Amazon.com

Trent Reznor has always been a one-trick-pony, but it's a damn good trick: sunny melodies filtered through ferocious electronics. Unfortunately, the trick's impact was often watered down by a tendency toward petulance and self-absorption. Still, almost six years after NIN's last release, The Fragile, the trick itself has lost none of its Teen-Beat-from-hell appeal. With Teeth blisters from the start with "All the Love in the World," and tracks like "The Collector" take full advantage of Dave Grohl's sledgehammer drumming. Reznor stretches occasionally, trying out different tactics, from crunchy, overtly commercial rave-ups ("The Hand That Feeds") to borderline New Wave ("Only"). But Teeth isn't about stretching. It's about doing the same trick, only better, with less clutter and more bite. By neatly distilling the sparseness of Pretty Hate Machine with Downward Sprial-style density, it ends up being the most focused record in the NIN catalog. –Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (312)

Best Nine Inch Nails album since "Pretty Hate Machine"
First, I have been a fan of NIN since its debut album back in 1991 when I was in high school. And I have followed this band all through college and grad school and I have to say that this is by and large their best effort since "Pretty Hate Machine"

I listened to entire album twice before writing this review and I have to say, I LOVE IT!

This is the album that should have followed "Pretty Hate Machine". PHM is by far NIN's best, but this comes a second close. Whereas "The Fragile" and the "Downward Spiral" and even the EP "Broken" were an exhausting orgy of noise and aural chaos, this album is well crafted and tight; it's hardcore yet melodic.

All the tracks are good, but the best are (in my opinion):

1) All the world in the world
3) The collector
4) The hand that feeds
5) Love is not enough
6) Every day is exactly the same
9) Getting smaller
13) Right where it belongs

Enjoy!

This guy is 40 and he has a number one album
When you mention NIN to anyone, the past music could be summed up with one word: angst. Even though much of Trent Reznor's last album was unfocused and weird, besides being very non-commercial, you can only be angry and full of angst for so long, to a point where that becomes clichÎ. Reznor wisely took a long break. He reformed the band, which includes Jeordie White. This album is also 13 tracks just over fifty minutes. Reznor has learned that less is more. The songs are brilliant. "All The Love In The World" and "You Know What You Are?" show immediately the soft and the hard side of the same coin. Then we get to the weird world of "The Collector" where all music collides. Three tracks in you realize that Reznor has decided to get more interesting on the percussion. The drum sounds are almost a fusion of drum and bass and rock drumming. "The Hand That Feeds" is a political song that recalls early NIN. Reznor proves that he hasn't lost his edge. Most of his current emotions are dealt with on "Love Is Not Enough." He makes a lot of noise and takes us to new NIN vistas. He even plays around with retro 1980s synth sounds on "Only." Punk rock and metal pop are words to describe "Getting Smaller." Reznor has made an interesting album that looks to the past and looks to the future. Not many records sound like this right now, so good for him.

Bad Pop, Even Worse Rock, and Terrible Industrial
I thought Trent was better than this. Almost every track is boring emo garbage with little to no electronic work. I've never really liked his vocal work, but here it just deflates because he has few to no catchy melodies. The good tracks are "The Hand That Feeds," "Only," "Beside You In Time" (which is nice and experimental) and "Right Where It Belongs."

The Fragile was good for its length and fairly catchy melodies. The Downward Spiral was good for its lyrics, repeating melody, and storyline. Pretty Hate Machine was good for its vast sparseness and minimalism. Get those if you haven't.

Don't be fooled; With Teeth has none of NIN's redeeming qualities or songs which will stick. Trent seems to have sold out just about completely now.

With Teeth is good!
I enjoyed With Teeth very much. I have been a fan for many years. And I think this CD is just as good as all the other Nine Inch Nails records.All of the 13 songs are different in a way.All of the NIN music has changed over the years and that is a reason that I like their work.
Trent is still a bright Artist. Some of the amazing songs in this album are All The Love In The World, Only, Sunspots, The Line Begins To Blur, Beside You In Time, and Right Where It Belongs.

If you buy this album you should try and get the 5.1 DUALDISC, it sound really amazing!
I think this album is a step forward in Nine Inch Nails music making.
The drumming is really well done for the records as well.
This new NIN won't disappoint at all.

Hate Pretty Machines
Trent's thunderously technological turbulence reaches a new zenith with the new album.I was a skeptic; initially, I thought Reznor wouldn't be able to outdo the Downward Spiral.In the end, I was right . . . because Reznor smartly doesn't try to.

Instead, the new album feels more organic.Reznor has hired out more guns to play (instead of playing an insane Beethoven and recording all his own tracks) and that has seemed to help.The first single, "The Hand That Feeds", has true punch but lacks the resonance of, say, the Greatful Dead releasing "Casey Jones."Further, Trent is good but Jerr Bear is better.Set the new NIN release aside and don't worry - your local alt station will play it over and over to drill it all into your cranium anyhow.

I do appreciate Trent offering up tracks to Apple users to remix and bushwhack at will.That struck me as open and cool; in fact, reverse my previous non-recommendation.Run out and by two copies of the new album for you and your mother,Check Amazon now; my used one is for sale right now.

And Trent just wants to play on em-tee-vee in front of a simplistic Bush backdrop and they won't let him?What's a rage-ridden rocker to do?Can rock and roll ban even the hint of rebellion?Yes, Trent has aged, and, yes, many of the beats feel (or are overtly) retro, but isn't everything? Everything is built on what came before it.Deal with it, buy the album, and enjoy it.Then, as the lights draw low, go groove to the Dead.

Trent makes forty seem fabulous !! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Trent Reznor has always been a one-trick-pony, but it's a damn good trick: sunny melodies filtered through ferocious electronics. Unfortunately, the trick's impact was often watered down by a tendency toward petulance and self-absorption. Still, almost six years after NIN's last release, The Fragile, the trick itself has lost none of its Teen-Beat-from-hell appeal. With Teeth blisters from the start with "All the Love in the World," and tracks like "The Collector" take full advantage of Dave Grohl's sledgehammer drumming. Reznor stretches occasionally, trying out different tactics, from crunchy, overtly commercial rave-ups ("The Hand That Feeds") to borderline New Wave ("Only"). But Teeth isn't about stretching. It's about doing the same trick, only better, with less clutter and more bite. By neatly distilling the sparseness of Pretty Hate Machine with Downward Sprial-style density, it ends up being the most focused record in the NIN catalog. –Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (112)

With Teeth is good!
I enjoyed With Teeth very much. I have been a fan for many years. And I think this CD is just as good as all the other Nine Inch Nails records.All of the 13 songs are different in a way.All of the NIN music has changed over the years and that is a reason that I like their work.
Trent is still a bright Artist. Some of the amazing songs in this album are All The Love In The World, Only, Sunspots, The Line Begins To Blur, Beside You In Time, and Right Where It Belongs.

If you buy this album you should try and get the 5.1 DUALDISC, it sound really amazing!
I think this album is a step forward in Nine Inch Nails music making.
The drumming is really well done for the records as well.
This new NIN won't disappoint at all.

Good, very solid, but not Great.
This album is perfectly produced, every note is hit right, every thing is in its place.It's superbly done and well crafted, both musically and in the recording.However, there is nothing new here.It seems bland and too thought out.Nothing grabs you.There is no "Terrible Lie" or "Closer" here.All the songs are good and because of that all of them get lost.There are some jazz-esque type moments on the first track and repeated in another song or two but it does not make them stand out.This album is boring in every way.

