And POLL That Could Have Been: ILM Artist Poll #119 - Nine Inch Nails - RESULTS

i received 20 track ballots, 17 album ballots, and 12 remix ballots

thermo thinwall very kindly offered to do images (it was apparently a very longstanding offer for the nine inch nails poll) for the tracks rollout, saving me a ton of work, so i'm immensely grateful for that

i'm going to start with the top 15 remixes soon

thanks to everyone who participated!

I didn’t have my stuff together enough to put together a ballot for this in time. Looking forward to the rollout, though!

15. Eraser (Denial; Realization)
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
"Eraser" remixed by John Balance, Peter Christophersen and Drew McDowell of Coil with Danny Hyde
28 points, 3 voters
Recording

15. David Bowie - The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor Alternative Mix)
Released on "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" single, 1995
David Bowie's "The Hearts Filthy Lesson" remixed by Trent Reznor
28 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 vote
Recording

15. David Bowie - I Can't Give Everything Away (Farewell Mix)
Released 2017
David Bowie's "I Can't Give Everything Away" remixed by Trent Reznor
28 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 Vote
Recording

15. Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
"Piggy" remixed by Rick Rubin with Dave Navarro and Kim Bullard
28 points, 2 voters
Recording

So exciting! I didn’t have time to rank remixes but I am super curious to see what wins

13. Self Destruction, Final
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
"Mr. Self Destruct" remixed by J. G. Thirwell
30 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 votes
Recording

13. All The Pigs, All Lined Up
Released on "March Of The Pigs" single, 1994
"March Of The Pigs" remixed by Nine Inch Nails
32 points, 2 voters
Recording

11. Only (Richard X Mix)
Released on "Only" single, 2005
"Only" remixed by Richard X
32 points, 3 voters
Recording

11. Heresy (Version)
Released on Further Down The Spiral international edition, 1995
"Heresy" remixed by Charlie Clouser
32 points, 2 voters
Recording

10. The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
"The Downward Spiral" remixed by John Balance, Peter Christophersen and Drew McDowell of Coil with Danny Hyde
36 points, 3 voters
Recording

9. Find My Way (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)
Released on Hesitation Marks deluxe edition, 2013
"Find My Way" remixed by Oneohtrix Point Never
38 points, 4 voters
Recording

I’m guessing the “Closer” remixes are further up, but this is a great start!

I was vaguely hoping the title of this thread would be “I wanna rank you like an ILM poll”.

8. Gave Up (Remix)
Released on Fixed, 1992
"Gave Up" remixed by Coil with Danny Hyde
40 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
Recording

lol that's too clever for me to come up with first thing in the morning

7. The Art of Self Destruction, Part One
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
"Mr. Self Destruct" remixed by Nine Inch Nails (Chris Vrenna, Robin Finck, Danny Lohner, Charlie Clouser, Trent Reznor) with Sean Beavan & Brian Pollack
42 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
Recording

6. Ruiner (Version)
Released on Further Down The Spiral international edition, 1995
"Ruiner" remixed by Charlie Clouser
46 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
Recording

bangerrrrrr

5. David Bowie - I'm Afraid of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix)
Released on "I'm Afraid of Americans" single, 1997
David Bowie's "I'm Afraid of Americans" remixed by Nine Inch Nails
48 points, 3 voters
Recording

I love the versions of "Heresy" and "Ruiner" from the international edition of FDTS (which, being in Australia, was the version I bought aged 13 or 14).

In their combination of layering and populism they feel beamed in from an alternate world where industrial dance-pop became a big thing, Ruby's "Tiny Meat" was number one on the charts for five weeks, etc.

4. At the Heart of It All
Released on Further Down The Spiral, 1995
Created by Aphex Twin
54 points, 4 voters
Recording

3. The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
Released on "The Hand That Feeds" single, 2005
"The Hand That Feeds" remixed by The DFA
64 points, 5 voters
Recording

"At The Heart of it All" was my first time hearing Aphex Twin, and I remember thinking "I've never heard anything like this".

