The Downward Spiral

This album rips

Classic, lots of tracks I hadn’t heard since the 90s

Some 20 years ago, I went to a festival headlined by NIN. I couldn't care less about NIN, went there to see The Stooges. The show started quite late, no more trains or any other way to get home, I was drunk and tired, so I just layed down and slept through NIN entire set. Well, almost the entire set, I remember waking up and things were noisy and there were lasers and shit going on, so I just got up and left. Fast forward to today, I see this is my next album and think "well, it's gonna be boring". And it wasn't. Young me was utterly stupid and should've watched that damn show when he had the chance.

Pretty much every negative emotion comes together to paint one picture of a protagonist's downward spiral. It's unashamedly loud and unsettling, but it manages to weave in enough rock and electronic elements to be quite danceable. Crazy this is from 1994! Sound like this must have been pretty groundbreaking for the time and it certainly is still impressive today. March Of The Pigs is pretty cool. What a weird meter! And that bassline at the beginning reminds of that one song from Half-Life 2, randomly enough. The dumb PC gamer tangent will continue because, NIN sure had an influence on gaming didn't they? Considering they went on to compose the Quake soundtrack. Listening to this at work I can't say I vibed with it too much, so I listened to it again while playing Noita, and it made for a REALLY fun album to listen to then. The sheer chaos of that game made for a perfect vibe. Overall, I don't know if I'll really come back for much here any time soon, but I think I'll like a lot of NIN's discography when I come around to listening to it properly. Then I might revisit this and really understand it. Also, Cash's version of Hurt is better in my opinion, but I feel validated in that opinion by the fact Reznor agrees with me. Favourite: March Of The Pigs

Kinda surprised myself with how much I liked this. It really works well as a full album, has a bit of a Swans-lite feel to it.

Favourite tracks: heresy; hurt; march of the pigs

It was fun listening to the album for this project. I've heard many of the hits, but never listened to a NIN album front-to-back before. It's a classic. One point off for being a tad bit monotonous.

I like Nine inch nails

It's a pretty complex album - NIN for music. Not as fun as their other albums but just a bit better.

This is a powerful, unsettling work from Trent Reznor and NiN. Rezner has created a textured, well-crafted sound, with a dark and gritty vibe. It's a noisy sonic hellscape, full grinding guitars, industrialized beats, and blistering vocals. That said, some the more interesting aspects of this album are Reznor's strategic use of quiet and melody. I found that to be kind of a relief from the intensity of the sound, but it ultimately has the effect of making that intensity feel more profound and disorienting. Add to that an effortless sounding use of loops and samples, and Adrian Belew's innovative guitar work, and you have a really haunting and compelling album. It's not the easiest album to get through, in fact it's kind of exhausting. But it's a high watermark for both its genre and its era. Fave Songs: Closer, Hurt, The Downward Spiral, Mr. Self Destruct, A Warm Place, Heresy

Seriously dark and heavy music; an unwell guy smearing his soul across an audio file. Maybe the weirdest thing about it is that beneath the abrasive layers it's kind of a groovy album, full of great rhythms and unique song structures. I come away from this thinking Reznor is an extremely legit musician who thankfully seems to have worked past his mid-90s issues that caused the subject matter here. Best song: Closer

- this album is very grimy in a good way - incredible production and sound - not something I could listen to on a regular basis, but I'm excited to check out more NIN - Hurt is a 10/10 song

- I really enjoyed this album - can hear different pieces (influences) from Radiohead and Korn - Hurt is one of the best album closers I’ve ever heard

good album! trent bangin out the tunes, 1994 favorites: heresy, march of the pigs, closer, hurt

Very good

Like pretty much everyone my age, I'm exceedingly familiar with "Closer" and "Hurt," and enjoy them both, but I've never been much of a NIN fan ... until relatively recently. I had an ex who was a huge fan, but I never gave them much thought. My wife is also a huge fan, and we ended up going to see them in concert a handful of years ago. Needless to say, I realized I'd been missing out. I've since spent more time familiarizing myself with Reznor's catalogue, and while I don't think it gets better than "Pretty Hate Machine," "The Downward Spiral" is a fantastic album.

One of the most under-appreciated heavy metal acts. I think they never really had their own subgenre to fall into because they were too "heavy metal" for the industrial/metal bands, and too industrial for the straightforward "heavy metal" bands. So there wasn't really other acts that people could lump together and say "this is my genre of music that I like". This album I have some familiarity with but I haven't listened in years and years. Really nice to go back to this. Often it's easy for me to compare a band or musical act to a visual (to me, Meshuggah sounds like a robot breaking apart), or a movie (to me, High on Fire sounds like orangutans and elephants rampaging through a desert). NIN is a challenge though. They have this weird industrial sound that is very serious and electronic and distorted and grating and raw yet refined. They are consistent in their sound, but it's so unique. I love that. I love the challenge. I still don't have a visual that I can compare them to. The stand out tracks are definitely "Closer" and "Hurt" which are bonafide slappers and have done great things for the genre of metal music. I'll always remember being driven to high school by my grandfather and hearing "Closer" on the radio and thinking to myself "why oh why couldn't this have been "Hurt" instead?" Those 2 tracks bring it over into a 4/5 for me.

4/5. Not what I was expecting at all but a pleasant surprise. A lot more accessible, but still goes so hard. The lyrics are not something I can fully understand but the ones I can understand really do slap. Just a great, but depressing, vibe that does such a good job at conveying a mood. And that mood is “F this, and F you, and F me”

Feel like this needs more listens to me, volume was all over the place on car speakers

It teeters into the ridiculous and overly-angsty at time, but this album is a lot of fun. Fav Track: Eraser 3.5

Brings me such joy to imagine those spooky little 90s freaks wriggling around in their bedrooms with this on. They'd be having such a fun time thinking about how spooky they are. This album has a bit of cheese whiff to it now but the flashes of Trent's compositional brilliance are there to elevate it all. For a long record it ebbs and flows nicely from harshness to creepy ambiance to pop metal hooks. Deserving of its place in the Canon for mine. A strong three and a half. Fave track: I Do Not Want This/Big Man with a Gun

Textured, dynamic, and magnetic. An annoying morning at work made me a little angry so this actually was a perfect soundtrack for my energy. A little overly angsty at times to be taken totally seriously, but Reznor is clearly sits at the top when it comes to sharpening a style and producing a well engineered sonic cacophony. Fave track: Eraser

Ditching the synth-pop flavors of their excellent first album for an even darker and grittier sound, I find the second record by NIN to be much stronger. It's got some real bangers on it as the kids might say. To my ear, this second album is more of an evolution from the first record than what you might say about Ministry's own change from an extremely synth-pop style to an industrial-metal sound. This second record cemented NIN in 90s music in a way that I don't think would've happened if they had just continued the direction of or repeated their first record. Funny thing is...(and by funny I mean, I'm dumb): I didn't really listen to this record so much when it first came out because, of course, I had dismissed them based on how I felt about their rising popularity off the first record. At that time, I was too anti-fame, anti-mass appeal to want to have much to do with them even if I liked the music.

