Classic Rock Album of the Day- Nine Inch Nails- Pretty Hate Machine (1989) ****
No, Trent Reznor never denied the influence of Depeche Mode. And in this highly acclaimed debut album, the tinge of Depeche Mode is evident in micro bits and pieces of the deep grooves of style and substance. Reznor and his project of NIN started not really of what would be created as a genre at first. (Industrial) But, NIN grew as an element, Reznor pieced together variable pieces of musicians that fitted this and each subsequent album like a glove. Personally, you might ask why I would only give NIN 4 stars, for this and their classic work Downward Spiral, given that stature. It's more of that I do not care for the dark cacaphonic, and almost exhausting depressive nature of his music, No, this isn't a piece that I delve into frequently. BUT, as a musician, I can say that with absolute certainty that it can't be denied of the essence of Reznor's musical genius. I can easily see the fans of the industrial genre giving NIN consistent 4-5 ratings in their entire catalog.
Each NIN album is almost like attending a gory horror film, with oceans of blood, guts, and pain. Reznor is a fascinating creative force, who somehow, someway, has survived the darkness, and has effectively channeled that emotion into incredibly complex, and intelligent electronic and other sounds that give a unique music experience. There are parts of this album that bear no resemblance to that inferred Depeche Mode influence, and that is part of the fascination of this band. They can not be fully pigeon-holed into any one genre, style, or even any predictable musical flow. It also needs to be noted that Depeche's influences on Rezor seemed less with each new album. Modern NIN and their side projects have no resemblance.
One aspect of NIN's repertoire that I have really recently been noticing, is that in some certain, and not all cases, is the bands he assembles provide amazing accuracy in live performances that are incredibly true to the originals, or variations that build so nicely on the original that amaze the listener. And one also has to wonder how Reznor has survived given that many guess his music is channeled from the dark macrabe crevices from his mind. Think about how bad and depressing it is to the listener to explore this despair. Now think about the writer. I've said before he is like the Poe of Rock Music. I stand by that.
Pretty Hate Machine in its entirety is the second most fascinating work by NIN. Of course, again my opinion. When this came out in 1989, it was so much different than anything out there. It sure doesn't have the concept theming of Downward Spiral, and in some ways it does allow Reznor to have an open hand to experiment, and to provide a huge and wide brush on styles. It's a great random ride, but not one you want to take every day.
Fun Fact: Officially fro 1989-2016 Nine Inch Nails was only one member ....Reznor. He would write, and produce all aspects of the music. Then add musicians who he thought could best interpret his work in concert. Atticus Ross was added in 2016, after Reznor recognized that he was a consistent contributor for the long run and not dispensable.
Track No.
-----------------
1. Head Like a Hole- One of NIN's signature tunes, and a fan live favorite. Loud,Bombastic, chaotic that in like is in essence an example of Electronic Metal. Reznor is famously un-hooked in his songwriting, but this one is about as close as you are going get. Themes of anger, submission, retribution, and resistance fill this classic intro of NIN. 1
2. Terrible Lie- NIN in their massive talent tool belt loved to create machinery like base music, as the stories unfold. Sang angry, with really complex rthymatic patterns. What is so special about NIN, is their ability to change style, themes, and tone on a dime. The almost spastic fills of electronic is genius. 3
3. Down In It- Electronic Rap, but far more complex than anything present, before, anything in the future made in Hip Hop. I detest rap, so this one slides the list in favorites. Still significant music value 10
4. Santicfied- Punctuated with a strange almost jungle like bass line, Sounding much like a Fender Jazz bass at that. Depeche Mode on Acid might be a stretch, but this is much like something you would hear in a horror soundtrack, with eery back noises, adds and sporadic almost random melodic bits, and of course Reznor patented FX work. Then add chanting monks, and indiscernible back speech? Wow. 2
5. Something I Can Never Have- Maybe their most macrabe song. A repetitive melodic piano line, with a sternum rattling low frequency electronic base. Dark dark dark, lyrically. There has to be some level of self despair to capture this moment. Frightening, but beautiful as a sound. Background but very soft chirping birds just adds to the chilling aura. 4
6. Kinda I Want To- Hard to fathom , but an almost funky danceable, but no less dark venture into the dark and ugly. You can catch maybe a tad of the Depeche Mode influence here. Not much, but.... Like every other cut, no slouch musically. This album has no weak spots in that aspect. 7
7. Sin- Definite Depeche Mode like fare. But much more crisp sporadic, and dark. Fantastic Bass line punctuated with almost random like electronic interplay. Great all hell breaking loose parts that are exhausting as a listener. 6
8. That's What I Get- Ingenious synth work, and pretty much unique to the talents of Reznor. Foreboding ballad. Extra points for uniqueness. 5
9. The Only Time- Hard to call anything from NIN filler, but this one seems a little pointless in the view of what he wanted to cover on this LP. 9
10. Ringfinger- Electronic fare that continues the strangeness. Not sure of the theme of the song, but I am venturing a guess it is a sick and deep despaired anger toward marriage. And as a shocker, the first and only guitar solos briefly is inserted to give more as shock value. ... Wow, I am worn out. Glad this review is over. 8
No, Trent Reznor never denied the influence of Depeche Mode. And in this highly acclaimed debut album, the tinge of Depeche Mode is evident in micro bits and pieces of the deep grooves of style and substance. Reznor and his project of NIN started not really of what would be created as a genre at first. (Industrial) But, NIN grew as an element, Reznor pieced together variable pieces of musicians that fitted this and each subsequent album like a glove. Personally, you might ask why I would only give NIN 4 stars, for this and their classic work Downward Spiral, given that stature. It's more of that I do not care for the dark cacaphonic, and almost exhausting depressive nature of his music, No, this isn't a piece that I delve into frequently. BUT, as a musician, I can say that with absolute certainty that it can't be denied of the essence of Reznor's musical genius. I can easily see the fans of the industrial genre giving NIN consistent 4-5 ratings in their entire catalog.
