NIN was my teen angst getaway. I would blur my speakers out in my truck barreling down the road, screaming the lyrics and becoming Trent Reznor. I was the bullet in the gun.
Ha. A dude hooked up an amp directly to my fuse box in my car back in high school. Was cruising with a young lady blasting NIN and everything suddenly cut out. I checked the fuse and it was a molten glob. Lol. It survived Wish, but Last completely wrecked it! Ha. Great memory!
I was 12 years old, it was 1996. I snuck my mom's cassette copy into the living room stereo system while she was at work. When this song came on, I was instantly sold. The mechanical, metallic noise. The thrashing beats. It felt taboo, it felt liberating. It was my first taste of NIN, and I've been loving them ever since.
Awesome. I feel like this can't happen anymore. The dumb bricks in our pockets have probably robbed all future generations of this feeling. But... I genuinely hope there's a kid hiding the light of the phone under the covers to listen to the music they "shouldn't hear." For me, those were the moments I discovered I was in love with music.
the asshole said to him: “It’s you who will shut up in the end. Not me. Because we dont need you around here any more. I can talk and eat and shit.” William S. Burroughs
I only "discovered" NIИ last summer and have basically listened to no other music since then. Your channel is exactly what I was looking for before I even knew I was looking for it. Keep up the great work!
Haha I believe it! Since starting to do these analyses every week I literally have not been listening to any other music. And...I'm strangely ok with that. Or maybe it's not so strange! There's actually so much variety in the production and emotion. Sounds like you came to the right place, friend.
I listened to this thousands of times. Your analysis is so clear, straight to the point, so clever in every ways. Rare thing I take time to comment on YT but you deserve it. Keep it up lady.
EDIT: CORRECTIONS - The legendary guitarist I referenced at the end is named ADRIAN Belew, not Andrew. Forgive me Adrian! I also made a mistake in my scale degree notation: #3 is natural 3, and #6 is natural 6, because this style of notation is based on the major scale degrees. // All right Pigs, I edited the f*ck out of this video. Not sure I can keep this level of editing up for every track but curious to hear if you like this different style! Questions for you - what do you think this song is about? How do you feel when you listen? Can you handle that outro? // If you didn't watch until the end and you want to know more about how I got started with Nine Inch Nails and why I analyze their music, join me for a TH-cam livestream on Sunday, March 14 at 3:00pm CST for a Q&A if you're free! Thank you all for subscribing!
Been watching all your nin videos since I discovered your channel:) They have helped my understanding on theory that has been helping me on my music course. Also the editing really make your video look really professional keep it up!!!
The editing felt seamless and high quality. This much editing is like making a song production lol. Do what makes you be at peace. There's no guilt here for your decisions. Your expression holds the most value here, be it however it be. This song was always a track I would gloss over because of its seemingly stable chordal nature (unlike piggy for example.) This analysis and the pure piano version on your insta made me renew appreciation for this and I've since heard many things I hadn't before. Thanks!
@@Vunsunta Yes exactly...so much work. But worth it! I appreciate your outlook - I'll just keep making what I want to make. I meant to touch on the harmonic movement but I ran out of time. I think the chorus sort of implies a ♭III-IV-V-I but it's not definitive. There's just so much chromaticism that it gets a bit obscured and you never land on any of these "chords" for long enough. This is why I found it so satisfying in my cover version to give the chorus a definitive ♭III-IV-i and ♭VI-IV-i at the end. I'm happy to hear that helped you broaden your experience of the OG track! Thanks for your thoughtful comment :)
@@joshporter8101 I was thinking the same thing Ixi about the editing!! It feels really professional and it helps me learn and understand to see some visuals to illustrate what you are describing. Like how you cut to NIN at that jarring cut to the first verse.
Super longtime NIN fan here, and I just wanted to drop in and say that you’re killing it IXI. Your work is so great, so informative, and so rewarding and entertaining to watch.
so cool having had theories and interpretations about every second of this album for most of my life and pretty much having them confirmed and expanded on by a channel like this
I can honestly say, I’ve never met anyone that was able to say what I feel about this band so precisely and do it so eloquently. You have a natural gift my lady. You’ve already won.
I feel like "and i control you" voice progression gets more excited and mocking (like the major third) with the power and confidence it grows to have. Like it loses composure, because it can't hide how gleeful it is at the suffering it's causing. Its sooo good.
I didn't realise you've done every song on the album?! I'm restarting all over again and going through them all in order. Thank you so so much for these.
I was lucky in that I'm old enough to have seen the _Self Destruct Tour_ ; the opening act was a fledgling up-and-coming Marilyn Manson. International Ballroom, Houston TX, 1994. (they played an extended insane version of either Happiness in Slavery or Wish, it was brutal and seemed to go on for 20 minutes) Early NIN will always have a foundational & influential role in developing my appreciation for the darker side of art in my youth (and beyond) & in my appreciation for the underappreciated uniqueness of industrial and all its related genres Your description of Reznor is perfect. Both _TDS_ & _PHM_ are 2 CD's I can listen to start to finish - even twice in a 1 sitting - and feel like I've had some kind of experience beyond just the music. and thanks ixi, good stuff
Unique means singular. There is no relativity. Slightly, kind of, merely, most, or somewhat have no bearing here. I realise that English might be a foreign language to you. English has over a million words. I would urge you to use them correctly. I could have said encourage you to use them correctly.
Nine inch nails has been my favorite band for the last 15 years, this record in particular was the most important thing that help me through depression, and is still being important when I feel anxious, thank you for this video I just watched the first 45 seconds and subscribed automatically when I saw you had more NIN songs in the channel. Please continue with this project this is amazing!
The enveloping nature of the noise is honestly comforting by the end. When those crazy guitar loops and pink noise come in it’s overwhelming but it feels so... perfect. Like that’s exactly how it feels man
First, you're amazing. This is incredible!!!! Second, I don't see this as multiple personalities or different voices. Maybe from my psychological background, I take this as the part of him that is urging him or compelling him to do all these things. And the "and I control you" line is the same voice, the same aspect, saying, no matter what I make you do, do to you, make you feel, all these varied things, I make you do them, I control you. and I use you up until you're done. you explode. You self destruct. You do it all to yourself from within. I think that's the message. The use of 'I' and 'you' shows the dissonance within, which is mirrored by the musical dissonance he inserts in his music. It's so good. Such a great song and such a great analysis/deconstruction.
