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Nine Inch Nails

Real Name:
Michael Trent Reznor
Profile:
Nine Inch Nails (abbreviated as NIN) is an American industrial rock band, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction. NIN's music straddles a wide range of genres, while retaining a characteristic sound using electronic instruments and processing.
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Discography

Releases:
Down In It (Maxi, Single) (5 versions)   TVT Records ... 1989
Pretty Hate Machine (Album) (19 versions)   TVT Records ... 1989
Head Like A Hole (Maxi) (14 versions)   TVT Records ... 1990
Sin (CD, Maxi)   TVT Records 1990
Sin (Maxi, Single) (9 versions)   TVT Records ... 1990
You Get What You Deserve (CD, Maxi, Ltd, Promo)   BMG 1990
Broken (EP) (18 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1992
Fixed (EP) (11 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1992
Happiness In Slavery (Maxi, Single) (3 versions)   Interscope Records 1992
Physical (CD, Maxi, Promo)   Interscope Records 1992
Physical / Suck (2 versions)   Island Records 1992
Wish (3 versions)   Interscope Records ... 1992
Burn (CD, Promo)   Interscope Records, Nothing Records 1994
Closer To God (Maxi, EP, Single) (16 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1994
March Of The Pigs (CD, Single)   Nothing Records 1994
March Of The Pigs (Maxi, Single) (14 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1994
Piggy (CD, Maxi, Promo, TP)   Interscope Records 1994
The Downward Spiral (Album, Comp) (21 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1994
Further Down The Spiral (EP) (8 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1995
Hurt (CD, Maxi, Promo)   Interscope Records 1995
Closure (Comp) (2 versions)   Nothing Records 1997
The Perfect Drug - Versions (EP, Single, Maxi) (7 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1997
Tourniquet / The Perfect Drug (Single) (2 versions)   Interscope Records 1997
Into The Void (Maxi, Single) (3 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1999
Starfuckers, Inc. (Maxi, Single) (3 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1999
The Day The World Went Away (Single, Maxi) (7 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1999
The Fragile (Album) (11 versions)   Nothing Records ... 1999
The Fragile -Album Snippets- (Cass, Mixed, Promo, Car)   Nothing Records 1999
We're In This Together (Maxi, Single) (9 versions)   Interscope Records ... 1999
Things Falling Apart (EP) (6 versions)   Nothing Records ... 2000
Deep (CD, Single, Promo)   Interscope Records 2001
And All That Could Have Been (Comp, Maxi, Album) (14 versions)   Nothing Records ... 2002
Collected (DVD, Promo)   Nothing Records 2005
Only (Single, Maxi) (10 versions)   Island Records ... 2005
Perfect Drug / Big Chill (12")   Aphrodite Mix 2005
The Hand That Feeds (Maxi, Single) (19 versions)   Interscope Records ... 2005
With Teeth (Album) (11 versions)   Nothing Records ... 2005
Every Day Is Exactly The Same (EP, Maxi, Single) (5 versions)   Nothing Records ... 2006
Beside You In Time (Comp, Album) (9 versions)   Interscope Records ... 2007
Capital G (Single) (5 versions)   Interscope Records ... 2007
Survivalism (Single, Maxi) (8 versions)   Interscope Records ... 2007
Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D (6 versions)   Universal Music (Canada) ... 2007
Year Zero (Album) (8 versions)   Interscope Records ... 2007
Discipline (File, MP3, VBR)   The Null Corporation 2008
Echoplex (File, MP3, 242)   The Null Corporation 2008
Ghosts I (9xFile, MP3, Smplr, 320)   The Null Corporation 2008
