Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral
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Music CD Cover
Artist: Nine Inch NailsEdition: Music CD
Audio: English (Original Language)
Format: Deluxe Edition, Extra tracks, Hybrid SACD - DSD
CD Release Date: 2004-11-23
Music Label: Nothing
Soundtracks:
Music CD 1
- Mr. Self Destruct
- Piggy
- Heresy
- March Of The Pigs
- Closer
- Ruiner
- The Becoming
- I Do Not Want This
- Big Man With A Gun
- A Warm Place
- Eraser
- Reptile
- The Downward Spiral
- Hurt
- Burn
- Closer (Precursor)
- Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)
- A Violet Fluid
- Dead Souls
- Hurt (Quiet)
- Closer To God
- All The Pigs, All Lined Up
- Memorabilia
- The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
- Ruiner (Demo)
- Liar (Reptile Demo)
- Heresy (Demo)
Free Music Notes for The Downward Spiral
Free Music Review: A 90s Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
In 1994 Trent Reznor released "The Downward Spiral," the highly anticipated follow-up to Nine Inch Nail's debut "Pretty Hate Machine," (1989). The album shot to the top of the charts and has sold over four million copies to date. Along with Nirvana's "Nevermind" (1991) and Green Day's "Dookie," (1994) "The Downward Spiral" is a landmark album that serves as the soundtrack to the generation X of the 90s, and of the cynicism of the times.
"The Downward Spiral"-never was an album so aptly named. "The Downward Spiral," as its title suggests, tries to convey to the listener what happens when everything goes wrong. The modern day industrial opera showcases one mans torment and decent into a hell-on-earth.
The themes of "The Downward Spiral"-anger, fear, regret, nihilism-were also the prevalent themes of its predecessor "Pretty Hate Machine." But compared to "Pretty Hate Machine," "The Downward Spiral" is a far more intense and ultimately aggressive album. Although "Pretty Hate Machine" is a classic, no doubt, and a fan favorite, "The Downward Spiral" has far more to offer. It takes "Pretty Hate Machine" to the next level in terms of musical arraignments, songwriting, and overall intensity. So while the novice should start off with "Pretty Hate Machine," "The Downward Spiral" has more of an edge and is the better of the two.
Generally speaking, it has been my experience that most albums are either one of two things-catchy and assessable (Aerosmith, Beatles, KISS) or abstract and arty and need repeated listens to fully appreciate (The Velvet Underground, Sonic Youth, Pink Floyd). "The Downward Spiral" is a unique album in that the first half fits the "assessable" category and the second half fits the "abstract" category. It is no surprise then that most of the albums singles are from the first half.
The journey begins with "Mr. Self-Destruct" and at once the listener is thrust into a bleak musical landscape that is relentless in its pessimism and gives the listener little respite. Over pounding beats, Reznor addresses the listener directly, telling him/her of their pent up lust and rage. Although the song slows down and calms, angry whispers seem only to heighten the songs intensity, before the listener is thrust back into the hammering beats.
"Piggy" reads like a submission, a capitulation to defeat. It's an admission that all hope is lost. At this point, early on in the journey, you know that there is no hope of redemption. At the same time, however, since all is lost, nothing matters, so there is a sort-of fatalistic release from suffering. As the song winds down, tension grows and grows. The song climaxes with manic, bohemian-like drumming towards the end, which signifies chaos, giving the song the perfect effect.
If resignation is the theme of "Piggy," pure unadulterated rage is the theme of "Hearsay." "God is dead, and no one cares, if there is a hell, I'll you there!" Reznor declares. Although possibly Reznor's darkest song, it is also one of his catchiest. The crushing industrial beats pound as the riff takes hold.
The stage is now set for "March of the Pigs," an ode to a heard mentality. The industrial tinged metal riff grabs hold of the listener, refusing to let go-until synthesizers pulsate the listeners every nerve. This was one of the albums major hits and also one of the album's most infectious songs.
"Closer," the album's huge hit and highlight, is one of the 90s catchiest singles. The theme of this mid-tempo, semi-club song seems to be not just about lust, but of longing. Although unfulfilled carnal lust is a major premise, it's equally a song of wanting to be fulfilled. It's a plea of wanting to connect with someone-to help alleviate the loneliness, to be fulfilled, to "be closer to God."
"Ruiner," as the title would suggest, tells the story of someone who is a parasite, a deceitful leach who ruins lives. The lyrics are rather abstract, so the listener can take away from it whatever he or she sees. Although not the catchiest song on the album, it keeps the momentum going.
For the most part, the lyrics of the frantic "The Becoming," are also abstract. I take the theme of the song to be a desire to end all cognition-as it is just "noise" that is making the protagonist hysterical. This downbeat song gets better with repeated plays.
Although "I Do Not Want This" is not one of the albums best known songs, it is a personal favorite of mine. It starts out slow, yet forceful, and builds up momentum as it slugs along. I take it to be about (1) feeling frustrated with everything and being despondent and (2) rejecting how others perceive you and (3) longing for a deeper meaning and fulfillment.
The short but catchy frantic "Big Man with a Gun," serves as a catharsis of all pent-up sexual frustration. As the song progresses, it gets more and more intense, which is in total contrast to the following instrumental track "A Warm Place."
At last, with "A Warm Place," the listener gets a temporary reprieve. This morose beautiful piece commutates what its title states-a sense of feeling safe in a world and in a mind gone mad.
But alas, the reprieve is short lived. "Eraser" tells of how one person can hurt and use another. It's a fuming song that just gets angrier and more intense as it progresses.
The infectious "Reptile" commutates musically just that-long, scaly and slithering. Again, like much of the second half of the album, its meaning can be interpreted in different ways. The lyric "she spread herself wide-open to let the insects in," leads me to believe that the song is about someone lonely and desperate, who longs for love and affection and allows herself to be used by "insects". It's a song about someone "impure" yet "beautiful."
The album's title track tells of the suicide of a lifelong, self-loathing person, who ends it all in one-tiny-flash. Although not really a song, this track puts the whole album in perspective.
The album's second highlight "Hurt" is undeniably one of the best songs from the 1990s. It's very straight-forward and simple, yet powerful. If all that proceeded this song was rage and anger, "Hurt" is a total and complete descent into sadness-of realizing that everyone close to you is going to leave you, one way or another, sooner or later and that we all die alone. It's a little ironic that such an intense album would end on a whimper rather than a bang. But that just adds to the power of the song and is the perfect way to close the album.
"The Downward Spiral" is not the easiest album to listen to. The anger and intensity of this album might initially turn-off some listeners. But along with anger, this album also shows beauty, depth, and empathy of human suffering.
If you are collecting the best works of the 1990s or the best-albums of all-time, "The Downward Spiral" is an essential album to add to any collection.
The second bonus disc is a cool collection of songs/remixes from that era and should please NIN fans. "Burn" from "Natural Born Killers," and "Dead Souls," (a Joy Division cover) are especially cool.
The Downward Spiral Poster
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.
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