The angrier, more noisey and disjunct the music, the more soothed and relaxed I feel. Even when the song gets me 'amp'd up' because that feeling in itself is a release and soothes me in the end. The Downward Spiral has that effect on me. Granted, not as much Broken or Pretty Hate Machine but it still taps into my psyche in that same way.
You're not the only one who's reflected that experience. I feel like when music mirrors your own emotional state it can have different effects - could be soothing, or could be confronting!
I like a lyric from a Bright Eyes called “Poison Oak” that sort of describes that feeling: “when I press the [piano] keys it all gets reversed, the sound of loneliness, makes me happier”
I was a music theory nerd in the 90s and it was always so incredibly frustrating to me that people wrote off NIN as profane noise. Trent, Tori, and many others that we loved then were all classically trained musicians. These choices were never happenstance, they were deliberate. Thanks for the analysis.
We made mix tapes (burned CDs) of alternating NIN and Tori songs, trying to match them. They were both angry, but the hard part was finding when Trent wasn't angry at himself and Tori wasn't angry at someone else. I wish I still had some of those.
@@iximusic Sort of! I graduated with a degree in composition in 2005, and haven't used it all that much since then, so I'm a little rusty but your videos are helping me dust it off.
Great to have someone digging deep into this amazing album! I will note that I've sometimes thought the protagonist is the voice saying 'I control you'. Like they're having a conversation, Mr. Self Destruct (the heroine addiction) is telling the protagonist all the things it does for and against him, but the protagonist blindly thinks he has those things under his control (which he's slowly losing). Probably not correct, but it's still making me think decades later.
Wow! I'm so glad I stumbled onto your videos. I've been obsessed with Trent Reznor and NIN since I was a teenager (from around 1994) and while I'm not going to pretend to understand the music theory analysis terminology, I find you fascinating. He is a true musical genius, and I look forward to continuing to watch your videos are you continue to dive into the intricacies of his songs! I can't wait to see you analyze "Ruiner", "The Becoming", and "Eraser"!
Oh my goodness, I've been waiting 27 years for videos like this! The Downward Spiral is my favorite album of all time. It's so funny to hear you say things like "unexpected" "challenging" and "jarring" because for some reason this is the music that sounded completely normal to me when I first heard it in the 90s. It's like my baseline. It's also some of the only music I listened to in the 90s that I can still appreciate. It's baffling because I don't really think I'm THAT angsty haha.. Also, nice use of the 5.1 stems! I have a Pro Tools session with the entire album's stems loaded in and I love sifting through all of it. Thank you so much for this breakdown and I can't wait to watch the others. I hope you do the entire album!
Ah that is interesting! But I'm also not too surprised. I think TDS is a mirror for what we're going through and it can feel comforting even when things are falling apart musically. I'm not angsty anymore either but I still listen to this album all the time. Hypes me up, makes me smile, makes me cry, without sending me back to that dark place. And I think it sounds timeless, which is amazing. Not all records from that era of our lives have aged as well :) Ah that's awesome re: 5.1 mixes. I have multitracks from some of the later releases which I've been using too. Another subscriber told me that someday I need to listen to TDS in surround sound because the title track is mixed in such a way that it spirals around you! Have you heard it that way? And YES I'm analyzing the entire album! Piggy is tomorrow...🐷
15:55 "If you were unlucky enough to turn up the volume..." I've made this mistake listening to the song With Teeth, trying to hear that lovely quiet part in the middle/end. RIP eardrums.
I’ve heard this song and album countless times, but the way you described the final chorus and outro made me feel that dread that I only ever felt the first couple of listens. Pink noise, I’ll have to remember that. Fantastic work.
I am so glad I found you! This is truly amazing. I have been a fan of NIN for the longest time and how you described this song is exactly how I fell when I listen to it!
The Downward Spiral was the soundtrack of my college years back in the 90s. It’s great to hear your insight into these songs and learn new things I didn’t know or pick up on things I didn’t hear before. Thanks to you, I’m falling in love with my favorite album all over again.
The album is a true masterpiece. Over 25 years later and it still sounds fresh. If I didn't know any better you could tell me that TDS came out this year and I would believe you.
Oh my gosh I completely agree with you! It really feels timeless. I personally have always gravitated toward music that transcends its cultural context, so no wonder I feel so strongly about this album. Amongst many other reasons of course. Thanks for this awesome comment.
This song got so incredibly deep under my skin the first time I heard it but I eventually got used to it. Hearing you break it down this way reminded me why it disturbed and haunted me but also why I kept coming back to it (and eventually the album) for more. I can't thank you enough for basically letting me hear this for the first time a second time ❤️ Edit: also mad props for such fantastically crafted and detailed video. I don't understand music notation but your analysis still gave me goosebumps
I could pick apart this song for hours, every aspect of it goes right back to the meaning of "mr. self destruct". It's the little voice inside your head telling you that you're making yourself better by doing horrible things to yourself (close to intrusive thoughts). The drums are a machine because even though its obvious you are breaking apart, you're still expected to run at a rapid repetitive rate sometimes accelerating to stay up. Like you said, if whats controlling you is losing it you are in trouble. It's perfect.
I had pit passes to see them at the Frank Erwin center in Austin Texas. Front row, in the pit. They opened with this song and it was exactly like you described it literally hit you like a brick f****** wall to the Head.! One of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. Fantastic analysis
The greatest opening song of an album, ever. I saw them live in 1994 at maple leaf gardens... they opened the show with this song and it melted my face off. I became obsessed with this track for a while in my teen years. Still to this day, one of the best songs ever written from one of the best albums ever written. 100% masterpiece of music TDS is from beginning to end.
That was probably the best show of that tour. Toronto Dec 1 1994. But I still never felt this song has ever done well live for me. There's just way too much going on with it in the studio that becomes hard to make it sound even better live. However the further down the spiral mixes of this track are pretty danaceble and fun!
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mr Self Destruct at first but honestly it’s grown to become one of my favorite tracks off TDS, the bass in the bridge (quiet part) for some reason gives me Sunspots vibes, I know sunspots is possibly an octave lower but just something cool I thought I’d contribute
this is exactly the sort of channel i've been looking for since forever, really. a deep, DEEP dive into a favorite artist's catalogue that appreciates both the emotional "x-factor" of experiencing music, and the technical mechanics behind how it's structured. ixi you, and this channel, are so awesome!!!!!!