With Teeth, angst all grown up... sort of.
Trent Reznor is back with another trip through his psyche in With Teeth, and this time, it's a rock and roll trip. Six years after the release of his last studio album, The Fragile Trent brings us an album that at face value has a alt-rock sound, yet has all the underpinnings of a true Nine Inch Nails release. The album is subtly complex full of the layering fans would expect from a follow up to Downward Spiral and The Fragile, but may not be immediately aware of them as they blend in so naturally with the composition. With Teeth separates itself from its predecessors with high energy tracks throughout the album, with a notable exception of the quiet Right Where It Belongs. Driving this energy is the rock record finish on this album of trashy guitars and driving percussion, a majority of the live percussion done by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters. The emotion of the album shows in Trents signature vocals and a matured version of angst and anger in the lyrics and music. Longtime fans may miss the abundance of harsh synthesizers and wildly distorted guitar found in previous albums.

With Teeth is rife with the sound of rock clichés spun through the industrial machine that is Nine Inch Nails. The first single from the album "The Hand That Feeds" is commercial rock so riddled with clichéd questions and just as if not more compelling then Closer was when it was released. Edges of punk rock come out in Getting Smaller, and Only has a opening and a synth line that could have come straight out of an 80's new wave hit. Sunspots stands out sounding like something that R.E.M. might have done coming out of a week-long drug bender. Something that surprised me so much to find on a Nine Inch Nails album that I had to replay the track several times, Right Where It Belongs has a definite country western bend to it and could have been this albums Hurt given a different treatment. With multiple plays I am positive any listener will be able to draw lines connecting the sounds of With Teeth to all corners of the rock genre.

I applaud Trent and the marketing at Nothing Records for providing everything this or any album needs for the art that is the entire package to survive in the digital age. Neither physical format of the album comes with much more liner notes than a track listing and a web link to find all the information at a page for the album on nin.com including downloadable PDF versions to print and save.

NIN FUTURE
It's so good to have NIN back.
I;ve listened the entire album for 3 times and it's still amazing me.
There are so many bands that have been influenced by NIN like TOOL,Linkin Park, etc... that we allways expect something new and different from Trent Reznor.
With TEETH is a complete different album from the others NIN's works but it still have the NIN essence.
For me The best song in the album is "Beside you in time".
I'ts a masterpiece and i see the Future of NIN there.
NINE INCH NAILS NO TE ME MUERAS NUNCA

Open Letter to Mr. Trent Reznor
For the last 6 years, while you were busy doing heroin and whacking off to Shakira videos, you forced the rest of us to endure the likes of Nickelback and frickin' Rob Thomas.
But we forgive you.
It is so good to have you back.
... Read more

Album Description

The first single to be lifted from the 2005 album,'White Teeth'. This UK limited edition includes three versions of the title track,Album Version, Photek Straight Remix and Photek Dub. Interscope. ... Read more

Reviews (25)

the hand of the artist should have been in this
rockin' song with great energy dampered only by the limited number of versions. Why go to the trouble of cutting a disc like this without giving the consumer 5 or 6 versions of the song? Trent should know better, being the music fan that he is.

I think it's solid.
Remember all that garbage social music you've heard for years now?Please let it go.Don't call that music 'pop music', call it 'Disney Dollars'.

What do I mean?I might know...

I've been a NIN fan all the long.Trent's certain breed of music has always had a bitter aftertaste.I think there's a point there.

Let's talk about 'The Hand That Feeds'.Musicaly, any other time than now, this would be wrong.I thought a long time ago that once computer screen resolutions where so high that no normal person could see individual pixels... at that time, at this time...the mosiac effect is effective artisticaly.So, that in mind along with what everybody really has noticed these last 10 years... 'The Hand That Feeds' is the best song I've heard in a long time....and it's all done in that walking talk the talk in NIN style; acceptable now for a social setting.

The lyrics in 'The Hand That Feeds' has the most clever double meaning contained in there.I don't think anybody is catching it.

So, I'm a little disturbed that everybody misses the point.If this isn't an original song... what is?I wonder what the kids would say to answer that question?Maybe something about Incubus or... uh... Jay Z...

Lastly, if you don't know who Photek is... You probably won't get the remixes.You don't listen to something extendedly titled [Dub Mix] and be disgusted when it's the type of thing to play in club that's not too busy playing irresponsible dry-hump music that has spoken lyrics about killing gangstas.Yeeeaaah!

Nobody wants to change it.

There've Been Better, But There've Been Worse
ALBUM MIX: I'm not going to bother much with this; we've all heard it, it's a great song, let's hear it for Nine Inch Nails, yay.

STRAIGHT MIX: Interesting extended take on the original, and well-done.There's not much actual remixing - other than the techno beat, the "whispering" and the "horror movie synths" near the bridge (which were great), it stays mostly true to the album version - but that doesn't stop it from being a good listen, and it's just as catchy as the album version.I especially liked when the music mostly drops out in favour of the vocals at 3:53; it was a nice touch, one that probably should've been part of the album cut.Either way, not bad.

DUB MIX: It's a house version.What can be said about that, really?Trent's occasional voice adds something, and the beat and guitar/synth loops are infectious enough with this mix that it doesn't fall COMPLETELY flat... but you're probably not going to want to listen to it too often.Decent.

OVERALL: I'd rather spend my money on Things Falling Apart or Further Down The Spiral, of course... but this was supposed to be a single, not a remix album, and as such, it's not bad.Worth a few quid, but don't bump it to the top of your list.

SIDE NOTE: Trent is SO not fat; my bandmate Aeon and I saw him a few days ago, and he's as ripped as he ever was.

For diehards only.
Let me start by putting out a couple of my biases before getting into this review-- first, I relaly don't care for remixes as a rule, unless they're dramatic and severely restructure a song, I generally find they add little.Second, I really don't care for "The Hand That Feeds".

Having said that, the piece is presented in three mixes, the album version, the Straight mix, and the Dub mix.The album version has a catchy, circular guitar line and a straightahead drum beat that's actually decent until the bridge with this bizarrely irritating spoken wordish section.Just doesn't work.

The remixes fare no better-- the Straight mix adds different rock beats and an extended introduction that eventually becomes tedious, the dub mix layers a grating sustained guitar note over a beat and a mumbled repeated take on the chorus.

If you're a fan, get it.If not, skip this one, there's good reasons it wasn't released in the U.S.

SAD.Pathetic.Lame.Desperate.
Trent, sweetie, we know you want another radio single and to sell a TON of merch on your new tour.

Good luck, baby cakes.

This song sounds like a fourth-rate Utah band with a CD rack full of Halos.

Really sad.Without a doubt, the lamest of all NIN singles.

Silly, sad, fat Trent doesn't understand that he owes his "fame" to Mark Romanek and the catchphrase "I want to BLEEP you like an animal."

NIN is dead.At least we still have The Downward Spiral and Broken.