Hard to rate. But i enjoyed it overall.

i likey

Excellent industrial soundscaping and textural art

I did not get on this train in the 90s when this album came out though I remember it being big and different at the time. And I have a handful of friends who would count NIN as one of their favorite bands. Happy to dive in to this and after a couple listens I dig how abrasive and eclectic this record is. I'm sure it would have been wild to get immersed in this nearly 30 years when it came out. NIN is not really for me, but this is a great album.

PREFS : Mr. Self Destruct, March of the Pigs, Closer, Ruiner, The Becoming, I Do Not Want This, Big Man With a Gun, Eraser, Hurt MOINS PREF : Reptile

Interesting but not amazing. Kind of wish it was more focused/less long. Overall like a 3.5 maybe, rounding to 4. Not sure if I'll listen more.

4,5

Toen ik nog een onzekere puber was luisterde ik regelmatig het album "The Fragile". Nu als onzekere volwassene zet ik het eigenlijk nooit meer aan. Leuk dat het algortime mij nu beveelt NIN weer eens te luisteren. Lastig om er sterren op te plakken, want dit is geen muziek waar je altijd zin in hebt. Misschien zelfs vaker niet dan wel. Het heeft de warmte van een tochtige betonnen cel. Afhankelijk van de vorm van de dag is het kutmuziek of geniaal. Vandaag heb ik er wel zin in, dus ik ga qua sterren niet te moeilijk doen. Specifieke, redelijk unieke sound. De productie klinkt top, met als grootste compliment dat je niet hoort dat het uit 1994 komt.

I've always thought this album was overrated by critics at the time, and my view hasn't changed in the 29 years since. It's innovative with its recording dynamics and you can hear why Trent Reznor later moved into soundracks. Some of it is very good, but other tracks are just whiny and/or trying too hard. Definitely an album you need to be in the right mood for. As for the recording location, I'll leave the last words to Trent: "It's one thing to go around with your dick swinging in the wind, acting like it doesn't matter. But when you understand the repercussions that are felt ... that's what sobered me up: realizing that what balances out the appeal of the lawlessness and the lack of morality and that whole thing is the other end of it, the victims who don't deserve that."

Genuine conflict with this album. Love it, as it spoke to me on a visceral level, but also hypercharged my depression. Still an amazing concept album.

I've learned a lot about Nine Inch Nails listening to and researching this album that I didn't before. For one thing, Trent Reznor is the entire fucking band. There's a few small instruments and samples added as a cherry on top, but he's credited for "Vocals, All Instruments, Arranger, Producer" on this album. Not even just that, he was using early Macintosh software to edit and distort the sounds and frequencies used. The album is rough and erratic, and can be hard to listen to. I feel that's almost the point though. A concept album of a man so misanthropic he kills God before struggling to take his own life is relatable in a lot of ways. It speaks a lot to the underground scene in the early 90's and a bit to what some of these live shows must have been like. As I listened, this album grew on me much more than I would've guessed. Ultimately, an incredible accomplishment in music history that warrants more listens and analysis of the lyrics. It's time to come to terms with the drum machine

A good listen, Closer is a banging track

Epic in so many ways

And amazing ride from beginning to end! Didn't really think I'd like it but it's a good one for sure.

Great shit

Angry gym music for the thinking man

Probably haven't listened to this in full in more than 20 years. My appreciation has grown.

если честно, то это восторг слушать это было великолепно и прекрасно, моментами ооочень экспериментально (поэтому не 5) работа не для всех, но музыканты точно кайфанут

I was only familiar with the song Closer prior to listening to this album, but this album still surprised me at how unique, creative, provocative, and honestly enjoyable it was to listen to. It's not really an album to put on while hanging out with my friends or family, but it most definitely has its place.

Your god is dead and no one cares.

This is powerful stuff meant in earnest. Lots of jagged textures here. An Industrial Icon.

Angry but good.

There's a lot in this album that's really great! And some that isn't my normal cup of tea. I probably have to be in the right mood to listen to the whole album again, but there are some great songs and moments on this album. It certainly captures a distinct mood that still stands out today.

yeeehaw elsker det her

Grimey grungey goth industrial

already listened to this. 4/5

I never really enjoyed listening to NIN, but I appreciate them. Trent definitely brought something new to the way he composed, arranged, and recorded. There’s an art to it. Plus, I just learned that he lived in and recorded this at the house where Sharon Tate was murdered - that’s creepy cool. It’s probably a three for me, but I’m giving it a bump because it’s deserving of the list.

Darker than Pretty Hate Machine, still great.

classic, zo veel goede songs maar vooral closer en hurt. Al blijft hurt van mr cash toch iets beter

I’m suspecting that this dude might be depressed or summn 🤷‍♂️

I shouldn't like this album just based on genre. But I was to some extent raised on Nine Inch Nails. My mo has been sideside at Lollapalooza when they were playing. "March Of The Pigs", "Closer", and "Hurt" are my favorite songs on the album. The last of which most people forget Reznor wrote, I drop that fact nearly anytime somebody mentions the Johnny Cash version (which is amazing). Best industrial rock album there is.

Familiar

Can someone check on Trent please.

Seemed fine, not my style.

I knew this album was going to be hardcore getting into it but nothing like what it actually was. This album was so ahead of it's time with the soundscapes and use of electronics. I could hardly process this album within a single listen

"March of the Pigs" es todo lo que está bien

I WILL BECOME AN ANGST ENGINE

Nothing but respect for Reznor, but NIN doesn't hit me in the feels.

Far ahead of its time.

It sounds just like some of their later songs I'm familiar with and like ("Head Like a Hole, "The Hand That Feeds"). The overall concept for the album is interesting, but you really need to be in a good mental place because songs are angry and violent and depressing. This is not an album to sing when you want to get your frustrations out.

I really feel like there is an amazing blend of loud and soft, hard and gentle, dis chord and melody and poetic and beastial lyrics. It’s not easy listening but this album is a work of art.

A great album. Trent really turns what music is on its ear while still making it listenable. Most of the time.

I went down a big NIN hole a few years ago. One could call it a spiral. This was never my favorite of their albums, and I think it sags in the middle, but it's still great. The opening and ending are good enough to bang this up to a 4 at least.

👍

Industrial noise ... rock?!? I somehow like this album. 3.5/5

Tuve tiempo de escucharlo de fondo no más, entretenido

Powerful and grim.

Interesting stuff. Not an everyday listen, but good stuff.

5 starts if not for Closer, which while not bad, I've heard too often

Ich mag diesen industrial sound extrem gerne. Teilweise sehr elektronische Klänge in Verbindung mit aggressiverem Rock. Sehr nice!

4.5/5. Listening to this album definitely makes you feel like you're spiralling in a downwards direction, but in a good way. There's a lot of care and attention to detail given to the production and the sampling is in top form, this record really separates itself from all the other 90s alternative rock stuff.

