Nine Inch Nails - The Downward Spiral (27 tracks) +Album Reviews

"And even when I'm right with you, I am so far away..."

Michael Crane | Orland Park, IL USA | 11/30/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I still can't believe that it was ten years ago that this epic of an industrial masterpiece came out. To this day, it remains a very popular album that people can never get enough of. It's classic Nine Inch Nails that can never be duplicated, no matter how hard one tries. It's angry, depressing, violent, disturbing and beautiful. So, how do you celebrate the 10 year anniversary of this fine album? You re-release it... and use all of your powers to make it sound better than ever before.

That was accomplished with "The Downward Spiral: The Deluxe Edition." All of the songs are here, and they have each been remastered so you can listen to these classic songs in a whole new way. It was a little hard to notice at first, since I was listening to it through my headphones, but once I blasted this thing through my speakers, I could immediately hear--no,FEEL--the change and improvement. You hear little subtle things that you could never pick up on in the original, as there's always a lot going on with each and every one of these songs. It was like listening to the album for the very first time. I can't even begin to express how impressed I am with it in words.

To take full advantage of this album, it is true that you should have an SACD CD player and surround sound so you can hear it in 5.1, and it is AMAZING. You really feel like each song is a living and breathing thing waiting to suck you up without warning. However, if you don't have an SACD CD player, do not fret. This thing still sounds INCREDIBLE without it. If you have a great sound system and some high quality speakers, you will definitely hear the difference. Heck, you can even pop this thing into your discman, then put in the older version, and you will be able to note the difference as well.

Not only is this remastered to its highest quality, but you also get a bonus CD that offers 13 tracks of rare remixes, demos and songs that only appeared in soundtracks, such as "dead souls" (from "The Crow") and "burn" ("Natural Born Killers). The remixes are ones that you can find on various single releases, but it's nice to have them all on one CD. Not only that, but you get the demos of "ruiner," "liar (reptile demo)" and "heresy."

If you're a NIN fanatic like me, then you MUST pick this up immediately! You won't regret it. Still hang onto the original release (since you're a NIN fan!), but trust me, you will be listening to this Deluxe Version instead. Nine Inch Nails' "The Downward Spiral: The Deluxe Version" does NOT disappoint. Its new sound is simply unbelievable. What a way to celebrate ten great years. A re-release to remember. -Michael Crane"

A Masterpiece with an Unbelievable New Mix but So-so Extras

D. R. Jeanclerc | Brunswick, OH USA | 04/15/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In celebration of the tenth anniversary of the release of "The Downward Spiral", it is being reissued in two new formats: a two-sided "DualDisc" containing bonus video materials and this two-disc set which comprises a SACD surround-sound mix of the album and of lots of extra audio tracks from that era. This review covers the two-disc set.

Reissues are a huge money-maker for (mainly) labels and (sometimes) artists. They're also a mixed bag for the fans who buy them - at their worst, they amount to a $15 donation for a "remastering" that's indistinguishable from the original and some new liner notes. This is not the case with the SACD surround-sound mix of TDS. This edition puts the focus where it belongs: squarely on the sounds pouring into your ears. Because I didn't know what to expect, I was a bit cynical about what kind of difference the surround-sound mix would make. It only took one listen to determine that the difference is immediately real and makes a familiar piece of music into an intriguing experience.

While you will need a surround sound setup to hear all that that mix offers, don't be discouraged about equipment requirements - I've listened to the album on a number of configurations (actual SACD playing through 5.1 channels, regular CD playing 5.1, regular CD playing 2 channels), and each of them sounds superb. Even in the car or with headphones, details that had been lost in the original mix are now clear and distinct. On heavily layered tracks such as "Mr. Self Destruct", this jaw-dropping mix gives the sound so much new texture it's difficult to believe that it's just a remix and not a re-recording.