Ghosts I-IV (Album) (9 versions)   The Null Corporation ... 2008
The Slip (Album) (4 versions)   The Null Corporation 2008
NIN|JA 2009 Tour Sampler (EP) (2 versions)   Not On Label (NIN|JA Self-Released) 2009
Remixes:
Light (Maxi, Single) (4 versions) Light (Fat Back Dub) Wax Trax! Records ... 1994
I'm Afraid Of Americans (Maxi) (3 versions)   Virgin Records America ... 1997
Victory (Remixes) (Maxi) (5 versions) Victory (Nine Inch Nai... Bad Boy Entertainment 1998
Wardance - The Remixes (Comp) (2 versions) Democracy (NIN Remix) Dragonfly Records ... 1998
Best Of Bowie (2xCD, Comp, RM) I'm Afraid Of American... EMI, EMI 2002
The Remix FM2 (2xCD) The Heart's Filthy Les... Virgin 2002
Earthling (Album) (2 versions) I'm Afraid Of American... Columbia 2004
Outside / Earthling / Hours... (6xCD, Album + Box, Ltd) I'm Afraid Of American... Columbia, ISO Records 2004
Outside / Earthling / Hours / Heathen / Reality (10xCD, Album + Box, Comp) I'm Afraid Of American... Columbia, ISO Records 2007
Extra - Volume 2 (2xCD, Comp, RM)   Metropolis 2008
Appears On:
CLE Magazine Presents: Cleveland... So Much To Answer For (2xCD, Ltd) Head Like A Hole CLE Magazine 1996
Lost Highway (Comp) (5 versions) The Perfect Drug Nothing Records ... 1996
I'm Afraid Of Americans (12")   Virgin Records America, Inc., Virgin Records America, Inc. 1997
Seven (CD, Single, Enh, CD2) I'm Afraid Of American... Virgin, Virgin 2000
If Abortion Is A Murder, Masterbation Is A Genocide (CDr, Album, Ltd) A Penis In Slavery Not On Label 2002
Conjuration (CD, EP, Dig) Wish Mystic Production 2003
She Paints Me Naked Thursdays (CDr, Album) Something I Can Never ... Gerbil Probe Records 2003
Untitled (CD, Promo) Sin Cleopatra 2003
The Dark Side (CD, Album) Hurt Edel Records 2004
Sexor (CD, Promo) Down In It [PIAS] Recordings, Different 2005
Perfect Drug (12", Pic, Ltd)   Resist Music 2006
Red Cross Radio Hymn (File, MP3) Pinion / Reptile (Beau... Primordial Music 2006
The Sunny Side Of The Moon: The Best Of Richard Cheese (CD) Closer Surfdog Records 2006
Escalator Demo (File, MP3, Album) Ghosts15demo Earjuice Records 2008
Lights In The Sky: Over North America 2008 Tour Sampler (File, EP, MP3, Smplr)   The Null Corporation 2008
On The Parallel Front (File, MP3, 320) Survivalism (Remix To ... X-Line 2008
Underneath It All (A Tribute To Nine Inch Nails) (2xFile, MP3)   Deadknife Records 2008
Tracks Appear On:
WFNX 101.7 FM (Cass, Comp, Promo) Head Like A Hole Not On Label 1990
Lollapalooza (CD, Smplr, Promo) Head Like A Hole Warner Bros. Records 1991
TVT Sampler Summer 1991 (Cass, Smplr, Promo) Suck (Live) TVT Records 1991
Volume Two (CD) Head Like A Hole (Alte... Volume 1991
Metal CD Collection 03 (CD, Comp) Last Northern & Shell Publications 1992
Hot Wired Monstertrux (CD) Wish EastWest 1993
Island Select (Cass) Wish (J.G. Thirlwell R... Select Magazine 1993
Opération Libération (CD, Smplr, Promo) March Of The Pigs (Cle... Island Records, Slash Records 1993
The Young Americans (Comp) (4 versions) Gave Up Island Records 1993
Natural Born Killers: A Soundtrack For An Oliver Stone Film (Comp, Album) (7 versions) Burn, Something I Can ... Nothing Records ... 1994
Powerhaus Modern Rock Volume 2 (CD) Wish RPM Records (3) 1994
The Crow - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Comp) (3 versions) Dead Souls Atlantic ... 1994
The Trip 4 (CD) Closer Warner Music (New Zealand) 1994
Triple J: Eleven - A Very Loud Compilation (2xCD, Comp) March Of The Pigs Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 1994
Woodstock '94 (Comp) (4 versions) Happiness In Slavery A&M Records ... 1994
