Where were you on Monday, May 5th at 12:00 A.M.? Hopefully (just like me) losing sleep and downloading the absolutely free NIN album, the slip, at nin.com. Marketing and musical genius Trent Reznor has done it again, but this time he’s giving back to all us loyal fans by ’slipping’ the album for no cash exchange whatsoever. The final digital product comes complete with album art and lyrics. Each song has its very own simple logo that conveniently displays itself on your iPod screen during the song. Can’t do without your physical copy in this budding digital music age? Vinyl and CD formats will be available for purchase in July.

It looks like Trent Reznor saw the light and followed it around his record label straight to fans. The new online pay-what-you-want- distribution model pioneered by Radiohead supposedly snagged an average of $4 per download, which ironically is $2 more than they got from their record label.

The new Nine Inch Nails album “Ghosts I-IV” boasts a whopping 36 instrumental tracks recorder over a 10 week period late last year. The first nine tracks are available for free, all 36 tracks can be downloaded for $5 or you can get 2 CD’s for $10. There’s also a deluxe package package with HD DVD video and other Nine Inch Nails swag, and the $300 Ultra Deluxe package where Trent comes over to play with your Ouija board is already sold out.

We’re listening to the tracks right now and true to form, Trent Reznor’s usual style of music genius comes through with a very intellectual tone. This is definitely not the more poppy radio friendly Nine Inch Nails sound and we like it all the more for that. It’s reminds us much more of a theatrical soundtrack (which Reznor hints at on his site) reminiscent of Thom Yorke’s Kid A style sonic experiments but a little more cohesive.

Thanks to our friends at TheSceneStar.com for the tip.