Good noise mixture

Unique sound. Good album!

mate this is sick it's heavy like metal, but its too 'alternative' to be proper metal. screaming vocals, very good drums also awesome album art. Some electronic moments too, which are cool. I can see why this is popular. Yes...the drumming is a big standout of this album.

The word that kept popping into my head as I listened to was “visceral.” This is an album I’ve always meant to listen to and it didn’t disappoint.

Fuck I if this isn’t some great wallow music. Didn’t love a couple songs in the back half but Hurt is a star by itself.

The first “Doesn’t it make you feel betterrr …………………………,” is so great. The piano break juxtaposed against the industrial sound, the 6 second anticipation-inducing pause, and the reengagment with the concussive sound is the best moment, amongst many, on the album. The main riff to Closer is probably my second part of the album. The concept of a person’s downward spiral through depression to suicide is incredibly well executed. Even more impressive to me is that Trent Reznor wrote all the tracks and mostly played all the musical parts, being a one man wonder band. That’s talent. Nothing after March Of The Pigs and Closer rises again to these levels, leaving me to want a bit more. This is a very good, but not quite great, album for me.

Goodness me, this was different sauce back in the day. I can smell the felt tip pen ink now just listening to it; anyone else have a bunch of kids at their school with the NIN logo doodled next to that of Korn, Slipknot etc on their back packs? Pretty damn good even today. Might bust out the black nail polish a bit later.

Nothing can stop me now, ‘cause I just don’t care… Just another step toward growing fangs.

Catchy while still being unsettling an staying true to it's industrial roots. Lyrics and vocals convey the emotion of the album very effectively.

This gets a 4 instead of a 5 because some tracks are just a little bit too harsh for my ears. It's great art, but I also prefer my music to be enjoyable to listen to. Mixing is fantastic though. Syncopated drums in the latter half of Piggy are a standout.

Enjoyed this more than expected!

Really interesting album. Didn't know what to expect but I did end up liking it quite a bit. Some more unique sounding pieces.

A downer of an album that defined an era of "alternative" albums which were truly unique sonically. I missed the techno influence the first time around, and appreciate that and the way that Reznor is able to fade industrial tracks into one another so well. The album's unifying conceit doesn't hold together perfectly through the close, but the up-and-down-but-mostly-down is an intricate rendering of angry young man mind.

Adorei o álbum, ouvi algumas vezes. Uma banda para se conhecer mais, tem um estilo meio melancólico que eu gosto muito. Melhores músicas: Closer, Piggy, Ruiner e minha amada e favorita Hurt!

I've never been a huge fan of NIN. In high school, I thought they were a metal band; I was very disappointed when I finally listened to them and discovered it was "just techno." Listening as a full-grown adult, I still find it hard to connect with most of the lyrics. Maybe I'm just not edgy and angry enough? I will say, I loved a good portion of the album, especially the back portion as the vocals seem to bleed out of the tracks and the music takes on a darker, harsher tone. I'm about 80% closer (ha) to "getting it" and can see why this album is held in high regard.

This brilliant album captures a very specific period of time. Still in rotation for me. (It may have even contributed to the conception of my first child 🤷‍♂️)

I liked it more than I thought I would. Not an easy listen but it is actually quite musical. Would listen again.

Mr Self Destruct: Someone is getting slapped and it turns into a drum beat. Feels like I’m in a car chase in I fast and furious. It’s quiet now and someone is whispering. SOMEONE GOT SHOT AND WERE BACK TO SCREAMING. He’s talking about being used and being controlled. Loud distortion towards the end. Piggy: immediately quieter than the last song and great contrast from that distortion from the end of the last track. Weird noise in my left speaker possibly a train? Soft vocals make the bass and synth pop which I enjoy. Various sound effects in the background possibly rainforest? Another train sound effect? Drums have been slowly added in to the mix of percussion instruments. More distortion at the end but less than last track and finishes withs funky synth and guitar. Heresy: Falsetto vocals are fine contrast to loud electronic synth. Nevermind he’s screaming into the mic. He’s talking about how god is dead and he’ll see us in hell😃 Wing flapping sound effects possibly demon? March Of The Pigs: Fast drum bit with 8bit synth. More yelling on his part talking about wanting something but he doesn’t like it. Quick Bowie like piano segment that softens his vocals and stops music for a bit but goes back into screaming. Crude imagery about killing pigs. Again with the Bowie type piano segment which lasts much longer and ends out the song Closer: Very crude imagery of this man wanting to get intimate with us😳 Funky synth. High pitched synth that acts like the strings. I don’t think he’s referring to us. He says he will go to great lengths to be with this person, even saying their the reason he stays alive. Ends with distorted piano and reverse tape loops. Ruiner: End of last song transitions into this song with the piano. More sex imagery. Harmony begins. Break from loud vocals to quiet bass with sound effects behind it. Bluesy Electric guitar solo transitions into heavy metal guitar solo. Synth rises the tension. Song ends abruptly with no real end. The Becoming: Tape loops of people screaming as he sings in his soft voice. He’s talking about how he’s changed as a person the last time we saw him. Quick guitar strumming with soft vocals. Sporadic industrial synth. There is a bad voice inside his head that makes him this way. Song closes out with soft acoustic strumming as it transitions to the next song with static sound. I Do Not Want This: He doesn’t want us to do things for him, he insists us to stop. Radio chatter? Gravely voice overshadowed by loudness. Crude imagery of how he wants to do everything. Big Man With A Gun: Sporadic screaming with intense synth and drum beat. He had a gun and he is going to kill us all😳 Song ends abruptly. A Warm Place: Its awfully quiet, too quiet. No vocals just strings and bass and peaceful ambience. Synth finally coming around 2:20 mark still very soft though with guitar plucking. Song comes to close with tremolo to the strings and spray bottle noises. Eraser: Spray bottle noise continues with humming noises. Drum beat follows. No vocals still at least half way through. Soft vocals saying ever adjective that ends in “you”. Loud vocals now saying every adjective that could end in “me” specifically “Kill me” Abrupt finish but does have an end. Reptile: Factory machine noises as soft plucking is layered over. Loud synth, drums, and tape loops of screeching plays over and over again. He is talking about his girl being similar to a reptile, as she has cold blood and dead eyes. Someone may be getting murdered as this song is among the scariest this album has to offer in terms of sound and theme. The Downward Spiral: Factory noises are distorted this time around and are drowned out be flies and other mysterious noises. Soft guitar plucking makes situation friendlier somehow. “Strawberry Fields Forever” in the background? Out of tune guitar strumming as wind gushes over us. Cat purring? Muffled screaming as a man talks over it about how he has committed a murder by shooting the man in the face. Chilling imagery. Hurt: Immediate contrast to every single song in this album with soft vocals and acoustic guitar with soft static in the background. Gives off chilling and depressing imagery of a man who’s lost everything. Vocals rise and drum beat follows. Back to just acoustic and soft vocals. His vocals are broken and you can here the pain I’m his voice. The emotion is strong with this one it is absolutely heartbreaking. One final distorted electric guitar riff to end his verse with his final line. White noise fills an empty abyss we can’t see the end of. Static closes out the song and puts a finish to the suffering. Final thoughts: This album is a masterpiece of its music trade. Though I may not be a fan of the style Nine Inch Nails is portraying, I can not deny the genius work behind this magnum opus of an album. As the story goes, it follows the story of a lonely man who has nothing in life and slowly goes insane over the period of this album, each song gets more intense than the last, showing the insanity going through his mind. His devious and evil thoughts were portrayed perfectly with the heavy industrial synth and many odd sound effects appearing in each song, and once you eventually reach the quick piano breaks in “March Of The Pigs” the contrast is incredibly stark, showing possibly and sense of relief in the man. On side B we then hear “A Warm Place” which is the perfect contrast the album was waiting as it’s quieter with soft acoustics, strings, bass, and other peaceful ambiance, it makes you think over the last 30 minutes of screaming and cries for help and places you in a sense of warmth and love, which is almost immediately tarnished with the next song “Eraser” yet even that is tamer than the likeness of Side A. Side B provides an incredible conclusion of insanity that this man’s life was leading up too, eventually killing a man and quite possibly ending his own, as the album closes out with the heartbreaking, final goodbye that is “Hurt” which is an immediate contrast to everything, with soft tender vocals, acoustic guitar and a sense of loss and forgiveness for his action. I’ve never heard emotion so strong in song than this, made only better with the hour buildup of insanity, making this album a true masterpiece of the art.