Triple J Hottest 100 - 2 (2xCD, Comp) Closer Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 1995
Lost Highway (Comp) (8 versions) The Perfect Drug Nothing Records ... 1996
Universal Ser Fremover Vol. 4 (CD, Promo) The Perfect Drug Universal Music (Norway) 1997
Nocturnal (Album, Comp) (2 versions) Head Like A Hole Procreate ... 1998
Sanctuary: 26 Gothic Anthems (2xCD) The Perfect Drug Universal Records 1998
The Art Of Darkness (CD) Closer Universal Music (Canada) 1998
Triple J Hottest 100 - 5 (2xCD, Comp) The Perfect Drug Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 1998
Big Day Out 00 (2xCD) Starfuckers Inc. Shock (2) 1999
Industrial Strength Machine Music (CD) Gave Up (Live) Rhino Entertainment Company 1999
TT 32 (CD, Comp, Enh) Into The Void Text Und Ton Magazin 1999
All Areas Volume 5 (CD, Enh) Starsuckers, Inc. Visions Magazine 2000
Deejay Exclusive #1 (CD, EP, Promo) Sin (Razed In Black Ex... Cleopatra 2000
Manchester United - Beyond The Promised Land (Comp, Album) (2 versions) Just Like You Imaged Virgin 2000
Triple J Hottest 100 - 7 (2xCD, Comp) Starfuckers Inc. Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC Music) 2000
CMJ New Music Volume 89 January 2001 (CD, Comp, Promo) Slipping Away College Music Journal 2001
Lara Croft: Tomb Raider - Music From The Motion Picture (4 versions) Deep Elektra ... 2001
Big Day Out Discrespective 1992-1997 / 1999-2002 The Best Of The Main Stages (2xCD, Comp) We're In This Together Shock (2) 2002
Concrete Corner - January 2002 Sampler (CD, Smplr, Promo) March Of The Pigs (Live) Concrete Planet 2002
Pro.File 1: Meat Beat Manifesto / Jack Dangers Remix Collection (CD, Comp) Closer (Deviation) Brooklyn Music Limited (BML) 2002
26 Mixes For Cash (Comp) (5 versions) The Beauty Of Being Nu... Warp Records ... 2003
Pop Rocks Vol 6 (12") Only Pop Rocks 2004
Directors Label Series Box Set Volume 2 (4xDVD-V, NTSC + Box, Ltd) Perfect Drug, Closer (... Palm Pictures 2005
Doom: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (CD, Album) You Know What You Are?... Varèse Sarabande 2005
Live Remashing (CD, Promo, Mixed, Comp, Ltd) Closer Not On Label 2005
New Signs & Sounds 06/05 (CD, Smplr, Enh) Video-Interview Zillo 2005
Promo Only // Alternative Club - August 05 (CD, Comp, Promo) The Hand That Feeds (D... Promo Only 2005
Promo Only // Alternative Club - May 05 (CD, Comp, Promo) The Hand That Feeds (P... Promo Only 2005
Promo Only Club Video: October 05 (DVD, Comp) Only (Richard X Remix... Promo Only 2005
Promo Only Club Video: September 05 (DVD, Comp) Only Promo Only 2005
Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 49 (CD, Smplr + VCD, Smplr) Interview Sonic Seducer 2005
The Cornerstone Player 060 (2xCD, Comp, Promo + DVD) The Hand That Feeds Cornerstone Promotion 2005
The Suicide Girls: Black Heart Retrospective (CD) The Wretched Epitaph Records 2005
The Work Of Director Mark Romanek (2 versions) The Perfect Drug, Clos... Palm Pictures ... 2005
2006 Remix Reel (CDr, Promo) Only Definitive Jux 2006
The DFA Remixes Chapter Two (Comp) (2 versions) The Hand That Feeds (T... DFA ... 2006
Anglo (CD, Comp, Promo) Survivalism Universal Music (Argentina) 2007
Buzz Clippin' (CD, Mixed) Closer Sleeping Giant Music 2007
Joy Division (2xCD, Comp, Ltd) Dead Souls Universal Music Publishing Group 2007
Remixes Compiled (CD, Album) Even Deeper (Telefon T... Hefty Records 2007
Rewired (CDr, Mixed, Comp, Promo) Capital G (Phones Mix) Kilowatt Recordings 2007
Versus (2 versions) Ninagram Refuge Records (2) 2007
Visions On Screen Vol. 3 (DVD-V) Perfect Drug Visions Magazine 2007