This single is too stupid for a single star. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Considered the breakthrough album that delivered a more palatable version of industrial music to the commercial audience, Pretty Hate Machine left its dingy mark on pop culture. The abrasive "sonarchy" of the album was first churned by despondent club-goers who roiled with the rhythms and aligned with the angst-ridden convictions. Since its release, the album's tempered deviations came to signify an aesthetic reverie for machine-driven martyrdom. Permeated by hissing engines and dissonant strains, the tracks cascade outside channels of modern complacency. Hits like "Head Like a Hole" and "Down in It" are recognized by the acidic beats, piercing riffs, and lyrical hostilities which snare the listener with disparaging rhapsody. Not for the light-headed, Pretty Hate Machine afflicts the inner sanctum and strikes a nerve. --Lucas Hilbert ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Once upon a time, there was a man named Trent Reznor........
That's what I'll be saying to my grandkids in the future, when Nine Inch nails is firmly set as a music phenomenon and Trent Reznor is a legend everywhere you go. This album is the first of the group, and the album that really brought industrial music into the eyes of the world. It would definitely be safe to say that NIN is not only an industrial band, it is THE industrial band. Trent Reznor is a musical genius, and this album proves it. The songs are eerie and electronic, very powerful in a slow, forboding sort of way. The best song on this album is the first, Head Like a Hole. Terrible Lie follows, another masterpiece, and soon your mind is set that Nine Inch nails are no disposable trash. Alot of great, dark bands have come along recently. Marilyn Manson, KoRn, Cradle of Filth, but Trent Reznor will always hold a special place in my heart.

Black As Your Soul
Nine Inch Nails' incredible debut album Pretty Hate Machine is a personal favourite of mine and one of the most consistently good albums I have ever listened to. Each and every track is of a Grade-A standard and the album contains essential NIN tracks such as "Head Like A Hole", "Terrible Lie", "Down In It" and "Sin", but really, they're all essential. The opening track and alternative radio hit "Head Like A Hole" is a classic example of great industrial rock, with it's thrashy guitar and gloomy synthesizers, though it's not really indicative of the rest of the album. In fact, unlike subsequent releases, there is very little guitar at all on this album. Trent Reznor utilizes walls of synthesizers and electronic noise to generate a stark and bleak sound. Overall, the album is more accessable than other Nine Inch Nails albums but still dark and caustic, despite having catchy melodies. Lyrically Trent Reznor tackles such subject matter as betrayal, disillusionment and loss of identity. All the good stuff. Pretty Hate Machine is a marvel, and (dare I say it?) a work of genious. A true classic.

freekin excellent
by far the best nine inch nails album ever. I remember buying this from the local record store on vinyl back in 89. My mind spun watching the blue and pink decals twist on the turn table forming this wierd filament of psychodelic colors; WAY cool!. Despite this being an 80s album, this music would still be considered hot today. This record has so much variety in the techno/ industrial genres let alone Reznors other albums. This one is unique and a must have for all nine inch nail fans.

Yummy
Seems like I get to everything late in the game, but better late than never, eh? I thoroughly enjoyed the entire disc, finding nothing to skip over every time I listened. Favorite tracks were "Down in it" and "Kinda I want to." "Something I Can Never Have" struck a cord. PRETTY HATE MACHINE hit a good two weeks on my "sit-and-spin-in-my-player" ranking. Two weeks of good, solid listening. I found what little profanity there was appropriate and not enough to make me roll my eyes.

this cd never cools off!
Ok you know how when after you finish playing a CD, when you take it out, its warm? This CD has not cooled off since i got it 2 days ago. I probbally listend to it like 50 times in 2 days. I'm obsessed with it, as soon as it finishes playing, i hit play again. Most of the time, im not really listening to it, but it makes great back ground music. It's also awesome if your "actually paying attention" to the CD. I definatly recomend this CD. If you wana get to know nine inch nails, get this. ... Read more

Album Description

Originally released in 1994, Trent Reznor created THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL as both a concept album and modern day classic. This influential 90’s classic is Trent Reznor’s industrial cum-tragic opera view of the world and the soul’s sonically detailed fall from grace. The Downward Spiral delves into despair and anger with hard guitars and brutal beats.

DUAL DISC VERSION (CD & DVD on one disc)

CD SIDE: Includes entire album in Re-Mastered CD Stereo

DVD SIDE: * Video in surround sound and Stereo of "Closer" * Videos of "March of the Pigs" and "Hurt" * Entire album in Stereo and Advanced Resolution Surround Sound * Entire album in Dolby Digital Surround Sound and Stereo * Image Gallery * Complete Discography * Random DVD menus * Surround Sound mixes by Trent Reznor ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 1999

Trent Reznor took five years to record this monstrous double-CD set, wielding a perfectionist's touch in the production and the subtlety of a chainsaw in the musicianship. The result is uncompromising, full of hysterical noise and yet utterly accessible. Somehow, someway, this is one of the best pop records of the year. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (963)

Did the music grow up with the fans?
I was 15 when The Downward Spiral was released, now I'm 21. When I first heard about the new album I wondered if Trent's rage would still be applicable to me six years later. Well, it isn't really - but Reznor's musical ability can make almost any statement applicable to me.

The first song on this CD absolutely blew my socks off. It sounded like a mixture of Korn and an angry Tom Waits. As I continued through the CD I noticed the mass amount of time and effort put in to each track. Some almost sounded influenced by PJ Harvey, while other tracks were straight up rock and roll out of NIN's history. Now I see why this is an album that took a long time to assemble. As much as I love this CD - already - it has its downfalls just like any other. The biggest being its overwhelming size. 1 CD of Trent can be a lot to take, 2 can just be mind boggling. Also, much like in the past, sometimes Trent can leave the impression of being overly whiney when most of the material deals with how other people constantly dissatisfy him. But, over all I think this is going to be one of the last "most important records of the 90's."

I just hope future installments are a little more timely.

Beautifully Crafted Soundscapes From Mastermind Reznor
It took Trent Reznor five years to craft and touch up the double disc THE FRAGILE. When you play the whole 2-CD set from start to finish, you can't help but appreciate the results with uncompromising validity.

There are angry rockers on here like the in-your-face scathing of "No, You Don't", the subdued tempest of "Into The Void" with it's hopeless theme, and the ferocious snap at NIN imitators that is "Starfucker's Inc.", with its easy-to-remember chorus. Contrasting these moments are pleasant interludes like the gorgeous piano instrumental "The Frail", the haunting but slow-charging title track, the love song thrash of first single "We're In This Together", and the atmospheric and hauntingly melodic and memorable rocker "The Day The World Went Away".

The instrumentals on this double disc treat range from the sinister apocalyptic "Pilgrimage", to the haunting and deadly "Ripe With Decay", the aforementioned beauty "The Frail", and the haunting "La Mer" with it's absolutely catchy beat.

There are also tracks reminiscent of earlier Reznor works, like the opening caustic "Somewhat Damaged" and the fragile anger of "The Wretched", which reminds me of the seething "Reptile".

All in all, THE FRAGILE only continues what THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL began, and Trent Reznor shows us over the course of 100 minutes and 23 songs why he remains an important figure in the realm of industrial rock music. He's a genius, and THE FRAGILE proves that even at wit's end, Reznor is here to stay.

a musical masterpeice
Trent Reznor is an extremely talented singer and song writer. His writing is perfect, music is mezmerizing and wonderfully crafted. He has a message that should be heard: the world is not all daisys and fairytales. In my opinion, his music is not intended for the mainstream pop culture. It is simply intended to tell a story that in in is mind. The music has an appeal to the deepest parts of the soul. In my opinion, this is the perfect album to sit back and reassess the thoughts and views of such a horrible time we live in.

