Johnson's band has never recorded the same album twice. Nakedself , on Trent Reznor's label, is so far the group's edgiest. Accept Johnson as an artist and prize him as a lyricist, and the songs on Self may satisfy. However, the The's pomp and beauty are gone. This one's not for you.
Self contains no ballads, no tender laments.
Its sinister groove rolls in slowly, as ping-pong guitar feedback punctures the mix. Johnson's split personalities call and respond. The keyboard swells and the agitated sound is discordant, stripped down. Self offers no hint of optimism, only words to the wise. Self 's lyrical focus is bleak.