"And it's like out of nowhere you hit a wall and everything hits you at once and it's just too much for your nervous system to handle." The very way that the track opens is a commentary about how overwhelming addiction and powerlessness to vice is.
The downward spiral, broken and darkest days are the soundtracks to my life right now, although I am in a miserable and self destructive state, somehow the music helps alot, my therapy, music is religious to me and it certainly does help.
This video articulated so many things I've felt when listening to this song. I actually like the outro. Not sure why it feels like the machine has glitched and there's freedom...then the bass of Piggy kicks in... I also expected you to mention the layering of the bridge. The "I am the exit" line gets me. As if there's a way out...all these parts are competing...
«Isn't it powerful how music can be. It can completely reprogram your nervous system. It can change your brain waves. It can elicit emotion. It can bring back memories.» That pretty much sums it all up.
Thank you! I needed this. I was blown away by NIN at Roskilde 2000, and I have been a huge fan since then. TDS and The Fragile are my favorite albums. Can't wait to see you dive into the rest of the this masterpiece. Can't believe it's 27 years old.
Very nice analysis, the downward spiral and the fragile are two of my favorite albums ever. Subscribed and looking forward to the next songs of the album
Um yes, holy crap. I'm flabbergasted that I never ran across your channel before today. NIN being my all time favorite band + your awesome breakdowns of what make up the songs = pretty much everything I ever wanted. Keep up the amazingness!
I think the intro of the song is the start of the engine, like pull start or crank start, as it picks up you get the whoops as the engine as about to crank over then it the engine starts and the machine is on!
Trent Reznor is a genius, have been listening to him since Pretty Hate Machine, which is probably my favourite album...I've bought it about 5 times it kept getting stolen, yet was still worth buying again. Anyway, it great to analyze him in the way he deserves, way before his time and influenced an entire genre yet always stayed true to himself, whatever that self was at the time. Great video...you earn a like. I've subscribed, it definitely hypes me up and I love and have always loved the song and the ending, the noise is wonderfully beautiful...Also, I'm 39 and when I first started listening I was around 12 or so, it was so mind blowing! It definitely shaped my love of music in general.
I can't believe your copy kept getting stolen - goes to show you how good it is :) NIN has been with you almost your whole life - that's incredible. Yes he always stays true to himself, that's something so admirable.
Mr. Self Destruct has always been a personal favorite. The Downward Spiral has always been a go to album when I'm feeling well... down. Your analysis has given me a new reason to listen and really hear those tonal shifts. Thank you.
I've been looking for this exact video for months because I've been obsessed with this song for the longest time, and now it's here, you've done it, thank you soooo much! Personally, this song hypes me up like no other. It gives me so much energy, even though it's a pretty aggressive energy, it's so menacing but it doesn't exactly feel menacing towards me, it's more like I am the menace. I love it and it's my "time to get things done" song, great for chores or workout! Hahah I loved your video, thank you! Also, I'd love to see you talking about more songs from the downward spiral
Great video! I dont know any music theory but I like following along and hearing your interpretation and breakdown of the sounds as well as the lyrics. I like that your videos unpack a lot of elements of NIN that I often overlook. Makes me want to revisit their catalogue with fresh ears!
That's my favorite part - when someone points something out in a song I haven't noticed before it's like they've opened a door to a whole new reality! All the jagged edges disappear! Colors all look brighter and the stars are all afire...wait.
WOW! what an analysis!!! loved every second of it. Definitely quite a few details I've missed from the song even after having listened to it a zillion times. Now I need to watch all your other videos! instant sub
Thank you! I didn't realize it was possible for me to love them more, either...but my gray heart just keeps getting bigger and bigger with every video :)
The algorithm finally gets it right! I started watching this video and was thinking, "Oh wow, she should do every track on THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL." Then I scrolled down and saw that this is exactly the plan! I'm on board! Good work!
I bought this album having no idea what I was in for. It was the first NIN album I ever listened to, and the experience of it (alone in my room on the headphones) was consistently uncomfortably, challenging, but yet very attractive. Thanks for taking us through the musical ideas underneath it. It's always great when someone has musical competence paired with obvious appreciation for the subject. Just found this channel, looking forward to hearing more!
Thank you for the fantastic tonal and melodic break down of what makes some of NIИ's songs so jarring, the qualities that drive the voluntary anxiety we choose to embrace as we keep choosing to listen to them. I bought Downward Spiral shortly after it came out as a young kid. I bought it because of Closer but Mr. "Self Destruct" and "March of the Pigs" won me over. But there were songs where the sonic experience actually scared kid-me and I didn't listen to those songs until years later and learned to value them. If NIИ every plays live again I think I might just fly to wherever to see them live.
I don't know how you did this. One of the songs from my youth, one that housed all my anger in the most in your face and emotional ways possible... And you somehow made sense of it. I don't want it to make sense. Well done.
It's a powerful one, for sure. There are always so many layers to all art, and so many different levels we can experience it. Sometimes it's better to just let it move you than to understand it. But it's rewarding to explore all those levels. I'm glad you got something out of the video.
The way you talked about music at the end of the video really hit home for me, I feel like I experience certain music in such a supernatural way that doesn't always makes sense to some people (this album being one of those, it transformed my brain and the way I thought about music when I was 14). So it's cool to hear from someone else who connects to music in that same sort of way. :)
So glad you're getting into where the samples came from too. The remixes of this on Further Down the Spiral are really good also, as well as the remix of Piggy featuring Dave Navarro on guitar.
I've always wondered what that intro sample was. I was on a basketball team when I first heard this song so naturally it sounded like some guys playing basketball. I knew it couldn't be that but I didn't have any better ideas. Takes on a much more disturbing tone now that I know what it is! Gotta check out those remixes...there are so many I still haven't heard.
