Very good and emotional CD
I was turned on to Williams at the Oklahoma City NIN show in 2006. I was very impressed of Saul's live show. I was eager to hear him and Trent were going to make a recorded together later in the year. I downloaded the album once it was available from NIN website and I have not stopped listening to it since. I am trying to get my hands on his other two albums because I want to hear what else he has to say.

I have to many favorite songs on this album so I can only tell you to listen to the whole thing. Get some good liquor and turn off the lights do something artist with this album. It will make you feel good in the end. The Inevitable Rise and Liberation of Niggy Tardust is a must buy.

A revelation
(I'm French, please excuse the limitedness of my skills...)

I'd never heard of Saul Williams before this record. I wasn't really much into hip-hop, anyway. Well, on the other hand, I'm a NIN fan, so...
Thanks to the efforts of Mr. Reznor, I heard of the digital release of 'The Rise & Liberation of Niggy Tardust!'. I was quite thrilled at first at what could be seen as an Internet-scale experiment, with the 'pay and support an artist/don't pay but please spread the word' choice, etc.

So I was in.
And I didn't regret it. It even became of one those 'soundtrack of your life' albums you never stop listening to for months.

The NIN sound trademark is quite obvious throughout the album, especially with compositions such as 'WTF!' (where Trent Reznor makes a short guest appearance on vocals) and almost all of the five or six last tracks, replete with tortured sounds of strings, overdriven harmonies and bizarre beats. Despite this, the range of Reznor's talent and tastes allows much more than a NIN album with Saul Williams on vocals. Again, the sound production on this album shows the versatility of Reznor's work.

A blend of heavy hip-hop, old-school jazzy hip-hop, massive industrial beats, light, aerial melodies, grinding noises, and a more experimental aspect of fusion between poetry and rhythm; all of this sewn together by the poet himself, Saul Williams, equally at ease when rapping and singing his meaningful lyrics.

I cannot really compare this work to Saul Williams' previous ones, as I never listened to them... But I've got a more important criterion. This isn't an easy-to-listen album. You listen to it once, you put it aside for a week. Then you gradually come back to it, learning how to listen to it, realizing its qualities, enjoying while analyzing... That type of revelation doesn't happen all the time.

The alliance of the two musicians, the two universes, the two styles, produced a very interesting result, quite unique a mixture. It was a great discovery, to say the least.
Hat tip to the artists.

A great Saul Williams entry
If you like Saul Williams already, you'll like this album. If you like Trent Reznor produced albums, you'll like this album. If you like heavy beats and political messages about gov't and race, you'll like this album.

Great For Collectors And Fans, But...
I buy the albums that I love on vinyl because I'm crazy about hot items with vintage looks. I'm a fan of Saul Williams and this album and own it BECAUSE I love the album so much. However, unless you LOVE this album like I do, I don't suggest buying this. The thing with current releases on LP format is unless you own a record player and USE IT and LISTEN TO THEM, they really aren't worth the $20-30.

My verdict: If you LOVE the album, buy it on LP. If you're into only a couple songs from it, buy the album on CD. There are no special "LP Only" tracks on this item so no need to worry.

Niggy... Uh, I mean, Curtis rocks!
I have to thank Nike. Not for a pair of shoes but because I may never have heard of Saul Williams without Nike's use of "List of Demands" in their "My Better" advertising campaign. That song, included here and on his self-titled album, instantly captivated me and revealed I was missing something special.

Saul Williams is special. He has a remarkable talent for wordplay that can suck you in and not let go. Thankfully, he is intelligent and socially aware enough to use that talent to deliver a message. Add to that a knack for laying down infectious rhythms (thanks also go to Trent Reznor and CX KiDTRONiK for this latest release), and you have two remarkable records (I have not yet heard and therefore cannot comment on Amethyst Rock Star).

Saul's latest release is a great mix of industrial rock and hip-hop. He sings, he raps, he speaks. Ambitiously, he creates a new persona in Niggy Tardust. The obvious reference is to David Bowie's Ziggy Stardust. But because that was before my time, I relate it to Bono of U2 and the different characters he portrayed on tour. I think the idea is genius and the potential is limitless.

Some random thoughts about the music... Adding another reason to think of U2's Bono is the cover of "Sunday Bloody Sunday". Saul stays more true to the original than I imagined he would, but he still makes it his own. It is a remarkable cover. Sampling Public Enemy in "Tr(n)igger" was done to great effect - it was great hearing Flav (before he became a caricature of himself) and Chuck D. I was reminded of Jonathan Davis of Korn on "Break" ("let it out, blow it out, spit it out, get it out"). DNA features Saul's voice synthesized to wicked effect. Top to bottom, the album has infectious rhythms and powerful lyrics.

I wrestled somewhat with a four or five-star rating. Certainly a couple songs are not on par with the rest in my opinion. But at more than 70 minutes in length featuring 20 songs, he has given us a lot of material to enjoy. Finally, while listening to the album and considering it, I heard the following line, "F*** the bull**** whether from the Hill or from the pulpit". As long as Saul Williams is intent on verbally assaulting us out of our slumber, I'll strike what I might characterize as lesser songs up to taste. Go on ahead, Saul!