Great album

I really enjoy NIN's music and I'm happy to see them on this list. I've listened to this album and the others many many times. Mr Self Destruct 2/5 Piggy 3/5 Heresy 5/5 March of the Pigs 3/5 Closer 5/5 Ruiner 3/5 The Becoming 3/5 I Do Not Want This 3/5 Big Man With a Gun 2/5 A Warm Place 3/5 Eraser 3/5 Reptile 5/5 The Downward Spiral 3/5 Hurt I prefer the quiet version so much more, the weird fuzziness? is frustrating to listen to. The quiet version is easily a 5/5 though. Overall I'd say this is a 4/5 album, lot of cool tracks on it.

Ces gars-là et leur rock industriel m'ont surpris et Dieu sait qu'il en faut beaucoup pour me surprendre. Demandez à Eric Antoine.

highlights: -hurt holy shit this is something

This little piggy needs therapy 🐽

I always liked Trent more than I liked his music. Like, I don't know if I'd actually listen to NIN without having their wikipedia page to scroll through. The lyrics really come off like 14-year-old wrote them (sorry, Big T!). This is a lot funkier than I expected!

Pitch-black, gratingly harsh, and uncompromising. Trent Reznor exorcises his demons through a set of songs that demonstrate both his musical virtuosity and his desire to claw his way back from the pit of despair.

Amazing sound, blues rock meets harsh electronic sounds. Organic sounds on the second half of the album acoustic guitar and piano in contrast plays nicely. Complex harmony although sometimes sparse. Edgy lyrics gave me cringitis.

This is a fine album. The vocals generally sound flat but the dynamics are truly impressive. I also like the arrangements which have a nice mix of real instruments and electronic sounds and percussion. The soft loud dynamic shifts are very impressive. And the songs are much more compelling than I thought they'd be. I'm not really a fan of industrial music, but the Downward Spiral house a nice balance between industrial stylings as well as a melodic foundation that I find pleasing. 4 🌟

Either this was an extremely slow burn, or I really did enjoy the second half of the album a lot more than the first. The soundscape was a little overwhelming initially, but then I started to notice the tiny details in the instrumentals. That's when the enjoyment started to kick in.

it was very good, such a slow burn and I wasn't sold at first but damn... as an album it's fantastic. So much better than any individual song

L'obra magna del rock industrial i un dels discos més importants, inspirats, dels '90. Complicat, complex, recargolat, va ser el punt àlgid de la carrera de Trent Reznor i una inspiració per molt del que hauria de venir. Gairebé al tocar de les 5*

Oh, Mr. Reznor.

Very interesting album, strong industrial sound that channels pure violence, anger, pain. It's not about the melodies but about the feeling of this album. I think that bumps it up for me. Hurt is a strong closer.

I'm feeling the groove on Mr. Self Destruct and then on Piggy. Closer is an awesome genre bending single. Hurt is a banger.

Ce n'est pas l'album le plus accessible de la liste et je dois avouer que je ne l'ai pas aimé instantanément. À l'époque, le style du groupe ne me parlait pas. J'y suis revenu plus tard et j'ai complètement embarqué dans l'univers de Trent Reznor à partir de l'album With Teeth. Et encore là, je n'avais pas vraiment pris la peine de revenir à cet album. Je comprends aujourd'hui l'importance de l'album et je peux constater sa qualité. Les textures créées sont super intéressantes et innovantes pour l'époque. Il y a un désir de recherche de nouvelles sonorités même avec les instruments conventionnels comme la guitare. La direction donnée à Andrian Belew pour Mr. Self-Destruct allait dans ce sens. On retrouve sur cet album la sonorité industrielle et violente de Ministry mais traitée de façon plus mélodique. Il y a de la place pour la musique et les mélodies. La prise de son des drums sur Piggy et Eraser est superbe. D'ailleurs, la superposition des drums à la fin de la pièce Piggy rappelle un peu ce que King Crimson faisait autour de cette époque avec son double trio. J'adore comment le beat déroute un peu la pièce alors que la pièce continue bien droite en arrière. Heresy a un petit côté à la Prince que j'aime bien. La pièce Hurt est superbe, mais la version de Johnny Cash avec tout son background est la meilleure version. La pièce Closer est une incontournable. L'album est par contre une petite affaire trop longue. C'est un album à connaître et dans mon cas, à me procurer (je peux pas croire que je ne l'ai pas encore). Pièces préférées: Hurt, The Becoming, Closer, Piggy, Heresy, March Of The Pigs

4.25

Trent Reznor's multi-instrumental talents, as well as production techniques, really shine on this album. It has such a distinct sound, and helped to push the industrial sound into more people's Sony Walkman players at the time. I really enjoy the imagery created through sound layering and producing instruments to make them sound like a wall of sound, before falling off a cliff into silence. The vocal tones used by Reznor are also very effective in contributing to the overall mood throughout the record. There is no subtlety in the lyrics, which was common during this period but does not hold up incredibly well over time. The writing is the only aspect that leaves a bad taste. Fave tracks: Heresy, Eraser, Hurt

Great concept album. Dark, different and energetic. Hadn't listened since I was a kid. Definitely a different experience as an adult.

Listened already, really like it

nicreeeeeeeeeeee

Some of these songs sound too static-y to me, and sometimes the abrasiveness feels over the top, but overall an amazing collection of songs.

Dikke prima!

I used to love this when I was an angsty teen, and, if I'm being honest, I still like it as an angsty adult. Maybe not as much as I used to, but I enjoyed it.

