The Downward Spiral

The Downward Spiral is the second studio album by American industrial rock band Nine Inch Nails, released on March 8, 1994, by Nothing Records and Interscope Records in the United States and by Island Records in Europe. It is a concept album detailing the destruction of a man from the beginning of his "downward spiral" to his death by suicide. The Downward Spiral features elements of industrial rock, techno and heavy metal, in contrast to the band's synth-pop-influenced debut album Pretty Hate Machine (1989), and was produced by Nine Inch Nails frontman Trent Reznor and Flood.

The Downward Spiral
Studio album by
Nine Inch Nails
ReleasedMarch 8, 1994 (1994-03-08)
Recorded1992–1993
Studio
  • Le Pig, Benedict Canyon, California
  • The Record Plant, Hollywood, California
  • A&M, Hollywood, California
Genre
Length65:02
Label
Producer
Nine Inch Nails chronology
Fixed
(1992)		 The Downward Spiral
(1994)		 Further Down the Spiral
(1995)
Nine Inch Nails studio album chronology
Pretty Hate Machine
(1989)		 The Downward Spiral
(1994)		 The Fragile
(1999)
Halo numbers chronology
Halo 7
(1994)		 Halo 8
(1994)		 Halo 9
(1994)
Singles from The Downward Spiral
  1. "March of the Pigs"
    Released: February 25, 1994
  2. "Closer"
    Released: May 30, 1994
Alternative cover
2004 Deluxe Edition cover

In 1992, Reznor moved to 10050 Cielo Drive in Benedict Canyon, Los Angeles, where actress Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Manson Family. It was used as a studio called "Le Pig" for recording Broken (1992) and The Downward Spiral with collaborations from other musicians. The album was influenced by late-1970s rock music albums such as David Bowie's Low and Pink Floyd's The Wall in particular, and focused on texture and space. The album spawned two singles, "March of the Pigs" and "Closer", in addition to the promotional singles "Piggy" and "Hurt". "March of the Pigs" and "Closer" were accompanied by music videos, with the former shot twice and the latter's heavily censored.

The Downward Spiral was a commercial success, and established Nine Inch Nails as a reputable force in the 1990s music scene, with its sound being widely imitated and Reznor receiving media attention and multiple honors, while descending into drug abuse and depression. It has been regarded by music critics and audiences as one of the most important albums of the 1990s, and was praised for its abrasive and eclectic nature and dark themes, although it was scrutinized by social conservatives for some of its lyrics. A remix album titled Further Down the Spiral was released in 1995.

Writing and recording
Adrian Belew in 2006. Belew's approach to guitar parts on the album improved Reznor's confidence in the instrument.

The Downward Spiral was conceived after the Lollapalooza festival tour as Trent Reznor thought of a "negative vibe" felt by the band when they were in a European hotel. Nine Inch Nails live performances were known for its aggressive on-stage dynamic, in which band members act angry, injure themselves, and destroy instruments. Reznor had a feud with TVT Records that resulted in him co-founding Nothing Records with his former manager John Malm, Jr. and signing with Interscope. He wanted to explore a fictional character whose life is psychologically wounded and developed a concept about the album's themes; he later used the concept as lyrics. The concept was based on Reznor's social issues at the time: he had personal conflicts with band member Richard Patrick and was known for enjoying alcohol.[1][2][3] When developing The Downward Spiral, Reznor struggled with drug addiction and was depressed as he wrote songs related to personal issues. His friends suggested that he could take Prozac (fluoxetine), an antidepressant, but this choice did not appeal to him.[4][5] He wanted the album's sound to diverge from Broken, emphasizing mood, texture, restraint and subtlety, although he was not sure about its musical direction.[6] The album was made with "full range" and focused on texture and space, avoiding explicit usage of guitars or synthesizers.[7]

Reznor searched for and moved to 10050 Cielo Drive in 1992 for recording Broken and The Downward Spiral,[8] a decision made against his initial choice to record the album in New Orleans.[9] 10050 Cielo Drive is referred to as the "Tate House" since Sharon Tate was murdered by members of the Manson Family in 1969; Reznor named the studio "Le Pig" after the message that was scrawled on the front door with Tate's blood by her murderers, and stayed there with Malm for 18 months. He called his first night in 10050 Cielo Drive "terrifying" because he already knew it and read books related to the incident. Reznor chose the Tate house to calibrate his engineering skills and the band bought a large console and two Studer machines as resources, a move that he believed was cheaper than renting.[10]

Reznor collaborated with former Jane's Addiction and Porno for Pyros drummer Stephen Perkins, progressive rock guitarist Adrian Belew, and Nine Inch Nails drummer Chris Vrenna.[6] Belew's first visit to the studio involved playing the guitar parts in "Mr. Self-Destruct", and he was told to play freely, think on reacting to melodies, concentrate on rhythm, and use noise. This approach improved Reznor's confidence in the instrument: he found it to be more expressive than the keyboard due to the interface.[11] Belew praised Reznor for his "command of technology," and commented that the music of Nine Inch Nails made innovations "that are in [his] realm."[12] Vrenna and Perkins played drum parts recorded live in the studio; the tracks were rendered into looped samples. Reznor took a similar approach to recording guitar parts: he would tape 20- to 25-minute-long sessions of himself playing guitars on a hard disc recorder with the Studio Vision sequencer.[13]

Most of the music was recorded into a Macintosh computer using a board and manipulated with music editor programs on the computer. Unique effects such as analyzing and inverting the frequency were applied to the tracks to create original sounds. The band would "get an arrangement together" and convert it into analog tape.[14][13] Reznor sampled excerpts from guitar tracks and processed them to the point of randomness and expression.[15] Digidesign's TurboSynth and Zoom 9030 effects unit were used extensively to process guitar tracks, often in conjunction with a Marshall JMP-1 preamp;[12][13][16] Zoom 9030 was also used to distort vocals.[13] Acoustic drums in various settings, as well as Roland's TR-808 and R-70 drum machines were sampled through multiple Akai S1000s and a Kurzweil K2000. Additionally, Vrenna had compiled various movie samples on Digital Audio Tapes for Reznor to sample.[16] Other equipments and software Reznor used for recording the album include Oberheim OB-Mx, Minimoog, Prophet VS keyboard, Eventide H3000 Harmonizer, Pro Tools and various Jackson and Gibson guitars.[12][13][16]

