Hometown loss
November 1, 2005 11:56 AM Subscribe
Images of the Lower 9th Ward by Trent Reznor.
It's flash. They open in pop-up windows, which might be blocked by the Firefox blocker. They're not in Safari, but who knows.
posted by setanor at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by setanor at 12:06 PM on November 1, 2005
Would this be any more interesting than, say, Joe Blough's pics if they weren't from Trent Reznor?
posted by lodurr at 12:08 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by lodurr at 12:08 PM on November 1, 2005
There really haven't been any pictures of this quality and comprehensiveness of this area since the disaster hit. If they were by someone else, their name would have replaced that of Mr. Reznor.
posted by setanor at 12:10 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by setanor at 12:10 PM on November 1, 2005
Doh, funny how I missed that yellow warning across the top of the screen saying the site tried to pop up a window. Thanks, I'll go back to slapping myself on the forehead now.
posted by fenriq at 12:10 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by fenriq at 12:10 PM on November 1, 2005
On the upside, Reznor now has his choice of locations in which to shoot his next video.
posted by Down10 at 12:11 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by Down10 at 12:11 PM on November 1, 2005
Anything that keeps him out of a recording studio is OK by me. (Also, your favorite photographer sucks.)
posted by gigawhat? at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by gigawhat? at 12:14 PM on November 1, 2005
How on earth did Trent Reznor get access to this area and into some homes?
They're great photos and really illuminating, but still, why him?
posted by mathowie at 12:20 PM on November 1, 2005
They're great photos and really illuminating, but still, why him?
posted by mathowie at 12:20 PM on November 1, 2005
There really haven't been any pictures of this quality and comprehensiveness of this area for at least a couple of weeks now.
They are interesting photos and a nice link there, but let's not go overboard.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:23 PM on November 1, 2005
They are interesting photos and a nice link there, but let's not go overboard.
posted by Pollomacho at 12:23 PM on November 1, 2005
I think because Trent Reznor used to live and record in New Orleans for many years. He had a mansion in the Garden District, and obviously still has a connection with the area.
Also, NIN was there last weekend to play at the Voodoo Music Festival.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:24 PM on November 1, 2005
Also, NIN was there last weekend to play at the Voodoo Music Festival.
posted by spinifex23 at 12:24 PM on November 1, 2005
As written elsewhere on the site...
We arrived in New Orleans Friday morning. A friend of mine at the mayor's office arranged for us to see the lower ninth ward that afternoon. I can't begin to express what I saw there. Utter, complete, incomprehensible devastation. Rob will soon be posting some photos, but you truly can not get a sense of how bad this is until you see it.
These people have lost everything. A large portion of the city is simply GONE. I realized I had been assuming things were getting "back to normal" here, but it will be a very long time before that happens - if ever.
200,000 people have been displaced, 7,000 are still unaccounted for. The mainstream media has begun to move on as the story takes a back seat to Bush's latest string of failures, but these people and this city need - and will continue to need - a lot of help. One of the reasons I felt it was important to attempt to have Voodoo IN New Orleans was to keep the spotlight on the city. To let people on the outside know this tragedy involves far more than turning the power back on...
...I spent some time with Mayor Ray Nagin and I'm very impressed with that man. Throughout the storm and consequences that followed, he struck me as one of the few people who wasn't bullshitting us and genuinely trying everything he could to remedy the situation. Today, he's providing determined leadership that's confident the city can be rebuilt - the right way.
I'm fading out now. Lots of emotions. I don't want to leave.
posted by setanor at 12:30 PM on November 1, 2005
We arrived in New Orleans Friday morning. A friend of mine at the mayor's office arranged for us to see the lower ninth ward that afternoon. I can't begin to express what I saw there. Utter, complete, incomprehensible devastation. Rob will soon be posting some photos, but you truly can not get a sense of how bad this is until you see it.
These people have lost everything. A large portion of the city is simply GONE. I realized I had been assuming things were getting "back to normal" here, but it will be a very long time before that happens - if ever.
200,000 people have been displaced, 7,000 are still unaccounted for. The mainstream media has begun to move on as the story takes a back seat to Bush's latest string of failures, but these people and this city need - and will continue to need - a lot of help. One of the reasons I felt it was important to attempt to have Voodoo IN New Orleans was to keep the spotlight on the city. To let people on the outside know this tragedy involves far more than turning the power back on...
...I spent some time with Mayor Ray Nagin and I'm very impressed with that man. Throughout the storm and consequences that followed, he struck me as one of the few people who wasn't bullshitting us and genuinely trying everything he could to remedy the situation. Today, he's providing determined leadership that's confident the city can be rebuilt - the right way.
I'm fading out now. Lots of emotions. I don't want to leave.
posted by setanor at 12:30 PM on November 1, 2005
How on earth did Trent Reznor get access to this area and into some homes?
Do you know who Trent Reznor is!? A celebrity man. A freaking celebrity!
posted by panoptican at 12:33 PM on November 1, 2005
Do you know who Trent Reznor is!? A celebrity man. A freaking celebrity!
posted by panoptican at 12:33 PM on November 1, 2005
Maybe now he'll be inspired to write yet another crap song and put it on yet another crap album. I just don't get why NIN are popular. Does anyone else find them completely overrated?
posted by Shfishp at 12:40 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by Shfishp at 12:40 PM on November 1, 2005
I just don't get why NIN are popular.