@@iximusic ...and to make it more complicated there are different versions of Further Down the Spiral. Most of the tracks are the same except for the Mr. Self Destruct remixes. Some have parts 1 and 2 others have parts 1 and 3. It's weird. I guess it was just a different era back then of having different import versions of an album. I know Trent has said he was that collector nerd like the rest of us who would look for those rare Japan only import records because his collection had to be complete and that version had 1 extra track that you couldn't find anywhere. His discography is riddled with examples and i think he did it on purpose to bring that sense of treasure hunt to his music. My favorite is the We're In This Together Now single. There are 3 different versions with 3 different covers and track listings and each is more rare than the next depending how many were manufactured and if you look on ebay or discogs depending which one you have they can sell for, last i checked, roughly 5, 50, and a few hundred dollars respectively for I believe the U.S. version, UK version and Swedish version. There may be other reasons why record labels do this but Trent also labelled his releases as 'Halos' just to make it easier for fans to collect his stuff.
I just found this channel, and I was hoping you'd analyze mostly songs I liked. Then I found that it's mainly NIN, which is the best outcome possible! Thanks so much, this is awesome!
It makes me feel old that 'the downward spiral' is 27 years old, but it makes me feel good that a good 'rock opera' style album like this has gotten its dues in remaining relevant alongside 'the wall' and 'ziggy stardust' for generation after generation. I definitely picked up on the 'phrygian' theme of the album and your deep dive here makes me want to jump back into 'the fragile' and some of the other albums I ignored when they came out. Returning to these classics confirms that music is important! I'm sure we'll all still be pondering 'the downward spiral' when we're all 100+ years old!
Totally! I don't know if everyone would agree but I don't think this album sounds one bit dated. If it came out today I think it would still have hit hard.
@@iximusic hey this has nothing to do with Mr Self Destruct, but did you know that 'in a warm place' is actually a cover of this David Bowie one off song made for a Japanese advertisement? th-cam.com/video/Tg-9pL6k3CI/w-d-xo.html I didn't learn about that until recently and it kind of cemented the connection between 'the downward spiral' and earlier 'concept' albums. I wish there were more.
A great song and the perfect intro to one of my favourite albums. I wouldn't say it makes me feel uncomfortable exactly, despite its dark lyrical content. More empowering than anything else as the inner struggle feels so relatable.
He, mr self destruct, the mental struggles, the illness that haunts and overtakes the protagonist "is a silencing machine", that's what those drums definitely represent to me. The "machine" itself. Such a powerful song and such an in depth, illuminating analysis!! I love hearing you talk about NIN's music from a theory perspective.
I became fascinated with music theory about two years ago. I was never sure why: I’m not a musician. I just wanted to learn. Now I know the answer. I was preparing for this video. My god, it’s fantastic; and I was able to understand it.
Now that is fascinating to ME. Most folks don't want to learn music theory - they only learn it because the know it will help them as a musician. Then again, music theory can be very analytical and mathematical. Anyway, I'm thrilled you were able to understand it, that is awesome. More to come! Thank you for tuning in and leaving a comment :)
Your musical analysis is amazing. I just found your channel through this video and I cant wait to watch the rest of them. You really deserve way more credit than you get.
@@iximusic The fragile is probably one of my favorite NIN songs so definitely that. And if you're considering other bands to do analysis of maybe radiohead or massive attack? Thanks for replying. Seriously love your vids!
@@The_halfofit The Fragile (the song) is on my list! The discography is so massive I could be doing NIN analyses for years. I'll be analyzing Radiohead for sure! Massive Attack is a cool suggestion. Thanks!
i think each voice is another "demon" (vice or mental illness) that the protagonist is battling, and they are winning. that bridge is pure heaven. I think it's the characters quick moment of ecstasy (an "exit" from the pain) when he gives into a "demon", but then the pain returns.
That's kind of how I always thought of it, with each line representing a different vice/demon/part of him. Lovely interpretation of the bridge. I'll try that one on next time :)
You've outdone yourself, ixi! This is fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the next video. Mr. Self Destruct was the third nin song I ever heard, the first being Closer (cuz of course) and the second being Dead Souls, the joy division cover from The Crow soundtrack. I was 14 or 15 and was honestly pretty green in the ways of anything "heavy" so to say it was a mind fuck is a total understatement. Thank goodness it was followed by the calm, quiet opening to piggy because I don't think I could've handled the opening to Heresy just yet. The religious skepticism in the lyrics was completely new to me, too, so, even more jarring. I really didn't know the rabbit hole I was going down, but I was instantly hooked. See you at the live stream!
It's so cool to hear everyone's NINitiation stories! I was 14 too. I hear from a lot of people that that's the specific age they discovered NIN. That's interesting to hear your experience of Piggy being a relief. When I was younger, I felt like the intense energy created was dropped on the floor and wasted with Piggy and I felt let down by that. Everything was so dramatic when I was 14 though ;)
@@ashm7955 What a great album that was. Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure... it really influenced my musical taste as a teenager. And man, I forgot all about those double cassette recorders that could make copies!!
This song is just the right kind of anger and darkness. This and Gave Up from Broken have the same feel to me. Keep up the amazing work buddy you are going to teach the masses why Trent is the best sculptor of music and sound.
I did this as a high school English project in high school. A track by track thematic analysis of The Downward Spiral aka the greatest work of art ever.
Somehow this breakdown is emotional.. unpacking years of my own subconscious interpretations of this song. Everything from angsty kid feelings when it first came out.. to the best description "when the thing controlling you starts to lose control.. You're in trouble". It's brilliant, you're brilliant
NIN was my teen angst getaway. I would blur my speakers out in my truck barreling down the road, screaming the lyrics and becoming Trent Reznor. I was the bullet in the gun.
Fuck Yeah!
(And I control you)
Ha. A dude hooked up an amp directly to my fuse box in my car back in high school. Was cruising with a young lady blasting NIN and everything suddenly cut out. I checked the fuse and it was a molten glob. Lol. It survived Wish, but Last completely wrecked it! Ha. Great memory!
Nice comment, I appreciate you!
I was 12 years old, it was 1996.
I snuck my mom's cassette copy into the living room stereo system while she was at work.
When this song came on, I was instantly sold. The mechanical, metallic noise. The thrashing beats. It felt taboo, it felt liberating.
It was my first taste of NIN, and I've been loving them ever since.
Awesome.
I feel like this can't happen anymore. The dumb bricks in our pockets have probably robbed all future generations of this feeling. But... I genuinely hope there's a kid hiding the light of the phone under the covers to listen to the music they "shouldn't hear." For me, those were the moments I discovered I was in love with music.
"If something that controls you is losing its mind,
youre in trouble".
I must sample this.
Amazing, Amazing work.
