Surprise: New Nine Inch Nails

The new album from Nine Inch Nails, "Ghosts I-IV" is a new psychedelic scratching post for hardcore fans. Other listeners, however, may find this a bit polarizing.

In an instrumental effort by Trent Reznor, "Ghosts" offers a more eclectic ambiance than some older albums, but the result is worth hearing. The tracks range from typical NIN grunge, complete with mixing board effects, to softer compositions that are intricately arranged. The different song structures meld together, giving a fuller meaning to each track. It might seem frustrating, moving between these different types of songs and their accompanying emotions, but it instead focuses more on an intense balance.

The sound seems to be more of a personal relationship with the listener. On his Web site, Reznor explained the genesis of the album: "I’ve been considering and wanting to make this kind of record for years," he said, "But by its very nature it wouldn’t have made sense until this point. This collection of music is the result of working from a very visual perspective—dressing imagined locations and scenarios with sound and texture; a soundtrack for daydreams."

In fact, that’s exactly how you can describe "Ghosts I - IV," it’s like a soundtrack of Trent Reznor’s daily life. Could this mean that Reznor could be on his way to more instrumental music, even to real soundtracks? Experimental rock and electronic giant Johnny Greenwood of Radiohead does ambient and eclectic that sounds fairly similar to "Ghosts." Now he’s scored several films, including the haunting score to Oscar nominated film "There Will Be Blood."

I can’t help but think of Brian Eno’s "Airport" when listening to the album. It’s clear that Reznor put a great deal of work into it, but it’s almost the simplicity of the result that makes it both listenable and more meaningful.

The 36 tracks of almost two hours of listening could try a listener’s patience. It truly plays like a soundtrack, which can be a pro or a con, depending on the listener. It’s like watching a movie without knowing its story line or even a general idea to go by.

Maybe this is the reason that its release is strictly online. This album is not as commercially viable as past Nine Inch Nails albums. But Radiohead did release "In Rainbows" on their Web site long before the album’s January release, when it reached No. 1 on the Billboard charts.

Unlike "In Rainbows," "Ghosts I-IV" seems to be more of a fan appreciator, rather then a full album. Nonetheless, it’s an easier Nine Inch Nails work to listen to than some past albums.