Yes, Nine Inch Nails‘ breakthrough album Pretty Hate Machine turned 20 yesterday.
TWENTY.
My first thought when I read that was, “Wow, I’m old.”
But I’m not. And neither are you. And neither is Punky Brewster.
Anyway, I gave the album another spin yesterday, and I gotta say, all these years later, it still sounds as new and fresh as the day it was released. As I was looking around yesterday, it was interesting to see just how many people remembered the first time they heard the album. From “on tape in a friend’s car riding home from school. it was love at first listen” to “I was 6 yrs old, my dad bought the cd and a NIN sticker for his truck,” it was clear the album made a lasting impression on many.
Do you remember the first time you heard it? Where you were? What grade you were in? Which song was/is your favorite? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below – we’d love to hear them.
Check out the video of “Sanctified,” off Pretty Hate Machine, from the band’s first live show – Cleveland, OH (1989). Pretty cool! In celebration of its birthday, we’ve also posted a show from Nine Inch Nails’ 1990 Hate Tour, as well as some other recordings below in the Dig-It section. Dig ‘em. Then pull out your copy of Pretty Hate Machine and give it another spin.
As NIN frontman, Trent Reznor, posted on Twitter yesterday, “Happy birthday, old friend.”
Your Dig-It Downloads:
May 23, 1990
I-Beam
San Francisco, CA
Download: Intro/Terrible Lie
Download: Sin
Download: Something I Can Never Have
Download: Sanctified
Download: That’s What I Get
Download: The Only Time
Download: Suck
Download: Get Down Make Love
Download: Ringfinger
Download: Down In It
Download: Head Like A Hole
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Download: Head Like A Hole (live In Paris 02-22-07)
Download: Terrible Lie (live In Paris 02-22-07)
Download: Down In It (live @ Terminal 5 NYC 08-26-09)
Download: Sanctified (Pretty Hate Machine)
Download: Something I Can Never Have (live @ Chicago Recording Company ’00)
Download: Kinda I Want To (demo – Rusty Nails II)
Download: Sin (live @ Pabellon de la Valle Hebron 11-14-99)
Download: That’s What I Get (live 1990-07-01)
Download: The Only Time (live 1990-07-01)
Download: Ringfinger (live 1990-07-01)
If you’re looking for more live NIN, nyctaper has an excellent recording of the band’s “final” NYC show from August of this year. They covered a boatload of material from their catalog, including Pretty Hate Machine, in the 2 1/2 hour set. Click here to check it out.
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Don't shoot me. I've never heard the album. Go ahead, make fun.
Patty, Patty, Patty! You gotta listen! Gotta.
I wasn't turned on to NIN until 1992 when “Get Down Make Love” was included on a mix tape someone made for me. LOVED it. After that, I was hooked and have loved NIN ever since. One of my top 5 bands, for sure.
I can't remember exactly where I was when I heard PHM for the first time, but I do know it was during the first semester of my freshman year of college.
Thanks for the tunes and for making me feel just a wee bit old today! :)
Don't shoot me. I've never heard the album. Go ahead, make fun.
Patty, Patty, Patty! You gotta listen! Gotta.
I wasn't turned on to NIN until 1992 when “Get Down Make Love” was included on a mix tape someone made for me. LOVED it. After that, I was hooked and have loved NIN ever since. One of my top 5 bands, for sure.
I can't remember exactly where I was when I heard PHM for the first time, but I do know it was during the first semester of my freshman year of college.
Thanks for the tunes and for making me feel just a wee bit old today! :)