Be my guest :)
the asshole said to him: “It’s you who will shut up in the end. Not me. Because we dont need you around here any more. I can talk and eat and shit.” William S. Burroughs
I only "discovered" NIИ last summer and have basically listened to no other music since then. Your channel is exactly what I was looking for before I even knew I was looking for it. Keep up the great work!
Haha I believe it! Since starting to do these analyses every week I literally have not been listening to any other music. And...I'm strangely ok with that. Or maybe it's not so strange! There's actually so much variety in the production and emotion. Sounds like you came to the right place, friend.
The fact that you took the effort to use the backwards И shows you’re a true fan.
@@AntennaRex
Effort?
Not a font, but "Effort"
Gotcha
@@joekerr1763 I'm sorry, what?
You are on a good path!!! 🥰
I listened to this thousands of times. Your analysis is so clear, straight to the point, so clever in every ways. Rare thing I take time to comment on YT but you deserve it. Keep it up lady.
EDIT: CORRECTIONS - The legendary guitarist I referenced at the end is named ADRIAN Belew, not Andrew. Forgive me Adrian! I also made a mistake in my scale degree notation: #3 is natural 3, and #6 is natural 6, because this style of notation is based on the major scale degrees. // All right Pigs, I edited the f*ck out of this video. Not sure I can keep this level of editing up for every track but curious to hear if you like this different style! Questions for you - what do you think this song is about? How do you feel when you listen? Can you handle that outro? // If you didn't watch until the end and you want to know more about how I got started with Nine Inch Nails and why I analyze their music, join me for a TH-cam livestream on Sunday, March 14 at 3:00pm CST for a Q&A if you're free! Thank you all for subscribing!
Been watching all your nin videos since I discovered your channel:) They have helped my understanding on theory that has been helping me on my music course. Also the editing really make your video look really professional keep it up!!!
The editing felt seamless and high quality. This much editing is like making a song production lol. Do what makes you be at peace. There's no guilt here for your decisions. Your expression holds the most value here, be it however it be.
This song was always a track I would gloss over because of its seemingly stable chordal nature (unlike piggy for example.) This analysis and the pure piano version on your insta made me renew appreciation for this and I've since heard many things I hadn't before. Thanks!
@@joshporter8101 That makes my downward spiral go up that I can help other musicians with their learning process!
@@Vunsunta Yes exactly...so much work. But worth it! I appreciate your outlook - I'll just keep making what I want to make.
I meant to touch on the harmonic movement but I ran out of time. I think the chorus sort of implies a ♭III-IV-V-I but it's not definitive. There's just so much chromaticism that it gets a bit obscured and you never land on any of these "chords" for long enough. This is why I found it so satisfying in my cover version to give the chorus a definitive ♭III-IV-i and ♭VI-IV-i at the end. I'm happy to hear that helped you broaden your experience of the OG track! Thanks for your thoughtful comment :)
@@joshporter8101 I was thinking the same thing Ixi about the editing!! It feels really professional and it helps me learn and understand to see some visuals to illustrate what you are describing. Like how you cut to NIN at that jarring cut to the first verse.
Super longtime NIN fan here, and I just wanted to drop in and say that you’re killing it IXI. Your work is so great, so informative, and so rewarding and entertaining to watch.
Thank you, that means a lot. This has been such an awesome experience - it wouldn't be anything without all of y'all.
so cool having had theories and interpretations about every second of this album for most of my life and pretty much having them confirmed and expanded on by a channel like this
I can honestly say, I’ve never met anyone that was able to say what I feel about this band so precisely and do it so eloquently. You have a natural gift my lady. You’ve already won.
"i dont know what to think about all that but it doesnt make us feel good" is a statement i live by
This is the first time I'm seeing one of your videos, and now I'm super excited to see there is a LOT more NIN breakdowns to watch!
Yes, go for it! And more are coming. Thank you for tuning in, see you next week. :)
I feel like "and i control you" voice progression gets more excited and mocking (like the major third) with the power and confidence it grows to have. Like it loses composure, because it can't hide how gleeful it is at the suffering it's causing. Its sooo good.
I didn't realise you've done every song on the album?!
I'm restarting all over again and going through them all in order.
Thank you so so much for these.
I cannot believe this album (as of 2024) is thirty years old. Wow.
Love this format and breakdown
Thank you, glad you enjoyed!
Trent Reznor always use the most unique scale, melody. That makes his music very original and unforgettable.
I couldn't agree more! :)
I was lucky in that I'm old enough to have seen the _Self Destruct Tour_ ; the opening act was a fledgling up-and-coming Marilyn Manson. International Ballroom, Houston TX, 1994. (they played an extended insane version of either Happiness in Slavery or Wish, it was brutal and seemed to go on for 20 minutes)
Early NIN will always have a foundational & influential role in developing my appreciation for the darker side of art in my youth (and beyond) & in my appreciation for the underappreciated uniqueness of industrial and all its related genres
Your description of Reznor is perfect. Both _TDS_ & _PHM_ are 2 CD's I can listen to start to finish - even twice in a 1 sitting - and feel like I've had some kind of experience beyond just the music.
and thanks ixi, good stuff
frr omg he is one of my big inspirations
@@egregiousqueef7781 wow your so lucky to have been to the self destruct tour 💖💖💖 i wasn’t even alive at that time 😹😹
Unique means singular. There is no relativity. Slightly, kind of, merely, most, or somewhat have no bearing here. I realise that English might be a foreign language to you. English has over a million words. I would urge you to use them correctly. I could have said encourage you to use them correctly.
"If something is controlling you that is losing his mind… you're in trouble". Let that sink in.
What the hell does that sink want now?
oh my gosh hahaaaaaaaa, brilliant! 😂
this world basically
@@VuotoPneumaNN my house is full of sinks
Nine inch nails has been my favorite band for the last 15 years, this record in particular was the most important thing that help me through depression, and is still being important when I feel anxious, thank you for this video I just watched the first 45 seconds and subscribed automatically when I saw you had more NIN songs in the channel. Please continue with this project this is amazing!
The enveloping nature of the noise is honestly comforting by the end. When those crazy guitar loops and pink noise come in it’s overwhelming but it feels so... perfect. Like that’s exactly how it feels man
Ah, nice. A good exercise in letting go and not resisting.
First, you're amazing. This is incredible!!!!