In December 1993, Reznor was confronted by Patti Tate, who asked if he was exploiting Sharon Tate's death in the house. Reznor responded that he was interested in the house as her death happened there. He later made a statement about this encounter during a 1997 interview with Rolling Stone:

While I was working on [The] Downward Spiral, I was living in the house where Sharon Tate was killed. Then one day I met her sister [Patti Tate]. It was a random thing, just a brief encounter. And she said: 'Are you exploiting my sister's death by living in her house?' For the first time, the whole thing kind of slapped me in the face. I said, 'No, it's just sort of my own interest in American folklore. I'm in this place where a weird part of history occurred.' I guess it never really struck me before, but it did then. She lost her sister from a senseless, ignorant situation that I don't want to support. When she was talking to me, I realized for the first time, 'What if it was my sister?' I thought, 'Fuck Charlie Manson.' I went home and cried that night. It made me see there's another side to things, you know?[17]

Flood, known for engineering and producing U2 and Depeche Mode albums, was employed as co-producer on The Downward Spiral. It became his last collaboration with Nine Inch Nails due to creative differences.[6] A "very dangerously self-destructive," humorous short song written for the album, "Just Do It", was not included in the final version and criticized by Flood in that Reznor had "gone too far." Reznor completed the last song written for the album, "Big Man with a Gun", in late 1993.[18][19] After the album's recording, Reznor moved out and the house was demolished shortly thereafter.[9] The Downward Spiral entered its mixing and mastering processes, done at Record Plant Studios and A&M Studios with Alan Moulder, who subsequently took on more extensive production duties for future album releases.[20][21]

Music and lyrics

Numerous layers of metaphors are present throughout The Downward Spiral, leaving it open to wide interpretation. The album relays nihilism and is defined by a prominent theme of self-abuse and self-control. It is a semi-autobiographical concept album, in which the overarching plot follows the protagonist's descent into madness in his own inner solipsistic world through a metaphorical "downward spiral", dealing with religion, dehumanization, violence, disease, society, drugs, sex, and finally, suicide.[22][23][24] Reznor described the concept as consisting of "someone who sheds everything around them to a potential nothingness, but through career, religion, relationship, belief and so on."[8] Media journalists like The New York Times writer Jon Pareles noted the album's theme of angst had already been used by grunge bands like Nirvana, and that Nine Inch Nails' depiction was more generalized.[25]

Using elements of genres such as techno,[26] dance,[27][28] electronic,[27] heavy metal,[29] and hard rock,[30] The Downward Spiral is considered industrial rock,[31][32][33] industrial,[34] alternative rock[35][28] and industrial metal.[36][37] Reznor regularly uses noise and distortion in his song arrangements that do not follow verse–chorus form, and incorporates dissonance with chromatic melody or harmony (or both). The treatment of metal guitars in Broken is carried over to The Downward Spiral, which includes innovative techniques such as expanded song structures and unconventional time signatures.[38][23] The album features a wide range of textures and moods to illustrate the mental progress of the central protagonist.[18] Reznor's singing follows a similar pattern from beginning to end, frequently moving from whispers to screams.[39] These techniques are all used in the song "Hurt", which features a highly dissonant tritone played on guitar during the verses, a B5#11, emphasized when Reznor sings the eleventh note on the word "I" every time the B/E# dyad is played.[40]

"Mr. Self Destruct", a song about a powerful person, follows a build-up sampled from the 1971 film THX 1138 with an "industrial roar" and is accompanied by an audio loop of a pinion rotating. "The Becoming" expresses the state of being dead and the protagonist's transformation into a non-human organism.[5][24] "Closer" concludes with a chromatic piano motif: The melody is introduced during the second verse of "Piggy" on organ, then reappears in power chords at drop D tuning throughout the chorus of "Heresy", and recurs for the final time on "The Downward Spiral".[41] The album was chiefly inspired by David Bowie's Low, an experimental rock album which Reznor related to on songwriting, mood, and structures, as well as progressive rock group Pink Floyd's The Wall, a concept album featuring themes of abuse, isolation, and mental instability.[42]

Packaging

Committere, an installation featuring artwork and sketches for The Downward Spiral, "Closer" and "March of the Pigs" by Russell Mills was displayed at the Glasgow School of Art. Mills explained the ideas and materials that made up the painting (titled "Wound") that was used for the album's cover art:

I had been thinking about making works that dealt with layers, physically, materially and conceptually. I wanted to produce works that were about both exposure and revealing and at the same dealt with closure and covering. Given the nature of the lyrics and the power of the music I was working with, I felt justified in attempting to make works that alluded to the apparently contradictory imagery of pain and healing. I wanted to make beautiful surfaces that partially revealed the visceral rawness of open wounds beneath. The mixed media work 'Wound' was the first piece I tackled in this vein (no pun intended) and it became the cover of the album. It is made of plaster, acrylics, oils, rusted metals, insects, moths, blood (mine), wax, varnishes, and surgical bandaging on a wooden panel.[43]

Promotion

Singles

"March of the Pigs" and "Closer" were released as singles; two other songs, "Hurt" and "Piggy", were issued to radio without a commercial single release.[44] "March of the Pigs" has an unusual meter, alternating three bars of 7/8 time with one of 8/8.[5] The song's music video was directed by Peter Christopherson and was shot twice; the first version scrapped due to Reznor's involvement, and the released second version being a live performance.[45]

"Closer" features a heavily modified bass drum sample from the Iggy Pop song "Nightclubbing" from his album The Idiot.[16] Lyrically, it is a meditation on self-hatred and obsession, but to Reznor's dismay, the song was widely misinterpreted as a lust anthem due to its chorus, which included the line "I wanna fuck you like an animal". The music video for "Closer" was directed by Mark Romanek and received frequent rotation on MTV, though the network heavily censored the original version, which they perceived to be too graphic.[46] The video shows events in a laboratory dealing with religion, sexuality, animal cruelty, politics, and terror; controversial imagery included a nude bald woman with a crucifix mask, a monkey tied to a cross, a pig's head spinning on a machine, a diagram of a vulva, Reznor wearing an S&M mask while swinging in shackles, and of him wearing a ball gag.[47] A radio edit that partially censored the song's explicit lyrics also received extensive airtime.[48] The video has since been made part of the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.[49]