This album has some of my favorite NiN tracks ("Closer", "Hey Pig", "Hurt"), but also descends into a bit too much teen-angst anger in places. The production is ridiculously good and it was definitely a revelation on its release.

Hey, this one I have heard all the way through, multiple times... and no sense not doing it again! Think back to the first time you heard this and think, Oscar winner working with Pixar.

I guess it is a good thing that I'm not often in the mood for NIN. That said you cannot deny the power and creativity and raw genius on display. This album is a genuine achievement. It is utterly unsurprising that Reznor continues to make significant and inspired contributions to our culture right up to present day. The Downward Spiral is not the work of a man lacking in ideas or emotion. Hurt in particular is a masterpiece. All the more so once it became the deeply moving Cash video. If you don't agree then I'm sorry you have a stone for a heart.

Industrial rock-metal. Un 4 porque tiene la de Hurt.

Great album

Pretty good! I’ll likely listen to it more

A bunch of okay songs and then hurt

A 90's classic and still unique and fresh sounding nearly 20 years since its release. The way Reznor oscillates seamlessly between a heavier, industrial metal sound and the softer, atmospheric vibes of songs like 'Hurt' and 'A Warm Place' makes for a terrific album.

Great album!

Many stabdout tracks like “Closer,” “Hurt,” “Heresy,” and “Ruiner.” Great music for being angsty. Some filler tracks, intros, outros.

WTF was that!?

8/10

The 90's really were a haven for miserable angst. I'm astounded that something as abrasive and unforgiving as this album not only breached the mainstream but actively thrived in it, but reznor tapped into a collective rage and disillusion with society at large on this album, and with NIN in general. The Downward Spiral isn't just angry. it's misanthropic, bleak and searing; containing all the melodrama and self loathing of an outcast teen but with the sincerity of an enraged anarchist. The vocal performances cut right through you, and compliment these colossal and primal industrialized rock pieces.

There are 1001 albums and I keep getting recommended albums I’ve heard!! Not a bad thing, just odd. I don’t know if I’ve listened to this from start to finish, it might be too much. Heresy and March of the Pigs still slap. The real beauty in this album is listening to it from start to finish in one setting and really taking in all the sounds and emotions that Reznor sculpts. Hard to listen to, but rewarding at the same time.

Honestly not sure if I absolutely adore this or hate it. Can you have both at once?

4.5

Musically i thought it was very innovative and fascinating to listen to. I can appreciate that Trent Reznor is a master of his craft. I didn't necessarily enjoy all of it, but it was never boring. Each song feels meticulously crafted. Each song has so much going on in the background that I like. I like how a lot of the songs build really well too. A lot of the lyrics were atrocious though lmao. i didnt mind a lot of the edginess but there were so many mindless references to dicks and fucking and so on; i just thought the cool music couldve used cooler lyrics. A few of the songs did have more interesting lyrics, thankfully. I don't mind somewhat sexual lyrics as long as they are actually interesting, like in "Reptile". I feel like it could grow on me, so i should return eventually.

bastante loco, not for me pero musica de CALIDAD

Dark, depressing, and really cool. 7-8/10

immersive, energetic, moody and i like this version of hurt much better. for some unknown reason the johnny cash version used to play every friday evening on the leading radio station in israel, and i always felt like it was so obnoxiously pretentious. in this album, it owns it unapologetically and i could believe it for once. :)

This is the first NiN album I ever listened to in it's entirety. I liked it...at spots I liked it quite a bit. I was surprised at the variety of sounds. There was subtlety that I wasn't expecting 3.75 stars

Great sound. Listened to this a decent amount when it came out, but I think I was too young to full appreciate it. Makes me want to go back an revisit full catalogue. 4/5

When I started this I was hoping I'd get at least a few albums that I knew well. Sex Pistols and now this one have helped me reach that goal, but it's kind of mildly disappointing to not have something new to dive into. On the plus side, there's still 900 odd to go :)

Has the song Hurt. Excellent album, but not quite a 5.

Incredible use of dynamics and automation. This was such an innovative album and still sounds fresh and relevant. Full of darkness and menace, simply fantastic. Top tracks: Closer, Eraser, Hurt

This album is a bit abrasive and intense for a normal day, however it can’t be denied, it’s a fantastic album. Trent Reznor’s voice wavers between razor blade and buzzsaw, the lonely samples sound far away and lost, the guitar effects and driving baselines sound like cold metal in a defunct factory. This is industrial music. It’s both beautiful and too much at the same time. You can hear the influences, new wave, metal and techno in this mashup. You can hear Reznor’s theatrical appreciation and resulting aesthetic—a prelude to his very successful film score career. I think Closer and Hurt are both masterpieces which can be played on loop. I was very close to giving this a 5, even though it was a downer for the afternoon, but there’s a bit of filler, a few dongs which were threes and it just barely didn’t reach the eschelon of every song is good. 4.

Banger. Literally.

Rating: 8/10 Best songs: Mr. Selfdestruct, March of the pigs, Hurt

Though reputation and age exceed this album somewhat, the care put into it is still clear. The peaks of it's brutality are what really shine.

Not the same impact as Pretty Hate Machine, and I remember the slight disappointment after the long wait. + the album's sequencing, a classic NIN song (Hurt), all the instrumental bits, the high level of detail in the music (+5) -: the straightforwardness of the concept, the standard industrial template of the proper songs (-0.5) and especially the awkward lyrics (-1). Final mark: 5 - 1.5 = 4

This was solid, knew some tracks from this album but over all great album

yes.

Been a really long time since I’ve listened to this one. I don’t love it but man you can’t say it wasn’t revolutionary. Absolutely amazing command of sound. Easy to see how Reznor has successfully done so many soundtracks. He gets emotional music.

Great songs on this, I'd give it 5 stars, but I've always found some of the piggy stuff distrubing.

Een album om af en toe eens ongemakkelijk bij te voelen, en dat is best oké. Heel unieke sound, maar niet meteen iets om opnieuw volledig op te leggen

Great industrial sound. My biggest gripe is the mix. The vocals are way turned down and get drowned out by the music. Other than that, this is a very cathartic album. Trent Reznor is the best at what he does

Några riktiga guldkorn. T ex closer och hurt

i can't believe Hurt is a bonus track more musical than I would have expected

wanna give it a 4.5. can't get enough of that angsty horny shit. more pig content than I remembered??

Well that was interesting. A very intimate picture of a man going though some shit, thats for sure. Some real standout lyrics on that one.

Trent Reznor creates some u inquest music and I’ve always enjoyed their bigger hits. The whole album is pretty good but just short of great. The songs are dark and instrumentals are experimental. 8.3/10

Industrial angst

Veoma ritmičan i mračan album. Instrumentali su bolji nego ih se sjećam i dosta mi je drago što su random ovaj album izabrali. Pasao je na ovaj tmuran dan, a mogu tek mislit kakav bi bio po noći. Glas ima sirov, oštar, a u par slučajeva i miran, dosta prilagođavanja na instrumental. Dosta agresivan album, ne previše, pa je zapravo to i dobro za mene. Ne govore bezveze da je ovo njihov najjači album u njihovom katalogu. 3.9/5

typical Trent Reznor

Big fan! Some filler in between but it creates a really uneasy, uncomfortable feeling. It’s no wonder Reznor went into film scoring.

