The Fragile (also known as Halo 14), released on September 21, 1999, is the fourth studio album by Nine Inch Nails.
The album features a rich array of electronic beats, ambient noise, and heavy guitar. While it received critical acclaim from many, it did not receive the commercial success that its predecessor, The Downward Spiral, did (attributed variously to the difference in musical climate, and insufficient promotion by Interscope Records).
Prior to its release, the single The Day The World Went Away came out on July 20; following The Fragile, We’re In This Together was released in three parts on December 14.
A collection featuring several remixes and new material from The Fragile was released as Things Falling Apart on November 21, 2000.
Trent Reznor and NIN art director John Crawford set out to make the “definitive editions” of all the main NIN releases on vinyl. Reznor: “We want to present the catalog as it was intended to be, with no compromises. That means a careful remastering of the audio from the original sources, a careful and painstaking recreation of the artwork, pristine materials, some surprises and an insane attention to detail that you probably won’t notice… but it matters to us. No extra bullshit and gimmicks – the “real” records in their truest form available at a reasonable price.”
This edition of the vinyl also comes with a digital download card and a booklet containing photos and an essay about the sequencing of the album, written by Bob Ezrin.