"Piggy" uses "nothing can stop me now", a line that recurs in "Ruiner" and "Big Man with a Gun".[5] The frantic drumming on the song's outro is Reznor's only attempt at performing drums on the record, and one of the few "live" drum performances on the album. He had stated that the recording was from him testing the microphone setup in studio, but he liked the sound too much not to include it.[16] It was released as a promotional single in December 1994 and reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Modern Rock Tracks chart.[44]

Released in 1995, "Hurt" clearly includes references to self-harm and heroin addiction.[50]

Tour
Reznor performing during the Self Destruct tour, circa 1994–1995

The Nine Inch Nails live band embarked on the Self Destruct tour in support of The Downward Spiral. Chris Vrenna and James Woolley performed drums and keyboards respectively, Robin Finck replaced Richard Patrick on guitar and bassist Danny Lohner was added to the line-up. The stage set-up consisted of dirty curtains which would be pulled down and up for visuals shown during songs such as "Hurt". The back of the stage was littered with darker and standing lights, along with very few actual ones. The tour debuted the band's grungy and messy image in which they would come out in ragged clothes slathered in corn starch. The concerts were violent and chaotic, with band members often injuring themselves. They would frequently destroy their instruments at the end of concerts, attack each other, and stage-dive into the crowd.[51]

The tour included a set at Woodstock '94 broadcast on pay-per-view and seen in as many as 24 million homes. The band being covered in mud was a result of pre-concert backstage play, contrary to the belief that it was an attention-grabbing ploy, thus making it difficult for Reznor to navigate the stage: Reznor pushed Lohner into the mud pit as the concert began and saw mud from his hair entering his eyes while performing. Nine Inch Nails was widely proclaimed to have "stolen the show" from its popular contemporaries, mostly classic rock bands, and its fan base expanded.[52][53][54] The band received considerable mainstream success thereafter, performing with significantly higher production values and the addition of various theatrical visual elements.[55] Its performance of "Happiness in Slavery" from the Woodstock concert earned the group a Grammy Award for Best Metal Performance in 1995.[1][56] Entertainment Weekly commented about the band's Woodstock '94 performance: "Reznor unstrings rock to its horrifying, melodramatic core—an experience as draining as it is exhilarating".[57] Despite this acclaim, Reznor attributed his dislike of the concert to its technical difficulties.[58]

The main leg of the tour featured Marilyn Manson as the supporting act, who featured bassist Jeordie White (then playing under the pseudonym "Twiggy Ramirez"); White later played bass with Nine Inch Nails from 2005 to 2007.[59] After another tour leg supporting the remix album Further Down the Spiral, Nine Inch Nails contributed to the Alternative Nation Festival in Australia and subsequently embarked on the Dissonance Tour, which included 26 separate performances with co-headliner David Bowie on his Outside Tour. Nine Inch Nails was the opening act for the tour, and its set transitioned into Bowie's set with joint performances of both bands' songs.[60] However, the crowds reportedly did not respond positively to the pairing due to their creative differences.[61] Despite this, in a 2012 Rolling Stone readers' poll, the tour (pairing Nine Inch Nails with Bowie) was named one of the top 10 opening acts in rock history.[62]

The tour concluded with "Nights of Nothing", a three-night showcase of performances from Nothing Records bands Marilyn Manson, Prick, Meat Beat Manifesto, and Pop Will Eat Itself, which ended with an 80-minute set from Nine Inch Nails. Kerrang! described the Nine Inch Nails set during the Nights of Nothing showcase as "tight, brash and dramatic", but was disappointed at the lack of new material. On the second of the three nights, Richard Patrick was briefly reunited with the band and contributed guitar to a performance of "Head Like a Hole".[63] After the Self Destruct tour, Chris Vrenna, member of the live band since 1988 and frequent contributor to Nine Inch Nails studio recordings, left the act permanently to pursue a career in producing and to form Tweaker.[64][65]

Release and reception
Contemporary professional reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
Chicago Tribune[66]
Entertainment WeeklyB+[67]
Los Angeles Times[68]
NME4/10[69]
Rolling Stone[70]
USA Today[71]

The Downward Spiral's release date was delayed at various times to slow down Reznor's intended pace of the album's recording. The first delay caused the process of setting up Le Pig to take longer than he expected, and its release was postponed again as he was educating himself different ways to write songs that did not resemble those on Broken and Pretty Hate Machine. He considered delivering the album to Interscope in early 1993, only to experience a writer's block as he was unable to produce any satisfactory material. Interscope grew impatient and concerned with this progress, but Reznor was not forced by their demands of expediency despite crediting the label for giving him creative freedom. He told rock music producer Rick Rubin that his motivation for creating the album was to get it finished, thus Rubin responded that Reznor might not do so until he makes music that is allowed to be heard. Reznor realized that he was in the most fortunate situation he imagined when the album was recorded with a normal budget, "cool" equipment, and a studio to work at.[1]

Released on March 8, 1994, to instant success,[1] The Downward Spiral debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, selling nearly 119,000 copies in its first week.[72] On October 28, 1998, the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) certified the album quadruple platinum,[73] and by December 2011, it had sold 3.7 million copies in the United States.[74] The album peaked at number nine on the UK Albums Chart,[75] and on July 22, 2013, it was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry (BPI), denoting shipments in excess of 100,000 copies in the United Kingdom.[76] It reached number 13 on the Canadian RPM albums chart[77] and received a triple platinum certification from the Canadian Recording Industry Association (CRIA) for shipping 200,000 copies in Canada.[78] A group of early listeners of the album viewed it as "commercial suicide", but Reznor did not make it for profit as his goal was to slightly broaden Nine Inch Nails' scope. Reznor felt that the finished product he delivered to Interscope was complete and faithful to his vision and thought its commercial potential was limited, but after its release he was surprised by the success and received questions about a follow-up single with a music video to be shown on MTV.[79] The album has since sold over four million copies worldwide.[80]

