Nine Inch Nails "The Downward Spiral" (1994) - got it
This was the first of these albums for a while that I've listened to on
headphones (aside the ones I listen to while walking). Most of them I
just have going through my laptop speakers. Trent Reznor knows his way
around a studio and it seemed only right to get the full experience of his production.
He was also well ahead of the curve as far as working electronic
elements into rock music.
I've always thought it's a shame that more bands didn't explore that combination of hard rock and electronica. The Spawn Soundtrack in 1997 had one or two great tracks in that vein.
Anyway, back to NIN. This album was famously recorded in the house
where Charles Manson's followers had killed Sharon Tate. Messages in
Tate's blood were still present in the house, so kind of a grim vibe to
record in... this probably worked in the album's favour though as its' a
confronting, angsty and grim collection of tracks. The album was
supposed to be a concept of sorts, centring around a character who has
been destroyed physically and emotionally and is busy self-medicating
with various substances.
The slow grooves of "Closer" and "Piggy (Nothing can stop me now)"
contrast sharply from the frantic and overwhelming full throttle of "Mr Self Destruct" and "March of the Pigs". The whole thing wraps up with a penultimate track that slowly dissolves into the almost delicate "Hurt", later famously covered by Johnny Cash.