Second, I don't see this as multiple personalities or different voices. Maybe from my psychological background, I take this as the part of him that is urging him or compelling him to do all these things. And the "and I control you" line is the same voice, the same aspect, saying, no matter what I make you do, do to you, make you feel, all these varied things, I make you do them, I control you. and I use you up until you're done. you explode. You self destruct. You do it all to yourself from within. I think that's the message. The use of 'I' and 'you' shows the dissonance within, which is mirrored by the musical dissonance he inserts in his music. It's so good. Such a great song and such a great analysis/deconstruction.
The angrier, more noisey and disjunct the music, the more soothed and relaxed I feel. Even when the song gets me 'amp'd up' because that feeling in itself is a release and soothes me in the end. The Downward Spiral has that effect on me. Granted, not as much Broken or Pretty Hate Machine but it still taps into my psyche in that same way.
You're not the only one who's reflected that experience. I feel like when music mirrors your own emotional state it can have different effects - could be soothing, or could be confronting!
I like a lyric from a Bright Eyes called “Poison Oak” that sort of describes that feeling: “when I press the [piano] keys it all gets reversed, the sound of loneliness, makes me happier”
This album is a masterpiece. It can transport you to so many places.
I couldn't agree with you more.
I was a music theory nerd in the 90s and it was always so incredibly frustrating to me that people wrote off NIN as profane noise. Trent, Tori, and many others that we loved then were all classically trained musicians. These choices were never happenstance, they were deliberate. Thanks for the analysis.
They were missing out!
Are you still a music theory nerd? :) Let's gab!
We made mix tapes (burned CDs) of alternating NIN and Tori songs, trying to match them. They were both angry, but the hard part was finding when Trent wasn't angry at himself and Tori wasn't angry at someone else. I wish I still had some of those.
@@iximusic Sort of! I graduated with a degree in composition in 2005, and haven't used it all that much since then, so I'm a little rusty but your videos are helping me dust it off.
The holy trinity of the 90's: TOOK, TRENT AND TORI...YEAH BABY! Don't forget KMFDM and Gravity Kills. You Rock!
“There’s something strangely musical about noise”.
Great to have someone digging deep into this amazing album!
I will note that I've sometimes thought the protagonist is the voice saying 'I control you'. Like they're having a conversation, Mr. Self Destruct (the heroine addiction) is telling the protagonist all the things it does for and against him, but the protagonist blindly thinks he has those things under his control (which he's slowly losing).
Probably not correct, but it's still making me think decades later.
Wow! I'm so glad I stumbled onto your videos. I've been obsessed with Trent Reznor and NIN since I was a teenager (from around 1994) and while I'm not going to pretend to understand the music theory analysis terminology, I find you fascinating. He is a true musical genius, and I look forward to continuing to watch your videos are you continue to dive into the intricacies of his songs! I can't wait to see you analyze "Ruiner", "The Becoming", and "Eraser"!
So, this is my new favorite channel. I love the in depth breakdowns on these dense classics.
thank you, glad you found it!
Oh my goodness, I've been waiting 27 years for videos like this!
The Downward Spiral is my favorite album of all time. It's so funny to hear you say things like "unexpected" "challenging" and "jarring" because for some reason this is the music that sounded completely normal to me when I first heard it in the 90s. It's like my baseline. It's also some of the only music I listened to in the 90s that I can still appreciate. It's baffling because I don't really think I'm THAT angsty haha..
Also, nice use of the 5.1 stems! I have a Pro Tools session with the entire album's stems loaded in and I love sifting through all of it.
Thank you so much for this breakdown and I can't wait to watch the others. I hope you do the entire album!
Ah that is interesting! But I'm also not too surprised. I think TDS is a mirror for what we're going through and it can feel comforting even when things are falling apart musically.
I'm not angsty anymore either but I still listen to this album all the time. Hypes me up, makes me smile, makes me cry, without sending me back to that dark place. And I think it sounds timeless, which is amazing. Not all records from that era of our lives have aged as well :)
Ah that's awesome re: 5.1 mixes. I have multitracks from some of the later releases which I've been using too. Another subscriber told me that someday I need to listen to TDS in surround sound because the title track is mixed in such a way that it spirals around you! Have you heard it that way?
And YES I'm analyzing the entire album! Piggy is tomorrow...🐷
Amazing analysis and "de"-construction of the track. Very Good ! Brought new vision and angles for the music.
15:55 "If you were unlucky enough to turn up the volume..."
I've made this mistake listening to the song With Teeth, trying to hear that lovely quiet part in the middle/end. RIP eardrums.
Tront cares not for your bleeding ears and your violent heart!
But I do. Hope you got through the video without any permanent damage. ;)
@@iximusic Tront Rozner!
Yup. I was listening to it once late at night and was blissfully falling asleep on that part. I got abruptly woken up, to say the least.
Happened yet again today...
I feel like TR's "I cannot go through this again..." is our little secret shared between only our minds....
I’ve heard this song and album countless times, but the way you described the final chorus and outro made me feel that dread that I only ever felt the first couple of listens. Pink noise, I’ll have to remember that. Fantastic work.
I am so glad I found you! This is truly amazing. I have been a fan of NIN for the longest time and how you described this song is exactly how I fell when I listen to it!
The Downward Spiral was the soundtrack of my college years back in the 90s. It’s great to hear your insight into these songs and learn new things I didn’t know or pick up on things I didn’t hear before. Thanks to you, I’m falling in love with my favorite album all over again.
The album is a true masterpiece. Over 25 years later and it still sounds fresh. If I didn't know any better you could tell me that TDS came out this year and I would believe you.
Oh my gosh I completely agree with you! It really feels timeless. I personally have always gravitated toward music that transcends its cultural context, so no wonder I feel so strongly about this album. Amongst many other reasons of course. Thanks for this awesome comment.
nah nothing this good would come out these days lol
I suffered from a lot of drug problems as a kid and always thought it was that Mr. Self Destruct voice whispering in my head
When someone asks me what industrial sounds like, I show them this song.
