Fernandez, Geoff Farr and GSF Agency, Id Software, Jens Gellhaar, K-Paul's, Brad Strickland and Korg/Parker, Tim Godwin and Line 6, Greg Perry, DK Sweet and Mackie, Musician's Friend (New Orleans), Bill Noll at Neoview, N.O. Music Exchange, Nola, Opcode, Pedalman, Solid State Logic, Sound Chek (New Orleans), Waves, Werlein's Music

*[httphttps://vimeowww.youtube.com/65825592 watch?v=HUY_RI5cZ6M "ninetynine" TV Commercial directed by David Carsonaired in 1998]*[httphttps://nineinchnails.tumblrvimeo.com/post/51818928436/software-screenshots-from-the-recording-of-the ''The Fragile'' software screenshots from nin.com65825592 TV Commercial directed by David Carson]*[httphttps://nineinchnailswww.tumblrflickr.com/postphotos/10729782@N03/51370793367albums/the-fragile-production-journals-published-on-the 72157624007552825 David Carson images that were used for ''The Fragile'' production journals from nin.comera releases]

*[https://web.archive.org/web/20031211150843/http://www.disinfo.com/archive/pages/article/id1983/pg1/index.html Disinfo.com: ''A listener's guide to 'The Fragile''']*[httphttps://www.soundonsound.com/sos/may00/articlespeople/alan.htm -moulder-recording-nine-inch-nails-smashing-pumpkins Sound On Sound: Interview with Alan Moulder with info on the making of ''The Fragile'']