The Downward Spiral EXPLICIT LYRICS Nine Inch Nails

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CD

  • Release Date: 03/08/1994
  • Sales Rank: 7,916
  • Label: NOTHING
  • UPC: 606949234621

Listener Rating: (15 ratings)

Detailed Rating: "Originality" See All

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  • Overview
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Track List
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The Downward Spiral

1LISTENMr. Self Destruct 4:30
2LISTENPiggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) 4:24
3LISTENHeresy 3:54
4LISTENMarch of the Pigs 2:58
5LISTENCloser 6:13
6LISTENRuiner 4:58
7LISTENThe Becoming 5:31
8LISTENI Do Not Want This 5:41
9LISTENBig Man with a Gun 1:36
10LISTENA Warm Place 3:22
11LISTENEraser 4:53
12LISTENReptile 6:52
13LISTENThe Downward Spiral 3:56
14LISTENHurt 6:15

About this Artist

Editorial Reviews

The Downward Spiral positioned Trent Reznor as industrial's own Phil Spector, painting detailed, layered soundscapes from a wide tonal palette. Not only did he fully integrated the crashing metal guitars of Broken, but several newfound elements -- expanded song structures, odd time signatures, shifting arrangements filled with novel sounds, tremendous textural variety -- can be traced to the influence of progressive rock. So can the painstaking attention devoted to pacing and contrast -- The Downward Spiral is full of striking sonic juxtapositions and sudden about-faces in tone, which make for a fascinating listen. More important than craft in turning Reznor into a full-fledged rock star, however, was his brooding persona. Grunge had the mainstream salivating over melodramatic angst, which had always been Reznor's stock in trade. The left-field hit "Closer" made him a postmodern shaman for the '90s, obsessed with exposing the dark side he saw behind even the most innocuous façades. In fact, his theatrics on The Downward Spiral -- all the preening self-absorption and serpentine sexuality -- seemed directly descended from Jim Morrison. Yet Reznor's nihilism often seemed like a reaction against some repressively extreme standard of purity, so the depravity he wallowed in didn't necessarily seem that depraved. That's part of the reason why, in spite of its many virtues, The Downward Spiral falls just short of being the masterpiece it wants to be. For one thing, fascination with texture occasionally dissolves the hooky songwriting that fueled Pretty Hate Machine. But more than that, Reznor's unflinching bleakness was beginning to seem like a carefully calibrated posture; his increasing musical sophistication points up the lyrical holding pattern. Having said that, the album ends on an affecting emotional peak -- "Hurt" mingles drama and introspection in a way Reznor had never quite managed before. It's evidence of depth behind the charisma that deservedly made him a star. Steve Huey, All Music Guide

Customer Reviews

Perfection.by Anonymous

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September 10, 2008: This is NIN's best album. From start to end its amazing. As a musician myself i listened to this record over and over to try to hear every sound on every track, the fact the Trent does this all on his own only shows the talent and insanity it takes to lock yourself into a room and record non stop. He is true to his craft and i have seen him many times in concert and even live he kills it. Closer is an amazing song and when i saw the video for it - made it more sick more sexy and more raw. I think that is the only video in history that really captures the song visually. Hurt of course is classic NIN always putting in one slow song eventho the content is anything but soft (my personal favorite). From Pretty hate Machine to Broken to Year Zero all his records are amazing in sound and intensity. NIN to me is the only bad that can grow and mature musically but still keep its core.

A Hands Down Classicby Anonymous

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December 23, 2005: Although Pretty Hate Machine is the highest point of Trent Reznor's nearly perfect musical career, it's still hard to say any album is better than this album. This album is great, but for different reasons than Pretty Hate Machine. As Pretty Hate Machine was Classic more for it's Vocals and Lyrics, Downward Spiral is classic more for it's music. That being said, you know when you get a NIN album you're getting the deepest, darkest thoughts of a mangled man. To help convey the greatness of this album, know that I believe in God, yet I still love "Heresy", which is basically one fatal blow to God, and the people who believe in him. Though obviously my view of God is much different than his, I still have tremendous respect for a person that can put his hatred for something like that so brilliantly. This song is either loved or hated for obvious reasons, but there is much more to this album than Trent's extreme Nihilism. Though Closer is impossible not to love, the best part of the album is the shortest song, "Big Man With A Gun". It is quite possibly the hardest song ever made, and feels like a quick, brutal rape. Such simple lyrics make it genius. But also, there are very introspective moments I.E. The Becoming, Hurt, The Downward Spiral, and others. This album needs to be mentioned up there with the greatest albums of all time, along with Pretty Hate Machine. 5 STARS!


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