I liked it, but don't think it's something I could listen to for longer than one album at a time. Also almost a bit too intense to listen to during work.

Very experimental sounds, a few too weird songs but overall I like it

I used to do dramatic readings of this album's lyrics when I was a Freshman in college, but are classics and while I don't always feel precisely what is expressed in these songs, my adolescence was off frustration and anger and the desire to do something meaningful. Trent has really evolved has a significant producer of sound. And I think it's interesting that we listened to him right after Brian Eno. I know all of us who have grown up with John Williams scores can attest to our emotional connection to sounds and images and feelings. I was reading an article about how sound influenced or emotional reactions to content. Classic album, I had a couple of early NIN albums, I will definitely listen to more.

Tuesday album haiku:### Iron, concrete, wood, stone ### Decorate your soul with thorn ### Hammers in your hands ###

I enjoyed this much more than I thought I would. I feel like this album was more influential than I ever know. A lot of the songs sounded very 90s in a good way, like a lot of other bands were trying to replicate the sound.

A dreadfully depressing album, but that’s part of what makes it great. Not my favorite in the NIN discography, but still an excellent album.

Intense

Haiku Tuesday: Depression; Success Give attention to his pain Let's profit, baby

I enjoyed the aesthetic of the album more than I enjoyed the actual music. There are certainly some great songs here, but it's got filler on it too. I'm glad I heard it and I might even come back to it, but it didn't bowl me over start to finish.

Treads the line between crunchiness and atonality adroitly.

It's a classic for a reason. I'm not super into industrial, digital sounds. I generally prefer humans playing instruments, but there is room in my heart for everything. This is a great example of the better end of this type of sound.

Pretty dope vibes, instruments were carefully used and effectively some great affects 4.2

Not an album for work, grindy and tough on the soul but powerful

Not my favorite of theirs but a classic.

Closer and March of The Pigs are my favorite songs. Album is very cohesive. 1st time listening to the whole album.

A classic NIN album, definitely deserving of its place on this list.

Great NIN, but just not my typical speed.

Dude can you imagine if Johnny Cash covered this whole thing

Inget större fan av NIN men ett extremt välgjort album.

Not my favorite NIN but really good. Hurt is a classic

See also Marilyn Manson Antichrist/era

I can't say I dislike this album ... but I don't like it. NIN never grabbed me, and it's not just because it's "industrial." I can appreciate the artistry here, but I'll never listen to it again.

C'est pas l'album que j'écouterais de moi même Je comprends pas pk ils veulent pas qu'ont comprenne ce qu'ils disent

Sí marilyn manson hiciera música de verdad sonaría a este disco Sigo sin entender cómo hay banda que fantasea tener sexo con esto de fondo xD. Decisión aparentemente edgy y alternativa pero no tanto lol

NIN are one of those bands that I wish I enjoyed more.

Closer is obviously a banger. A Warm Place was a good instrumental track, and Hurt is also iconic even if draining my will to live slightly

Good for the most part, very good at times. I hadn’t listened to this since high school, which means last time I heard this I’d never seen Eraserhead

I still cannot believe this album was popular, not because it’s bad but because it’s so aggressively unwelcoming! Closer and Eraser were the first time I’ve loved a song on here and been scared to add it to my playlist because it’s so inappropriate to any situation but headphones. So then maybe I’m starting to understand the appeal — this is like, forbidden music.

Won’t return to it but can appreciate the technical complexity. Just not my thing. The layers and technical aspects could earn it a 3 even if my level of return to it would be a 1.5.

3/5 This was my first time ever listening to nine inch nails, and I liked listening to the album (but did not love it). I appreciate that this album has a lot of dynamic range, and it makes the loud moments of extreme anger and angst really hit hard. Closer was the most memorable song for me especially for the lyrics. I also liked Hersey and Reptile and saved them as liked songs. This album had too much distortion and whispery vocals for my taste and I wasn't always a fan about how the songs were mixed.

There have been a few albums in this experience, such as Van Halen's "1984" and Blondie's "Parallel Lines," where I had higher hopes for an album and ended up liking it less than I thought I would. Unfortunately, "The Downward Spiral" has ended up on that list. I don't think its a bad album by any means. I just kept going back and forth on whether or not I liked it and the end result was my overall feeling not rising to far above a 3. 3.5 rounded down to a 3/5

Three stars for my goth friends in high school who listened to this.

A bit too much noise for me

pretty cool industrial music but mixed pretty weirdly, and successors have done the genre more justice

Not my favorite NIN, but serviceable.

Had this CD as a kid and was amazed by it due to how unique it sounded compared with everything else at the time. Today, it’s still a very unique sound and I appreciate it for what it is and the boundary that it pushed with respect to music. This one will always be fond to me.

The conventional stuff was fine, but there was some disturbing lyrics in places, overall fine - better than some of the other stuff I’ve had generated.

C’est bien ! C’est moderne Petit bémol sur les paroles un peu ridicule par moments, un peu trop emo Il y a des phases vraiment intéressantes sur certaines, avec des rifs bien bas (ex : ruiner). J’aurais envie d’avoir certaines musiques dans DOOM L’écoute m’étonne quand même, j’aurais imaginé quelque chose de plus industriel et moins… électronique ? Ça me fait un peu penser à badflower par moment Aucun banger non plus 7/10

Not for me, challenging enough but a bit formless.

I just can't get into this album as a whole but it deserves to be here. I just feel like the concept could be accomplished in less time and with less bullshit. March of the Pigs, the bridge and outro of Closer (not even really the rest of the song), A Warm Place, and Hurt are all incredible.

More musical than I'd expected

Thank god for Johnny cash

I've listened to this album a lot over the years, but I sometimes wonder why. It certainly does a good job of drawing visceral emotions out, but it's nothing like what anyone could call a pleasurable (or even rewarding) experience. It's an album that seems like it HAS to exist in the world, but I can't decide whether to rate it on that musical and social importance or on the deliberate unpleasantness it seems designed to evoke.

“Got any Nine Inch Nails?” “No…” “Wicked! Got any carrots?”

great album

Meh-understand how they bridge a lot of techno/rock….this is just too long. Need to go shake off all the angst & dispair

Well that’s rough. I’ve been going through a tough block in my life and unfortunately I don’t want to add the sounds of screaming emos from the 90s into my ongoing struggle. No hate though, I must listen to this another day so I can feel like I’m a cultured person.

While I can get into this musically I don't have the level of self loathing required to engage with the lyrics

Nothing like starting my Saturday by listening to an entire NIN album while playing the New York Times games and eating my oatmeal. This seems like a cool and well-done version of what it is, but I still couldn't wait for it to be over because I don't think I would ever be in the mood to listen to something like this (at least I hope not). I actually did enjoy Hurt though. That song is a bit more traditionally musical than the rest of the album.