Is it really a good use of our time to discover why you don't like specific bands?
posted by setanor at 12:43 PM on November 1, 2005
Is it really a good use of our time to discover why you don't like specific bands?
posted by setanor at 12:43 PM on November 1, 2005
Shfishp : "Does anyone else find them completely overrated?"
Metafilter has 26,434 users (more or less). My guess is, "Yes. Some people find them completely overrated" with the corollaries "Some people find them completely underrated", "Some people have never heard one of their tunes", and perhaps a "Someone has never even heard of them before" or two.
posted by Bugbread at 12:46 PM on November 1, 2005
Metafilter has 26,434 users (more or less). My guess is, "Yes. Some people find them completely overrated" with the corollaries "Some people find them completely underrated", "Some people have never heard one of their tunes", and perhaps a "Someone has never even heard of them before" or two.
posted by Bugbread at 12:46 PM on November 1, 2005
I was compelled for whatever 10-years-later nostalgic reason to click and thereby saw some incredible pictures the likes of which at least I haven't seen. What with Pakistan, Libby, Miers, and scalito I haven't seen as much on NOLA lately.
The pictures are terrible. I guess historic preservation may not be such an issue in these particular parts of the ninth ward anyway.
House like a hole :-[
posted by prettyboyfloyd at 12:49 PM on November 1, 2005
The pictures are terrible. I guess historic preservation may not be such an issue in these particular parts of the ninth ward anyway.
House like a hole :-[
posted by prettyboyfloyd at 12:49 PM on November 1, 2005
I just don't get why NIN are popular.
Good beat and you can dance to it.
posted by bobo123 at 12:54 PM on November 1, 2005
Good beat and you can dance to it.
posted by bobo123 at 12:54 PM on November 1, 2005
And it is a nice entry-level source of angst for 13 year-olds who are applying mascara after writing poetry that is nearly identical to NIN lyrics. "I am so empty and I I'm trapped in agony that is this Life and I wish I could get out but I, I, I, I, I..." ad infinitum.
posted by Jesse H Christ at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by Jesse H Christ at 1:03 PM on November 1, 2005
I hate your band and your liking it demonstrates that you're an idiot. It's hard to believe you like such crap. God, what awful taste. Maybe you'll grow out of it. Or, you could learn from me, because my taste is much better than yours. I know there's lots of people that like the band you like, but they're ignorant sheep-like fools and now I know you're one, too. Because your band sucks.
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:14 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by Ethereal Bligh at 1:14 PM on November 1, 2005
Over on SportsFilter, I also read where there's some continuing doubt being addressed over whether the New Orleans Saints (NFL football team) will return to NO. Granted, having a sports team to root for is a luxury whose loss pales against the destruction of people's homes and livelihoods, but the Saints were a part of NO's ambience and character, and if they go, it's another psychological blow to the city and region.
posted by alumshubby at 1:16 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by alumshubby at 1:16 PM on November 1, 2005
Way to pigeon-hole NIN's market...
I, in no way, fit into your quaint little discription of those 'damn goth kids' you despise, but I very much enjoy Nine Inch Nails. Upon further analysis of "The Fragile" one could notice similarities to a full symphony, with movements, motives and themes. He's an inventive composer, and I'll give you one: his lyrics are not his strongest aspect.
Sorry to derail the thread, but you shouldn't criticize an artist because of his fans.
relevant: the photos were extremely moving... I can't imagine seeing my home city destroyed like that. It makes it easy to imagine post-apocalyptic America when you see destroyed and abandoned neighborhoods like that.
oh and damn I would've loved to have seen Saul Williams on stage with NIN!
posted by blastrid at 1:17 PM on November 1, 2005
I, in no way, fit into your quaint little discription of those 'damn goth kids' you despise, but I very much enjoy Nine Inch Nails. Upon further analysis of "The Fragile" one could notice similarities to a full symphony, with movements, motives and themes. He's an inventive composer, and I'll give you one: his lyrics are not his strongest aspect.
Sorry to derail the thread, but you shouldn't criticize an artist because of his fans.
relevant: the photos were extremely moving... I can't imagine seeing my home city destroyed like that. It makes it easy to imagine post-apocalyptic America when you see destroyed and abandoned neighborhoods like that.
oh and damn I would've loved to have seen Saul Williams on stage with NIN!
posted by blastrid at 1:17 PM on November 1, 2005
what a useless argument. if you don't like NIN, don't listen. i've listened for the past 15 years or so - half my life - with varying reactions on a scale from fanaticism to disgust. but it has never failed to raise emotion of one sort or another, which to me makes it powerful stuff. and i was at voodoofest here in new orleans this weekend, and i'll tell you, reznor's anger and pain fit well with his adopted hometown right now.
and if you liked his photos , you might find some of my recent photos interesting - it's another side of the same coin - lakeview, not the 9th ward, with more interior shots of the flooded homes of some of my relatives. but the destruction is... so vast, and so complete, it's impossible to express. rationally speaking, i think most (60%+) of this city's residential neighborhoods will have to be bulldozed. even so, i hope not.
posted by ab3 at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2005
and if you liked his photos , you might find some of my recent photos interesting - it's another side of the same coin - lakeview, not the 9th ward, with more interior shots of the flooded homes of some of my relatives. but the destruction is... so vast, and so complete, it's impossible to express. rationally speaking, i think most (60%+) of this city's residential neighborhoods will have to be bulldozed. even so, i hope not.
posted by ab3 at 1:27 PM on November 1, 2005
Maybe now he'll be inspired to write yet another crap song and put it on yet another crap album. I just don't get why NIN are popular. Does anyone else find them completely overrated?