The end of the nineties dream...
I was amazed at how many people didn't buy this album because they said it wasn't nine inch nails... This album was Trent showing how human he really was, as with evidence in the lyrics and song titles referring to a piece of fruit (ie opening with Somewhat Damaged and ending with Ripe (with Decay)). Experimental, heartfelt, and totally dreamy. Despite all the hype that predated this album, i think it stood up to it. In a musical world of mediocrity this album stands the test of time. Especially now in 2004 where everyone whines exactly the same about how great high school was and other emotional barren themes, people need to discover the truth and vitology that thrives within this album. Listen to it from beginning to end... It may speak to your heart as it did to mine.

A gem.
There is nothing wrong with The Fragile. The problem with the critics and fans is that they were expecting another, The Downward Spiral from Reznor. Every artist, upon each new release, no matter how great they are, mature a little more. Reznor is no exception. His music is more melodic rather than a bunch of noise clashed together, which is what they call industrial. I loved The Downward Spiral, but there's something about The Fragile that's just so great. It took Reznor five years to write, record, and produce this monsterous LP. Reznor is releasing another album in 2004, title pending as "Bleedthrough". I am anticipating this release because I know that it'll be yet another masterpiece from Reznor. ... Read more

Album Description

Originally released in 1994, Trent Reznor created THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL as both a concept album and modern day classic. This influential 90’s classic is Trent Reznor’s industrial cum-tragic opera view of the world and the soul’s sonically detailed fall from grace. The Downward Spiral delves into despair and anger with hard guitars and brutal beats.

This SACD/Hybrid DELUXE EDITION of THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL celebrates the 10 Anniversary of the modern masterpiece.

DELUXE EDITION includeds 2 hybrid SACD/CDs:Disc One - The original album in SACD Surround Sound (remixed by Trent Reznor), and newly remastered SACD Stereo and CD Stereo program.Disc Two - Bonus material (13 B-Sides, Remixes, and Rarities) in SACD Stereo and CD Stereo. ... Read more

Album Description

Shaking off the conventions and cliches of the EBM and futurepop genres, VNV Nation have crafted a work of art. From haunting, quiet beauty to introspective depths, to dance floor anthems, "Matter + Form" is an album crafted to move not only bodies on the dance floor, but hearts as well. VNV Nation is the new face of electronic music. ... Read more

Reviews (29)

What is truth
VNV Nation is one easily one of best bands in the EBM/futurepop genre as well as in general. I first discovered thema couple of years ago with their last studio album "Futureperfect". I was completely awestruck by their abilities to fuse haunting lyrics and melodies with a blend of industrial and synthpop beats. Ronan Harris writes some of the most beautiful lyrics I have ever heard (i.e "Beloved").

I finally obtained a copy of "Matter + Form". I personally love this album. I think it is great that the band continues to evolve with their sound. I think it would be dull for a band like VNV Nation to stick with one particular sound. It may work for bands like AC/DC but I think in VNV's case, they should be allowed to grow as a band. While there is no "Beloved" to be found on this album per say, the songs are far from lacking a good hook. I dug the industrial-influenced tracks "Chrome" and "Arena". They really set the tone of the album and I hope the band plays one or both of those songs live next month in concert. "Colours of Rain" is a beautiful haunting instrumental. "Homeward" is another personal favorite track of mine that I find myself hitting the replay button on.

I thought "Matter + Form" is a solid follow-up to "Futureperfect". I thought the general overall sound of "Matter + Form" was more aggressive than the band's previous two albums because of songs like "Arena" and "Perpetual" (another personal favorite track of mine). It is definitely one of the best albums of the year so far. I can't wait to see the band live in conert next month.

Uninspired
Whenever I've listened to a VNV Nation album, I've always been struck by how interesting and innovative the group is, even if I don't particularly enjoy every song on the album.There's still a sort of appreciation for trying to create something truly unique, something only VNV Nation could do.

Most of the tracks on Matter and Form are sub-par for what I expect from VNV Nation, and come nowhere near matching the quality of their earlier works.

There's an intro track on M+F, however it does nothing to set the mood for the rest of the album; it's essentially a minute and a half of sci-fi sounds that make you anticipate something dark and unknown, which really doesn't fit how the rest of the album feels.

Chrome is the only song on this album I have any sympathy for, as you can tell that a lot of time was put into the song to make it so great.It almost sticks out like a sore thumb on the album since the majority of the lyrical pieces on M+F are slow and ballad like (think Airships from Futureperfect, which I wasn't particularly a fan of).

The instrumental pieces are great tracks to fall asleep to, most of which are boring techno pieces that sound like the same 10 second sound clip looped over and over for a few minutes.

I'd recommend purchasing Praise The Fallen, Empires, Futureperfect, or if you can find it, Advance and Follow instead of this album if you do not have them.Or, check out something by Assemblage 23.

actually 2 1/2 stars to be exact
only has a couple good songs.about 5 or 6 of the songs are just instrumental, which i hate for this type of music.they are usually boring and stupid.It feels like i paid 15 bucks for only 5 or 6 songs.
I like VNV nation and love their last 2 albums, past perfect and empires but this one did not impress me.
save your money and download the only 2 decent songs that are on there.

Fantastic
"Chrome" and "Perpetual" are among the best of VNV and EBM. Great, great CD.

Not Quite the New Face of FuturePop
Like most fans of VNV, I too could sense that something in the way of a major shift had to occur. I mean Ronan might as well have said it directly on the "Futureperfect" DVD. He noted that the electro industrial scene undergoes a major shift about every 5 years or so. All of us then did the quick mental math to realize that VNV had taken over the scene about 5 years prior. Therefore he was saying that the scene, and his band too, needed to shake things up. In listening to this it almost seems as though VNV felt that everyone was looking to them to take that bold step and become the new face of whatever the new sound would be. Given that mindset I find "M&F" to be a major disappoint and, for the most part, a failure.

I think the only fully realized song is the single "Chrome"; it manages to be a clubsmasher while changing things enough to really break out of the confines of their earlier work. The synth sounds utilized recall nothing of prior songs, while the vocals are spun in a way that is fresh for Ronan. Outside of this I find some glaring flaws. The intro is a useless throwaway piece and I'm really tired of industrial bands thinking that they can get away with this. I don't mind simple mood setters but this has no value (if you have 17 tracks then a few fillers might be alright, but not on a 10-track album). Far too many tracks do not have vocals and they are not strong enough instrumentals to really stand on their own merit. Several are formulaic trance numbers that would work as decent dancefloor sets for lesser artists but fall flat here. One of the better tracks is nothing more than a rewrite of "Airships" from the previous album. If it's a bold new direction you are looking for, then please do not write a song built out of the exact same presets as a previous hit. "Homeward" is a very nice track but it's one that Covenant has written about 30 times already, no? I love the sound but it really isn't much to brag about creatively.

All in all, it's a pretty good album but it does nothing to resolve the "where is this freakin' scene heading?" question. While offering glimpses of brilliance it falls back too often on its predecessors and fails frequently when new ground is covered. It pains me to say that as an old fan with great respect for the artist, but I simply have to disagree with many others who I believe are overlooking flaws out of love for the artist rather than being honest with themselves. I've tried to give this album more than a fair chance, but after 20+ listens I just can't kid myself any longer. Generally I applaud it when bands try to do something new, but in this case they didn't have the guts to go nearly far enough. They got caught in between taking an artistic stand and giving us what they thought we wanted... an unpleasant compromise. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Nine Inch Nails are a pretty amazing phenomenon when one considers what they--um, he--have done with just a few studio recordings. The Downward Spiral, NIN's second full-length album, is just as packed with vitriol as Pretty Hate Machine and the EP Broken--and has just as solid a base of pop hooks that go a long way toward explaining NIN's popularity. Most recognizable is the down-tempo single "Closer," which remains a staple of dance clubs everywhere. But for the most part, the album is all heavy beats and aggressive guitars--industrial music with a pop angle. That winning combination is what makes Trent Reznor a law unto himself, becoming insanely popular while the main body of industrial music retains its subculture status. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (471)

One of essential 90s records
Trent Reznor's Nine Inch Nails is something of a cultural phenomenon. While being a fairly abrasive industrial act with a touch of underground flavor, it still had all the attention of the masses (that is, until Marylin Manson showed up on stage), and gained popularity that most other bands will never see even in their dreams. This album is NIN's best so far, it represents Reznor's creativity well and shows what this is all about.