A couple songs I really liked, a lot of stuff I didn't get. No clue what to rate it

3.8

so angsty as a longtime fan of QOTSA its cool to hear what I assume were influences on that genre from this

NIN

Such a strong debut is a tough act to follow. I love Closer. Hurt is also good but also a rare instance where I like the cover better. 2.5/5

So much angst and aggression…and all before the age of 30. Ha. But, I guess that’s what happens when you rent the house where Sharon Tate was murdered for inspiration and recording. I prefer NIN’s debut over this, but interestingly it’s the softer songs like Closer, Hurt or even A Warm Place that offer some light in this overall barrage. The production and mixing are some of the real standouts here too.

Love Closer. March of the Pigs and Hurt are also pretty solid. But the rest of the album is rough to get through. Want to round up but just can’t. 3.5/5

Temporary rating until I relisten with the lyrics in front of me.

Help me

6/10

Des qualités techniques évidentes et une production soignée. Un style indus et agressif auquel je n'ai pas accroché. Une déception personnelle malgré le respect pour l'œuvre.

i like aber fehlt was 3.25 sterne

“Closer” and “Ruiner” are both iconically good. The sound is raw and makes you uncomfortable, in a nice way. I liked “A Warm Place” and “Reptile” too.

Another disappointment

Never listened. Expectations: High - Verdict: Very Good - I like but don't love NIN's first album but have higher expectations for this one based on the countless rave reviews I have heard over the years. Mr. Self Destruct is alright but I prefer the plodding groove of Piggy. I like Heresy a lot as well, this is a very strong start. Closer is very danceable but I find March Of The Pigs and Ruiner slightly boring. The second half of the album doesn't have the standout songs like the first half but is still a great listen. A Warm Place and Hurt are exceptions, both are phenomenal tracks.

Helt grei, noen kule sanger

I don't think it's bad but it's just to heavy for me atm

El mero dolor

Not really my thing

Not bad. Not great. A few major hits.

Grindy. I mean, at times it just sounds like machines grinding. Now, later in the album, you get a hint or two of the work Reznor would do much later in life - the scoring, the soundtracks, the instrumentals, and those glimpses are beautiful. But you know, otherwise...okay.

Enjoyed relistening to this, though it seemed a lot more transgressive when I was a teenager

Very much not my usual choice but I thought this was good. Having watched a short documentary about the song Hurt, it makes a lot of sense in the context of the album. Glad that Trent Reznor is in a better place these days.

1. "Piggy" 2. "Hurt" 3. "Heresy"

3.5 liked more than I thought

It had so much promise. Verbal meme Garfield in all black, black nails, “all I think about is death” Shane Gillis voice. Three.

Clearly an important album. Again, not my favoured style but I appreciate it for what it is. Shows the importance of listening to the whole album as the instrumental piece gives a extra dimension and meaning.

Maybe a hot take but I think Pretty Hate Machine is a better album

Another blast from the past, I was never a huge NIN fan

this is getting a 3 even though most the songs I wasn't too into because Hurt is an allllll time favorite

I really like a number of tracks on this album (Piggy, Closer, Hurt) but dislike others quite a bit (The Becoming, Big Man With a Gun).

It's very different, and for that reason I commend it.

I'm sure it's a good album, but I just didn't like listening to it

Это тот тип альбомов, которые вволюдят меня в ступор на неделю. Поначалу сложно, в середине я уже сам начал распадаться, а ближе к концу втянулся. Звук в начале Eraser такой странный, мерзкий, но хочется слушать его снова и снова. В The Downward Spiral гитара так кричит, что становится жутко. Странный и неудобный, но интересный альбом.

michi hats auch empfohlen, habs nit ganz verstanden. muss mir wrsl das konzept durchlesen

I want to like this more than I do. There is definitely brilliance here. It is full of a lot of things I like but it has too much extra noise that takes away from the sound. Many of the songs sound like a layer of TV static or just random high pitch nonsense was added over top of what could otherwise be a masterpiece.

Not my favourite NIN and as always with them not the easiest listen but there is something in there to admire.

listened to again not a fan

Que barulheira, to muito velho pra isso. Mais um daqueles shows aleatórios que o Gus iria. Não gostei muito do álbum, mas o som deles é de qualidade. Não me imagino ouvindo de novo, mas vai 3 pra não ser tão malvado também.

Some jams. angry stuff

Nine Inch Nails er et klokkeklart eksempel på den gode gamle "det er ikke dig, det er mig". Jeg har endnu ikke fundet pladsen til NIN i mit liv, og det er ellers blevet prøvet et par gange - seneste gode forsøg var med kyndig vejledning fra Lasse V i en Renault Clio efter en omgang digitalisering i Kolding. Der er glimt af noget, jeg rigtig godt kan lide, og som jeg sagtens kan forstå, men det er som om, det overskygges af noget andet, jeg ikke er lige så vild med. Det er hverken det tunge, det teatralske eller det fjollede, der er noget galt med - det er mig. Det er et album, og et band, der fortjener mere, end hvad de får af mig. 2.8

Pretty good but i feel like i listened too late into my life for this to mean anything to me

It was probably my first introduction to industrial rock. The lyrics are deliberately coarse, working sometimes and not others for me. High 3/low 4.

A high 3. Hugely influential industrial noise

The abrasive patchwork of distorted guitar loops, compressed drums and tortured, highly processed beats is unique and at times even ingenious. The most progressive and exciting instrumentals sit at the beginning of the album, but at no point does it sound disinteresting. The lyrics however range from being at best obscure enough to happily ignore, and at worst elaborately unpleasant, fake deep and emotionally stifling. Also, Trent Reznor has a distracting obsession with animals.

Very horny, very angry

I appreciate this more than I enjoy it. There is some great stuff on here but it leans a bit too metal for me — I prefer the more orchestral and industrial sections.

I can kind of understand the hype for Nine Inch Nails, but its not my thing.

Du très bon comme du pas ouf

This was the first time I listened to an entire Nine Inch Nails album. I understand the importance and influence of this album, but I would have liked it a lot more if I was 15 years old. The lyrics are definitely the worst part.

Oh. I kind of hated the lyrics for the most part. They make me never want to listen to this album again. But everything else makes me never want to stop.

Es muy alternativo para mis gustos, no me fue fácil escucharlo

exactly as expected

I was not in the right mindset to listen to this today. Giving it a 3 because I think I would appreciate it on a different day in a different week. maybe not all of it, though... :)

1994. Considered one of the most influential and emblematic works of the 1990s. This concept album chronicles the self-destructive descent of a misanthropic protagonist into madness, dehumanization, and suicide.

It was good, but I don't really want to listen to it again.