Wait - I clicked the wrong link. There wasn't any music on the page I saw; just tragic photos of loss taken by a former NOLA resident.
But perhaps your juvenile rant is of greater overall significance. Do carry on.
posted by ToasT at 1:28 PM on November 1, 2005
Wait - I clicked the wrong link. There wasn't any music on the page I saw; just tragic photos of loss taken by a former NOLA resident.
But perhaps your juvenile rant is of greater overall significance. Do carry on.
posted by ToasT at 1:28 PM on November 1, 2005
I don't think they're going to save this house. Or the truck it's sitting on.
posted by smackfu at 2:04 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by smackfu at 2:04 PM on November 1, 2005
As photography these aren't very interesting to look at. Quite honestly they're pretty poor. It is interesting to see something that we normally wouldn't, but sheesh, doesn't Trent have any photographer buddies he could have taken along for this if he wanted to document it?
As for his music I never have knowingly listened to it, though I did like the stuff he did for Quake.
posted by Eekacat at 2:11 PM on November 1, 2005
As for his music I never have knowingly listened to it, though I did like the stuff he did for Quake.
posted by Eekacat at 2:11 PM on November 1, 2005
well, i'm glad somebody used their opportunity to convey what it's like there now up close. that is so important. the country is just not getting it through their thick skulls enough.
mississippi is in much the same shape.
friends of mine just back from helping relatives in southern mississippi convey:
posted by 3.2.3 at 2:19 PM on November 1, 2005
mississippi is in much the same shape.
friends of mine just back from helping relatives in southern mississippi convey:
- there's not much left
- for miles in any direction
- two months later, still no utilities of any kind
- for those left, the place is a ghost town
- no evidence of any gummint relief to be seen
- insurance companies claiming flood insurance no good
- insurance companies claiming non-flood damage not covered
- single church in town is sole contact with any help
- help consists of:
- one hot meal a day from local church
- one bag of ice every other day from local church
- getting colder while living in tents
- fema won't release trailers unless:
- all utilities turned back on
- ground is uncontaminated
- cleanup slow due to lack of people to help
- can't even pay anyone to help
- biggest need is people
- if gas or grocery store were to reopen, no one to work in them
- nearest open grocery store over an hour away
- that store has line out the door and not much in it
- difficult to get clean after being covered in black mold and mud from cleaning up all day
- many roads still impassable; have to take circuitous routes
- no where and no way to haul off debris if could get it cleared
- still missing friends and relatives
- many former pets wandering around looking crazed
- nearest home supply store out of everything needed
- rumors of walmart supply lots over-rated; out of most necessities
- still finding dead people in houses
- curfews mean too few hours of daylight to dig out and drive hours for necessities
- running out of money anyway
- feeling that unless from nola or have relatives elsewhere, nowhere to escape to, no way to get new jobs
- unemployment office gone; no one around
- desperation; rage; incomprehension
posted by 3.2.3 at 2:19 PM on November 1, 2005
what i'm thinking is that i have a vacation coming to me and i'm going to go on vacation. arrest me, freakhole.
posted by shoos at 3:06 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by shoos at 3:06 PM on November 1, 2005
Jesus Christ. I can only look at so many.
alumshubby: Tom Benson is a dick, pure and simple. He always has been. Always putting himself ahead of the city that has treated him so well (despite a consistently losing team). If the Saints leave, that'll be bad for NOLA, but it'll survive (as long as it survives all the other vultures). Tom Benson doesn't deserve to do business in New Orleans.
posted by brundlefly at 3:24 PM on November 1, 2005
alumshubby: Tom Benson is a dick, pure and simple. He always has been. Always putting himself ahead of the city that has treated him so well (despite a consistently losing team). If the Saints leave, that'll be bad for NOLA, but it'll survive (as long as it survives all the other vultures). Tom Benson doesn't deserve to do business in New Orleans.
posted by brundlefly at 3:24 PM on November 1, 2005
In Reznor's defence: I owe pretty much my entire current sense of music appreciation to Nine Inch Nails. Before buying The Fragile, my CD collection consisted of Limp Bizkit, Korn, and Kid Rock CDs, with a Michael Jackson "best-of" CD off to one side. When I listened to The Fragile all the way through, I was blown away. After a stint of obsessively collecting as many NIN CDs, singles, and remix albums as I could find, I began to explore NIN's influences.
From NIN, I went to Depeche Mode, Prince, Gary Numan, and David Bowie. I just kept branching off from there, discovering musicians who influenced and were influenced by them, and I'm left now with a plethora of music that I enjoy and cherish. And I don't know for sure that I would've discovered any of it without NIN. And I've never touched mascara, donned black fishnet stockings, or anything like that. That's just lazy pigeonholing.
Something about NIN just strikes a nerve (no, not the I'm-a-depressed-homicidal-goth nerve). He isn't a great lyricist, but the lyrics aren't the central focus of NIN's songs, unlike, say, Morrissey's. The one-sidedness of the lyrics even works to good effect against the dynamic sound of the songs in most cases.
With all that said, however, With Teeth still pretty much sucks. What a disappointment.
But to actually get on topic...
