YEEZ'S GUIDE TO NINE INCH NAILS (1989-2000)

Started by Yeez, Mar 20, 2022, in Music Add to Reading List

  1. Yeez
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    Yeez Yeez 4.0

    Mar 20, 2022
    Even though this is a hip hop forum, some of my favorite discussions on this site have been surrounding other genres. Whether it be pop threads or the metal/rock discussion thread, I think that having some variety on the music being discussed is good. So I decided to make a small guide regarding one of my favorite groups of all time, Industrial Rock band, Nine Inch Nails. I'll mainly take a look at their output in the 90s, but I'll briefly discuss their later work. With all of that said here is yeez's guide to Nine Inch Nails:
    BRIEF OVERVIEW OF THEIR FORMATION:
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    Unlike many other bands, NIN has really only had one main member all throught it's history. Trent Reznor formed Nine Inch Nails in 1988 while he was working as a janitor. Drummer Chris Vrenna joined later that year before the addition of guitarist Richard Patrick (Fun Fact: Richard Patrick is the younger brother of actor Robert Patrick, who's famous for playing the T-1000 in Terminator 2). After signing to TVT Records, work began on their debut album
    HALO NUMBERS:
    Throught their discography, NIN has cataloged their releases with "HALO numbers". These releases range from Albums, Singles, EPs, etc. Some singles are strangely ommited but the HALO's work pretty well to differentiate parts of their discography.
    PRETTY HATE MACHINE (HALOS 1-4) (1989):
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    "Pretty Hate Machine" is the first studio album by Nine Inch Nails. The first release from the band was Halo 1, the album's lead single "Sin". The album is noticeably more synthpop inspired than their later work. Strangely, the song "Down In It" seems to be Reznor's weird attempt at a rap song. Even if it is different from their later work, I definitely recommend that you check Pretty Hate Machine out.
    STAND OUT SONGS: HEAD LIKE A HOLE, SIN, SANCTIFIED
    BROKEN/FIXED (HALOS 5 AND 6) (1992):
    After the release of PHM, NIN came into conflict with TVT Records. According to Reznor, TVT repeatedly interfered with the creative process, forcing him to work with producers he didn't like and putting out singles without his permission. Out of this anger came the secret recording of the group's follow up: The "Broken" EP
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    Broken has a significantly different tone when compared to PHM. Broken is filled with angst filled lyrics and is much more heavy than what the band had released up to that point. Songs like "Wish" perfectly encapsulate the EP's feel. Alonside the release of the EP came the "Broken" movie, which was a collection of music videos, mixed in with fake snuff footage. Overall, this is an essential part of the band's history and is a must listen when getting into their music:
    STAND OUT SONGS: WISH, LAST, HAPPINESS IN SLAVERY
    Later that year came the release of the EP "Fixed". Fixed is just a collection of Broken remixes and only really worth listening to if you really enjoyed Broken. Both Broken and Fixed were released by TVT Records in conjunction with Interscope Records. Eventually, NIN was able to fully sign with Interscope in preparation for their next project.
    THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL (HALOS 7-12) (1994):
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    The Downward Spiral is my personal favorite album of all time. Most of the record was recorded at 10050 Cielo Drive better known as "The Tate House", where the infamous Tate murders happened. TDS is heavily inspired by techno and heavy metal in it's composition. The album's concept revolves around a person who falls into a cycle of depression as a result of various factors including mental illness, drug addiction, and overall feeling rejected by society. In the years leading up to The Downward Spiral's release, keyboardist James Woolley joined the band. More importantly however, Richard Patrick left NIN shortly before the recording of TDS. TDS also has the first noticeable ambient work on a NIN album which becomes a big part of their sound later on. This album is a masterpiece and I heavily recommend it.
    STAND OUTS: MARCH OF THE PIGS, RUINER, THE BECOMING, A WARM PLACE
    HIATUS AND PRODUCTION WORK:
    For the next two years NIN's output mainly included the remix album "Further Down the Spiral". Reznor organized the soundtrack for the David Lynch film "Lost Highway" which included the non album single "The Perfect Drug". During this time, guitarist Danny Lohner joined the band first as a touring member, then as an essential part of the band. Reznor produced the soundtrack for the 1996 FPS "Quake" as well.Reznor's most noticeable work around this time is his production on Marilyn Manson's 1996 album "Antichrist Superstar"