Having both feet planted firmly in the legacy of industrial gods Ministry, Nine Inch Nails managed to add all the popular influences of the era to this timeless classic. One thing that's clearly audible is a bow towards grunge. I'll even go as far as calling this record "Nirvana plays in a steels factory".

Describing this album is pointless. It has to be heard. It combines angst, sadness, frustration, fun and violence, all in one. These feelings aren't in the lyrics alone, they also shine through every instrumental track and sample out there. Playing, programming and overall execution is superb, absolute perfection. This is a top-notch industrial metal album, one of the 4 CDs that define the genre (also included Ministry "Psalm 69", Fear Factory "Demanufacture" and White Zombie "Astro Creep 2000"). Unless you are allergic to hard-hitting music, or grunge-styled lyrics, you'll want to buy this record.

And in case you were wondering, yes, I think this Trent Reznor's record alone is by far superior to anything Marylin Manson (Reznor's creation, by the way) ever put out.

Not music, ART
This album is truly life-changing! One of the most uncompromising albums ever, it took me over a year of constant listening (i just didn't get it the first time i heard it) until i finally realized its genius. I hated it, i was truly offended by the lyrics and evil-sounding music, but in the end discovered that these are what makes the album great. i have yet to hear anything so angry and full of despair and pure pain (next in line would be BROKEN, also by nin). this leaves no doubt in my mind that trent is crazy or really (mad), not just faking it. it still disturbs and provokes me, and i hear some new sounds every time i listen to it. so deep and intricate. unlike a typical electronic album, nin doesn't abandon guitars (the amazing solo on "ruiner") or bass (good basslines throughout, including "piggy", "mr. self destruct", etc) OR even drums (half the songs have significant percussion intros or elsewhere, especially the fantastic work at the end of "piggy"). some of the most genuinely creepy and abrasive sounds you will ever hear. every song is different, every song is important, and as most know its a concept album which takes the listener on a sick twisted journey through the spiral of hell! every song is like its own demented world that creates unbearable tension and a variety of feelings. the ONLY time i ever listen to it is at night, all the lights off, laying in bed just really hearing it... it actually doesn't sound that good in the daytime as a "car album" or something... TRY IT, it actually left me scared at night when i first did it! anyways, THE FRAGILE is fantastic but trent will never outdo this. this album stands as a masterpiece that captured the purest of all the most loathable creepy-crawly feelings wrapped into genius songwriting talent and a sonic explosion that has yet to be paralleled! good listening!

hot topic ??? the nirvana of industrial music
you call this crap music, my grandma makes better... get into real music with real guitars not this satanic techno crap... try children of bodom, pink floyd, or the cars if you want nice keyboard

Don't expect anything.
This is not an industrial CD. This is not a rock CD. This is not a pop CD. Those who would hate TDS do so because they listen to it expecting it to sound like something else. Read the reviews, either it's someone complaining that they only liked "Closer" and the rest sucked, or that NIN pales compared to "other" industrial groups.

If ever a CD could be considered an audio suicide note, this may very well be it. The lyrics are not always the most creative, but they will hit you harder than any others. I believe the strongest segment of the CD lies in three songs: Ruiner, The Becoming, and I Do Not Want This. These songs so fiercely cast the world away and place Trent deep in his mind that I found it actually difficult to listen to them at certain times.

Unlike so many other groups of ANY genre, Trent has no problem with using absolutely everything at his disposal to create a sound he wants. He won't limit himself to slow bass grooves, chorused pianos, or a distorted guitar when the mood calls for it. And therein lies the greatest strength of the CD as a whole: not only do the words perfectly capture his emotion, but the sounds as well. The blistering noise while he screams "Don't you tell me how I feel", the quiet vulnerability of the final notes of Hurt (I personally think the Quiet version is better, the final chords here are a little too harsh), every note and every sound is specificall engineered to put across EXACTLY the emotion Trent wants.

I believe "Closer" to be the dividing point of the CD. Those who prefer the more "predictable" songs will most likely listen to the first half only. From "Ruiner" onward, the CD takes on the tone of someone whose mind is falling apart, until the title track. "Hurt" itself is an epilogue to the story.

The other beautiful part of TDS is that unlike most "angst-rock" groups, Trent's anger is just as directed toward himself as the rest of the world, if not more so. As said, "Closer" is a confession to weakness, not a random misogynist club song. Read the lyrics. Much of the hatred felt here is toward the self, which is probably why it resonates so deeply with so many. And more so than that, it sounds genuine. Few artists create music that sounds like it was made with little concern for the fans and record sales, and when a CD sells this many copies it may be hard to believe that this could apply, but it does. Even fans of Burn and PHM found this to be a shock.

A masterpiece, and a story. Listen without any preconceived notions of what NIN is and you'll find yourself enthralled. 10/10

Not what you think
People always seem to not realize that this album is not something that you just listen to for "Closer". It is a concept album based on one's depression and his degredation through sex, drugs, rejection of religion, and other things where you see them. The whole album is just a novel of sorts...

mr self destruct- the table of contents, an epilogue of what's to come.

piggy- the real beginning IMO, the place where everything starts to come apart

heresy- ok, you must understand that this is part of the spiral and not a real f-you to religion, but the character is saying there can't be a God for all this to happen to him

march of the pigs- the character blows off society

closer-the character uses sex as a crutch to lift himself out of depression...he tries to get closer to God

ruiner-again the depression screws up everything that he picked up through "closer", and nothing can stop him now

the becoming-the character becomes someone else, not him...you can say he's finally posessed and powerless

i do not want this-just listen Trent and the depression are in dialogue with each other...again "he wants to do something that matters" as the lyrics quote...

then it gets crazy!!!

big man with a gun-about violation and overpowering through sex, shoot shoot shoot shoot shoot as the lyrics say

a warm place-the morning after "big man with a gun" he finds solace after the sexual assault in the previous track

eraser-basically about self-rejection

reptile-again degredation through sex though even more severe...relates to prostitution

the downward spiral-the character is fed up with his problems..he imagines what it would be like to kill himself..

hurt- the finally undoing, the only thing that's real is the pain he feels from the suicide...(if i could start again, a million miles away, i would keep myself, i would find a way)

i suggest reading the lyrics in the booklet while listening to the album on headphones....in the booklet the pictures gradually get more and more violent, then you'll see the overall point of the album..

in it's form, i really have to say that this is one of the best concept albums ever...that's why i have to give it 5 stars, listen it to it ALL the way through and you won't be disappointed ... Read more

Amazon.com

As a placeholder between the full-length Pretty Hate Machine and The Downward Spiral, Broken packs a serious punch. Angrier and less poppy than Machine, this EP is full of noisy hooks, if such a thing is possible (check out that guitar riff on the full-throttle "Wish"), and much closer aesthetically to the industrial subgenre that informs Trent Reznor's music. As song titles like "Help Me I Am in Hell" suggest, Broken is a work of undiluted rage, which is, of course, a big part of its appeal. --Genevieve Williams ... Read more

Reviews (200)

Can't get much more intense than Broken
This Broken EP is the one to play if you are in anger. But it's very amazing. It will even scare you. Going from the emotional Help Me I Am In Hell going slower than the others, it then gets to Happiness In Slavery. That will scare you the first time you hear it.