Many music critics and audiences praised The Downward Spiral for its abrasive, eclectic nature and dark themes and commented on the concept of a destruction of a man.[1] The New York Times writer Jon Pareles' review of the album found the music to be highly abrasive. Pareles asserted that unlike other electro-industrial groups like Ministry and Nitzer Ebb, "Reznor writes full-fledged tunes" with stronger use of melodies than riffs. He noticed criticisms of Nine Inch Nails from industrial purists for popularizing the genre and the album's transgression.[25] Village Voice critic Robert Christgau gave it an "honorable mention" in his capsule review column and summed the record up as, "musically, Hieronymus Bosch as postindustrial atheist; lyrically, Transformers as kiddie porn."[81] Jonathan Gold, writing for Rolling Stone, likened the album to cyberpunk fiction.[70] Entertainment Weekly reviewer Tom Sinclair commented: "Reznor's pet topics (sex, power, S&M, hatred, transcendence) are all here, wrapped in hooks that hit your psyche with the force of a blowtorch."[67]

Accolades

The Downward Spiral has been listed on several publications' best album lists. In 2003, the album was ranked number 200 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time,[82] then was re-ranked 201 in a 2012 revised list.[83] The Rolling Stone staff wrote: "Holing up in the one-time home of Manson-family victim Sharon Tate, Trent Reznor made an overpowering meditation on NIN's central theme: control."[83] It moved up to 122 on the magazine's revised list in 2020.[84] The album was placed 10th on Spin's 125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years list; the Spin staff quoted Ann Powers' review that appreciated its bleak, aggressive style.[85] It was ranked number 488 in the book The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time by heavy metal music critic Martin Popoff.[86] In 2001, Q named The Downward Spiral as one of the 50 Heaviest Albums of All Time;[87] in 2010, the album was ranked number 102 on their 250 Best Albums of Q's Lifetime (1986–2011) list.[88] The Downward Spiral was featured in Robert Dimery's book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[89] In May 2014, Loudwire placed The Downward Spiral at number two on its "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994" list.[90] In July 2014, Guitar World placed The Downward Spiral at number 43 in their "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994" list.[91]

Legacy
Retrospective professional reviews
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[23]
Blender[92]
Christgau's Consumer Guide[93]
Encyclopedia of Popular Music[94]
The Great Rock Discography8/10[95]
Mojo[96]
Pitchfork8.3/10[28]
PopMatters9/10[41]
The Rolling Stone Album Guide[97]
Spin Alternative Record Guide9/10[98]

The immediate success of The Downward Spiral established Nine Inch Nails as a reputable force in the 1990s. The band's image and musical style became so recognizable that a Gatorade commercial featured a remix of "Down in It" without their involvement. Reznor felt uncomfortable with the media hype and success the band earned, received false reports of his death, depression, and was falsely reported to have had a relationship with serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, and was depicted as a sex icon due to his visual appearance.[99] Nine Inch Nails received several honors, including Grammy Award nominations for Best Alternative Performance for The Downward Spiral and Best Rock Song for "Hurt".[100] After the release of The Downward Spiral, many bands such as Gravity Kills, Stabbing Westward, Filter, and Mötley Crüe made albums that imitated the sound of Nine Inch Nails.[101][102]

Reznor interpreted The Downward Spiral as an extension of himself that "became the truth fulfilling itself," as he experienced personal and social issues presented in the album after its release. He had already struggled with social anxiety disorder and depression and started his abuse of narcotics including cocaine while he went on an alcohol binge.[103] Around this time, his studio perfectionism,[104] struggles with addiction, and bouts of writer's block prolonged the production of The Fragile, and Reznor completed rehabilitation from drugs in 2001.[103][105]

One year after The Downward Spiral’s release, the band released an accompanying remix album titled Further Down the Spiral. It features contributions from Coil with Danny Hyde, J. G. Thirlwell, electronic musician Aphex Twin, producer Rick Rubin, and Jane's Addiction guitarist Dave Navarro.[106] The album peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200 and received mixed reviews.[107][108] Recoiled, a remix EP of "Gave Up", "Closer", "The Downward Spiral", and "Eraser" by Coil, was released on February 24, 2014, via British record label Cold Spring.[109]

Retrospective reviews regard The Downward Spiral as one of the most important albums of the 1990s and Reznor's greatest work. The 2004 edition of The New Rolling Stone Album Guide gave the album five out of five stars and called it "a powerful statement, and one of the landmark albums of the Nineties."[97] Writing for Entertainment Weekly, Kyle Anderson remembered watching the music video of "Closer" on MTV as an adolescent and expressed that the album changed his perception of popular music from that of songs heard on the radio to albums with cover art.[110] Stereogum's Tom Breihan remains favorable toward the album since it is "the one that most fully inhabits" Nine Inch Nails' characteristics and influenced youth culture, with teenagers wearing ripped fish nets on their arms.[102] The album was also included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die.[111] According to Acclaimed Music, it is the 162nd most acclaimed album, based on appearances in critics' all-time lists.[95]

Controversies

"Big Man with a Gun" lyrics

The Downward Spiral's emphasis on transgressive themes drew criticism from American social conservatives. Senator Bob Dole, then the head of the Republican Party, sharply denounced Time Warner, the former owner of Interscope's former parent company Warner Music Group, after a meeting between Michael J. Fuchs (head of WMG), William Bennett, and C. Delores Tucker. During the meeting, Tucker and Bennett demanded that Fuchs recite lyrics from "Big Man with a Gun".[112] Interscope had previously been blamed for releasing gangsta rap albums by rappers such as Dr. Dre, Tupac Shakur and Snoop Dogg that were deemed objectionable. Reznor called Tucker (who erroneously referred to Nine Inch Nails as a gangsta rap act) "such a fucking idiot", and claimed that the song was actually a satire of the gangsta rap genre as a whole and was originally about madness. Reznor conceded The Downward Spiral could be "harmful, through implying and subliminally suggesting things", whereas hardcore hip hop could be "cartoonish".[2][113] Robert Bork also repeatedly referenced "Big Man with a Gun" in his book Slouching Toward Gomorrah as evidence of a cultural decline. The book also incorrectly states that it is a rap song.[114]

Alleged contribution to the Columbine shooting

Another form of the Downward Spiral ... deeper & deeper it goes. to cuddle w. her, to be one w. her, to love; just laying there. I need a gun. This is a weird entry ... I should feel happy, but shit brought me down.

Dylan Klebold from one of his journals two years before the shooting.