Volume One (CDr, Promo, Ltd) Only (Scratch-D Bass E... Contagious Musiq 2007
CD Side 47 (CD, Smplr) Discipline D-Side 2008
Delayed Reaction (File, MP3, Mixed, 192) Physical Peace Off 2008
Lights In The Sky: Over North America 2008 Tour Sampler (File, EP, MP3, Smplr) Echoplex The Null Corporation 2008
Showreel January 2008 (CDr, Promo, Ltd) Only (Deakin Scott Edi... Waveline 2008
The Complete Idiot's Guide To: Swamps Up Nostrils & Helmeticrononaut (Ver. 1.0) (2xDVDr, Comp, DVD-D) Nine Inch Poop (Remix ... Krakilsk 2008
Sleeping In Hyperspace (File, MP3, Mixed, 192) Corona Radiata, 1 Ghos... Bushmen Records 2009
Classic Party Rockers Vol. 35 - Classic Rock Edition Part 6 (12") Closer Strictly Hits Vinyl Service  
Club Mix Records 3 (12", Red) Head Like A Hole Club Mix Records  
Club Mix Records 5 (12", Yel) Closer (Part 1) Club Mix Records  
Pop Rocks Vol 3 - Biohazard Edition (12") Closer Pop Rocks  
Unofficial Releases:
Broken Movie (VHS)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 1992
Slaves (CD)   Hawk 1993
Solid Gold Hell (CD)   Cocomelos Records 1993
A Thousand Pleasures (2xCD)   Capricorn Records (2), Capricorn Records (2) 1994
Closer (CD)   Hot Shots 1994
Coming Down Fast (CD)   Kiss The Stone 1994
Crossed Nails (CD, Album)   Flashback World Productions 1994
Demos & Remixes (2 versions) Down In It, Sanctified... Blue Moon Records ... 1994
Familiar Sting (CD)   Alley Kat 1994
Just Do It Poughkeepsie NY 8-3-94 (VHS, NTSC)   Not On Label 1994
Killer Instinct (CD)   Teddy Bear Records 1994
March Of The Pigs (CD)   Teddy Bear Records 1994
Mud Pigs (CD)   Living Legend Records 1994
Purest Feeling (CD)   Hawk 1994
Self Destruction Men (CD)   Metal Crash 1994
Terrible Live Lie (CDr)   Dead Dog Records 1994
The Downward Spiral (2 versions)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 1994
When The Whip Comes Down (CD)   Kiss The Stone 1994
Woodstock (CD)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 1994
Woodstock 1994 (CD)   Shinola 1994
Woodstock 94 (CD)   Octopus 1994
Filthy Fuckin' Pigs (CD, Liv)   Blizzard 1995
Hammar Hard (CD)   Home Records 1995
Hammar Hard (CD)   Troll Records 1995
Hellraisers (CD)   Metal Crash 1995
I Feel Evil (2xCD) Pinion, Mr. Self Destr... American Fly, American Fly 1995
Love It To Death (CD)   Banzai 1995
March Of The Devil (CD)   Razor Blade 1995
Monsters In Space (CD)   Hurricane (2) 1995
Nassau 95 (2xCD)   KTS Of Australia, KTS Of Australia 1995
Painful Convictions (2xCD)   Frenzee 1995
Purest Feeling II (CD)   Hawk 1995
Remixed (CD)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 1995
Rusty Nails II (CD)   Digital Sound Prizm 1995
Slaughter In The Air (2xCD)   Kiss The Stone 1995
Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails Interview (CD)   Baktabak 1995
Ultra Rare Tracks (CD, Comp) Eraser (Instrumental L... Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 1995
You Can't Stop Us (CD)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 1995
Children Of The Night (CD)   Kiss The Stone 1996
Dead Souls (LP)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 1996
Feel The Pain (CD, Unofficial)   Oxygen Records (5) 1996
Live From Woodstock '94 (2xVCD)   Panorama Entertainment 1996
Live. Inside (2xCD, Album) Scary Monsters, Reptil... Kiss The Stone 1996
Soundquakes (CD)   QR 1996
Further Down The Spiral (CD) Piggy (Nothing Can Sto... ООО "ДОРА" 1997
Purest Feelings II (CD)   Top Hat 1998
An Uncensored Biography of Nine Inch Nails (CD)   Shadows Music 1999
Fragile In Berlin (2xCD, Album)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 1999
The Trent Reznor Star Profile (CD)   MasterRights LTD, MasterRights LTD, MasterRights LTD 1999
