Breathing a different, vibrant life into the music of Nine Inch Nails, Peeled Back is a riveting tribute album from Allie Goertz. There are plenty of Nine Inch Nails covers out there, though they’re often fearful of treading too far from Trent Reznor’s dark, alternative-minded vision. Goertz’s interpretations are especially consuming, in that they pay clear homage while also being quite distinctive from Reznor’s originals. Naturally, Goertz’s lusher vocal presence is a distinction, as is the embrace of chilly string-laden arrangements and more understated structural momentum. Peeled Back shows as a resonating success throughout, as a result, and successfully “peels back” these classics in artful form.
One of NIN’s most well-known tracks, the original “Closer” strutted the band’s uniquely visceral lyrical drive and industrial-ready darkness. Goertz’s interpretation opens Peeled Back, and does so aptly — channeling an entirely new interpretation, eschewing the concise synths and nocturnal intrigue of the original in favor of gorgeous strings and trickling acoustics. “I wanna feel you from the inside,” Goertz sings, emitting a sweeter yearning than Reznor’s more guttural ferocity.
“Ruiner” follows with a greater embrace for NIN’s darker maneuvers. The strings return here, though set amidst brooding vocals and ghostly vocal processions. Whispered vocals and crunching percussive effects meld with these beautiful strings for an especially compelling final minute; the string arrangements captivate throughout Peeled Back, and especially here. The subsequent “Big Man with a Gun” rides on a more serene enchantment, with chilled-out keys exuding a hypnotic spaciness alongside the original lyrical depictions of bravado.
A gradual structural development enamors on “Head Like a Hole,” where solemn acoustics develop into heart-tugging strings, while “We’re in This Together” also succeeds in its burgeoning, climactic vocals and weeping strings — declaring “forever and ever I’m a part of you,” with spine-tingling qualities. On the topic of notable emotion, the unforgettable NIN track “Hurt” is amongst NIN’s more stripped-down tracks to begin with, and Goertz furthers its beauty. Twangy guitars and dreamy, wordless vocal backing complement a gripping vocal lead.
A multitude of wonderful Nine Inch Nails covers persists throughout, with other highlights including the glistening, dreamy chamber-pop movements within “The Great Destroyer,” and also the riveting finale “Wish.” “Wish there was something real, wish there was something true,” Goertz repeats alongside gentle piano and mesmerizing strings. Peeled Back: A Tribute to Nine Inch Nails is a fantastic output from Allie Goertz, whose introspective takes on these NIN classics prove consistently impressive.