Before the Columbine High School massacre, perpetrator Dylan Klebold referenced lyrics from Nine Inch Nails songs multiple times in his journal. Klebold heavily identified with the protagonist of The Downward Spiral as a symbol of his own depression.[115] On May 4, 1999, a hearing on the marketing and distribution practices of violent content to minors by the television, music, film, and video game industries was conducted before the United States Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation.[116] The committee heard testimony from cultural observers, professors, and mental health professionals, that included conservative William Bennett and the Archbishop of Denver, Reverend Charles J. Chaput.[116] Participants criticized the album, Nine Inch Nails' label-mate Marilyn Manson, and the 1999 film The Matrix for their alleged contribution to the environment that made incidents like Columbine possible.[116] The committee requested that the Federal Trade Commission and the United States Department of Justice investigate the entertainment industry's marketing practices to minors.[116][117]

iPhone application refusal

In 2009, Apple rejected a proposal for a Nine Inch Nails iPhone software application, citing objectionable content in the title track. Days later, Apple reversed the decision, but refused to explain its reasoning.[118]

Track listing

Original release

All tracks are written by Trent Reznor.

No.TitleLength
1."Mr. Self Destruct"4:31
2."Piggy"4:24
3."Heresy"3:54
4."March of the Pigs"2:59
5."Closer"6:14
6."Ruiner"4:58
7."The Becoming"5:31
8."I Do Not Want This"5:41
9."Big Man with a Gun"1:36
10."A Warm Place"3:23
11."Eraser"4:53
12."Reptile"6:52
13."The Downward Spiral"3:58
14."Hurt"6:16
Total length:65:02

Notes

  • The opening sounds of "Mr. Self Destruct" are a sample from the film THX 1138 in which a man is being beaten by a prison guard.[24]
  • The sample of screams that plays throughout "The Becoming" is from the film Robot Jox, when a giant robot falls on a crowd of spectators.[119]
  • The sample at the beginning of "Big Man with a Gun" comes from a studio-altered recording of a porn star having an orgasm. According to the album booklet, this "sample" is titled "Steakhouse" and is credited to Tommy Lee.[21]
  • Japanese pressings of the album contain a cover of Joy Division's song "Dead Souls", originally included on the soundtrack to the film The Crow. The track is placed in between "Big Man with a Gun" and "A Warm Place".[120][121]
  • The break in "Reptile" contains an audio sample (starting at 5:06) of a woman falling down a hill from the 1974 film The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.[122]
  • The first Australian pressing has track length errors. Affected tracks do not play at their beginnings when selected individually ("Big Man with a Gun" has the beginning of "A Warm Place" tacked on, likewise all the songs up to "Hurt" start 41 seconds earlier than they should. "Hurt" itself has 44 seconds of silence on the end as a result); however, the disc plays and flows correctly as a whole.[123]

Deluxe edition (Halo 8 DE)

To mark the album's tenth anniversary, The Downward Spiral was re-released on November 23, 2004, in high-resolution SACD and DualDisc formats. Disc one of the album's deluxe edition re-release is nearly identical to the original version; track anomalies such as sounds from previous tracks creeping up on start of tracks are fixed, and it includes a stereo and multi-channel SACD layer. The second bonus disc is a collection of remixes and B-sides and also includes a stereo SACD layer in addition to the Redbook CD layer. The last three tracks on the bonus disc are previously unreleased demo recordings from the original album.[124][125]

All tracks are written by Trent Reznor, except "Dead Souls" by Joy Division and "Memorabilia" by Soft Cell.

Bonus disc
No.TitleLength
1."Burn" (from Natural Born Killers)4:58
2."Closer (Precursor)" (from "Closer to God")7:17
3."Piggy (Nothing Can Stop Me Now)" (from Further Down the Spiral)4:02
4."A Violet Fluid" (from "March of the Pigs")1:04
5."Dead Souls" (from The Crow or Japanese Edition)4:54
6."Hurt (Quiet)" (from Further Down the Spiral, US version)5:09
7."Closer to God" (from "Closer to God")5:06
8."All the Pigs, All Lined Up" (from "March of the Pigs")7:26
9."Memorabilia" (from "Closer to God")7:21
10."The Downward Spiral (The Bottom)" (from Further Down the Spiral)7:33
11."Ruiner" (Demo)4:51
12."Liar" (Reptile Demo)6:56
13."Heresy" (Demo)4:01
Total length:70:38

DualDisc (Halo 8 DVD-A)

The DualDisc edition of The Downward Spiral contains the same CD content on Side A as the Deluxe Edition, with a DVD-Audio layer on Side B. When played on DVD-Video players a Dolby Digital 5.1 multi-channel or Dolby Digital 2.0 stereo mix of The Downward Spiral can be selected, along with videos of "March of the Pigs", "Hurt" and an uncensored video of "Closer". There is also an interactive discography and an image gallery. High resolution 24-bit/48 kHz 5.1 Surround sound and stereo versions of The Downward Spiral can be played on a DVD-Audio player, allowing the user a similar high fidelity experience as the SACD layer of the Deluxe Edition. The DualDisc release does not contain the additional B-sides and demo tracks.[124][125][126]

Personnel

Credits adapted from the liner notes of The Downward Spiral.[21]

  • Trent Reznor – vocals, all instruments, drums (on "Piggy"), arranger, producer
  • Mark "Flood" Ellis – producer, hi-hat (on "Closer"), ARP 2600 synthesizer (on "The Becoming")
  • Chris Vrenna – drums (on "Hurt"), programming, sampling, additional drums (on "Burn")
  • Adrian Belew – texture generating guitar (on "Mr. Self Destruct"), ring mod guitar (on "The Becoming")
  • Danny Lohner – additional guitar (on "Big Man with a Gun")
  • Andy Kubiszewski – drums (on "The Downward Spiral")
  • Stephen Perkins – drum loops (on "I Do Not Want This")
  • Charlie Clouser – programming, continuity
  • John Aguto – engineer
  • Brian Pollack – engineer
  • Sean Beavan – mixing
  • Bill Kennedy – mixing
  • Alan Moulder – mixing
  • Tom Baker – mastering
  • Bob Ludwig – high-resolution mastering (reissue)
  • James Brown – 5.1 mix (reissue)
  • Neal Ferrazzani – assistance (reissue)
  • Russell Mills – paintings
  • David Buckland – photography
  • Gary Talpas – package
  • Rob Sheridan – package, additional photography (reissue)