I went out and bought "I Care Because You Do" pretty much straightaway afterwards, and I remember liking it a lot but also being vaguely disappointed that it lacked the elegiac seriousness of "At The Heart of it All" - that combination of clanking mid-90s sound design with the solemnity of the first two Aphex Twin albums feels like a vibe RDJ rarely grappled with.

2. Closer to God
Released on "Closer to God" single, 1994
"Closer" remixed by Trent Reznor, Sean Beavan and Brian Pollack
68 points, 4 voters, 1 #1 vote
Recording

I enjoy both "All The Pigs Lined Up" and "Closer To God" a lot but, they also really underline the wisdom of Trent's decision-making re the versions of those songs that made it into the album - especially the decision to record "March of the Pigs" in 7/8 rather than 4/4.

it's crazy when you listen to all those versions of Closer, how much is actually packed into that song. it's true of the whole album, which at the time was a marvel of layers and sound engineering; but Closer is especially loaded with what i can only describe as really cool sounding shit.

"At The Heart of it All" was my first time hearing Aphex Twin, and I remember thinking "I've never heard anything like this".
I went out and bought "I Care Because You Do" pretty much straightaway afterwards

i literally did the exact same thing!!! except in my case i really dug a lot of what i heard on ICBYD and was an instant fan.

"At The Heart of it All" is what got me into Aphex Twin too. I didn't vote for it, would have felt weird as I don't consider it a nine inch nails track. I'd probably vote for it in an Aphex Twin poll though.

Has there never been one?

i got distracted by work, sorry

1. In This Twilight (fennesz)
Released on Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D, 2007
"In This Twilight" remixed by Fennesz
92 points, 6 voters, 2 #1 votes
Recording

1. In This Twilight (fennesz) - 92 points, 6 voters, 2 #1 votes
2. Closer to God - 68 points, 4 voters, 1 #1 vote
3. The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix) - 64 points, 5 voters
4. At the Heart of It All - 54 points, 4 voters
5. David Bowie - I'm Afraid of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix) - 48 points, 3 voters
6. Ruiner (Version) - 46 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
7. The Art of Self Destruction, Part One - 42 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
8. Gave Up (Remix) - 40 points, 3 voters, 1 #1 vote
9. Find My Way (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix) - 38 points, 4 voters
10. The Downward Spiral (The Bottom) - 36 points, 3 voters
11. Heresy (Version) - 32 points, 2 voters
11. Only (Richard X Mix) - 32 points, 3 voters
13. Self Destruction, Final - 30 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 vote
13. All The Pigs, All Lined Up - 30 points, 2 voters
15. Eraser (Denial; Realization) - 28 points, 3 voters
15. David Bowie - The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor Alternative Mix) - 28 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 vote
15. Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now) - 28 points, 2 voters
15. David Bowie - I Can't Give Everything Away (Farewell Mix) - 28 points, 2 voters, 1 #1 vote
19. The Beauty of Being Numb - 24 points, 3 voters
20. Closer (Further Away) - 20 points, 1 voter, 1 #1 vote
20. Capital G (Paul Epworth Phones 666 Revolutions Mix) - 20 points, 1 voter, 1 #1 vote
20. Me, I'm Not (Olof Dreijer) - 20 points, 1 voter, 1 #1 vote
20. Closer (Precursor) - 20 points, 4 voters
20. Slipping Away - 20 points, 3 voters
25. The Hand That Feeds (Photek Straight Mix) - 18 points, 1 voter
25. Hurt (Quiet) - 18 points, 1 voter
25. The Perfect Drug (Spacetime Continuum) - 16 points, 1 voter
25. Happiness In Slavery (Fixed) - 16 points, 2 voters
25. The Great Destroyer (modwheelmood) - 16 points, 1 voter
25. The Beginning of the End (Ladytron) - 16 points, 2 voters
31. Another Version of the Truth (Kronos and Enrique Gonzales Muller) - 14 points, 1 voter
31. Erased, Over, Out - 14 points, 2 voters
31. Self Destruction, Part Two - 14 points, 1 voter
34. Every Day Is Exactly The Same (Sam Fog vs. Carlos D Mix) - 12 points, 1 voter
34. The Perfect Drug (Nine Inch Nails) - 12 points, 1 voter
36. Eraser (Polite) - 10 points, 1 voter
37. The Day the World Went Away (Porter Ricks Mix) - 8 points, 1 voter
38. Gunshots by Computer (Saul Williams) - 6 points, 1 voter
38. Sin (Dub) - 6 points, 1 voter
40. Underneath The Skin - 4 points, 1 voter
40. Heresy (Blind) - 4 points, 1 voter
40. Where is Everybody? (Remix) - 4 points, 1 voter
40. Neil Ciceriega - Rollercloser - 4 points, 1 voter
40. Copy of A (Simian Mobile Disco Remix) - 4 points, 1 voter
45. Curve - Missing Link (Nine Inch Nails Screaming Bird Mix) - 2 points, 1 voter
45. While I'm Still Here (Breyer P-Orridge 'Howler' Remix) - 2 points, 1 voter