Each NIN album is almost like attending a gory horror film, with oceans of blood, guts, and pain. Reznor is a fascinating creative force, who somehow, someway, has survived the darkness, and has effectively channeled that emotion into incredibly complex, and intelligent electronic and other sounds that give a unique music experience. There are parts of this album that bear no resemblance to that inferred Depeche Mode influence, and that is part of the fascination of this band. They can not be fully pigeon-holed into any one genre, style, or even any predictable musical flow. It also needs to be noted that Depeche's influences on Rezor seemed less with each new album. Modern NIN and their side projects have no resemblance.
One aspect of NIN's repertoire that I have really recently been noticing, is that in some certain, and not all cases, is the bands he assembles provide amazing accuracy in live performances that are incredibly true to the originals, or variations that build so nicely on the original that amaze the listener. And one also has to wonder how Reznor has survived given that many guess his music is channeled from the dark macrabe crevices from his mind. Think about how bad and depressing it is to the listener to explore this despair. Now think about the writer. I've said before he is like the Poe of Rock Music. I stand by that.
Pretty Hate Machine in its entirety is the second most fascinating work by NIN. Of course, again my opinion. When this came out in 1989, it was so much different than anything out there. It sure doesn't have the concept theming of Downward Spiral, and in some ways it does allow Reznor to have an open hand to experiment, and to provide a huge and wide brush on styles. It's a great random ride, but not one you want to take every day.
Fun Fact: Officially fro 1989-2016 Nine Inch Nails was only one member ....Reznor. He would write, and produce all aspects of the music. Then add musicians who he thought could best interpret his work in concert. Atticus Ross was added in 2016, after Reznor recognized that he was a consistent contributor for the long run and not dispensable.
Track No.
-----------------
1. Head Like a Hole- One of NIN's signature tunes, and a fan live favorite. Loud,Bombastic, chaotic that in like is in essence an example of Electronic Metal. Reznor is famously un-hooked in his songwriting, but this one is about as close as you are going get. Themes of anger, submission, retribution, and resistance fill this classic intro of NIN. 1
2. Terrible Lie- NIN in their massive talent tool belt loved to create machinery like base music, as the stories unfold. Sang angry, with really complex rthymatic patterns. What is so special about NIN, is their ability to change style, themes, and tone on a dime. The almost spastic fills of electronic is genius. 3
3. Down In It- Electronic Rap, but far more complex than anything present, before, anything in the future made in Hip Hop. I detest rap, so this one slides the list in favorites. Still significant music value 10
4. Santicfied- Punctuated with a strange almost jungle like bass line, Sounding much like a Fender Jazz bass at that. Depeche Mode on Acid might be a stretch, but this is much like something you would hear in a horror soundtrack, with eery back noises, adds and sporadic almost random melodic bits, and of course Reznor patented FX work. Then add chanting monks, and indiscernible back speech? Wow. 2
5. Something I Can Never Have- Maybe their most macrabe song. A repetitive melodic piano line, with a sternum rattling low frequency electronic base. Dark dark dark, lyrically. There has to be some level of self despair to capture this moment. Frightening, but beautiful as a sound. Background but very soft chirping birds just adds to the chilling aura. 4
6. Kinda I Want To- Hard to fathom , but an almost funky danceable, but no less dark venture into the dark and ugly. You can catch maybe a tad of the Depeche Mode influence here. Not much, but.... Like every other cut, no slouch musically. This album has no weak spots in that aspect. 7
7. Sin- Definite Depeche Mode like fare. But much more crisp sporadic, and dark. Fantastic Bass line punctuated with almost random like electronic interplay. Great all hell breaking loose parts that are exhausting as a listener. 6
8. That's What I Get- Ingenious synth work, and pretty much unique to the talents of Reznor. Foreboding ballad. Extra points for uniqueness. 5
9. The Only Time- Hard to call anything from NIN filler, but this one seems a little pointless in the view of what he wanted to cover on this LP. 9
10. Ringfinger- Electronic fare that continues the strangeness. Not sure of the theme of the song, but I am venturing a guess it is a sick and deep despaired anger toward marriage. And as a shocker, the first and only guitar solos briefly is inserted to give more as shock value. ... Wow, I am worn out. Glad this review is over. 8