Does it explicitly say anywhere that Trent took these? His website designer Rob Sheridan usually takes the photos. And I would argue that, yes, the fact that he's Trent Reznor makes this FPP more interesting, because Joe Blough probably wouldn't have had access to these areas just yet, and I'm sure the residents returning on buses aren't interested in taking pictures for posterity of the destruction. Whether that's a responsible or irresponsible use of his celebrity is a matter of opinion.
posted by kryptondog at 3:36 PM on November 1, 2005
From NIN, I went to Depeche Mode, Prince, Gary Numan, and David Bowie. I just kept branching off from there, discovering musicians who influenced and were influenced by them, and I'm left now with a plethora of music that I enjoy and cherish. And I don't know for sure that I would've discovered any of it without NIN. And I've never touched mascara, donned black fishnet stockings, or anything like that. That's just lazy pigeonholing.
Something about NIN just strikes a nerve (no, not the I'm-a-depressed-homicidal-goth nerve). He isn't a great lyricist, but the lyrics aren't the central focus of NIN's songs, unlike, say, Morrissey's. The one-sidedness of the lyrics even works to good effect against the dynamic sound of the songs in most cases.
With all that said, however, With Teeth still pretty much sucks. What a disappointment.
But to actually get on topic...
Does it explicitly say anywhere that Trent took these? His website designer Rob Sheridan usually takes the photos. And I would argue that, yes, the fact that he's Trent Reznor makes this FPP more interesting, because Joe Blough probably wouldn't have had access to these areas just yet, and I'm sure the residents returning on buses aren't interested in taking pictures for posterity of the destruction. Whether that's a responsible or irresponsible use of his celebrity is a matter of opinion.
posted by kryptondog at 3:36 PM on November 1, 2005
I don't understand the page title, "hometown loss." Trent Reznor is from Mercer, PA near where my family is. Or is this someone else's hometown and I missed something?
posted by terrapin at 4:09 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by terrapin at 4:09 PM on November 1, 2005
3.2.3 is right.
About everything.
Life is pretty fucking depressing down here.
posted by ColdChef at 4:58 PM on November 1, 2005
About everything.
Life is pretty fucking depressing down here.
posted by ColdChef at 4:58 PM on November 1, 2005
Fortunately, after looking at these photos showing the absolute devastation that individual families have experienced, we can all take a moment to slam the photographer's music. Also, we really can't let this pass without critically examining the artistic skill of the photographer, because in times like these, that's what matters.
terrapin: I think "former adopted hometown" is pretty accurate, but it's kind of a mouthful.
Whether that's a responsible or irresponsible use of his celebrity is a matter of opinion.
Jesus. The guy gave a concert for fucking hurricane relief. What the fuck?
> As previously announced, proceeds from the VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund (NORF), a donor-advised fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The remainder of the funds will be distributed directly to humanitarian organizations such as Mercy Corps and Habitat for Humanity as well as local organizations committed to restoring the vibrant cultural community of the greater New Orleans area, including: Audubon Nature Institute; Bring New Orleans Back, a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the city of New Orleans; WWOZ, 90.7, New Orleans Roots Radio; and YA/YA, Inc. (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), a local organization dedicated to empowering future generations of young artists and community leaders.
He lived there for, what, a decade? He loves New Orleans as well as anyone could.
posted by dhartung at 5:11 PM on November 1, 2005
terrapin: I think "former adopted hometown" is pretty accurate, but it's kind of a mouthful.
Whether that's a responsible or irresponsible use of his celebrity is a matter of opinion.
Jesus. The guy gave a concert for fucking hurricane relief. What the fuck?
> As previously announced, proceeds from the VOODOO MUSIC EXPERIENCE will benefit the New Orleans Restoration Fund (NORF), a donor-advised fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation. The remainder of the funds will be distributed directly to humanitarian organizations such as Mercy Corps and Habitat for Humanity as well as local organizations committed to restoring the vibrant cultural community of the greater New Orleans area, including: Audubon Nature Institute; Bring New Orleans Back, a non-profit organization dedicated to the restoration of the city of New Orleans; WWOZ, 90.7, New Orleans Roots Radio; and YA/YA, Inc. (Young Aspirations/Young Artists), a local organization dedicated to empowering future generations of young artists and community leaders.
He lived there for, what, a decade? He loves New Orleans as well as anyone could.
posted by dhartung at 5:11 PM on November 1, 2005
Amen, dhartung. I'm not a big fan of Renzor's music, but he's a New Orleanian as much as anyone is. He clearly loves the town and he's broken up over it. He's a fucking human being, even if you don't like his music.
posted by brundlefly at 5:34 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by brundlefly at 5:34 PM on November 1, 2005
As a non-NIN and non-Trent Reznor fan, even I can say that when I think "place Trent Reznor calls home", the answer is New Orleans. He may be from Mercer, PA, but that's the first I've ever heard of it, so I'm guessing New Orleans means more to him now than Mercer.
And probably by "hometown" he meant "town which is my home".
posted by Bugbread at 6:04 PM on November 1, 2005
And probably by "hometown" he meant "town which is my home".
posted by Bugbread at 6:04 PM on November 1, 2005
dhartung, no need to be so hostile. I don't think that what Trent did was irresponsible or wrong; I was referencing those that did solely because he was a celebrity who made "crappy industrial music". I guess I should've made that clearer. I'm well aware of Reznor's connection to New Orleans, as well as my own- pretty much everyone related to me on my mother's side lives in that area- some were affected quite badly- and my family has had our share of grief over Katrina because of their losses.
posted by kryptondog at 7:15 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by kryptondog at 7:15 PM on November 1, 2005
ab3, thank you for the photos. Honestly heartbreaking.
posted by rebirtha at 9:45 PM on November 1, 2005
posted by rebirtha at 9:45 PM on November 1, 2005
krypton, sorry you got the blast, it was just a pointlessly snarky thread.
