FriendBurst Blog

The first Nine Inch Nails album (Pretty Hate Machine) was released in 1989.  Some of it sounds dated now, but it was by no means a bad start.  Apparently, the record label (TVT Records) wanted an album which sounded like Fine Young Cannibals.  That’s not what they got at all.  Even at that early stage, Trent Reznor knew he wanted to make edgy industrial music.  He had to compromise a little at first, but the following EPs (Broken and Fixed) were much heavier.  Then came the ‘classic’ NIN album:

THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL

The Downward Spiral is an angry album, and it went down well with disillusioned and rebellious teenagers everywhere (but mainly in the US).  This was the soundtrack of their discontent – or one of the soundtracks, at least (there were others, from the likes of Nirvana and Marilyn Manson).  It’s not all just noise, though.  There are plenty of softer parts.  However, Reznor has a knack of writing gentle music which is just as powerful as the loud stuff (eg. Hurt, which was later covered by Johnny Cash).  This became more evident on the next album, The Fragile.

Closer is the most well known song on The Downward Spiral.  It is the sort of song which shocks parents, as it delights their offspring.  There’s more shocking material on here (eg. Heresy, Ruiner and Big Man With A Gun).  The Downward Spiral is a concept album, which details a man’s self-destructive course; from the initial feelings of hopelessness to his ultimate suicide attempt, via an emotional rollercoaster ride.  It is a heavy album, in many respects.  It is very dense.  The production on this album (by Flood) sounds flawed.  However, a lot of the sounds are deliberately distorted – for that gritty effect.

For most Nine Inch Nails fans, The Downward Spiral is still their favourite album (although Year Zero, which is also a concept album, is also an excellent body of work).

Fans had to wait five years for more new material, but it was a double album (The Fragile).  It received mixed reviews – and limited commercial success.  I personally like it.  The gap between The Fragile and With Teeth was even longer (six years).  However, three albums have been released since then (Year Zero, Ghosts I – IV and The Slip).  Here is a short overview of Ghosts I – IV:

GHOSTS I – IV

Ghosts I – IV isn’t really a ‘proper’ Nine Inch Nails album (with vocals – and anger).  It is a collection of thirty six instrumental tracks, spanning two discs.  Most of it is very sparse.  Atmospheric soundscapes combine with gentle piano; dark and melancholic.  The abrasive industrial tracks provide a welcome change of pace.  Trent Reznor and Alan Moulder evidently had a lot of fun, with an assortment of interesting sounds.

This was the first Nine Inch Nails project, since leaving Interscope (Year Zero was the last album on that label).  It appears to be something Reznor had to get out of his system, before making another regular album.  As such, it has its place in the NIN catalogue.  The Slip followed just months after the release of Ghosts I – IV, and any doubt regarding Reznor’s ability to write angsty rock songs was quickly dispelled.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTfpOsPy3VM

There have also been three remix albums: Further Down The Spiral (1995), Things Falling Apart (2000) and Year Zero Remixed (2007).  A live album was released in 2002, coupled with a CD of unreleased material and alternate versions of various Nine Inch Nails songs.  Last year, Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross completed work on their second movie soundtrack (the first being The Social Network).  The American adaptation of The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo was released in December 2011.  There was also a side-project (How To Destroy Angels).  Further information can be found on the Nine Inch Nails website (www.nin.com).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3UwQQnQ-yk

Three more essential NIN songs

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pev0dINRaok