I like NIN well enough and this is the Closer album, so I thought it would at least be a 4, but it was just kinda background noise for me

Me pareció muy experimental y a nivel experiencia bastante bueno, pero no me gustó nada en particular

So sorry it’s giving music for COD… 3 stars for Closer :)))

abrasive, snarling, and angry

Had its moments for sure, but was a little inconsistent and repetitive.

Nine Inch NailsはOld Town Roadの人ということしか知らなかった。 このアルバムは80-90年代のEBMを色々と聞いていた時期を思い出すけど、ボーカルが好みじゃないし、ここ最近で聞いた音楽の中で一番つまらなくてダサい音だと思った。自分がメタル嫌いなだけか。

Aggressive and industrial. Punchy, punky angst. Nothing memorable or a pick, all just very shouty. And yet, not that bad. Probably unlikely to relisten, but I understand why people like NIN

I am quite shocked this is NIN's only album on here, it's abrasive and I think a testament to their powers but not my favourite thing to hear

This album successfully made me feel mad, upset and like I looked inside a deranged person's head. Personally, I can't stand it, but it does accomplish it's goal

Think I was kinda disappointed in the this album from the AM top 100 and it's still not really clicking for me now either. I still think cash's version of hurt is better. 3

Hurt is great, Closer is great...especially the way it ends, it's just an amazing beat and groove. I understand the rest of it, but if I ever came back to it, I'm probably listening to these two songs and that's it. I'd much rather listen to Pretty Hate Machine, that's an album I really do enjoy and come back to from time to time. And really, I'd rather listen to the Johnny Cash version of Hurt before listening to this one. Glad I listened to it, respect it a lot, probably wouldn't play it again.

i fucks with it lowkey

A couple great songs, but very dark and a little too dissonant at times.

I can definitely understand why this album's on the list. I see this album and it's songs everywhere, I guess it's the quintessential industrial metal album. I may not totally "get" it on the first listen, but this was interesting enough to make me think, this may just be one of those things I might be "converted" in favor of in future. No guarantees though. Tracks I enjoyed: Mr self destruct, piggy, ruiner, a warm place, that one song the name of which I forgot in which he was like your god is dead or something like that

Perfect title for this exhausting album. Enjoyed Piggy and a couple of others though.

I like weird 90s music

Heresy and a warm place my likes other than closer. First version of hurt is good

Very unique album.

RIDICULOUSLY vulgar, and that's saying something considering some of what I've put up with on 1001. Was barely able to get through the majority of the album even if the few tolerable songs were great

Like some other albums so far, this one was too sexual and abrasive for something I'd listen to regularity. But unlike some others, I'd be interested in listening to this one again. The sound design was fantastic, with lots of interesting samples and clean sounds to balance out the distorted ones. I found myself enjoying the instrumental moments more than the ones with vocals, go figure. The last song was powerful as well. Strong 6 to light 7

Some really solid rock music. I expected to like this and I did! All in all I am pleased with this. Its not my favorite album of all time, I may not even re-visit it any time soon, but I am happy having listened to it. Everyone (myself included) loves to glaze Cash's cover of hurt, and it is very good, but his cover completely changes the meaning (if not the tone), such that its almost an entirely different song from Reznor's original, so I must say, no, Hurt does not "belong to Cash" I have changed my mind on this matter. 3.5/5

Vähän ehkä liian industrialia omaan makuun. Ei mitenkään täysin mahdoton kuunnella, tosi paljon hyviä juttuja. Ehkä vähän raflaava ja cringe paikoitellen. NIN on iso bändi tällä saralla, mutta en tän levyn ekalla kuuntelulla ainakaan faniks rupea.

like an italian wiseman said: "sometimes maybe good, sometimes maybe shit".

this album is like sickening to listen to, i'm just not a big industrial sound guy i guess there are a few good songs though so it gets a high 3

It was ok, I like his voice and theres some really good guitars, it was too long I got bored of the angst.

Hmm, this band has some bangers but seemingly not on this album. As an ex suicidal angry person, I expected to enjoy it a bit more than I actually did. Maybe I've outgrown this sort of thing. I dunno. I'll be controversial though: Johnny Cash didn't do it better. Disappointing.

I'm torn: as an audio experience, not great. But I do appreciate what Trent was going for and he executed his vision very well. At the same time, it feels very try hard, even if it is sincere. Like, it's hard to know what to make of "What if Hot Topic, but sincere?" The original is good, but the Hurt cover by Cash is a dark horse candidate for HOF of covers

Some are 5s but the majority are 3s and 2s!!! and it hurts to say

A throwback. I listened to it a lot back then. Doesn’t hold the same appeal now. But it is good, unique, and I still like a few of the songs.

Good

Not everything you'd label "experimental" is a success, but this has clear intent and well executed. As a concept album about a fall into despair you really feel it, but you'd probably have to be in a certain mood to want to listen to it

I bought this CD when it was released, but I never really got what he was doing. Haven’t listened to it again until now, and I regret that because this is pretty great (even moreso because of the ‘when’ not just the ‘what’). Crazy Tom Waits ‘Bone Machine’ vibes, mixed with Rage Against instrumentation, metal vocals, all mixed with crooner sensibility on one song, fourth wall breaks on another - and that Johnny Cash cover to end, genius (I know…). I’ll head back to the vault and check out more Reznor…but then I turned on my lyrics scroller and saw just how awful the lyrics were (I couldn’t really make them out otherwise) - I’m hoping they’re ironic and metaphorical, and I think they are, but Jesus! Down to a strong 2 if not…

Great listen overall—an experimental mix of electronic sounds, guitar, and edgy vocals. I was ready to give it 4 stars, but the track Closer really put me off. I don’t mind edgy vocals or provocative lyrics, but this one pushed it a bit too far. It started to feel reminiscent of those 2009 bowl-cut kids, and not in a good way. Still, a solid 7.5/10.

2.5/5 - Oisin luullu, et oisin tykänny täst enemmän. En ollu ennen kuullu mitää tält bändilt, kuullu vaan nimen, enkä kyl oottanu mitää tällast. Kun aloitin kuuntelee tätä, tein sen oppitunnilla sillee et mul oli vaan yks kuuloke, mikä ei kyl oikeuttanu tätä levyy yhtää. Täl levyl on tosi monii tasoja ja paljon erilaisia ääniä, mitkä kyl ansaitsee molemmat kuulokkeet. Tää on just sellane levy, mille pitää kiinnittää täysi huomio todella tarkas mielentilassa, että sitä pystyy arvostaa ja et sitä levyy jaksaa ees kuunnella. Mun mielestä tuntu et tää albumi oli enemmän joku tarina kuin pelkkää musiikkia, mikä oli ihailtavaa ja tosi siistiä. Tää kuitenki johti siihen et biisit oli välillä vähän korvia raastavia, varsinkin ne kohdat missä vaan legit karjuttiin. Myös tän albumin sellane 'metalli' (ei se genre vaan legit niiku tehtäis jotai metallist, hitsataan yms) soundi ei natsannu, vaikka arvostanki sitä. Tosi hienosti suunniteltu ja toteutettu levy, mut it wasn't for me.