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    While Reznor had previously worked with Manson on his previous 2 releases "Portrait of an American Family" and "Smells Like Children", ACSS is undoubtedly their best work together. [​IMG]
    The production is a natural evolution of what was heard on TDS and even if it isn't part of the NIN discography, I consider it a good part of the group's sound and I urge you to check it out as well. During the creation of ACSS, a rift grew between Reznor and Manson, with their relationship becoming strained by the end. They later collaborated on the Music Video for "Starfuckers, Inc." but their relationship ended shortly after that.
    STAND OUTS FROM ACSS: IRRESPONSIBLE HATE ANTHEM, KINDERFELD, MAN THAT YOU FEAR.
    THE FRAGILE (HALOS 13-17) (1999):
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    The Fragile is a double album released by NIN in 1999. This album is noticeably more instrumental than TDS but the concept is a loose continuation of it. The Fragile deals with Reznor's increasing drug addiction and him trying to get his life back together. This album is hard to describe due to it's lengtha and it's various different elements. I'd recommend this album only if you're a fan of their earlier work since this could feel like a chore the first time around
    FUN FACT: Dr. Dre helped out with the production on "Even Deeper":
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    STAND OUTS: We're In This Together, La Mer, Ripe (With Decay)
    LATER YEARS (2000-PRESENT)
    NIN's output in the early 2000's was good, but struggled in comparison to their 90s run. A change in direction came in 2007 with the release of "Ghosts I-IV". Ghosts is a fully instrumental album with heavy contributions from future band member Atticus Ross. This eventually led to the both of them composing the Academy Award Winning Score for David Fincher's 2010 classic "The Social Network". The 2010's mainly revolved around making scores for movies and TV shows with some albums like "Hesitation Marks" and "Bad Witch" being standouts. In 2016, Atticus Ross officially joined NIN, making him and Reznor the only official members at this time.
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    The most recent things they've done as of the writing this are the scores for Pixar's "Soul" and David Fincher's "Mank", alongside producing the entirety of Halsey's 2021 album "If I Can't Have Love, I Want Power".
    CONCLUSION:
    Well, that was a long guide. If you made it this far I thank you and I hope that if you check out any of this music out you enjoy it as much as I do. Might make some more guides in the future if I have the time, but this is it for now, I have some detective work I have to get back to.
     
    Last edited: Mar 20, 2022
    Mar 29, 2024
  2. Chrollo
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    Chrollo ♱ كرولو

    Mar 20, 2022
    You put a lot of effort into this, dope! I wanted to get into the for a long time and I guess now is the perfect moment
    :dance_yatta:
     
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  3. DKC
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    DKC hank trill

    Mar 20, 2022
    Good s---. I've always wanted to delve deeper into NIN as I've only heard bits and pieces but they seem like something I'd be into.
     
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  4. DKC
    Posts: 23,125
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    DKC hank trill

    Mar 20, 2022
    featured. if anyone has time to make a banner feel free to banner as well
     
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  5. Slyk
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    Slyk God made a prophet.

    Mar 20, 2022
    bannered. nice write-up, @Yeez
     
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  6. thegoodguy
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    Mar 20, 2022
    10/10
     
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  7. joeyp363
    Posts: 15,375
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    Mar 20, 2022
    I f---ing love NIN. Goth s--- is my jam.


    People always ask me Joey, Joey what is your real opinion on music? You can’t possible love revival, logic, Tech N9ne. But it’s true I really do. I also think this is one of the best songs of all time:

     
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  8. reservoirGod
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    reservoirGod reckless adventurer.

    Mar 21, 2022
     
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