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Pretty Hate Machine by: Nine Inch Nails

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Rating: - Simply Beautiful

I won't rate myself as a NIN fan. I wouldn't rate myself as a fan of any band in particular, since i listen to so many different kinds of music. However PHM is one of the most exquisite pieces of work I have had the privilege to listen to in my life. It made me buy downward spiral, and it surprised me that it was so different an album than PHM but still an excellent piece of work. So, as a music fan i would rate NIN and PHM alike with a 5 out of 5. Simply because truth never hurt more than the way NIN state it. In its simplest, and most beautifuly sad form. Thank god for albums like that. By the way, after listening to Something I can never have, i wondered how did i ever come to like "everything I do" by Bryan Adams. Personal thanks to NIN for making such music for us to listen.

Rating: - First, last and always...

If I, as many I suppose have, start their review of Nine Inch Nails by saying, "I've been a nine inch nails fan since I was ten" then truly I will offer nothing more than a superficial review of Pretty Hate Machine. However, if I take the moral high ground and say, 'anyone that refers to NIN as Nine Inch Nails and not Trent Reznor is missing the point entirely,' then I'd be a boring, egotistical, High Fidelity reading music shop clerk. Instead, I will try and take a middle ground...

Yes, I did buy Pretty Hate Machine when it was released in 1991, off the back of a life spent listening to Sisters of Mercy, Skinny Puppy and Nitzer Ebb (if you don't know who they are then you fall into the 'I've been a nich inch nails fan since I was ten' category) - in fact, I heard Head Like a Hole in a club and the rest, as they say, is commercial history. It is pure angst in a CD case and yet more accesable than any of his work to follow; it is powerful and yet doesn't try too hard.

Pretty Hate Machine is Trent Reznor - the only member of NIN - sitting in his bedroom, making a seminal album, with heart felt lyrics, power, malevolence and most importantly passion. Having seen him live, it becomes apparent that this passion is what separates him from the rest of the angst ridden nu-metal and alternative scene. Trent is intelligent and hurt AND this comes across on Pretty Hate Machine.

The lyrics are simple but this simplicity is essential to delivering the message. Why use 10 words when 1 will do? Furthermore, while this album has stood the test of time, it may seem dated to some because a multitude of people have copied the ideas and content since it's release. However, the first is still the best and Trent's opus is Pretty Hate Machine.

In a recent interview he admitted to what I've always felt - his subsequent albums were his personal joy rides, his attempt to push boundaries with technology at the sacrifice of music; ergo, personal gratification and little substance nor longevity. He promised that his new album will turn back to the lyrical content of PHM and the melodies rather than aural onslaught and overkill. While the other Trent albums sit on my CD rack, seldom played, Pretty Hate Machine is never far from my CD changer. It is and always has been a modern masterpiece.

Rating: - Heavy metal with a dance beat

It’s hard to be impressed by this album if one had been exposed to the pioneers in the industrial field, like Throbbing Gristle, Cabaret Voltaire, Psychic TV and early Chris & Cosey. Pretty Hate Machine is accessible enough to appeal to New Order and Depeche Mode fans but breaks no new ground. You get (almost) heavy metal guitar, pounding rhythms and state-of-the-art samples of snatches of Jane’s Addiction, Prince, Public Enemy and This Mortal Coil, among others. The lyrics are all desperation, anger and confusion, as on Head Like A Hole, Something I Can Never Have and Terrible Lie. Every so often Reznor approaches brilliance in a smattering of song over here or in a particularly succulent segment of synth noise over there. But his harshly monotonous voice over ten tracks kinda leaves you with an empty and vaguely uneasy feeling that you’ve been listening to heavy metal with a disco beat.

Rating: - Trent Reznor's sappy self-indulgent love album

I've been a nine inch nails fan since I was ten and I have to say this album sucks. An album littered with flawed tracks and cheesy lyrics really fail to give NIN its desired impression on the music buying public. "Terrible lie" is excellent but songs such as "head like a hole", "something I can never have" and "that's what I get" just ruin everything. The lyrics are not very well thought out (if she says come inside I'll come inside for her) and not very subtle (I'd rather die than give you control). The latter lyric comes from NIN's attempt to get into the mainstream with "head like a hole" which would have been half-decent if it wasn't so repetitive. But the love songs eventually get out of hand until you start wondering when these over-sung annoying synth-pop ballads will stop. Anyway, if you are one of those who decided to jump on the bandwagon after hearing the downward spiral because you think it's cool to like weird, depressive and twisted music then I strongly recommend you buy PHM otherwise buy the much better (and heavier) Broken EP.

Rating: - The start of something brilliant

No matter what you say this album deserves respect . From Head Like A hole you know that this album is beyond reviewing .

Still throughout the album it has a faint nod to his heroes , while Sanctified may have a touch of Bowie , most of this album is like he is thanking Gary Numan and Depeche Mode for making the music that they made .

Everybody has a personal favourite here and I have to include mine , That's what I get and Ringfinger , but there is no real favourite as they are strong in their own individual right .

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