I see the noise at the end as you having to live with yourself knowing you let all that happen to you and how agonizing it is
This song got so incredibly deep under my skin the first time I heard it but I eventually got used to it. Hearing you break it down this way reminded me why it disturbed and haunted me but also why I kept coming back to it (and eventually the album) for more. I can't thank you enough for basically letting me hear this for the first time a second time ❤️
Edit: also mad props for such fantastically crafted and detailed video. I don't understand music notation but your analysis still gave me goosebumps
I could pick apart this song for hours, every aspect of it goes right back to the meaning of "mr. self destruct". It's the little voice inside your head telling you that you're making yourself better by doing horrible things to yourself (close to intrusive thoughts). The drums are a machine because even though its obvious you are breaking apart, you're still expected to run at a rapid repetitive rate sometimes accelerating to stay up. Like you said, if whats controlling you is losing it you are in trouble. It's perfect.
Your fantastic- I could listen to you talk NIN all day
And I pretty much do! Nothing Can Stop Me Now. Thank you for tuning in!
*you're*
@@bradydavis5791 Your right
😂
@@iximusic At of all the songs in the album what was your favorite?
Really interesting break downs! Awesome!
I had pit passes to see them at the Frank Erwin center in Austin Texas. Front row, in the pit. They opened with this song and it was exactly like you described it literally hit you like a brick f****** wall to the Head.! One of the best shows I've ever seen in my life. Fantastic analysis
I wish I had a fraction of knowledge about music so I could truly appreciate your analysis and appreciate this album even more.
The greatest opening song of an album, ever. I saw them live in 1994 at maple leaf gardens... they opened the show with this song and it melted my face off. I became obsessed with this track for a while in my teen years. Still to this day, one of the best songs ever written from one of the best albums ever written. 100% masterpiece of music TDS is from beginning to end.
Ahhh you're a legend! Can't believe they opened with this. That'll get the crowd engaged/enraged for sure!
That was probably the best show of that tour. Toronto Dec 1 1994. But I still never felt this song has ever done well live for me. There's just way too much going on with it in the studio that becomes hard to make it sound even better live. However the further down the spiral mixes of this track are pretty danaceble and fun!
Totally. This is what I always mention during the “greatest album openers of all time” discussions.
I wasn’t the biggest fan of Mr Self Destruct at first but honestly it’s grown to become one of my favorite tracks off TDS, the bass in the bridge (quiet part) for some reason gives me Sunspots vibes, I know sunspots is possibly an octave lower but just something cool I thought I’d contribute
I LOVE ALL OF THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL.
💜
you should try Further down the spiral, its even crazier.
this is exactly the sort of channel i've been looking for since forever, really. a deep, DEEP dive into a favorite artist's catalogue that appreciates both the emotional "x-factor" of experiencing music, and the technical mechanics behind how it's structured. ixi you, and this channel, are so awesome!!!!!!
Ahh awesome! I'm so glad you found the channel! We're just getting started 🤓
"And it's like out of nowhere you hit a wall and everything hits you at once and it's just too much for your nervous system to handle."
The very way that the track opens is a commentary about how overwhelming addiction and powerlessness to vice is.
The downward spiral, broken and darkest days are the soundtracks to my life right now, although I am in a miserable and self destructive state, somehow the music helps alot, my therapy, music is religious to me and it certainly does help.
One of my favorite songs of all time! Very good analysis!
It's one of the best songs ever. Thank you for watching!
This video articulated so many things I've felt when listening to this song.
I actually like the outro. Not sure why it feels like the machine has glitched and there's freedom...then the bass of Piggy kicks in...
I also expected you to mention the layering of the bridge. The "I am the exit" line gets me. As if there's a way out...all these parts are competing...
Mr Self Destruct makes me want to hear the whole album every time. Love this track
«Isn't it powerful how music can be. It can completely reprogram your nervous system. It can change your brain waves. It can elicit emotion. It can bring back memories.»
That pretty much sums it all up.
Thank you! I needed this. I was blown away by NIN at Roskilde 2000, and I have been a huge fan since then. TDS and The Fragile are my favorite albums. Can't wait to see you dive into the rest of the this masterpiece. Can't believe it's 27 years old.
Ah, I love The Fragile too. A different kind of masterpiece! Glad you found your way here - Piggy is next week 🐷
@@iximusic Great! Keep it coming! Nothing can stop you now!
Very nice analysis, the downward spiral and the fragile are two of my favorite albums ever. Subscribed and looking forward to the next songs of the album
Same here - they are both masterpieces in their own right! Thanks for being here. See you next week piggy....
Um yes, holy crap. I'm flabbergasted that I never ran across your channel before today. NIN being my all time favorite band + your awesome breakdowns of what make up the songs = pretty much everything I ever wanted. Keep up the amazingness!
Wow that's an awesome compliment, thank you! My channel is actually pretty new. You're not late to the party - you're right on time! Glad you made it.
Thank you so much for this channel, I've been looking for something like this for a realllly long time. Please keep doing what your doing! Amazing!
This song has always sounded like a living machine to me. Still probably one of the most industrial songs I've ever heard. Amazing.
I think the intro of the song is the start of the engine, like pull start or crank start, as it picks up you get the whoops as the engine as about to crank over then it the engine starts and the machine is on!
@@HansWaldenmaier absolutely
Trent Reznor is a genius, have been listening to him since Pretty Hate Machine, which is probably my favourite album...I've bought it about 5 times it kept getting stolen, yet was still worth buying again. Anyway, it great to analyze him in the way he deserves, way before his time and influenced an entire genre yet always stayed true to himself, whatever that self was at the time. Great video...you earn a like.
I've subscribed, it definitely hypes me up and I love and have always loved the song and the ending, the noise is wonderfully beautiful...Also, I'm 39 and when I first started listening I was around 12 or so, it was so mind blowing! It definitely shaped my love of music in general.
I can't believe your copy kept getting stolen - goes to show you how good it is :) NIN has been with you almost your whole life - that's incredible. Yes he always stays true to himself, that's something so admirable.
Mr. Self Destruct has always been a personal favorite. The Downward Spiral has always been a go to album when I'm feeling well... down. Your analysis has given me a new reason to listen and really hear those tonal shifts. Thank you.
That's awesome. I'm really glad I could deepen the experience a little - see you further down the spiral!