And you'd be used to NIN having such soft songs. Broken uses a trend no other NIN album managed to do. No synths, no piano. But it's still great. And I love synths. But this isn't the mood for it. And you will probably find yourself head banging to Wish the day that you feel like your stupid. Then there's Gave Up before the hidden tracks, about losing your strength. It doesn't hold up for as much emotion as The Fragile but is still great.

I love the first hidden track, Physical, the cover of an Adam Ant song. You'll probably be addicted to it. And it IS addictive. Watch out though. There's a trick: There'll be a thing that makes you think there's 99 tracks when 91 of them are really left blank, those being seven through 97.

The only flaw is that it's barely longer than 33 minutes. It could have been much longer. Add this to your NIN collection if you are a beginner in collecting. mainly if you love more of the metal music. This is where they were called "metal" from. Join the ride like no other.

A Clamorous Smash of Affliction and Angst
Broken is the second NIN cd I purchased following the dark masterpiece that is "The Downward Spiral". It is 33+ minutes of raw torment and carnage all twisted and tied up into a bondage of an EP. The emotions of Halo 5 are genuine and pure, inspired by Reznor's feud and hatred with TVT records. Each song is capable of representing sheer power and strength in sound while the instrumental tracks provide some peaceful yet depressing insights in between periods of onslaught and rage. The two bonus tracks are interesting but lacks some character and focus of the first six.

Standout Tracks: Happiness in Slavery & Gave Up
As each song procedes the previous, the adrenaline and intensity is heightened. Thus, the last two tracks [excluding the bonus material] represent the climax of Broken. Combining heavy guitar riffs with loud, innovative synths; surprisingly enough, Happiness in Slavery comes off extremely catchy. Gave Up is my favorite track on this CD. With its hopeless lyrics and distortion, it certainly leaves the listener on a high note. Gave Up also appeals to me as a faster version of Wish. As Reznor screams through the chorus, he sounds like a racing demon on speed.

Broken is the next step up from the phenomenal debut "Pretty Hate Machine". It is anything but a "placeholder" described by Genevieve Williams. The song "Wish" won Reznor a Grammy and it elevated NIN's popularity. My only complaint about "Broken" is its length, as it leaves the audience with a bit of emptyness. However, having a full album of hate anthems might bring this precious gem to a bore real fast...

- aZnXgIn

OMG
oh the rage...oh the rage....when your record company upsets you..

what do you do..
put the swerve on em

standouts: wish, happiness in slavery

Overrated
Broken is incredibly angry for NIN, considering that they tend to prefer angst to anger. However, the CD falls victim to the fact that it frequently lacks flow and in many cases it gets overly abbrasive.

First song (an instrumental) leads into the secon, "Wish." This is the best song on the CD, and it is actually very good. Incredibly catchy and it avoids Trent's overuse of the loud-soft-loud-soft dynamic. It flows well, avoids being jerky and manages to actually be entertaining. Try getting that guitar hook out of your head!

The second track of note on this CD is "Happiness In Slavery." The track is very complex, and has wonderfully morbid lyrics. However, the track falls down owing to two factors. The first is that it lacks continuity. It seems like it lurches between a Frontline Assembly track and a PHM era NIN track. This in turn causes the song to lack catchiness and continuity. The second problem is that it again follows the awful loud-soft-loud-soft gimmick.

The other songs are all somewhat unremarkable.

Overall, Broken showed Trent's skill increase, and NIN still sounds incredibly unique. However, the overall sound can get as bad as an in-sink garbage disposal with a guitar over the top. And even Frontline Assembly have somemelody in their tracks.

Short on songs, long on quality
This is more of an EP than an LP. But what it lacks in length, it certainly more than makes up for in intensity. "Broken" packs a punch and I like it more than "The Downward Spiral" or "The Fragile" -- at least at times when I crave very angry music. (The other two are more very good and diverse collections but just aren't the 100% pure angry energy that "Broken" is.)

If you're not a NIN fan, you many not connect with this album. I'd recommend "Pretty Hate Machine" as the NIN primer for those new to the band, and I'd recommend this one for the NIN fan who just wants some primal anger and energy. ... Read more

Album Description

A must-stock piece! Do the math, this value-laden piece features all of the tracks from BOTH the U.K. singles of 'Closer' all on one disc for just $1 more than buying one of our regularly priced import CD singles ($7.99)! 'Closer' is off the 1994 album 'The Downward Spiral'. Includes six mixes of 'Closer', a mix of the album track 'Heresy', a mix of 'March Of The Pigs' re-titled 'March Of The Fuckheads' and a cover of Soft Cell's 'Memorabilia'. ... Read more

Reviews (24)

The one that all will know...
Ok, let's face it, you're buying this disc for one of two reasons: a)you like NIN and this is a must own for your collection (and it IS) or b) you, along with those other people who like the song Closer, are just buying it because you don't want to get into NIN, but just want this one song, along with a few remixes, on a disc. Either way, the fan will be satisified.
Closer to God, the opening track, is a remix of Closer. Not only is it a great track (my favorite of the cd) but it surpasses the original version. This one has a great, and catchy, drum beat, synth-lines, and guitar riff. Not only that, but some of the lyrics are different as well.
The other standout track on this single is Memorbilla, a great dance track.
Besides that, I won't be saying much else, because after the first listen, those tracks which I spoke of became my favorites on the single. Yet all in all, you will NOT be disappointed. But on we move...Further Down The Spiral...

even better than both the original or halo 8 themselves
I'm sure all of you have heard "Closer," NIN's most accessible (Yet their not) and poppy (But this one's not trying to be popular for $) single, in fact, one of their most poppy. This song has been put in six remixes, in which, if you're offended by that song, you'll only have room for two songs you'll actually like. Then if you're 100% strongly Christian, you may not like "Heresy", even though Trent's singning about paranoia of AIDS, but you still won't like the fact that he blames God. But those of you in any other religion and don't mind the sex-type music will *love* this.

Closer To God-- Techno metal remix of the original "Closer." At the end it has Trent screaming more, and it's better than the original instead. It doesn't have those "help me" parts either.

"deviation" mix-- This one's weird, but not for the average party-goer. Part of it reminds me of "Into the void", even though THIS was from the TDS-era.

the "further away" remix is the only song whis maxi-single could've gone with out. It gets a bit repetitive. But it's not that bad.

the "internal" remix is another excellor, so I can't fairly describe it. Also, same for the "precursor", which is aptly named. It also reminds me of "Into the Void" a bit.

What's left? A cover of Soft Cell's "Memorablia", MOTP remix retitiled "March of the f---heads" (Stompy remix indeed), and a 'blind' mix of "Heresy," in which has a lot of keyboards and disstortion and you can barely hear the words.

So at $... (Actually, where I bought it, $...), it's a reasonable-enough price to where if you hated it, you won't even give it a one-star. After all, it's pretty good as far as music quality.