The only disappointment with this set is the disc of extra audio materials. Aside from a trio of demos that only a fanatic completist would love, there aren't any previously unreleased tracks here; everything can be found on the singles and EPs release during the TDS era. Nonetheless, it's convenient to have them collected on one disc and the new mix of "Burn" from the "Natural Born Killers" soundtrack is as good as any on the main disc.

The mix on this two-disc reissue of "The Downward Spiral" is an landmark achievement - it manages to pay homage to the original work while reintroducing it in formats that almost define it as a completely new recording. It sounds cliche, but no matter how much you've listened to the original recording, you've never really heard it until you experience this mix. It is simply a necessary investment for any NIN fan. It is also an excellent place to start for anyone just discovering Trent Reznor's magnificent work, although more casual fans may prefer the single DualDisc edition that includes DVD video content such as the clips for "Closer" and "Hurt" at a lower price."

The masterpiece, made better

N. Durham | Philadelphia, PA | 11/25/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"In 1994, Nine Inch Nails mastermind Trent Reznor unleashed the modern day classic that is "The Downward Spiral". Ten years later, the album still holds up to being a masterpiece and found the outfit gaining much commercial success. Now, this new Deluxe Edition of the album is available, which includes the original album in remastered SACD stereo sound, and a bonus disc including 13 b-sides, remixes, and rarities. At first, I found it almost impossible of even the idea of remixing a dark and gritty album without taking away it's gritty heart, but I've got to give Trent credit, he's done it. Every track from "Mr. Self Destruct", to "Piggy", to "March of the Pigs", to "Closer", to the classic closing track "Hurt" sound better than ever, and if you own a SACD player, you need to pick this up, regardless of if you own the original album. The bonus disc includes mostly previously released material that NIN most likely already own, such as the cover of "Dead Souls" from the Crow soundtrack and the cover of "Memorabilia" from the "Closer to God" CD single. That aside, whether you are a new NIN fan or a long time listener, you should pick this up, and if you are all of the above and own a SACD player, then consider this a must own."

The masterpiece reborn

Max | Toronto, ON, Canada | 12/04/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This re-release of TDS is like listening to the album again for the first time. The excess of this type of thing might lead you to believe it's just a marketing gimmick, but that is simply not the case here. Of course, if anyone could perfect something that was already perfected, it's Trent Reznor.

First of all, the 13-track bonus disc is reason enough to buy this deluxe edition for any NIN fan since it has three previously unreleased demos. That might sound like peanuts to fans of any other band, but NIN fans know that on the rare occasion you get to hear something you've never heard before from Mr. Reznor, you cherish it. Also contained within are a handful of the best remixes from the singles and the "Further Down The Spiral" versions which are nice to have on one disc. Then you have the Joy Division cover "Dead Souls" and "Burn" from The Crow and the Natural Born Killers soundtracks, respectively. Last but not least is the Soft Cell cover, "Memorabilia" which is an excellent track and it sounds fantastic here.

Getting on to the good stuff, the album itself is a whole new listening experience. Everything feels more alive, more crisp, more precise than it did before. When you've listened to The Downward Spiral as much as the average NIN fan does, you start to pick up on things you never noticed the first 50 times you heard the song. Well that is what the deluxe edition feels like. Hearing new things all over again, letting your senses soak up the layers upon layers of... well, noise. There was a lot of it to begin with, and here it just becomes even more evident, and beautiful. You can never truly appreciate the artestry and brilliance put into the masterpieces which are Nine Inch Nails albums, until you hear them multiple times. That said, we are now able to let it happen all over again.

Reznor couldn't have marked the 10-year anniversary of The Downward Spiral any better, and it is definitely a must have for any Nine Inch Nails fan, or someone who just never owned the album in the first place. It sounds great even if you don't own an SACD player or have 5.1 surround sound. Highly recommended."

A 90s Classic

Daniel Maltzman | Arlington, MA, USA | 09/13/2005

(5 out of 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."

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