User Score
8.2

Universal acclaim- based on 88 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 78 out of 88
  2. Negative: 4 out of 88

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  1. AlanL.
    Apr 9, 2008
    10
    Whatever Reznor touches turns to gold! This release proves hes a level higher than almost anyone else. Hes one of the most ambicious, imaginative and concerned musicians today. This is the kind of record you woukld like to have with you on a desert highway at dusk. He just keeps getting closer to God!
  2. BradleyH.
    Apr 14, 2008
    10
    I never write reviews and I look at the site daily. I have to state that who ever these music critics are and their opinions and critiques of artist work never reflects the true nature of the album being review. Trent Reznor makes art. These critics are writers and perhaps want-to-be musicians. We should all listen to each other when deciding to purchase a record. Who are these critics I never write reviews and I look at the site daily. I have to state that who ever these music critics are and their opinions and critiques of artist work never reflects the true nature of the album being review. Trent Reznor makes art. These critics are writers and perhaps want-to-be musicians. We should all listen to each other when deciding to purchase a record. Who are these critics anyway, what are there qualifications and why do we even care about their opinions. Music is art. Trent Reznor stands alone. Expand
  3. BobS.
    Apr 16, 2008
    10
    Ghosts is Amazing! Trent is the most vital artist in the music industry today. The man is a f*cking genius!
  4. CharlesW.
    Apr 13, 2008
    10
    Listening to this album was a definite and profound experience unlike anything else I've done or felt. Two good friends and I went out late at night in silence, listened to it as we watched the moon set and smoked cigarettes. Words can't fully describe this.
  5. [Anonymous]
    Apr 16, 2008
    10
    Amazing album.
  6. JimmyR.
    Apr 24, 2008
    10
    This is really different, and that is a good thing.
  7. ElioS.
    Apr 8, 2008
    10
    The best album of the year.
  8. SimonN.
    Apr 9, 2008
    10
    Different, but brilliant.
  9. Apr 26, 2011
    10
    People who can't appreciate ambient music... Well, they can't appreciate ambient music. This is a terrific album, with relatively no flaws. No complaints. None.
  10. Feb 24, 2014
    10
    Just awesome sauce and not 150 characters long oh my r r r
  11. JasonL.
    Apr 14, 2008
    9
    Great album which evokes memories of The Fragile.
  12. Brandon
    Apr 10, 2008
    9
    Definitely an amazing instrumental album. Even if you're not a fan of NIN, and you respect creative artists who travel outside the box for true music, than you will definitely understand this album. Metacritic could have done a better job in the description...maybe by saying how the business model of this album blew Radiohead's In Rainbows out of the water. There's no doubt Definitely an amazing instrumental album. Even if you're not a fan of NIN, and you respect creative artists who travel outside the box for true music, than you will definitely understand this album. Metacritic could have done a better job in the description...maybe by saying how the business model of this album blew Radiohead's In Rainbows out of the water. There's no doubt he'll keep releasing his standard albums with vocals, but this is definitely refreshing to hear, especially if you were ever a fan of the instrumentals on The Fragile - this totally blows that away. Expand
  13. KevinP.
    Apr 9, 2008
    9
    Great album to do work to, some of the tracks are absolutely amazing, while others lack personality. Over 2 hours of music, very melodic, and totally worth the 5 dollar download fee.
  14. Wil
    Mar 23, 2008
    9
    Its a great idea that was carried through a great way of sticking it to the man, not only does this make a great statement against the music industry but it equally makes an impression in the musical world itself: it is filled with varying worlds of sonic bliss. From blisteringly haunting tracks to slower, dense compositions that engulf the listener in awe. It is a remarkable work of art Its a great idea that was carried through a great way of sticking it to the man, not only does this make a great statement against the music industry but it equally makes an impression in the musical world itself: it is filled with varying worlds of sonic bliss. From blisteringly haunting tracks to slower, dense compositions that engulf the listener in awe. It is a remarkable work of art and is not a stunted, filtered version of label-restricting material. get it as soon as possible if you are one that can appreciate this effort. Collapse
  15. AlvaroG.
    Apr 23, 2008
    8
    I don't like NIN, but this instrumental ambient-industrial album amused me. oh, and metacritic: according to http://ghosts.nin.com, ALL of the tracks are licensed under a Creative Commons license.
  16. BarryC.
    Apr 9, 2008
    8
    As Reznor stated in a previous interview, Ghosts I-IV is indeed a soundtrack to a daydream. The album starts slowly through Ghosts I, which is mostly comprised of piano sections. II and III become something much more sinister with eerie moments of melodrama. IV concludes the album in only a way that Nine Inch Nails can, the last 6 or so tracks are some of the best on the album. The album As Reznor stated in a previous interview, Ghosts I-IV is indeed a soundtrack to a daydream. The album starts slowly through Ghosts I, which is mostly comprised of piano sections. II and III become something much more sinister with eerie moments of melodrama. IV concludes the album in only a way that Nine Inch Nails can, the last 6 or so tracks are some of the best on the album. The album performs best as background music, and would serve as an excellent soundtrack to a gritty film. While the album entertains, and introduces some new elements, it would be so much more with a vocal track by Reznor. Expand
  17. Jun 19, 2020
    8
    As for the rock critics, are they all failed 15-year olds who can't figure out a single guitar riff to save their life? Or unable to beat on a single drum without it being out of pace? They couldn't in either case have been around in 1996 when Quake was released - as NIN made the soundtrack to it. Ambient is the hardest genre to work with, it's like painting with watercolour - you have noAs for the rock critics, are they all failed 15-year olds who can't figure out a single guitar riff to save their life? Or unable to beat on a single drum without it being out of pace? They couldn't in either case have been around in 1996 when Quake was released - as NIN made the soundtrack to it. Ambient is the hardest genre to work with, it's like painting with watercolour - you have no firmament, no thick lines to guide you - no nothing. And still, you have to make it interesting, and original, without vocals, and sometimes without even a melody or a beat. There's a reason the best ambient tune - Structures from Silence - was made all the way back in 1984 - no filters, drum-machines, nor automation in the world can save you, if you don't have the inspiration or vision.