Too Much Closer for my Taste, But It Has Some Nice Extras
I'll just first state the obvious, this has too many remixes of Closer. And I'll state the obvious once again, why did I buy it to begin with if I didn't want a bunch of Closer remixes? Well let me tell you. I was obsessed with Nine Inch Nails for about a year and was one of those unfortunate souls that feels the need to "collect all the halo's". I've moved on now, honest I have, The NIN are still great, but hopefully now I can help you, the fledgling Nine Inch Nails fan, to not make the same mistakes that I did.

Closer To God is a mediocre version of Closer. The only redeeming quality is that it at least took the song in a different direction. Personally I like the direction it had to begin with, so I don't care for this remix. Closer (Precursor/Deviation/Internal/Further Away) is a rather strange remix which I have to give merrit to for being extremely creepy at times. Heresy (Blind) is a great remix of Heresy. I almost like it better than the original if it weren't for the fact that the original is one of my favorite Nine Inch Nails songs. Memorabilia is an extremely repetitive cover of a great Soft Cell song, I usually skip this one. March of the F**kheads is a neat beat-driven instrumental which is somewhat awkward. It sounds as though Trent spilled some silverwear on the floor, just happened to record it, and then looped it to make a song. The final track, Closer, is about having sex with farmyard animals, but the music is neat.

It's a descent collection of songs, and I think it's worth getting if you're a big Nine Inch Nails fan, especially for the, what I like to call; F**king weird Closer remixes.

my ears are still bleeding
ok, a lot of the remix cds i hear get so old i want to pour bleach on them and then drop them from the grand canyon, but this is an exception...this is one of those cds you have the need to bow down to...cuz its better than you and your grandma combined!...ive also labled this as my scariest album, because it often makes me jump during the joy of listening, and afterwords im like, "oh my god,,,somebodys in my house,,,somebodys gonna kill me...*tear*" because i always hear noises afterwords, and im always lookin around for stuff, such as serial killers and giant pigs, maybe im just goin skitzo.

every song on here gets a ten out of ten...it contains.:
5 remixes of closer(all of which are perfect to a pinpoint).......the original closer.....heresay remix.......memorbilia(new song),pretty good and strange like always......march of the f*c*heads(new song), it sounds like a computer game to me, but hey im goin skitzo, why would you trust me?

DAMN YOU NINE INCH NAILS!!...im so confused anymore...i dont know whether to bow down to nine inch nails because they are the best band of all time or smack them for making me go crazy, lookin for serial killers under my bed 'n stuff...anywayz...
peace away
amen.......

If you like the Song Closer, it's good.
This single is just Closer in many different forms. If you think Closer on it's own is worth the $, it's worth it. I'd spend my money on some of the other NIN's albums though, rather than on this single. Buy The Fragile or Pretty Hate Machine before this. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Fixed should be called Broken...
This remix ep seems to have a identity crisis. Though the nice blue on the cover may seem to represent hope, you'll find NONE of that on this bad boy. Though this ep is called Fixed, you'll find NOTHING that comes close to that sound on this bad boy. Anyway, on to the review...
The Gave Up remix is a great way to start this out, as it just builds and builds. With a drum beat that makes your head spin, chopped up lyrics, and that great Gave Up guitar riff, this one will stand out to the listener at first listen.
The longest song on the cd is next, the Wish remix. It builds greatly for the first few minutes, then goes to a deconstructed mix of the song. Then, it loops yet has enough differences to make it enjoyable.
My favorite song would be the Happiness In Slavery remix, track 3. It sounds nothing like the Broken version, and truthfully, I find that good. This is a great song,and to think that it's an instrumental!
Throw This Away is a combination of Suck and Last. Certainly the quietist of the cd, this song is above decent, so to speak.
The last two tracks are ones I could deal without. Fist is too boring, and Screaming Slave is just noise, though good noise. With the other songs on this cd though, the last two will be forgotten.
All in all, this is a great attempt at remixing, and a very successful one too. Buy this if you like expermientation.

Noise
This is by far my least favorite NIN CD. I didn't like it the first time I listened to it, and I haven't liked it since (and believe you me: I tried to like it).

It's simply noisy. Now I know, alot of NIN is loud, distorted, etc, but this seemed noise for noise's sake. Now, I LOVED Broken. It was in fact my first foray into non-pop music. I loved how loud and aggressive it sounded. Fixed managed to take all of that noise and simply filter out the the purpose imo. The vocals are buried under wall of noise, the measures are chopped up... and that's my real big peeve actually (measure chopping). I loved Wish; it was my favorite song on Broken. They took the guitar riff and arbitrarily chopped off the last beat in the measure... and looped it. It's grating. I thought at first my CD player had freaked out or perhaps the CD was scratched.

Now, just so no one thinks I just hate remixes... I LOVED Further Down the Spiral (The Botton, At The Hear of it All, Erasure[polite]... all great remixes). And they were quite different than their originals... especially The Bottom which was my favorite track. But, they'd been crafted into new songs. Every time I hear tracks on Fixed, I get an image of a guy that just got a new mixing program and wants to see just how much "damage" he can do. "Ooo... check it out; this program lets you just drop a beat out... AWESOME! It's like, I'm in 4/4 now and then... *BAM!* it's the same thing only in 3/4. What a mind trip! What else can this thing do?!"

:-/

Now this is a rarity - a NIN CD I'll give more than 3 stars
Although I rarely listen to this CD anymore - it's filled with good ideas ie Trent doesn't sing as much which is a bonus for me. Alright there are 2 in which he does but I can live with that. And on one of the tracks his vocals are garbled nonsense - excellent it suits him better that way! Now this is the way it should have been but what do I know says you the NIN fanatic.

My favourites are the Happiness in Slavery Remix - dig that cool synth work! Throw This Away sounds too short ( which maybe a blessing ) and Screaming Slave which is the nearest to industrial Trent ever got - pure noise!

But here is where my generosity ends towards NIN

Buy Broken And Fixed NOW
I need to counter the mediocre and bad reviews of Fixed. This CD is absolutely worth getting. Broken is about as pure Trent Reznor as you can get and Fixed is a step beyond that. If you like Broken and Fixed, you like the real NIN.

Gave Up is fantastic, perfectly disjointed yet still driving and aggressive. Then there's Wish. It alone is worth the price of the CD. The original was great, this remix is life-altering. It's violent, shrill, jarring, it takes everything that makes NIN what it is and cranks it up to the highest level.

After Wish, the songs get more quirky and less "song-like". This isn't a bad thing, this is Trent Reznor. If you like things even more off-the-wall, the last few tracks might just be your favorites.