Incidentally, I confirmed that the photos were taken by his webmaster, so they're not "celebrity photos".
Reznor was interviewed by the Times-Picayune last week -- basically what he says is a longer version of the quote from his site:
It's amazing how your concerns go from "I hope the studio roof is OK," to (realizing) what I have there is completely inconsequential compared to what is happening. I tracked down everybody I keep in touch with and rescued a friend from a shelter in Lake Charles, a handyman that did some work for me. I got him out to California, got him back on his feet.
Folks outside the city have a hard time comprehending the scope of the destruction and disruption ... You hear, "What time does Mardi Gras start up?"
And that's what I need to see firsthand this weekend. The people I've talked to are like, "You have no idea. It's much worse than what you probably think."
Seeing that hurricane hit, and thinking the bullet was dodged at first, then seeing the levees break ... Seeing a city that you love, and the place that is the closest place I have to home, murdered and destroyed ... it was a bunch of emotions. Obviously shock and sadness. But for me, it turned quickly into anger with government. Just complete outrage.
Anyway, it looks like his access wasn't much more than anybody else is getting; the only difference was that he wasn't a resident of the 9th Ward. And he raised $1 million for the reconstruction fund. That gets you a little bit of access. But I'm sure some of that was predicated on his photo tour getting exactly this sort of publicity.
posted by dhartung at 10:01 PM on November 1, 2005
Incidentally, I confirmed that the photos were taken by his webmaster, so they're not "celebrity photos".
Reznor was interviewed by the Times-Picayune last week -- basically what he says is a longer version of the quote from his site:
It's amazing how your concerns go from "I hope the studio roof is OK," to (realizing) what I have there is completely inconsequential compared to what is happening. I tracked down everybody I keep in touch with and rescued a friend from a shelter in Lake Charles, a handyman that did some work for me. I got him out to California, got him back on his feet.
Folks outside the city have a hard time comprehending the scope of the destruction and disruption ... You hear, "What time does Mardi Gras start up?"
And that's what I need to see firsthand this weekend. The people I've talked to are like, "You have no idea. It's much worse than what you probably think."
Seeing that hurricane hit, and thinking the bullet was dodged at first, then seeing the levees break ... Seeing a city that you love, and the place that is the closest place I have to home, murdered and destroyed ... it was a bunch of emotions. Obviously shock and sadness. But for me, it turned quickly into anger with government. Just complete outrage.
Anyway, it looks like his access wasn't much more than anybody else is getting; the only difference was that he wasn't a resident of the 9th Ward. And he raised $1 million for the reconstruction fund. That gets you a little bit of access. But I'm sure some of that was predicated on his photo tour getting exactly this sort of publicity.
posted by dhartung at 10:01 PM on November 1, 2005
I just got back from New Orleans yesterday -- went down to rescue my stuff from my French Quaretr apartment, which was spared, and was astounded to discover my snail had managed to tough it out for nine weeks on his own.
The rest of the city has not fared as well, particularly the poorer sections of town: Treme, 9th Ward, and, to an extent, Mid-City. Many houses are plainly and totally ruined, with their tops torn off, their sides shredded, some simply toppled over onto their lawn. Others look alright, until you notice where the water rose to and realize that it soaked in that filthy brine for weeks. The rebuilding process has not begun, and cannot until the demolition process begins, which, in turn, will have to wait for the insurance people to figure out how much they are not going to pay.
At least the water and electricity are on, in the Vieux Carré, anyway. There were some locals and some tourists ambling around the Quarter this weekend, trying to behave as though everything were normal. The Rebirth Brass Band threw a party in Jackson Square, which was sparsely attended. The streets are filled with Humvies, National Guardsmen, and taped up refrigerators (most residents are simply throwing away their fridges). The Quarter was as quiet as I have ever seen it, despite a cheerful group throwing a Halloween parade.
It's going to be a long road for the city to get back on its feet, and I am pessimistic. But that's why I am in Minneapolis with my girlfriend, our possessions, and our newly liberated snail. The extent of the destruction down there is beyond comprehension, and all I saw were people leaving the city. On the road I was on, I-10, U-Hauls left at a rate oif about one every 30 seconds. I think, like me, many people aren't coming back. I think the city isn't on the road to recovery, it is on the road to slow extinction.
And it's a fucking shame.
posted by maxsparber at 12:43 AM on November 2, 2005
The rest of the city has not fared as well, particularly the poorer sections of town: Treme, 9th Ward, and, to an extent, Mid-City. Many houses are plainly and totally ruined, with their tops torn off, their sides shredded, some simply toppled over onto their lawn. Others look alright, until you notice where the water rose to and realize that it soaked in that filthy brine for weeks. The rebuilding process has not begun, and cannot until the demolition process begins, which, in turn, will have to wait for the insurance people to figure out how much they are not going to pay.
At least the water and electricity are on, in the Vieux Carré, anyway. There were some locals and some tourists ambling around the Quarter this weekend, trying to behave as though everything were normal. The Rebirth Brass Band threw a party in Jackson Square, which was sparsely attended. The streets are filled with Humvies, National Guardsmen, and taped up refrigerators (most residents are simply throwing away their fridges). The Quarter was as quiet as I have ever seen it, despite a cheerful group throwing a Halloween parade.