Faceless Men (CD, Comp) The Way Out Is Through... Wohnstubb Recordings 2000
Pretty Hate Machine (LP)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 2000
Singles Collection 2000 (2xCD, Comp) I'm Afraid Of Americans Not On Label (David Bowie) 2000
The Art Of Self Destruction (CD)   Polo Music 2000
As Heard On Radio Soulwax Pt. 5 (CD, Comp, Mixed) Closer Waxedsoul Recordings 2002
NIN - R / 1989-1998 A Retrospective (DVD, Promo)   Nothing Records 2004
Blue Monday / The Hand That Feeds (12") The Hand That Feeds (S... Not On Label (New Order), Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 2005
Facing The Plastic (CD) Only (Delusional RMX) Psylosophy 2005
I Just Want Something (12", S/Sided, Ltd)   Unrestricted 2005
New Shit / Closer (Remixes) (12") Closer (John B Remix) Rock God Recordings 2005
The Hand That Feeds / Song 2 (12") The Hand That Feeds Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails), Not On Label (Blur) 2005
Autechre vs. Music (CD) Gavegitchup Chimportant 2006
Conceptual Appocalypse Device (CDr) HandFeedBite!! God Rekidz 2006
Playing The Angel (Instrumental) (CD) All The Love In The Re... Not On Label (Depeche Mode) 2006
The Hand That Feeds / Only (Exzakt Remixes) (12", Unofficial, Ltd, Promo)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 2006
Head / Arcade Flyer (12") Head Pop And Lock Records 2007
Maybe Just Once (7", Single, Ltd)   Nine Inch Nails (White) 2007
Only (Interstate 27 Mixes) (12", W/Lbl)   Hot Wax 2007
Where Darkness Doubles, Where Light Pours In (CD, Promo) Head Like A Hole, Hurt... Georgama Bin Bush Records 2007
Cyber Angels & The Devil (Live In Tilburg) (File, MP3, Comp, Mixed, VBR) Only (Richard-X Remix) Led Manville 2008
Live At The Asylum (File, MP3, Comp, Mixed, VBR) Only (Richard-X Remix) Led Manville 2008
The Broadcast Archives (DVD)   Archive (3) 2008
The Downward Spiral (DVD-V)   Edgehill Publishing Ltd 2008
The Fragile (3xLP)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails) 2008
The Hand That Feeds (Remix) / 35 Ghosts IV (Remix) (12")   Jacked Recordings 2008
The Re-Cuts (File, MP3) My Violent Heart Carski Rez 2008
Live In Mexico - Dark Rave 09 (2xFile, MP3, Comp, Mixed, VBR) Only (Richard-X Remix) Led Manville 2009
This Is The Dark Side Mixes Volume 03 (CD, Comp, Ltd, Promo, Unofficial) Closer (Extended To Go... Dark Side Remixes Records 2009
This Is The Dark Side Mixes Volume 05 (CD, Comp, Ltd, Promo, Unofficial) Deep (Dark Side Extend... Dark Side Remixes Records 2009
Closer / Pollution (12") Closer (Mix) Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails), Not On Label (Beck)  
Dead Souls (LP)   Nine Inch Nails (White)  
Demos & Remixes Volume 2 (CD)   Spider Records (2)  
Disturbed (CD, Unofficial)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails)  
Disturbed (CD, Ltd)   Nine Inch Nails (White)  
Hammering It Home 94 (CD)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails)  
Hellbound - Woodstock '94 (CD)   Blue Moon Records  
Lee Pull Off Nails (7")   Nine Inch Nails (White)  
Live & Alive (CD)   Imtrat  
New Wave Mix Vol. 4 (CDr, Mixed, Ltd) Sin Not On Label (New Wave Mix Series)  
Purest Feeling (CD)   Eagle Records (2)  
Rampage! 6 (2x12") Nine Inches Of Nails Rampage Records (3)  
Rusty Nails (CD)   Chance Records (2)  
Rusty Nails - The Remixes (CD)   Blue Moon Records  
Rusty Nails The Remixes Vol. 2 (CD)   Blue Moon Records  
Shallow Grave (CD)   Insect Records  
Something I Can Never Have (12", Unofficial)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails)  
Suck (CD, Maxi, Ltd, Num)   Twin M Inc.  