Regardless, I consider Fixed and Broken to be the most NIN of all the NIN CD's. If you really want to get inside Trent's head and see just what the world looks like to him, buy these, jack up the treble, jack up the volume, then listen 'til your ears bleed.

basically hate it...but it'll grow on me i imagine
there's a couple of songs that are ok on here ... but there not the kind you can listen to all the time like, say, the downward spiral, pretty hate machine, broken or the fragile.......im sure eventually i might like it more....ive only listened to it a couple times since ive had it and i always have the urge to turn it off....usually i would take a cd i dont like to the pawn shop but since this is nine inch nails i have to keep it for my most TREASURED collection.....

so basically...get this if you are a severe nine inch nails halo-ist....(but it most likely wont be on repeat in your stereo) ... Read more

Album Description

The acclaimed debut album on Universal records by TrentReznor & company released in 1989. Pretty Hate Machinecontains 10 tracks, including 'Head Like A Hole', 'Sin','Terrible Lie' and 'Down In It'. ... Read more

Reviews (279)

Once upon a time, there was a man named Trent Reznor........
That's what I'll be saying to my grandkids in the future, when Nine Inch nails is firmly set as a music phenomenon and Trent Reznor is a legend everywhere you go. This album is the first of the group, and the album that really brought industrial music into the eyes of the world. It would definitely be safe to say that NIN is not only an industrial band, it is THE industrial band. Trent Reznor is a musical genius, and this album proves it. The songs are eerie and electronic, very powerful in a slow, forboding sort of way. The best song on this album is the first, Head Like a Hole. Terrible Lie follows, another masterpiece, and soon your mind is set that Nine Inch nails are no disposable trash. Alot of great, dark bands have come along recently. Marilyn Manson, KoRn, Cradle of Filth, but Trent Reznor will always hold a special place in my heart.

Black As Your Soul
Nine Inch Nails' incredible debut album Pretty Hate Machine is a personal favourite of mine and one of the most consistently good albums I have ever listened to. Each and every track is of a Grade-A standard and the album contains essential NIN tracks such as "Head Like A Hole", "Terrible Lie", "Down In It" and "Sin", but really, they're all essential. The opening track and alternative radio hit "Head Like A Hole" is a classic example of great industrial rock, with it's thrashy guitar and gloomy synthesizers, though it's not really indicative of the rest of the album. In fact, unlike subsequent releases, there is very little guitar at all on this album. Trent Reznor utilizes walls of synthesizers and electronic noise to generate a stark and bleak sound. Overall, the album is more accessable than other Nine Inch Nails albums but still dark and caustic, despite having catchy melodies. Lyrically Trent Reznor tackles such subject matter as betrayal, disillusionment and loss of identity. All the good stuff. Pretty Hate Machine is a marvel, and (dare I say it?) a work of genious. A true classic.

freekin excellent
by far the best nine inch nails album ever. I remember buying this from the local record store on vinyl back in 89. My mind spun watching the blue and pink decals twist on the turn table forming this wierd filament of psychodelic colors; WAY cool!. Despite this being an 80s album, this music would still be considered hot today. This record has so much variety in the techno/ industrial genres let alone Reznors other albums. This one is unique and a must have for all nine inch nail fans.

Yummy
Seems like I get to everything late in the game, but better late than never, eh? I thoroughly enjoyed the entire disc, finding nothing to skip over every time I listened. Favorite tracks were "Down in it" and "Kinda I want to." "Something I Can Never Have" struck a cord. PRETTY HATE MACHINE hit a good two weeks on my "sit-and-spin-in-my-player" ranking. Two weeks of good, solid listening. I found what little profanity there was appropriate and not enough to make me roll my eyes.

this cd never cools off!
Ok you know how when after you finish playing a CD, when you take it out, its warm? This CD has not cooled off since i got it 2 days ago. I probbally listend to it like 50 times in 2 days. I'm obsessed with it, as soon as it finishes playing, i hit play again. Most of the time, im not really listening to it, but it makes great back ground music. It's also awesome if your "actually paying attention" to the CD. I definatly recomend this CD. If you wana get to know nine inch nails, get this. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Resuscilent
This and Closer CD1 are what I would recommend for people to get the best of Nine Inch Nails;

March of the Pigs - this is the actual March of the Pigs song that appears on The Downward Spiral, so expect some sloppy production and sound quality. Nothing super-special. 3/5

Reptilian - awesome remix of Reptile, kinky love song to say the least (not at all what you are thinking), this one really creates an obscene image. 5/5

All The Pigs, All Lined Up - the perfect mix, this is what should have been on The Downward Spiral, not the original. The new ending might be a bit little long, but it's cool so that is a good thing. 5/5

A Violet Fluid - Short but sweet. Perfect length for this thing, definately the finishing touch on this single. 5/5

Underneath The Skin - Instrumental mix of Reptile (except for three "reptile" screams in the beginning). A good 75% of this song is drums-only. Fits in well as the closing track. 5/5

Overall, these tracks and their arrangement (with the exception of the mix quality of the original MOTP) are perfect. A must-have CD, this is one you can leave on a continuous play loop for hours at a time and not get sick of. This officially gets 4.5/5 stars.

AWESOME US Halo!
Trent Reznor and Dave Oglivie teamed up to make one MONSTER of a maxi-single. It starts off with the title track "March of the Pigs". This is in itself (in its original album version) a fierce song that really gets you going. Any NIN fan knows that it is among Trent's best work. Next (I'm not sure of the order) is "Reptilian" which if a remix of "Reptile" off "The Downward Spiral". It was remixed by Dave Ogilvie. I actually like this remix better than the album version. It gives it a little more twists and complexity yet it still remains close enough to the original version to not p**s me off. "A Violent Fluid" is a short 1-minute instrumental. Short and sweet. It is basically the same loop repeated 10 times or so. Even though it is a cool loop, I wish a bit more had been done with it. That is why this maxi-single lost a star. "All the Pigs All Lined Up" is a "MOTP" remix which is equally as fast and furious as the original. "Underneath the Skin", also remixed by Oglivie, is another "Reptile" remix. It is mostly instrumental with few lyrics which makes it very interesting. If you are a big NIN fan who is seeking all the Halos, this is definitely one of the best! The other cool thing about this Halo is that it's a US release and you don't have to pay so much money! (don't buy the imported versions of this single....it takes both of the imported versions to get all the songs on the US version!)

One of the Better singles released from the NIN
This, the first single, actually preceeding The Downward Spiral, is a nice little introduction to what The Downward Spiral would later come to sound like. Contents:

1. March of the Pigs - March of the Pigs. Y'know, booty beats and marching pigs. 4/5

2. Reptilian - An interesting remix of one of the best songs on The Downward Spiral. This one's got all kinds of crazy bleeps and bloops and weird computer malfunctioning sounds. The best Reptile remix. 4/5

3. All the Pigs, All Lined Up - Basically just a stripped down version of March of the Pigs made to sound like a live performance I suppose. It's okay ..I guess. 2/5

4. A Violet Fluid - A great instrumental piece which is almost dance-y, quite strange. I like it. 3/5

5. Underneath the Skin - Another remix of Reptile. I actually prefer the first remix of it on this EP, but whatever floats your boat. 3/5

A nice collectors item, but I wouldn't recommend it to new listeners.

hae pigs!!
halo.seven,intro to the downward spiral...THIS IS THE TRACK LISTING< FOOLS!!!!

MARCH OF THE PIGS...the original, we all know how that goes(or we should)...10/10
REPTILIAN...reptile remix, sounds basically the same but the music is pretty different, in a very good way...10/10
ALL THE PIGS< ALL LINED UP...march of the pigs remix, its just longer, with cheering in the background (which gets annoying to a point) and added liyrics at the end "dont you feel feel a whole lot better?"...10/10

A VOILENT FLUID...short instrumental song with a steady beat for an interlude...9/10
UNDERNEATH THE SKIN...reptil remix, basically instrumental, and doesnt REALLY sound like the actual song, but if you pay attention it stays a safe amount of close~ness to the song...10/10

this is a really great remix thingie, theres also a part 2 to this but its not THAT nessecary, cause all those songs are on here.

Intro To Downward Spiral
This was a preview of downward spiral and did a good job of capturing the feel of the new album. personally i think march of the pigs was a bad choice for the first single though... ... Read more