Nine Inch Nails, the brainchild of Trent Reznor, has been a cornerstone of industrial rock and alternative music for decades. With the recent announcement of their return to touring after much anticipation, it’s the perfect time to delve into the discography that has captivated fans with its raw emotion, innovative soundscapes, and unflinching exploration of the darker aspects of human experience. While the band has seen lineup changes over the years, with a new ensemble featuring talents like Eric Avery and Adrian Belew joining Reznor, the core essence of Nine Inch Nails remains in their powerful and diverse catalog of songs. To celebrate their enduring impact, we’ve compiled a list of 10 essential Nine Inch Nails Songs that showcase their brilliance.
10. ‘The Perfect Drug’
Initially crafted for David Lynch’s surreal 1997 film Lost Highway, “The Perfect Drug” is a whirlwind of sonic experimentation and frenetic energy. Born from an intense week in the studio, this track is a headlong rush into the chaotic and the imperceptible, embodying the film’s enigmatic atmosphere. Lyrically, Reznor delves into themes of disorientation and uncertainty, singing “I come along/ But I don’t know where you’re taking me,” capturing a sense of being lost in a disorienting experience. Despite its status as a well-received single and a quintessential example of Nine Inch Nails’ ability to create sonic intensity, “The Perfect Drug” remains a rarity in their live performances. Reznor himself has expressed lukewarm feelings towards the song, stating in 2005 that it wouldn’t rank among his personal top hundred compositions. This makes its inclusion on this list a testament to its unique energy and appeal to fans, even if it’s not a personal favorite of the artist himself.
9. ‘Right Where It Belongs’
“Right Where It Belongs,” from the 2005 album With Teeth, marks a significant point in Nine Inch Nails’ history. With Teeth itself was widely considered a comeback album, arriving six years after The Fragile and following Reznor’s well-documented struggles with addiction. This song, in particular, serves as a poignant meditation on perception and reality. Reznor’s lyrics, “What if everything around you isn’t quite as it seems?”, invite listeners to question their surroundings and delve into a state of introspective unease. Bookending the album with the equally contemplative “All the Love in the World,” “Right Where It Belongs” stands out as a keyboard-driven piece that showcases Reznor’s ability to blend melancholy with profound questioning, making it a deeply resonant track for many listeners. The honesty and vulnerability in With Teeth, as Reznor described it to Rolling Stone, are palpable in this track, reflecting a period of personal reflection and artistic resurgence.
8. ‘Reptile’
Featured on the seminal 1994 album The Downward Spiral, “Reptile” is a raw and visceral exploration of self-destruction and toxic relationships. The Downward Spiral, ranked at Number 201 on Rolling Stone‘s 500 Greatest Albums of All Time, is a concept album charting a man’s descent into despair, and “Reptile” is a crucial chapter in this narrative. The song is a torrent of self-inflicted rage, directed towards a female figure, with lyrics like “Oh my beautiful liar/ Oh my precious whore/ My disease, my infection/ I am so impure” revealing a disturbing mix of desire and self-loathing. Reznor himself acknowledged his reliance on sexual imagery as a metaphor for control in a 1994 Rolling Stone interview, and “Reptile” exemplifies this, making it a disturbing yet compelling track that captures the album’s themes of inner turmoil and destructive urges. The song’s intense instrumentation and Reznor’s anguished vocals contribute to its powerful and unsettling atmosphere.
7. ‘The Becoming’
Jonathan Gold of Rolling Stone aptly described The Downward Spiral as “low-tech futurism that rocks,” and “The Becoming” perfectly embodies this description. The track is a cacophony of industrial sounds – blips, bloops, electro-statics, and shrieks – creating a sonic landscape that is both futuristic and deeply unsettling. Amidst this chaotic soundscape, Reznor’s vocals express a sense of emotional detachment and alienation. Lines like “Even when I’m right with you/ I’m so far away” encapsulate the feeling of being present physically but distant emotionally, a recurring theme in Reznor’s work. “The Becoming” is a sonic representation of inner fragmentation and the struggle to connect, set against a backdrop of technological distortion, making it a standout track on The Downward Spiral for its innovative sound design and emotional depth.
6. ‘We’re in This Together’
The period between The Downward Spiral and The Fragile was a time of significant personal and artistic transformation for Reznor. Feeling that music had “taken a big shit,” he retreated to Big Sur, California, for two years of intense creative work, spending 16 hours a day crafting the new album. This period of isolation and introspection led to a reinvigorated Reznor, and “We’re in This Together” reflects this newfound outlook. In contrast to the darker themes of his earlier work, this song is a guitar-driven anthem of unity and resilience. With lyrics like “You and me/ We’re in this together now/ None of them can stop us now/ We will make it through somehow,” Reznor expresses an uncharacteristic optimism and a sense of shared struggle and hope. “We’re in This Together” marked a turning point, showcasing a more outward-looking and even anthemic side of Nine Inch Nails, while still retaining their signature intensity.