Charts

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[135] Gold 35,000^
Canada (Music Canada)[78] 3× Platinum 300,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[76] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[73] 4× Platinum 3,700,000[74]

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References
  1. Huxley 1997.
  2. Weisbard, Eric (February 1996). "Sympathy for the Devil". Spin. Vol. 11, no. 11. p. 34. Archived from the original on December 22, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2011. Also posted at "Sympathy for the Devil". theninhotline.net. Archived from the original on September 28, 2011. Retrieved August 20, 2011.
  3. Estlund, Kristina (November 1994). "Trent Speaks". Rip. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  4. Huxley 1997, p. 96.
  5. Kerri Mason (August 24, 2017). "Nine Inch Nails' 'The Downward Spiral' at 20: Classic Track-By-Track". Billboard. Archived from the original on September 23, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  6. Steve Taylor (2004). The A to X of Alternative Music. Continuum International Publishing Group. p. 165. ISBN 0-8264-8217-1. Archived from the original on April 5, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  7. Carl Hammerschmidt (April 1994). "Down on the Spiral". Hot Metal Magazine. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  8. Gina Morris (April 1994). "Who Really Is Trent Reznor?". Select. Archived from the original on November 18, 2008. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  9. Ali, Lorraine (March 18, 1994). "Helter Shelter: Making records where Manson murdered". Entertainment Weekly. No. 214. Time Warner. p. 100. Archived from the original on October 15, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  10. Huxley 1997, pp. 97–99.
  11. Huxley 1997, pp. 106–108.
  12. "Rusty Nails". Guitar Player. April 1994. Archived from the original on February 21, 2020. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  13. Alan Di Perna (April 1994). "Machine Head". Guitar World. Archived from the original on July 1, 2019. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  14. Huxley 1997, pp. 109–110.
  15. Huxley 1997, p. 109.
  16. Greg Rule (April 1994). "Trent Reznor". Keyboard. Archived from the original on August 9, 2020. Retrieved February 26, 2020.
  17. Gilmore, Mikal (March 6, 1997). "The Lost Boys". Rolling Stone. No. 755. p. 36. Archived from the original on September 11, 2017. Retrieved August 24, 2017. Trent Reznor's part of the interview article posted at "Trent Reznor Lost Highway Interview". lynchnet.com. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008. Retrieved December 25, 2007.
  18. Heath, Chris (April 1995). "The Art of Darkness". Details. Condé Nast Publications.
  19. Weisbard, Eric (September 1999). "The 90 Greatest Albums of the '90s: 11 Nine Inch Nails The Downward Spiral". Spin. Vol. 15, no. 9. p. 124. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved August 24, 2017. Also posted at "Rank 11. Nine Inch Nails (Spin – Aug '99)". theninhotline.net. Archived from the original on February 23, 2012. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  20. Huxley 1997, p. 119.
  21. The Downward Spiral (CD liner notes). Nine Inch Nails. Interscope Records. 1994. p. 28. 92346-2.{{cite AV media notes}}: CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  22. Huxley 1997, p. 120.
  23. Huey, Steve. "The Downward Spiral – Nine Inch Nails". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 3, 2012. Retrieved April 27, 2004.
  24. Val Siebert (March 10, 2014). "Two Way Alchemy: Nine Inch Nails' The Downward Spiral Revisited". The Quietus. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  25. Pareles, Jon (May 8, 1994). "A Noise Sculptor Reveals An Ear for the Commercial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on April 14, 2011. Retrieved November 26, 2007.
  26. Huxley, Martin (2015). Nine Inch Nails. St. Martin's Press. p. 131. ISBN 9781250096548.
  27. MacDonald, Patrick (April 15, 1994). "Nine Inch Nails -- Industrial Rock Of Trent Reznor Show Fascination With Dark Side". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  28. Mitchum, Rob (November 28, 2004). "Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral [Deluxe Edition]". Pitchfork. Archived from the original on August 23, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  29. Pareles, Jon (May 8, 1994). "Recordings View – A Noise Sculptor Reveals An Ear for the Commercial". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 15, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  30. Pareles, Jon (May 17, 1994). "Review/Rock; Despondent Sentiment With Aggression Added". The New York Times. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  31. Freeman, Phil (2007). Marooned: The Next Generation of Desert Island Discs. Da Capo Press. p. 306. ISBN 9780306814853.
  32. Moon, Tom (2008). 1,000 Recordings to Hear Before You Die: A Listener's Life List. Workman Publishing. p. 552. ISBN 9780761149415.
  33. Pettigrew, Jason (July 28, 2020). "10 Industrial-Rock Classics That Completely Defined the '90s". Alternative Press. Archived from the original on July 28, 2020. Retrieved July 30, 2020.
  34. "Nine Inch Nails' 'The Downward Spiral – Deluxe Edition' To Include B-Sides, Rarities, Demos". Blabbermouth.net. November 18, 2004. Archived from the original on January 12, 2018. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  35. Ostroff, Joshua (August 1, 2014). "Nine Inch Nails Is The Best Band Of The 90s (And The 2000s, Too)". HuffPost. Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 22, 2017.
  36. Shteamer, Hank (March 8, 2019). "Flashback: Nine Inch Nails Play a Roaring 'Mr. Self Destruct' in 1994". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on February 2, 2020. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  37. "1994: The albums that changed the world". Metal Hammer. August 24, 2019. Archived from the original on December 3, 2019. Retrieved February 2, 2020.
  38. Huxley 1997, pp. 109–121.
  39. Spence D. (May 3, 2005). "Nine Inch Nails – With Teeth". IGN. Ziff Davis. Archived from the original on February 2, 2014. Retrieved January 29, 2014.
  40. Reynolds, Tom (June 13, 2005). I Hate Myself and I Want to Die. Sanctuary Publishing. p. 227. ISBN 978-1-86074-628-4.
  41. Limmer, Seth (January 19, 2005). "Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral [Deluxe Edition]". PopMatters. Archived from the original on April 18, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  42. Steffan Chirazi (April 1994). "Techno Fear!". Kerrang!. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on October 4, 2015. Retrieved January 21, 2009.
  43. Russell Mills (2006). "Committere". Archived from the original on May 3, 2010. Retrieved August 24, 2017.