i literally did the exact same thing!!! except in my case i really dug a lot of what i heard on ICBYD and was an instant fan.

― FRAUDULENT STEAKS (The Cursed Return of the Dastardly Thermo Thinwall), Wednesday, April 24, 2024 1:34 AM (fifty-two minutes ago) bookmarkflaglink

Oh yeah, me too - it's more that I had to adjust my expectations a bit.

Is this only going to roll out at nighttime BST hours? Would be nice to participate a bit in real time but no worries if work/life prevents that.

8. Gave Up (Remix)

My #1, maybe my first encounter with vocals cut up like that, still something I deeply love.

I threw aphex a point or two, yeah maybe it's not really a nin track but it does sound quite a bit like the steam engine in 'something i can never have', and it is great.

i'm going to do some of the rollout at night my time which should suit europeans better

i'll probably start albums soon

https://i.imgur.com/H1aYQ4o.jpeg
13. Year Zero
Halo 24, released 2007
52 points, 6 voters

https://i.imgur.com/y2GhI8P.jpeg
12. Not the Actual Events
Halo 29, released 2016
56 points, 7 voters

https://i.imgur.com/saCDXPd.jpeg
11. Fixed
Halo 6, released 1992
58 points, 5 voters, 2 #1 votes

https://i.imgur.com/uXUhUh4.jpeg
10. Add Violence
Halo 31, released 2017
72 points, 7 voters

https://i.imgur.com/i2n2Vdi.jpeg
9. Bad Witch
Halo 32, released 2018
6 points, 8 voters

bad witch is pretty great the whole way through, my main issue with it is i want more of it

https://i.imgur.com/tzERRnT.jpeg
8. Still
Halo 17 CD2, released 2002
92 points, 8 voters

not that i have anything against it, but genuinely surprised someone had fixed at #1!

it was me, and one other person who outed themselves in the voting thread

I didn't know "still" existed. Listening right now for the first time.

https://i.imgur.com/o2S61vF.jpeg
7. With Teeth
Halo 19, released 2005
96 points, 12 voters

oh whoops bad witch had 76 points

https://i.imgur.com/si2pYZB.jpeg
6. Further Down the Spiral
Halo 10, released 1995
98 points, 9 voters, 2 #1 votes

i remember being let down by with teeth at the time. but in doing the poll i realize what a great album it really is. not sure why i was so dismissive of it at the time - probably more about where i was personally then and TDS and Fragile putting the bar so high. i also hated and still don't care for the title track. but i owe you an apology, with teeth, you're a good album.

Despite my best efforts at cramming over the last few weeks I don't really have a handle on year zero or with teeth and they kind of lump together in my mind. probably heresy to fans or detractors of one or the other.

I had both versions of ftds, I was never crazy about all those endless different coil remixes so much preferred the UK version with the charlie clouser remixes.

not having Clouser remix Closer was a missed opportunity.

https://i.imgur.com/GkCgj34.jpeg
5. Hesitation Marks
Halo 28, released 2013
148 points, 13 voters

Pleased to see Hesitation Marks land so high

ivy street teaming paid off.

btw thanks ufo for the poll and thermo for the images! It's been good revisiting an old friend. Sadly I haven't really had any revelations about post TDS stuff but I'll carry on digging in, and put my old faves back on semi regular rotation. And Ill definitely be there if they tour again.

lol I have always heard “I beat my machine” as a masturbation metaphor (I give it pleasure; I allow its needs to consume me); it had never even occurred to me until now that he might mean “I had overcome/suppressed it”

ha! Well your reading certainly never occurred to me!