It's going to be a long road for the city to get back on its feet, and I am pessimistic. But that's why I am in Minneapolis with my girlfriend, our possessions, and our newly liberated snail. The extent of the destruction down there is beyond comprehension, and all I saw were people leaving the city. On the road I was on, I-10, U-Hauls left at a rate oif about one every 30 seconds. I think, like me, many people aren't coming back. I think the city isn't on the road to recovery, it is on the road to slow extinction.
And it's a fucking shame.
posted by maxsparber at 12:43 AM on November 2, 2005
3.2.3, ColdChef, maxsparber: Thanks for your first-hand info and reports. And 3.2.3's right. Jesus. *pondering how I can get down there*
Sorry to continue the thread-derail about NIN.
This thread has prompted me to listen to The Fragile for the first time in years. Thanks. Also, "A Warm Place" off of "The Downward Spiral" is still one of my top 10 favorite songs.
For further NIN influences, see also: Coil. Tangent off of that into: Nurse With Wound. And The Halfer Trio. Dabble in some Current 93. Check out The Legendary Pink Dots. Sideline in some Pigface, Steel Pole Bathtub, Milk Cult.
One of the things that makes NIN so popular is the fact that he's influenced by so many diverse artists. He's a nexus-point and crossover between a lot of genres, from experimental, to goth, to ambient, to industrial, to techno and dance, to hard rock/metal.
Other than Aphex Twin, I can't think of a more experimental and free-thinking artist that's broken so far into the mainstream. And without NIN, I doubt Aphex Twin would have made it as far as it did.
Note that I say all of this grudgingly - but objectively, not as a leather-strapped fanboi.
posted by loquacious at 7:35 AM on November 2, 2005
Sorry to continue the thread-derail about NIN.
This thread has prompted me to listen to The Fragile for the first time in years. Thanks. Also, "A Warm Place" off of "The Downward Spiral" is still one of my top 10 favorite songs.
For further NIN influences, see also: Coil. Tangent off of that into: Nurse With Wound. And The Halfer Trio. Dabble in some Current 93. Check out The Legendary Pink Dots. Sideline in some Pigface, Steel Pole Bathtub, Milk Cult.
One of the things that makes NIN so popular is the fact that he's influenced by so many diverse artists. He's a nexus-point and crossover between a lot of genres, from experimental, to goth, to ambient, to industrial, to techno and dance, to hard rock/metal.
Other than Aphex Twin, I can't think of a more experimental and free-thinking artist that's broken so far into the mainstream. And without NIN, I doubt Aphex Twin would have made it as far as it did.
Note that I say all of this grudgingly - but objectively, not as a leather-strapped fanboi.
posted by loquacious at 7:35 AM on November 2, 2005
loquacious : "Other than Aphex Twin, I can't think of a more experimental and free-thinking artist that's broken so far into the mainstream."
Not begrudging your point in any way, but probably Sonic Youth would be one. Don't like them myself, but I still find it surprising that the folks who made Sonic Death have made it as mainstream artists.
posted by Bugbread at 7:54 AM on November 2, 2005
Not begrudging your point in any way, but probably Sonic Youth would be one. Don't like them myself, but I still find it surprising that the folks who made Sonic Death have made it as mainstream artists.
posted by Bugbread at 7:54 AM on November 2, 2005
NIN is fine enough. When I was a kid the first album caught me up in a great way. The video to Down In It - I remember seeing it on a local Denver show; this was still when music like this was fun and threatening in a way and the video of him stumbling through a cloudy night city was great, and then that big remix cd with nine versions of Head Like a Hole and all that. It was fun; mtv hadn't caught on. Also, because it was on TVT of all things and not Wax Trax he felt sincerely like a new voice not connected to all the Industrial bands who all seemed like a fraternity recording together under different band names, same sound, etc.
Then of course it fell to shit. He not only became a part of all the Same Sound, he became a prima donna to it, peaking with singing 'Suck' on Pigface's first album and then jumping the shark pretty soon afterward believing his own hype. He now just seems like a cross-breed of Gene Simmons and Neil Gaiman to me, now. Just with more stylists.
"Fuck you like an animal" was, and still is, a great line though.
posted by Peter H at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2005
Then of course it fell to shit. He not only became a part of all the Same Sound, he became a prima donna to it, peaking with singing 'Suck' on Pigface's first album and then jumping the shark pretty soon afterward believing his own hype. He now just seems like a cross-breed of Gene Simmons and Neil Gaiman to me, now. Just with more stylists.
"Fuck you like an animal" was, and still is, a great line though.
posted by Peter H at 8:56 AM on November 2, 2005
Peter H : "Also, because it was on TVT of all things and not Wax Trax he felt sincerely like a new voice not connected to all the Industrial bands who all seemed like a fraternity"
Wow, so it wasn't just me that felt that way about NIN being on a non-Wax Trax label!
posted by Bugbread at 8:59 AM on November 2, 2005
Wow, so it wasn't just me that felt that way about NIN being on a non-Wax Trax label!
posted by Bugbread at 8:59 AM on November 2, 2005
Sonic Youth I'd include, as well. I should probably modify that entire statement with "within the MTV generation" or "within the 90s" or something like that. Then, I don't think Sonic Youth really crosses over so many disparate genres as NIN does, though I'd say Sonic Youth was the better and more influential band, overall.