Time To Suck (CD)   Mind The Magic  
Ultra Rare Trax Vol. 2 (CD)   Not On Label (Ultra Rare Trax Series)  
X Files (VHS, Unofficial)   Not On Label (Nine Inch Nails)  
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Nine Inch Nails - The Fragile
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Reviews & Discussion

Review by royb0t Dec 26, 2006 (edited over 2 years ago)
Nine Inch Nails is the reason I listen to the music I do, whether because of a remix credit or liner note, collaboration, Nothing Records label-mates, supporting acts, etc., I can trace everything back to Trent Reznor somehow or another, sometimes intentionally other times not. From my first introduction listening to Broken and then Pretty Hate Machine, to the hook-line-and-sinker Industrial Rock played-out "Closer", to the dense double-disc The Fragile, to whatever direction Trent takes his music next, I don't think anyone can deny the musical innovation, integrity, and respect due to Trent.

I personally think that The Downward Spiral is an absolute masterpiece. Pretty Hate Machine is a great early industrial rock near-synth pop album, Broken is just full of metal angst, The Fragile is a terse and complicated listening adventure, and With Teeth is almost a visitation to earlier influences with new perspectives, I still feel TDS is the strongest and tighest audio journey with perfect industrial anthems and hymns.

I think once musicians drop the drugs and go clean their music somehow lacks he same punch as it did prior, and I feel With Teeth illustrates that. But I'd rather have a living Reznor with more albums (assumably 1-2 per decade) than bother having to just collect re-releases. And I don't think at all Reznor is finished, I think he'll prove to be a next-generation David Bowie of industrial rock, on the fringe but to be cited endlessly as an influence. And I hope that's how it plays out.

I would ask Reznor to cut back on all the live video releases, as great as the live stuff works it looks much better in person than staring casually at it in my living room full of interruptions. And aside from continued releases from NIN, I'd love to see more collaborative involvement and maybe someday all the never-to-be-released stuff to surface somehow (like Tapeworm...).
Review by REDDER Sep 20, 2006 (edited over 3 years ago)
Nine inch nails are a group that has influenced music whether we like it or not. Yes Reznor was a poster boy for teens in the 90's but was that his choice? No. I'm from Europe and to be honest I never even heard of NIN until about a year ago.
There was no real hype about NIN over here or at least no where near as much as stateside so I do not see Reznor as some kind of musical sell out.

NIN has made some of the best written songs to ever come out of the 90's (Hurt, No You Don't , Wish, Piggy, The great below etc) so I don't see why people are questioning that aspect of NIN.

With The Fragile Reznor made one of the albums of the 90's if not the album of the 90's and even though I only got into NIN last year it doesn’t mean I don’t listen to any music back then its just anything from that era I did listen to was pure crap or average at best. Now that’s not to say NIN has flaws. Allot of His work is over produced, he takes too long to make an album (with teeth could be his last) and with has also stopped the steady climb of class that The Downward Spiral and The Fragile had created. But all in all NIN is one of the great alternative groups out there and will always be.
Review by Aim023 May 29, 2006 (edited over 3 years ago)
I don't consider Nine Inch Nails' music "industrial", just as I wouldn't consider The Cure's music "gothic". Trent Reznor has just used some of the same trappings and filtered them into his own form of pop music. Nine Inch Nails, being as it is so far from the original intent of the early industrial artists, the term "alternative" would work much better as a description in my opinion. Especially since many of his influences are well outside the realm of industrial - even skeptics should certainly be able to hear echoes of Depeche Mode's 'Violator' throughout 'The Fragile,' amongst a plethora of others.