I didn't vote because I didn't have time to take a deep dive into the NIN stuff I haven't heard in years. Great poll with a lot of surprises though. And great job with the images Thermo!

Big thank you to ufo and Thermo, this has been a lot of fun to follow. 'Closer' was my #3 but it is my favourite on some days, feels right as the pollwinner either way. Have realised that The Downward Spiral is an all-time record for me at this point - just amazing songwriting and sound design that doesn't feel particularly tethered to its era or genre (whatever that might be). Agree with Tim F's point that The Fragile doesn't feel that densely layered by comparison - it can overwhelm due to its sheer length and I guess the sustained mood but the songs breathe a bit more I think?

Stray thought: I really need to re-listen to Still.

Adding my thanks to ufo and Thermo!

stoked to see three other #1 votes for 'The Becoming'! I had a lot of fun exploring their discography and partaking in this poll, so thanks for running it, ufo! :D

Anyone else find TDS and NIN in general to be perfect gym music? The playlist I made for this poll is really quite invigorating.

TDS in the gym seems like it would work if you are fueled by self hate haha. Trent as drill sergeant! "Don't give up (flabby muscles) wants you dead" "I wanna lift you like an animal" "march push (ups) crawl right up on your knees"

And of course, after you're done and sore:

"I hurt myself today"

Relistened to TDS last night, it really is a penis album, huh! Amazing production, just wow. I would put a marble bust of Flood on my piano

“I want to fuck everyone in the world / I want to do something that matters” is pretty much sexual compulsion in a nutshell, as I’ve viewed it

I think it’s sexual but also (especially for a younger person) it’s “I feel small and powerless and want to make some sort of mark,” an emotion that can be positive or negative.

“The world is so huge and I am so tiny, what can I do to be remembered or acknowledged?”

Which, heh, TDS did that.

As a side note, I love 1990s RS NIN cover stories:

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-fragile-world-of-trent-reznor-114999/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nine-inch-nails-love-it-to-death-2-96265/

“We try to name all our hard drives something easy to remember,” Reznor explains to computer consultant Charlie Clouser, “like Bum Cleaver, Cunny or Big Hairy Pussy. Sometimes it gets complicated when we don’t remember if the file we’re looking for is Assfuck 25 on the Fuckfuck 12 drive or Fuckfuck 12 on the Assfuck 25 drive. And when we’re talking to each other in the studio, wondering aloud whether running the Cunnykick file through the Fuckchop program on the Asslick disc would help us access the Turbocunt compression . . . it’s really like speaking another language altogether.”

To paraphrase the late poet Philip Larkin, hatred is to Nine Inch Nails what daffodils were to Wordsworth.

lmao

The writer had a lot of fun on that assignment.

I beat my [Bum Cleaver] machine

Quake Theme has one of the best screams ever. It's my morning alarm.

My song ballot:
Head Like a Hole
Closer
Into The Void
A Warm Place
The Background World
Heresy
All The Love In The World
Everything
La Mer
Sin
Burn
GiveUp
The Sound Of Forgetting
The Hand That Feeds
Less Than
Nun With a Motherf*&*ing Gun
Discipline
Dead Souls
The Wretched
Suck
Just Like You Imagined
Life On Mars?
Pilgrimage
Wish
Ice Age
Piggy
Zoo Station
Copy Of A
Terrible Lie
Metal

i might have been the only person to vote for songs off his soundtracks. i had "A Warm Place" pretty high and a tracks like "The Sound Of Forgetting" from Girl With The Dragon Tattoo, for example, aren't far off in terms of vibe. i knew i was likely throwing away my vote, but didn't care - the songs off his soundtracks i like, i *really* like!

also, whoever else voted for Metal: i love you.