  44. "Nine Inch Nails Album & Song Chart History: Alternative Songs". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 25, 2011.
  45. Huxley 1997, p. 133.
  46. Huxley 1997, pp. 133–134, 179.
  47. "Nine Inch Nails: Closure (VHS)". DeepFocus.com. Archived from the original on July 27, 2007. Retrieved August 26, 2007.
  48. Richard Buskin (September 2012). "Nine Inch Nails 'Closer' (Classic Tracks)". Sound on Sound. SOS Publications Group. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  49. McCahill, Will (September 12, 2009). "Most Controversial Music Videos". Newser. Newser. Archived from the original on January 17, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  50. Corner, Lewis (December 11, 2011). "Leona Lewis: 'Hurt EP' review". Digital Spy. Hachette Filipacchi Médias. Archived from the original on March 14, 2012. Retrieved March 24, 2012.
  51. Huxley 1997, pp. 145–148.
  52. Huxley 1997, pp. 151–153.
  53. Umstead, Thomas R. (August 22, 1994). "Feedback muddy from Woodstock PPV". Multichannel News. Vol. 15, no. 32. pp. 3–4. Archived from the original on August 11, 2011. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  54. Graff, Gary (August 28, 1994). "Band's Hot Image Rooted In Woodstock '94 Mud". Detroit Free Press. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  55. "The Pit: Nine Inch Nails". Guitar School. May 1995. Archived from the original on May 11, 2017. Retrieved October 15, 2017.
  56. "38th Annual GRAMMY Awards (1995)". grammy.com. National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  57. Hajari, Nisid (December 30, 1994). "Trent Reznor : The Entertainers". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Archived from the original on June 17, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  58. Huxley 1997, pp. 152–153.
  59. Chun, Gary (September 14, 2007). "Reznor's edge cuts NIN's bleak outlook". Honolulu Star-Bulletin. Vol. 12, no. 257. Archived from the original on August 22, 2017. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  60. Huxley 1997, pp. 215–220.
  61. Christensen, Thor (October 13, 1995). "Outside looking in" (fee required). The Dallas Morning News. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  62. "Readers' Poll: The 10 Best Opening Acts in Rock History". Rolling Stone. July 11, 2012. Archived from the original on October 26, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  63. Kaye, Don (September 21, 1996). "Nailed! Trent's Posse Pound New York". Kerrang!. No. 615. Bauer Media Group. Archived from the original on September 27, 2007. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  64. Moss, Coret (September 18, 2001). "Vrenna Leaves NIN Behind To Explore What's Uncertain". MTV News. Archived from the original on April 3, 2010. Retrieved August 23, 2017.
  65. Ramirez, Mike (February 2001). "Nothing is Temporary". Blue Divide Magazine. Vol. 2, no. 1.
  66. Kot, Greg (March 6, 1994). "Three Discs Worth Waiting For". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on July 9, 2017. Retrieved February 24, 2016.
  67. Sinclair, Tom (March 18, 1994). "The Downward Spiral". Entertainment Weekly. No. 214. Archived from the original on July 15, 2015. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  68. Hilburn, Robert (March 6, 1994). "Nine Inch Nails, 'The Downward Spiral'; Nothing/TVT/Interscope". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on September 6, 2009. Retrieved August 29, 2009.
  69. Barker, Emily (January 29, 2014). "25 Seminal Albums From 1994 – And What NME Said At The Time". NME. Archived from the original on July 9, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2015.
  70. Gold, Jonathan (March 24, 1994). "The Downward Spiral". Rolling Stone. No. 678. p. 92. Archived from the original on September 13, 2017. Retrieved March 26, 2012.
  71. Gundersen, Edna (April 20, 1994). "Nine Inch Nails, The Downward Spiral". USA Today.
  72. Mayfield, Geoff (March 26, 1994). "Between the Bullets: Warming Up". Billboard. Vol. 106, no. 13. p. 135. ISSN 0006-2510. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  73. "American album certifications – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Recording Industry Association of America. October 28, 1998. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  74. Halperin, Shirley (December 14, 2011). "Trent Reznor on Relating to 'Girl With the Dragon Tattoo' Darkness; Why Grammys are 'Rigged and Cheap'". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on January 3, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  75. "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  76. "British album certifications – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". British Phonographic Industry. July 22, 2013. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  77. "Top RPM Albums: Issue 2434". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  78. "Canadian album certifications – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Music Canada. September 18, 1997. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  79. Huxley 1997, pp. 129–130.
  80. "Trent Reznor: Timeline". Cleveland.com. Archived from the original on October 11, 2007. Retrieved December 18, 2006.
  81. Christgau, Robert (February 21, 1995). "Consumer Guide". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on March 30, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  82. "Downward Spiral ranked no. 200". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on September 2, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2021.
  83. "500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. May 5, 2012. Archived from the original on March 8, 2013. Retrieved March 5, 2014.
  84. "The 500 Greatest Albums of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 22, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2021.
  85. Spin staff (2010). "125 Best Albums of the Past 25 Years: Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Spin. Archived from the original on June 8, 2012. Retrieved April 24, 2010.
  86. Martin Popoff (2004). The Top 500 Heavy Metal Albums of All Time. ECW Press. ISBN 1-55022-600-2.
  87. Q staff (2001). "Q 50 Heaviest Albums of All Time". Q. Archived from the original on August 6, 2012. Retrieved April 15, 2007.
  88. Q staff (2011). "Q Magazine 250 Best Albums of Q's Lifetime". Q. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved April 1, 2012.
  89. McIver, Joel (2005). Dimery, Robert (ed.). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die (1st ed.). Universe Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7893-1371-3.
  90. "10 Best Hard Rock Albums of 1994". Loudwire. May 20, 2014. Archived from the original on June 25, 2014. Retrieved May 21, 2014.