    I'm guessing this is among the longest to date worked on albums - I hear influences all the way back to DOOM. Ambient takes longer to assemble than you'd think. Hey, why aren't they butchering jazz records, since they're usually made in a single take, without any sort of listenability to the average ear, at all? I guess the rock critics want their action... if they for even a second have to slow down and think, and hear the noise in their head, they go berserk. And they're always in kill mode if an artist changes direction, they want their easily chewed garbage. Hey, continue listening to your clunky 64kbps top 100 pop-rock webradio 24/7, will ya? This isn't for you. This is Sotz. This is dark ambient. This is the black metal equilant of metal. This is what punk is to rock. This is what dreamstep is to brostep. This is what dogma is to a hollywood blockbuster. This is what grime is to gangsta-rap. This is what anno 1995 melodic goa-trance is to white trash thud-thud-thud techno. This is what militant lesbian electronica is to gay k-pop cher grouphug schlager. Just go away. The future is now, and you're still stuck in the 1900:s.
    Expand
  18. EricC.
    Apr 9, 2008
    7
    I'm not a NIN fan (I don't have anything against Reznor or his music, I just never took the time to get in to him) I am a huge fan of instrumental music. So I decided to pick up my first NIN album, and I really am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I know NIN is supposed to be the tough guy's experimental music, but at times this album was simply beautiful. And when those I'm not a NIN fan (I don't have anything against Reznor or his music, I just never took the time to get in to him) I am a huge fan of instrumental music. So I decided to pick up my first NIN album, and I really am surprised by how much I enjoyed it. I know NIN is supposed to be the tough guy's experimental music, but at times this album was simply beautiful. And when those rough drones and menacing pianos get going, it only gets better. It may not be the high point of Reznor's career, but Ghosts is a very moody and pleasantly dark album that I would recommend to most people. It's far from perfect and may not be the most intellectually engaging album (look to Autechre for your artsy experimental epic) but it's definately worth checking out and is easy to appreciate. Expand
  19. Sep 6, 2018
    7
    This album was experimentation, a dense experimentation. It is an unequal album, there are better tracks than others and some feel forgettable but it is still a very well produced and executed album. An excellent preamble for what Trent would do next with Atticus Ross in the Social Network score.
Metascore
69

Generally favorable reviews - based on 12 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 6 out of 12
  2. Negative: 0 out of 12
  1. At 36 tracks, Ghosts is as impressively ambitious as it is uneven and stunted.
  2. He shows here that he is much more than the swagger and smut of some of his previous releases. He has made it clear to the world that he has real vision and dexterity.
  3. Reznor's own hyperdetailed language defines the set: heaving synthesizers, doleful piano, alien-insect noises.