Also I think the only fantasy nine inch nails album I want to compile is Trent Reznor’s Beginner’s Guide to Gay Sex

― Tim F, Wednesday, April 17, 2024 3:56 AM (two weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink

In other news, here's my ballot:

The Becoming
Sin
Just Like You Imagined
Closer
Happiness In Slavery
Beside You In Time
And All That Could Have Been
Running
I Do Not Want This
Kinda I Want To
All Time Low
Wish
The Wretched
Eraser
Find My Way
The Only Time
Zero Sum
The Perfect Drug
Into The Void
God Break Down The Door
Last
All The Love in The World
Suck
Satellite
March of the Pigs
While I'm Still Here
The Great Destroyer
The Background World
Somewhat Damaged
Demon Seed

my ballots:

Songs

Beside You in Time
La Mer
Into the Void
The Wretched
Sin
Ruiner
Just Like You Imagined
Various Methods of Escape
Wish
All Time Low
All the Love in the World
Copy of a
The Great Below
The Becoming
Even Deeper
This Isn't the Place
Something I Can Never Have
Find My Way
Burning Bright (Field on Fire)
The Only Time
The Great Destroyer
Over and Out
Sunspots
Closer
Reptile
Leaving Hope
March of the Pigs
Satellite
A Warm Place
While I'm Still Here

Releases

Fixed
Hesitation Marks
The Fragile
Pretty Hate Machine
Still
The Downward Spiral
Not the Actual Events
Bad Witch
Further Down the Spiral
The Vietnam War

Remixes

Me, I'm Not (Olof Dreijer)
The Hand that Feeds (Photek Straight Mix)
Ruiner (Version)
In This Twilight (Fennesz)
The Beginning of the End (Ladytron)
Eraser (Denial; Realization)
The Day the World Went Away (Porter Ricks Mix)
Closer (Precursor)
Copy of a (Simian Mobile Disco)
Find My Way (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)

also, whoever else voted for Metal: i love you.

Big laugh on the #1 fake out, top work pollrunners. Closer was my number two, as I'm sure it was for plenty of others.

I pulled together my list last minute, so apologies for Burn and Perfect Drug not being higher. It was almost worth it to be (I think) the only person who voted for a Ghosts track.

Did anyone else vote for Closure or the Broken movie as a release?

Top 30 Tracks

Mr. Self Destruct
Happiness In Slavery
The Becoming
The Great Below
The Perfect Drug
Piggy
The Fragile
Eraser
Closer
Down In It
Somewhat Damaged
The Big Come Down
March Of The Pigs
Gave Up
In This Twilight
Heresy
Suck
The Day The World Went Away
A Warm Place
The Way Out Is Through
Complication
Hurt
Underneath It All
Just Like You Imagined
Into The Void
Ringfinger
Something I Can Never Have
Burn
Me, I'm Not
Sin

Top 10 NIN Releases

The Downward Spiral
Broken
The Fragile: Deviations 1
Year Zero
The Fragile
Pretty Hate Machine
Closer to God
Further Down the Spiral
The Perfect Drug
Still

Top 10 Remixes

In this Twilight (Fennesz)
I'm Afraid of Americans (Nine Inch Nails V1 Mix)
The Perfect Drug (Remixed By Spacetime Continuum)
Closer To God
The Perfect Drug (Remixed By Nine Inch Nails)
Find My Way (OPN remix)
The Hearts Filthy Lesson (Trent Reznor Alternative Mix)
Happiness In Slavery (Remixed by Trent Reznor and Chris Vrenna with PK)
The Beauty of Being Numb
Slipping Away

I Do Not Want This
Kinda I Want To

Nice back to back there

Ha!

my tracks ballot:

The Becoming
Sin
Even Deeper
Something I Can Never Have
We're In This Together
Shit Mirror
Closer
That's What I Get
And All That Could Have Been
Beside You In Time
Just Like You Imagined
The Great Destroyer
Mr. Self Destruct
She's Gone Away
The Big Come Down
Various Methods of Escape
With Teeth
March Of The Pigs
La Mer
God Break Down the Door
The Four of Us Are Dying
Heresy
Find My Way
The Wretched
The Lovers
The Great Below
Head Like A Hole
All Time Low
Physical (You're So)
Less Than

releases:

