He is still not a happy man, but maybe he is looking at things a little differently. The rest of the album follows suit lyrically, with lamentations on the downsides of life accompanied by random cries for help contrasted with spiteful refusals of assistance. This is the part of the album where Reznor stays the most true to his roots. As previously stated, he is still not a happy man. The most noticeable changes on the album are the musical ones.
Many songs still sound like The Downward Spiral , but a lot has changed as well.
Some critics have complained about these, but they are quite possibly the most intricate parts of the album. Despite all the generous comments I have given this album, it is not without its shortcomings. Fans of earlier albums may be a little disappointed by the lighter, more emotional side of Reznor portrayed on this album. Another problem lies in the fact that the songs begin to sound the same as the album goes on. However, it doesn't change the fact that the songs start to sound alike.