5. ‘Head Like a Hole’
For many, “Head Like a Hole” was the gateway into the world of Nine Inch Nails. Written in 1988, it remains a live staple and one of their most recognizable songs. Featured on their debut album Pretty Hate Machine, which achieved platinum status, “Head Like a Hole” is a potent blend of industrial rock and thrash metal elements. The song’s aggressive energy and catchy hooks made it an instant anthem of alienation and rebellion. In the wake of its release, Reznor often found himself defending the dark themes in his music. He explained to Rolling Stone that his music was not necessarily a reflection of constant depression but rather a way to connect with others who felt similarly, providing a sense of shared experience in darker emotions. “Head Like a Hole” is a foundational Nine Inch Nails song, embodying their early sound and establishing their signature blend of aggression and vulnerability.
4. ‘Wish’
Following the success of Pretty Hate Machine, Nine Inch Nails spent over two years on tour, a period complicated by Reznor’s legal battles with his record label, TVT. This tumultuous period culminated in the 1992 EP Broken, a raw and aggressive release born “without the permission of The Record Label,” as the liner notes stated. “Wish,” the centerpiece of Broken, is a hard-charging, Grammy-winning rock track that channels the frustration and anger of this period. The song is a sonic assault, reflecting Reznor’s inner turmoil and defiance. Despite the darkness and aggression, “Wish” is also undeniably powerful and cathartic. Reznor himself acknowledged the band’s strength lay in their exploration of darker emotions, telling Rolling Stone, “I realize that’s the strength of Nine Inch Nails – there’s not much room for happy songs. And I like that; I don’t want that to change.” “Wish” solidified this direction, embracing the darkness and intensity that became a hallmark of Nine Inch Nails.
3. ‘Something I Can Never Have’
Throughout his extensive career, Reznor has consistently laid bare his emotional vulnerabilities, but “Something I Can Never Have” from Pretty Hate Machine is an early and profound example of this. This slow-building ballad, anchored by a haunting piano melody, delves into themes of longing and unattainable desire. Reznor’s confessional lyrics, such as “Grey would be the color if I had a heart,” express a deep sense of emotional emptiness and yearning for something just beyond reach. The song’s raw emotion and vulnerability resonated deeply with listeners, showcasing a different side of Nine Inch Nails, one that was introspective and melancholic. Despite the pervasive darkness in his music, Reznor hinted at the possibility of change, telling Rolling Stone a year after its release, “Maybe there will be a happy album from Nine Inch Nails. I doubt it, but you never know.” “Something I Can Never Have” remains a poignant reminder of the band’s ability to convey profound sadness and longing.
2. ‘Hurt’
Since its release on The Downward Spiral in 1994, “Hurt” has transcended genre and become one of Nine Inch Nails’ most enduring and widely recognized songs, especially after Johnny Cash’s iconic cover. While covered by numerous artists, including Johnny Cash and Leona Lewis, Nine Inch Nails’ original version remains the emotional core of The Downward Spiral. As the album’s closing track, it serves as a cathartic release after the intense journey of self-destruction. Reznor’s whispered opening line, “I hurt myself today/ To see if I still feel,” is a stark and devastating expression of pain and numbness. Reznor has spoken of the intense emotional impact of recording “Hurt,” recalling that “We were crying when we made it, it was so intense. I didn’t know if I even wanted to put it on the album.” This raw emotionality is palpable in the track, making “Hurt” a powerful and deeply moving exploration of pain and vulnerability.
1. ‘Closer’
Often subtitled “Closer to God,” this second single from The Downward Spiral became Nine Inch Nails’ biggest hit and solidified Reznor’s status as a rock icon. “Closer” is a complex and controversial track, built upon a sample from Iggy Pop’s “Nightclubbing” and featuring provocative lyrics and a notorious music video. The video, with its nude imagery, religious symbolism, and Reznor in a ball gag, caused considerable controversy but also contributed to the song’s notoriety and impact. However, beyond the controversy, “Closer” is undeniably a brilliant piece of industrial rock. Its infectious beat, caustic melody, and unforgettable hook – “I wanna fuck you like an animal” – made it a cultural phenomenon and one of Nine Inch Nails’ most celebrated works. “Closer” encapsulates the band’s ability to blend the abrasive and the accessible, the provocative and the profound, making it the quintessential Nine Inch Nails song and a deserving number one on this list.