I'd say Trent's music is nothing more nor less than an alternative to what could normally be considered pop music... most of Nine Inch Nails' fan base seems comprised mostly of people who's main listening interests include other pop-sensible bands. Nine Inch Nails is, perhaps more to the point, for the same people that listen to groups like Nirvana, Green Day, Britney Spears, etc. to put on when they are in the mood for music that reflects directly the feelings of being angry, depressed, alienated, discontent with religion, and/or experiencing varying degrees of emotional stress.

Industrial and the closely related noise genres could hardly be seen as pop-sensible and many of the emotions displayed in the music of such groups as Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Nurse With Wound, SPK, etc. might seem alien and vulgar to many others... they were more a musical extension of the art world's dada or a continuation of musique concrete coupled, often enough, with violent, sexual or otherwise offensive imagery. Little in the way of music, more in the way of sound exploration... and with the intent to change the face of music and challenge the consensus' comfortability.
Review by Alastis Apr 20, 2006 (edited over 3 years ago)
Surprise, surprise - NIN weren't always about music for soccer moms and bored housewives. In fact, you can see a huge improvement from "Pretty Hate Machine" empty youthful anger to more refined lyrical and musical approach on "Broken" and nearly anything done up to 1995 (skip the hit "Closer" (also called "I wanna fcuk You like an animal" by radio listeners) as it became notoriously stale after awhile. After that period, Trent apparently lost a bit of his songwriting abilities. Apparently he have a taste - after all, Coil is one of his favorite bands and he also helped them out somewhat. Coil were also featured on "Further Down A Spiral" which is, quite possibly, one of the best remix albums ever done by anyone, period. But then we also have stinkers like afromentioned "Closer" and his latest "With Teeth" which sounds as if though he is really lazy. See - i'm sure that by now most of his fans (as well as non-fans) will buy anything with the word NIN written on it, even he will produce blank records and call them 4.33 #1, #2 and so on. Its a tragic end for a band/performer which seemed to be going somewhere, but lost it completely and never recovered.
Review by enfantterrible Feb 22, 2005 (edited over 4 years ago)
I think first of all like many have said before me.
"This is not industrial" this is electronic pop. Trent Reznor career its not so far away from Britney Spear, Limp Bizkit and the rest of the crowd of "artists" included in the pop show bussiness.His music contains all the "drama" of a pop star and its "despair" and supposedly visionary thoughts and the musician supreme capabilities of a Mozart according to the fans and the critics that avail his work.
Critics and popularity for one instance doesnt mean a thing when it comes to judge what its great and what its not. if that would be the case we should put Eminem in a throne of a master visionary as many music critics, their fans and some intellectuals pretend. But we know he is not.
And we know Trent its not too becouse theres nothing REALLY innovative in his music aside from the fact that he transformed industrial music in something "listenable,popular and understandable".
Yes theres some originality in some parts of his albums, some good moments and ideas but thats all about it.
We cannot forget the fact that NIN's albums were produced by a big company, with masterminds of electronic production and digital assistance such as:flood,John Fryer,Chris Vrenna and lots of others. We cannot forget as well the long hard road other bands walked through before NIN, and that not just include Skinny Puppy but many genious behind like Einsturzende Neubauten, Coil, Throbbing Gristle, SPK, etc etc.
Its easy to make an album like "pretty hate machine" having a predecesor as Nitzer ebb, skinny puppy or keith leblanc around the corner. you just cut and paste.amd then you add some teenager angst lyrics in between, some sexual references, some insults and profanities about god and religions and thats it. you got "pretty hate machine"
Then we have "Broken" basically the same "pretty hate machine" with more drones and layers, a better album without a doubt and much more agressive, that made NIN world wide known, by producing not a masterpiece but an album that sells, and sells becouse it is well done, it is easy to catch, easy to understand, easy to obtain. its a mix of metal frenzy and some unrelentless assault of machinery through the envelope of lyrics teen provocative lyricism Music for the masses.
Then comes the victimized "Downward spiral". stolen or not. it is just the projection of the previous release with much better production and better equipment. same silly lyrics as previous album, and again some "pretty hate machine" obvious references.