It's weird to me, in retrospect, to think about how chaotic and new Sonic Youth once sounded to me as a youth, before discovering non-rock/pop experimental noise and music. Yet now they've mellowed out in to what is arguably my most favored lyrical guitar-based band. That in itself is art and craft, that over the years the very same tracks and albums that got me all uppity as a youth I find as an adult to be soothing and comforting - like some old funky, unraveling thrift store sweater that I can't bear to throw out or part with.
On preview: Well said, Peter H. Seriously.
Meanwhile, I'm feeling guilty about sitting comfortably naked in a functional home with my headphones on and a working, non-flooded computer in front of me while discussing music in a thread about the wholesale destruction of a major city. Though listening to NIN intently for the first time in an age while viewing those pictures of 9th ward has a certain cyberpunk post-industrial fission.
The imagery of the Gulf Coast post-disaster, post-industrial corporate arcologies from Bruce Sterling's Islands in the Net keep springing to mind, as well as the Dog Plain from William Gibson's Count Zero. Rizome. I honestly can't reason whether or not this is flippant, apt, or other.
I find myself asking myself how I could get down to New Orleans, what I could even possibly do when I got there, and whether or not I'm mapping my own dystopian post-industrial or even perhaps superhero fantasies on the whole situation.
I'm not really doing anything at the moment, but I don't have a car. I don't have any useful money to speak of. And I wonder how useful I'd be down there if I could even get there. I don't really have any trade skills, but I guess I have some muscle and an able body, and I could huck debris and dirt. But to where? How? It's fucking overwhelming.
And I think that this overwhelmingness is part of the reason for the collective near non-response going on between the rest of the US and New Orleans. Do we rebuild? Do we raze the destroyed areas and fill it in so it doesn't happen again, allowing the Mississippi to naturally meander it's delta again? Is it even "our" choice at all? (It isn't, really.)
The chaos, the destruction and the fear is just incomprehensible. That this mediated, collective, outsider experience is incredibly marginal and inconsequential to the genuine pain and loss of the insider experience should be a given, but it's there and should be at least briefly acknowledged. Who among us is strong enough to overcome this despair, fear and loathing? Very few, I'd suspect. We're only human, and can only process and handle so much.
In my idealized fantasies we (as much as a "we" of outsider armchair administrators can possibly be) see the NOLA disaster as an opportunity to rebuild with new tools and techniques, while somehow attempting to preserve the lush history of the area. I'd be lying if the concept of rebuilding NOLA as a new arcology and a new city didn't turn me on. I'd be lying if I didn't like the idea of NOLA rising from the mud and ashes as a special economic zone, a permanent encampment for trying new ways of living, for new forms of work and exchange and growth.
But in my objective analysis I realize not everyone - especially the non-outsider residents - would agree with this, or see it as an opportunity as I'd see it.
Growing up in Los Angeles as a youth, I used to actively wish for the widespread destruction of a great quake or other natural disaster to tear down everything - the things that were wrong, and even the things that were right, but especially the things that were wrong - to give us some perspective, some cleansing, and a true jihad to struggle against, to remind us of the things that really mattered: each other.
But I'm less and less young every day, and less and less righteously angry at the lack of valid, satisfying experiences, and don't really actively wish for such terrible-yet-hopeful things any more.
But yet I still yearn to build something better, more human, and more satisfying than endless blocks of nearly identical single-family homes or apartment complexes. Something more rewarding then yet another strip mall or Wal-Mart. Something more valid and sympathetic than factory-farmed food in plastic wrappers and endless TVs and miles and miles of cheap, filthy cars. Something more real than the lurid, purile fantasies of a non-existent Disneyfied American Good Life, all at once safety-wrapped for easy mass consumption but ultimately deadly to the mind and soul of the individual and community.
posted by loquacious at 9:02 AM on November 2, 2005
It's weird to me, in retrospect, to think about how chaotic and new Sonic Youth once sounded to me as a youth, before discovering non-rock/pop experimental noise and music. Yet now they've mellowed out in to what is arguably my most favored lyrical guitar-based band. That in itself is art and craft, that over the years the very same tracks and albums that got me all uppity as a youth I find as an adult to be soothing and comforting - like some old funky, unraveling thrift store sweater that I can't bear to throw out or part with.
On preview: Well said, Peter H. Seriously.
Meanwhile, I'm feeling guilty about sitting comfortably naked in a functional home with my headphones on and a working, non-flooded computer in front of me while discussing music in a thread about the wholesale destruction of a major city. Though listening to NIN intently for the first time in an age while viewing those pictures of 9th ward has a certain cyberpunk post-industrial fission.
The imagery of the Gulf Coast post-disaster, post-industrial corporate arcologies from Bruce Sterling's Islands in the Net keep springing to mind, as well as the Dog Plain from William Gibson's Count Zero. Rizome. I honestly can't reason whether or not this is flippant, apt, or other.
I find myself asking myself how I could get down to New Orleans, what I could even possibly do when I got there, and whether or not I'm mapping my own dystopian post-industrial or even perhaps superhero fantasies on the whole situation.
I'm not really doing anything at the moment, but I don't have a car. I don't have any useful money to speak of. And I wonder how useful I'd be down there if I could even get there. I don't really have any trade skills, but I guess I have some muscle and an able body, and I could huck debris and dirt. But to where? How? It's fucking overwhelming.
And I think that this overwhelmingness is part of the reason for the collective near non-response going on between the rest of the US and New Orleans. Do we rebuild? Do we raze the destroyed areas and fill it in so it doesn't happen again, allowing the Mississippi to naturally meander it's delta again? Is it even "our" choice at all? (It isn't, really.)