The Fragile
The Downward Spiral
Pretty Hate Machine
Still
Bad Witch
Hesitation Marks
Add Violence
Not the Actual Events
Broken
With Teeth

Tracks

The Becoming
Head Like a Hole
We're in This Together
Hurt
Something I Can Never Have
The Great Below
Closer
Sin
Just Like You Imagined
A Warm Place
Wish
Eraser
Sanctified
The Day The World Went Away
Mr Self Destruct
Right Where It Belongs
La Mer
Heresy
Happiness In Slavery
Reptile
Underneath It All
Ruiner
Hand Covers Bruise
Gave Up
(You Made It Feel Like) Home
In This Twilight
Terrible Lie
Find My Way
Down in It
The Great Destroyer

Releases

The Downward Spiral
Pretty Hate Machine
Broken
The Fragile
Further Down the Spiral
Year Zero
With Teeth
Hesitation Marks
Fixed
Y34RZ3r0r3mix3d

Remixes

Gave Up remixed by Coil with Danny Hyde (from Fixed)
Heresy (version) (remixed by Charlie Clouser) (from Further Down the Spiral)
The Great Destroyer - modwheelmood
Another Version of the Truth - Kronos and Enrique Gonzales Muller
In This Twilight - fennesz
Ruiner (version) (remixed by Charlie Clouser) (from Further Down the Spiral)
The Hand That Feeds - DFA Mix
Only - Richard X Mix
Rollercoaster - Neil Ciceriega
At the Heart of It All - Aphex Twin

Tracks:

March of the Pigs
We're in This Together
Closer
Heresy
Last
Sin
Ruiner
Everything
Mr. Self Destruct
Every Day Is Exactly the Same
Eraser
She's Gone Away
Only
Reptile
Into the Void
Shit Mirror
Head Like a Hole
Somewhat Damaged
Wish
Various Methods of Escape
This Isn't the Place
Over and Out
Terrible Lie
Copy of a
Less Than
Hurt
Love Is Not Enough
Just Like You Imagined
I Do Not Want This
Physical (You're So)

Releases:

The Downward Spiral
Broken
Bad Witch
Hesitation Marks
The Fragile
Add Violence
Not the Actual Events
Further Down the Spiral
Pretty Hate Machine
With Teeth

Remixes:

Closer to God
The Hand That Feeds (DFA Mix)
The Art of Self Destruction, Part One
In This Twilight (Fennesz Remix)
The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
Self Destruction, Final
Find My Way (Oneohtrix Point Never Remix)
Eraser (Denial: Realization)
Gave Up (Fixed version)
The Beauty of Being Numb

my ballot

Tracks:

March Of The Pigs
Heresy
Pilgrimage
Eraser
Mr. Self Destruct
God Break Down The Door
La Mer
The Great Below
Terrible Lie
The Perfect Drug
The Becoming
The Downward Spiral
Reptile
Memorabilia
Happiness In Slavery
Quake Theme
A Violet Fluid
A Warm Place
Driver Down
Head Like A Hole
Ruiner
I Do Not Want This
We’re In This Together
The Day The World Went Away
Sin
Wish

Remixes:

Self Destruction, Final
All The Pigs, All Lined Up
The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)
Self Destruction, Part Two
Eraser (Denial: Realization)
Eraser (Polite)
Erased, Over, Out
The Art Of Self Destruction, Part One
Underneath The Skin
Closer (Precursor)

Albums:

Further Down The Spiral
The Downward Spiral
March Of The Pigs
Closer To God
Pretty Hate Machine
Bad Witch
Broken
Quake
Ghosts V: Together
Ghosts VI: Locusts

Though as noted above TDS is an incredible outstanding nonpareil ne plus ultra of production

re this and other comments above about TDS' very unique hyper-layered production density, I'm interested to hear what (if any) other records of the era people think broadly fit into this category

Failure's "Fantastic Planet" was the first thing that popped in my head.

maybe not quite the same hyper-layeredness but a couple of 90s albums that, for me, still stand out for their (idiosyncratic and or fresh/new/noticeable) production: Sparklehorse's vivadixiesubmarinetransmissionplot, Eels' Beautiful Freak, DJ Shadow's Endtroducing, and why not, U2's Achtung Baby

the guitar on "we're in this together" sounds like the edge's playing on achtung baby

Regarding hyper-layered: first thing that came to mind was the PE/Bomb Squad stuff, as an antecedent. Trent mentioned 3 Feet High and Rising in the Rick Rubin podcast, so Prince Paul, Dust Brothers and other pre-sample crackdown hip hop production would've been an influence.