The fragile could be called a masterpiece, a modern jewel of music, the master ouvre only compared to pink floyd (Which only a big mouth could compare) but to the ears of anyone who really knows about music it is just another electronic work, not above not below the mainstream, a bit better development in the lyric section and a frankly demonstration of boredom and silly minimalism in the musical side.
Nine Inch Nails another band to the history of the massive music production of music, a band who captured an audience in a specific period of time like many others did in the past. Lets see what time and enthropy does with them.
Review by Scrap_Iron Dec 31, 2004 (edited over 4 years ago)
Now don't take it wrong, with this comment I don't want to add another brick to the endless "Nine Inch Nails VS Skinny Puppy VS Ministry" debate, just want to point out one or two things.
To maintain that Nine Inch Nails is a simple rip-off of other artists who developed a similar music style before (like Skinny Puppy or Ministry), is surely false. It can't be denied, however, that most of NIN's sound patterns in both "Pretty Hate Machine" and "Downward Spiral" can be easily found on Skinny Puppy's albums like "VIVIsectVI" or "Mind: The Perpetual Intercourse".
As for the fact that NIN have surpassed them in populatiry, well, they have Interscope behind their back, not small Canadian indie Nettwerk, which makes quite a difference.
Moreover, Trent Reznor is a very handsome boy, guaranteeing a wide female support to the band (Nivek Ogre is quite handsome too, but he's always covered in blood and shit, making it more difficult to have him at the center of teenagers' sexual fantasies...).
Finally, Skinny Puppy's lyrics are really hard to get into, often they are kind of "stream of consciousness" nightmare visions, while other times they deal with topics such as world pollution, exploitation and destruction of nature, cruelty on animals (like on "VIVIsectVI" and "Too Dark Park"). Not everyone likes to get thrown in his/her face this kind of stuff while listening to a CD. NIN, on the contrary, deal with very easy stuff, which almost everyone from 12 to 35 can feel sympathetic towards: the whole "Pretty Hate Machine" CD deals with topics such as "I feel so bad cause my girlfriend left me", "I want to fuck", "My girlfriend is a bitch cause she lied to me", and so on.
These elements can't be ignored when comparing their success with that of other bands.
Anyway, I like very much both bands and think both are amazing and worth of support and appreciation.
Review by nonconformistx7 Nov 27, 2004 (edited over 4 years ago)
Trent Reznor's last albums have actually been reviewed by many as his MOST creative. The double album 'The Fragile' has been compared to Pink Floyd's 'The Wall' in scope and depth, and it seems to be a valid comparisson. I think it's his best work to date and unlike 'The Downward Spiral,' I still isten to it often.
Also, the bonus CD that comes with the 'And All That Could Have Been' DVD, 'Still,' his latest release, contains new tracks that are soft and chilling not at they stereotypical harsh and angry NIN sound. They make you feel like you're listening to snowfall in the dark. The fact of the matter is that Trent, with the help of some really talented people, (Charlie Clouser, Chris Vrenna, Flood, Danny Lohner, even Manson) has always created dark emotional music that ended up opening a limited but profitable pop-Industrial genre. He created Industrial that was actually listenable to an audience of more than, say...2 people. Album sales didn't make him a visionary or pioneer, complex layers of beats and moody lyrics - that you could actually stand listening to - made him a visionary and a pioneer.

That said, don't believe for a second that Trent stole any kid's music for his epic downer 'The Downward Spiral.' He's always been far too egotistical and self-absorbed to do something like that. And he did NOT settle out of court.

"A federal judge has tossed out a lawsuit that claimed Nine Inch Nails singer Trent Reznor stole songs for his 1994 album, "Downward Spiral." The copyright infringement suit was dismissed Tuesday by U.S. District Judge William Rea, who put the trial on hold in February in hopes that
both sides would settle."

Hate on him if you want, but he makes damn good music, original music, and always has. He never stole a thing, he was just influenced by bands that NIN would ultimately surpass in popularity and success.
Review by Overseer Mar 06, 2002
Trent Reznor is Nine Inch Nails. Having forged a sound from 1980's synthy pop music and seething industrial noise Nine Inch Nails have set the benchmark for industro ambient music, and designed a template on which scores of electro industrial musicians have modelled themselves...