The chaos, the destruction and the fear is just incomprehensible. That this mediated, collective, outsider experience is incredibly marginal and inconsequential to the genuine pain and loss of the insider experience should be a given, but it's there and should be at least briefly acknowledged. Who among us is strong enough to overcome this despair, fear and loathing? Very few, I'd suspect. We're only human, and can only process and handle so much.
In my idealized fantasies we (as much as a "we" of outsider armchair administrators can possibly be) see the NOLA disaster as an opportunity to rebuild with new tools and techniques, while somehow attempting to preserve the lush history of the area. I'd be lying if the concept of rebuilding NOLA as a new arcology and a new city didn't turn me on. I'd be lying if I didn't like the idea of NOLA rising from the mud and ashes as a special economic zone, a permanent encampment for trying new ways of living, for new forms of work and exchange and growth.
But in my objective analysis I realize not everyone - especially the non-outsider residents - would agree with this, or see it as an opportunity as I'd see it.
Growing up in Los Angeles as a youth, I used to actively wish for the widespread destruction of a great quake or other natural disaster to tear down everything - the things that were wrong, and even the things that were right, but especially the things that were wrong - to give us some perspective, some cleansing, and a true jihad to struggle against, to remind us of the things that really mattered: each other.
But I'm less and less young every day, and less and less righteously angry at the lack of valid, satisfying experiences, and don't really actively wish for such terrible-yet-hopeful things any more.
But yet I still yearn to build something better, more human, and more satisfying than endless blocks of nearly identical single-family homes or apartment complexes. Something more rewarding then yet another strip mall or Wal-Mart. Something more valid and sympathetic than factory-farmed food in plastic wrappers and endless TVs and miles and miles of cheap, filthy cars. Something more real than the lurid, purile fantasies of a non-existent Disneyfied American Good Life, all at once safety-wrapped for easy mass consumption but ultimately deadly to the mind and soul of the individual and community.
posted by loquacious at 9:02 AM on November 2, 2005
Keeping this on topic, and upping the musical talent/9th ward local ante up somewhat, Quintron and Miss Pussycat hurricane photos from Sept 1.
posted by Peter H at 9:04 AM on November 2, 2005
posted by Peter H at 9:04 AM on November 2, 2005
For further NIN influences, see also: Coil.
God Yes. Man did I adore Love's Secret Domain! It was on the first time I ever took acid! While I was peaking no less and on New Years 1991. Ha, Lucky me, huh? Nice enough combination of a first heavy drug experience. No Steely Dan, certainly.
Coil actually got me into Roy Orbison (the whole "in dreams you're mine" reference) - which opened up my head in about nine hundred different directions. Orbison is the king.
loquacious - I'd add to your list Alien Sex Fiend and Scraping Foetus off the Wheel.
To me, Trent Reznor effectively lost all interest and spark in the appropriately named 1000 Homo DJs; it's a great album but it's just Walmart product, and has been since.
posted by Peter H at 9:22 AM on November 2, 2005
God Yes. Man did I adore Love's Secret Domain! It was on the first time I ever took acid! While I was peaking no less and on New Years 1991. Ha, Lucky me, huh? Nice enough combination of a first heavy drug experience. No Steely Dan, certainly.
Coil actually got me into Roy Orbison (the whole "in dreams you're mine" reference) - which opened up my head in about nine hundred different directions. Orbison is the king.
loquacious - I'd add to your list Alien Sex Fiend and Scraping Foetus off the Wheel.
To me, Trent Reznor effectively lost all interest and spark in the appropriately named 1000 Homo DJs; it's a great album but it's just Walmart product, and has been since.
posted by Peter H at 9:22 AM on November 2, 2005
I really enjoyed "The Fragile" and, to a lesser extent, things what came before that. He's an excellent sound designer and composer when he's making art.
The new album though... it's rock n' roll and not even good rock n' roll.
posted by Foosnark at 9:51 AM on November 2, 2005
The new album though... it's rock n' roll and not even good rock n' roll.
posted by Foosnark at 9:51 AM on November 2, 2005
Jeez. This picture, from Peter H's link, is of Frankie And Johnny's furniture store. They're famous for their incredibly campy commercials involving "The Special Man." As I recall, they had just rebuilt after a fire.
Customer: "I have no credit."
Salesman: "You gotta see the Special Man!"
The Special Man: "Let 'er have it."
Random Guy: "With noooooooooo problem!"
posted by brundlefly at 6:57 PM on November 2, 2005
Customer: "I have no credit."
Salesman: "You gotta see the Special Man!"
The Special Man: "Let 'er have it."
Random Guy: "With noooooooooo problem!"
posted by brundlefly at 6:57 PM on November 2, 2005
Wait, when did Trent Reznor start putting out songs with music in them? I thought the whole point of NIN was to sell prescription drugs for the headaches and mental problems Reznor's "performance art" causes.
posted by davy at 5:57 PM on November 10, 2005
posted by davy at 5:57 PM on November 10, 2005
Metafilter: I'm less and less young every day. (And yeah, "loquacious" you are, not that that's a bad thing in that example.)
posted by davy at 6:04 PM on November 10, 2005
posted by davy at 6:04 PM on November 10, 2005
You really socked it to 'im, davy. Take that, young whippersnappers with your noise you call music! The last real musician was Sinatra.
posted by Bugbread at 8:18 AM on November 11, 2005
posted by Bugbread at 8:18 AM on November 11, 2005
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