Friday, March 4, 2011

Retro Friday: Head Like A Hole

Today's edition of Retro Friday features the band Nine Inch Nails and the song "Head Like A Hole."

I was introduced to the band Nine Inch Nails my freshman year in college. Their first album, Pretty Hate Machine, dropped that fall and we instantly fell in love with the band. They had a totally unique sound, all their own, and the lyrics were perfect for the rebellion that we were feeling in our first year away from home.


Nine Inch Nails (also known by the acronym "NIN") is an American industrial rock project, founded in 1988 by Trent Reznor in Cleveland, Ohio. As its main producer, singer, songwriter, and instrumentalist, Reznor is the only official member of Nine Inch Nails and remains solely responsible for its direction.

Reznor's singing follows a similar pattern in all of his songs, frequently moving from whispers to screams. He also uses noise and distortion in his song arrangements, and incorporates dissonance with chromatic melody and/or harmony.

The first of NIN's songs that we fell in love with was "Head Like a Hole." It was a staple at all dorm parties/dances that year. Apparently we were not the only ones who loved that song, as to this day the song is the set closer for most NIN shows, or the last song before the encore if an encore takes place.

Some other songs of note off Pretty Hate Machine are "Terrible Lie" and "Sin."


The Downward Spiral is the second studio album by American industrial rock recording act Nine Inch Nails, released the spring of 1994. The album was designed to tell a story of sorts, detailing the destruction of a man, from the beginning of his "downward spiral" to his climactic attempt at suicide. The Downward Spiral features elements of industrial rock, techno, and heavy metal music, in contrast to the dance-influenced Pretty Hate Machine.

The album The Downward Spiral was a major commercial success that established Nine Inch Nails as a reputable force in the 1990s music scene, particularly following the release of the single "Closer" and its controversial video. It has been widely regarded by music critics as Nine Inch Nails' best work.

(Due to the very adult nature of the Closer video, I will not be linking to it on YouTube.)


An interesting note on the recording of the album The Downward Spiral ... To record the album, Reznor rented the house located at 10050 Cielo Drive in Beverly Hills, California where actress Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Manson Family in 1969. Reznor built a studio space in the house which he named Le Pig, after the message that was scrawled on the front door with Tate's blood by her murderers.

There it is ... your introduction to NIN ... and if you're in the mood for a little rebellion and head banging, NIN is your band!

Cheers!

4 comments:

  1. Haha.

    "This video is not available in your country. Learn more.
    Sorry about that."

    However it sounds like a bizarre Industrial & rock mixture.

    Talking serious head banging, nothing tops Rammstein. Seriously :-)

    Shortly before entering my first job, i went to this concert:
    Rammstein , Berlin 1998
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jL-joKzCypI

    A couple of remarks:
    - It was the physical most exhausting concert i ever was at. Brutal.
    - It is one for three music videos on youtube you can see me in.
    - It is a "no-go" in our house, because when i am listening to Rammstein, still today i turn up the volume and go head banging and my wife is asking, whats wrong with me. :-)

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  2. Hmmm ... I'll have to check them out!

    This weekend I went to see the band the "Dropkick Murphys." Ever heard of them? :)

    They're this awesome, Irish punk/rock band, and their fans are hardcore, to say the least.

    We got there early in order to secure our place at the rail ... and when they say brace yourself ... they mean brace yourself!!

    My ribs are still bruised from getting slammed into that dang rail ... but it was an incredible show!!!

    And, the photographer from the Riverfront Times snapped me in two pics!!

    (Pics #5 and #14 in this slideshow!

    5: http://media.riverfronttimes.com/dropkick-murphys-at-the-pageant.6056431.87.jpg

    14: http://media.riverfronttimes.com/dropkick-murphys-at-the-pageant.6056418.87.jpg)

    Cheers!

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  3. Wow. They are great.
    You know what, this kind of music reminds me:
    Dublin 2012 is going to be LEGENDARY.

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  4. All time favorite! @oates03

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