Alright so this is a band where I’ve been asked by more than one person to put up on the chopping block and of course I will give the people what they want. That and the fact that this review is a long time coming. The band is Nine Inch Nails and I’ve been putting them off for too long. So with that in mind, let’s take a look….
Pretty Hate Machine- well what can I say about this album? If you are a fan of industrial rock then you NEED to listen to this album. I mean it’s dark yet heavy in parts at the same time. I didn’t realize this also,came out in the late 80’s too and now that I listen to it, I can tell it’s got sort of an 80’s vibe to it. I don’t know I can’t explain it. The point is that this is a fantastic record and you need to listen to this one. I have no choice but to give this a 10/10 great start
Standouts: The Only Time, Sanctified, Get Down Make Love
Broken- first off, this is not an album but an EP. I’m reviewing this because this is an EP that needs to be heard and also because it’s just awesome. Anyway, I had never heard songs off of it before but man it is fantastic. The songs are actually faster whereas on PHM, the songs were slower and darker. Here the stuff has some groove to it. Like seriously this is one of those EPS you could blast loudly. Anyway, I have no choice but to give this another 10/10 yes it’s that good.
Standouts: Wish, Last, Suck
The Downward Spiral- ok so if you were to ask where to start with this band, I’d say go with this album. Now I remember hearing it years ago at a friends house and I liked it then. Listening to it now, I would say that it took a couple songs to really get into and that’s because there isn’t really any vocals on the first couple songs. They are instrumental but they are good songs. I’m not a huge fan of the quiet instrumental songs. Again this is a great album and I would say that this and Pretty Hate Machine are neck and neck as to which is a better album. This gets another 10/10
Standouts: Big Man With A Gun, I Do Not Want This, Heresy
The Fragile- so by now their other albums have a lot of distortion on them. This one kind of eases up on that and mixes in more ambient music and rock music. This one is also their longest one so far with some of these songs clocking in at around 7 minutes. As long as some of these songs are, they are still pretty good songs. I will also say that this one is a little strange just because it’s so different compared to the last few albums. There are also a few songs on here where there are barely any vocals and it’s mostly whispers and instruments. Overall, a pretty good album and I give it 9/10
Standouts: No You Don’t, Please, The Big Come Down
With Teeth- I guess I would say that this is the album where I really became a fan. So back in like 2004/5, my CD player in my car wasn’t the best so I would listen to KROQ and they’d be playing older NIN songs. Then when this one came out they were always playing the song Bite The Hand That Feeds because that’s when this album was released. Fast forward to later in the year and I did end up buying this album when I got a new car. I seriously couldn’t stop listening to this one. And of course later that year, I saw them live at the KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas and thought they were badass live. I think I still have the shirt from that show too (it jut doesn’t fit anymore). Anyway, this album is another great addition to this catalogue. To me, the songs aren’t too slow and it gets another 10/10
Standouts: Only, You Know What You Are, Getting Smaller
Year Zero- for me it is probably the first album where I feel like they pick up where With Teeth left off. Now I wouldn’t call it a part 2 album but I feel like I can listen to this one and the last one together and it feel like one long album. I like that and you can tell that Trent Reznor had ideas from the last album still in mind which translates well to this one. Overall, it’s another fantastic record and I give it 9/10
Standouts: HYPERPOWER!, The Good Soldier, Capital G
The Slip- I will admit that after Year Zero came out, I just stopped paying attention to this band. I think that’s because I just lost interest in them and moved on to other bands in different genres which is too bad because 2008 had some good albums and this one is definitely one of those albums. If I remember correctly I think I read somewhere that this one was originally free or the songs were free I can’t remember but anyway, this album is I guess “softer” than their last couple albums. It’s got a couple tracks where it’s instruments with whispering vocals but on other tracks it has songs that I could see being played in a club environment. An interesting record to say the least but a good one. I give it 8/10
Standouts: 1,000,000, Letting You, Echoplex
Hesitation Marks- ah yes I remember when this one came out. Again, listening to KROQ and the song Came Back Haunted was always being played. I actually really like this song and that begs the question as to why are crappy songs from crappy bands always being overplayed on a station like that but good songs from great bands played for a shorter period of time? So glad I listen so Sirius XM. Anyway that’s another topic for another day. Now personally, I feel like this album should’ve been the follow up to Year Zero and The Slip been the follow up to this one. I don’t know this one has more of that vibe to it. I guess there was a five year gap in between this one and the last one and you can tell that Trent and the rest of the band still have it. To me this one and the last one seem to be darker as well. Like they are moodier or something. Anyway, a pretty decent album and I give it 8.5/10
Standouts: Everything, In Two, Copy of a
Not The Actual Events- this one is an EP and I feel like it’s got a sound on it that reminds me of their 90’s days yet it has the feel of the last couple of albums. It also has a little bit of a metal edge with a couple of the songs. Anyway, it’s a short one with only five songs but they are 5 good songs. I give it 8.5/10
Standouts: The Idea of You, Dear World
Add Violence- another EP and to me it kind of has a The Fragile vibe to it. I feel like I kept on hearing about this one either online somewhere or at least reading about it in either Revolver or Kerrang. This one is definitely one distorted than the last EP and again there are only 5 songs. I give this one 8/10
Standouts: Less Than, Not Anymore
Bad Witch- so I’m not sure if this is an EP or a full length. I’ve heard/read people calling it both so for arguments sake I’m going to call it an EP. I’d say that out of all the albums and EPs I’ve reviewed and listened to thus far, this one is probably their weirdest/out there. It’s got some jazz elements to it mixed in with industrial and rock. It’s a weird one for sure but in a really unique way. Trent’s vocals on this one are deeper sounding on here as well. It a cool EP and I definitely recommend it if you are into weird industrial music. I give it 8/10
Standouts: Play The Goddamned Part, Shit Mirror
Well that was my look into Nine Inch Nails and I must say that I was a little hesitant going into this because I am not a fan of industrial music but these guys are different. Trent Reznor is definitely one of the best songwriters ever and what makes the albums so good is that they are all different. Each one is so different and special in its own way which makes the listening experience better and easier to review. I know that once concerts start happening again I will definitely be going to the closest one wherever I am. This is going to be a really hard one to rank so here goes.
Album Rankings:
- With Teeth
- Broken
- Pretty Hate Machine
- The Downward Spiral
- The Fragile
- Year Zero
- Hesitation Marks
- Not The Actual Events
- The Slip
- Add Violence
- Bad Witch
Sinister Reviews 