Failure's "Fantastic Planet" was the first thing that popped in my head.

i tried the first two tracks and this just sounds to me like standard grungy alt rock, sorry!

It's not 90's (though close) but the album I think of when I hear "hyper layered" is Since I Left You. Especially the original cut with all samples intact.

The sonic aesthetic does seem post-Bomb Squad in its layered approach. Prince Paul and The Dust Brothers (at least Paul's Boutique - I'd need to revisit Odelay again) feel slightly different to me, though I'm struggling to put my finger on why? Maybe it's that density never seems like the point of their productions. I can certainly imagine they might have influenced Trent in terms of their strategic use of sounds (sampled or otherwise) though.

The 90s albums that occurred to me as sharing that kind of vibe were New Kingdom's 'Paradise Don't Come Cheap', Disco Inferno's 'D.I. Go Pop', Ruby's 'Salt Peter' and Garbage's 'Version 2.0', though each of them is doing something at least slightly different.

I love seeing "The Becoming" so high. I thought it might have missed the cut. That would have been my top-ranked TDS track, most likely.

The Woodstock 94 performance of "Sin" alone might have made it my #1.

I know when I first heard it, a large part of the appeal of TDS was definitely the densely layered sound of it, but also that a lot of these sounds were things I'd never heard before, like blowing into straw thing from eraser. I feel like the only kind of stuff I'd heard that did that kind of stuff before was Depeche Mode (because of Flood maybe?)

Yup, I was about to say “Violator” and that era of Flood in general, but none of it is nearly at TDS levels of complexity.

I was a fan of Failure and never really thought of them as that hyper produced. Certainly not to the level of TDS.

In my mind, the only thing that came close the noise/sound layering of TDS was some of Foetus’s work, like Gash.

TDS also benefitted from arriving right as CDs were becoming the primary form of physical media. The level of dynamic range and clarity was unprecedented not only on the album itself but also the method in which I listened to it… I remember being gifted a pair of “good headphones” at age 15 (as opposed to the standard Sony Walkman issuances) and feeling like all the CDs I owned (and dubbed on to tape for mobile listening) were suddenly shocked into focus

The Flood discussion, and his contribution to the Downward Spiral, is very interesting to explore.

I recently read “Into The Never: Nine Inch Nails And The Creation Of The Downward Spiral” by Adam Steiner, which I would heartily recommend. Atrocious front cover, but some excellent and considered writing contained within.

In that book, there are was the suggestion was that Flood became increasingly uneasy and uncomfortable with the bleakness, particularly the suicide ideation, of much of Reznor’s lyrical content - especially a song that didn’t make the cut for the album proper - and bailed out after completing the album swearing he’d never work with him again.

most stuff that comes to mind is a bit more turn-of-the-millenium, reznor was really ahead of his time, but fantasma, ok computer, a few super furry animals songs here and there come to mind

Another comparison that occurred to me was the first Laika album together with the second and third Moonshake albums (the second Laika album might not fit here, even if it’s probably my favourite of the four) - stuff like “Hard Candy” on Dirty & Divine. Those albums came out in 94 and 96 (as did Disco Inferno’s second and third albums) so very comparable timewise.

And of course (“of course”) later on El-P’s production work in the 00s (but not really Company Flow earlier on) - at its best sounding like an attempt to split the difference between “The Becoming” and “By The Time I Get to Arizona”.

Kate Van Buren's channel is a gift

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjqZ8RIiRLU

Well, that's "NIN meet David Crosby at Woodstock 94"