  91. "Superunknown: 50 Iconic Albums That Defined 1994". GuitarWorld.com. July 14, 2014. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014. Retrieved July 14, 2014.
  92. Vienet, Rene. "Nine Inch Nails: The Downward Spiral". Blender. Archived from the original on June 19, 2006. Retrieved May 31, 2019.
  93. Christgau, Robert (2000). "CG Book '90s: N". Christgau's Consumer Guide: Albums of the '90s. St. Martin's Griffin. ISBN 0-312-24560-2. Archived from the original on June 11, 2020. Retrieved March 30, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  94. Larkin, Colin (2011). "Nine Inch Nails". The Encyclopedia of Popular Music (5th concise ed.). Omnibus Press. ISBN 978-0-85712-595-8.
  95. "The Downward Spiral". Acclaimed Music. Archived from the original on March 2, 2019. Retrieved March 30, 2019.
  96. Prior, Clive (July 2009). "Filigree & Shadows". Mojo. No. 188. p. 49.
  97. Randall, Mac (2004). "Nine Inch Nails". In Brackett, Nathan; Hoard, Christian (eds.). The New Rolling Stone Album Guide (4th ed.). London: Fireside Books. pp. 587–588. ISBN 0-7432-0169-8.
  98. Weisbard, Eric (1995). "Nine Inch Nails". In Weisbard, Eric; Marks, Craig (eds.). Spin Alternative Record Guide. Vintage Books. pp. 270–271. ISBN 0-679-75574-8.
  99. Huxley 1997, pp. 165–180.
  100. Huxley 1997, p. 207.
  101. Wiederhorn, Jon (June 26, 1997). "Generation Swine". Rolling Stone. No. 763. Archived from the original on April 17, 2014. Retrieved March 8, 2014.
  102. Tom Breihan (March 7, 2014). "The Downward Spiral turns 20". Stereogum. Archived from the original on March 11, 2014. Retrieved March 27, 2014.
  103. Chick, Steve (March 30, 2005). "To Hell and back". Kerrang!. No. 1050. Archived from the original on December 15, 2018. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  104. "Trent Reznor". Alternative Press. No. 114. January 1998. Archived from the original on December 7, 2013. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  105. Gargano, Paul (July 2005). "Trent Reznor Bites Back". Metal Edge. Archived from the original on March 13, 2016. Retrieved December 5, 2017.
  106. Huxley 1997, pp. 207–208.
  107. "Nine Inch Nails Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  108. Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Further Down the Spiral – Nine Inch Nails". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 23, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  109. Hughes, Josiah (December 6, 2013). "Rare Nine Inch Nails Remixes Unearthed on Coil EP". Exclaim!. Archived from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  110. Kyle Anderson (March 7, 2014). "Nine Inch Nails' 'The Downward Spiral': 20 years of filth and fury". Entertainment Weekly. Time Warner. Archived from the original on March 8, 2014. Retrieved March 9, 2014.
  111. Robert Dimery; Michael Lydon (March 23, 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN 978-0-7893-2074-2.
  112. Larry Leibstein with Thomas Rosenstiel (June 12, 1995). "The Right Takes a Media Giant to Political Task". Newsweek. p. 30. Archived from the original on September 2, 2018. Retrieved September 1, 2018.
  113. Huxley 1997, pp. 208–210.
  114. Bork, Robert (1996). Slouching Toward Gomorrah: Modern Liberalism and American Decline. Regan Books. pp. 123–124, 131–132. ISBN 0-06-098719-7.
  115. Moore, Oliver (May 8, 2009). "Columbine: myths and truth". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on August 29, 2019. Retrieved January 11, 2018.
  116. O'Connor, Christopher (June 4, 1999). "Senators Criticize Marilyn Manson, Nine Inch Nails At Hearing". MTV News. Archived from the original on June 1, 2016. Retrieved May 3, 2011.
  117. Tapper, Jake (August 29, 2000). "Hollywood on trial". Salon. Salon Media Group. Archived from the original on June 22, 2011. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  118. "Reznor takes a byte out of Apple". BBC News. May 8, 2009. Archived from the original on May 11, 2009. Retrieved May 13, 2009.
  119. Kushner, Nick. "Films, Samples and Influences". The Nachtkabarett. Archived from the original on March 12, 2014. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  120. Huxley 1997, p. 191.
  121. "The Downward : Nine Inch Nails". HMV Japan. Archived from the original on January 31, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2016.
  122. Samantha Vincenty (March 7, 2014). "13 things you didn't know about Nine Inch Nails' 'The Downward Spiral'". Fuse. Archived from the original on April 19, 2014. Retrieved April 17, 2014.
  123. "Halo Eight – Australian First Pressing CD5". NIN Collector. Archived from the original on May 16, 2012. Retrieved October 17, 2011.
  124. Billboard staff (November 2004). "NIN Revisits The Downward Spiral". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Archived from the original on October 3, 2014. Retrieved November 14, 2013.
  125. Steve Huey. The Downward Spiral (Deluxe Edition) at AllMusic. Retrieved March 29, 2014.
  126. "Halo Eight – DualDisc Edition". NIN Collector. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011. Retrieved February 3, 2011.
  127. "Australiancharts.com – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  128. "European Top 100 Albums" (PDF). Music & Media. Vol. 11, no. 13. March 26, 1994. p. 21. OCLC 29800226. Archived (PDF) from the original on February 4, 2021. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via American Radio History.
  129. Pennanen, Timo (2006). Sisältää hitin – levyt ja esittäjät Suomen musiikkilistoilla vuodesta 1972 (in Finnish) (1st ed.). Helsinki: Kustannusosakeyhtiö Otava. ISBN 978-951-1-21053-5.
  130. "Charts.nz – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  131. "Swedishcharts.com – Nine Inch Nails – The Downward Spiral". Hung Medien. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
  132. "RPM Top 100 Albums of 1994". RPM. Vol. 60, no. 21. December 12, 1994. ISSN 0315-5994. Archived from the original on February 20, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2019 – via Library and Archives Canada.
  133. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1994". Billboard. Archived from the original on May 6, 2018. Retrieved February 5, 2019.
  134. "Top Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 1995". Billboard. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
  135. "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 1995 Albums" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved December 14, 2021.

Bibliography
  • Huxley, Martin (September 1997). Nine Inch Nails: Self Destruct. St. Martin's Press. ISBN 0-312-15612-X – via the Internet Archive.
  • Steiner, Adam (March 1, 2020). Into The Never: Nine Inch Nails and The Creation of the Downward Spiral. Backbeat. ISBN 978-1617137310.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.