I've been looking for this exact video for months because I've been obsessed with this song for the longest time, and now it's here, you've done it, thank you soooo much! Personally, this song hypes me up like no other. It gives me so much energy, even though it's a pretty aggressive energy, it's so menacing but it doesn't exactly feel menacing towards me, it's more like I am the menace. I love it and it's my "time to get things done" song, great for chores or workout! Hahah I loved your video, thank you! Also, I'd love to see you talking about more songs from the downward spiral
Great video! I dont know any music theory but I like following along and hearing your interpretation and breakdown of the sounds as well as the lyrics. I like that your videos unpack a lot of elements of NIN that I often overlook. Makes me want to revisit their catalogue with fresh ears!
That's my favorite part - when someone points something out in a song I haven't noticed before it's like they've opened a door to a whole new reality! All the jagged edges disappear! Colors all look brighter and the stars are all afire...wait.
WOW! what an analysis!!! loved every second of it. Definitely quite a few details I've missed from the song even after having listened to it a zillion times. Now I need to watch all your other videos! instant sub
Thank you thank you thank you. I just found your channel. Going to binge all your videos after work. This is AMAZING.
Thank you Missy! Don't forget to eat and take water breaks - my videos are loooong. Glad you are here!
Your voice is so pleasant, loved the song's review. Thanks!
That's so nice! Thank you! Appreciating you tuning in 🐖
Another fantastic breakdown, your videos make me love NIN even more, something i didnt know was possible haha keep it up!
Thank you! I didn't realize it was possible for me to love them more, either...but my gray heart just keeps getting bigger and bigger with every video :)
I just found your channel, and I cannot emphasize how much this is the best channel I have ever found on TH-cam. I. AM. IN. HEAVEN.
Ah thank you, so much! That's quite a statement and I'm honored to have sent you to pig heaven!! More coming...
The algorithm finally gets it right! I started watching this video and was thinking, "Oh wow, she should do every track on THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL." Then I scrolled down and saw that this is exactly the plan! I'm on board! Good work!
Praise The Great Algorithm! Psyched you are here for this trek into the spiral...
This review changed my life. I'm a huge fan of this song. Thank you for the in depth analysis
wow, that means a lot!
This was such a wonderful breakdown of one of my favourite songs of all time. Thank you!
You're more than welcome - thank you for commenting and I hope I'll see you around for some of the next videos!
I bought this album having no idea what I was in for. It was the first NIN album I ever listened to, and the experience of it (alone in my room on the headphones) was consistently uncomfortably, challenging, but yet very attractive.
Thanks for taking us through the musical ideas underneath it. It's always great when someone has musical competence paired with obvious appreciation for the subject. Just found this channel, looking forward to hearing more!
Thank you for the fantastic tonal and melodic break down of what makes some of NIИ's songs so jarring, the qualities that drive the voluntary anxiety we choose to embrace as we keep choosing to listen to them. I bought Downward Spiral shortly after it came out as a young kid. I bought it because of Closer but Mr. "Self Destruct" and "March of the Pigs" won me over. But there were songs where the sonic experience actually scared kid-me and I didn't listen to those songs until years later and learned to value them. If NIИ every plays live again I think I might just fly to wherever to see them live.
I hope you get to see them live one day! You've earned it :)
These are great, thank you for breaking down NIN! this is one of my favorite song of all time!
I don't know how you did this. One of the songs from my youth, one that housed all my anger in the most in your face and emotional ways possible... And you somehow made sense of it. I don't want it to make sense. Well done.
It's a powerful one, for sure. There are always so many layers to all art, and so many different levels we can experience it. Sometimes it's better to just let it move you than to understand it. But it's rewarding to explore all those levels. I'm glad you got something out of the video.
I love Nine Inch Nails and I love your analysis videos. I can't wait for more videos from you :)
More coming :)
@@iximusic yay
Released today in 94? So glad I watched this!!!
And it just so happened to be a Monday - sometimes the timing just works out!
The way you talked about music at the end of the video really hit home for me, I feel like I experience certain music in such a supernatural way that doesn't always makes sense to some people (this album being one of those, it transformed my brain and the way I thought about music when I was 14). So it's cool to hear from someone else who connects to music in that same sort of way. :)
Music friends who "get" it are important!
So glad you're getting into where the samples came from too. The remixes of this on Further Down the Spiral are really good also, as well as the remix of Piggy featuring Dave Navarro on guitar.
I've always wondered what that intro sample was. I was on a basketball team when I first heard this song so naturally it sounded like some guys playing basketball. I knew it couldn't be that but I didn't have any better ideas. Takes on a much more disturbing tone now that I know what it is!
Gotta check out those remixes...there are so many I still haven't heard.
@@iximusic ...and to make it more complicated there are different versions of Further Down the Spiral. Most of the tracks are the same except for the Mr. Self Destruct remixes. Some have parts 1 and 2 others have parts 1 and 3. It's weird. I guess it was just a different era back then of having different import versions of an album. I know Trent has said he was that collector nerd like the rest of us who would look for those rare Japan only import records because his collection had to be complete and that version had 1 extra track that you couldn't find anywhere. His discography is riddled with examples and i think he did it on purpose to bring that sense of treasure hunt to his music. My favorite is the We're In This Together Now single. There are 3 different versions with 3 different covers and track listings and each is more rare than the next depending how many were manufactured and if you look on ebay or discogs depending which one you have they can sell for, last i checked, roughly 5, 50, and a few hundred dollars respectively for I believe the U.S. version, UK version and Swedish version. There may be other reasons why record labels do this but Trent also labelled his releases as 'Halos' just to make it easier for fans to collect his stuff.
This was so good! I'll be watching the rest of the series for sure. Giving this record the props it deserves(:
Wooo! Glad to have you on this journey down the spiral, piggy! 🐖
Me - randomly mashing every note as fast as I can.
Bystander - "What was that?"
Me - "Chromatic scale..... man. Dig it."
Haha 🤘
@@iximusic "chromatic spaghetti" is now a term I will be using in the studio... Hell, in life.
I just found this channel, and I was hoping you'd analyze mostly songs I liked. Then I found that it's mainly NIN, which is the best outcome possible! Thanks so much, this is awesome!
I loved this and I BEG you to do this with the whole album.
You're going to be a very happy piggy...
@@iximusic i agree, please do the whole album. Also had to like and comment for the algorithm, this deserves more views
Hell to the yeah.
@@joymanchis fedRdeSW
You've got yourself a new fan. This was excellent.
FANTASTIC analysis and video!
Thank you so much! Glad you found your way here.
Best video yet! Love that you went into the lyrical theories for this song. Masterpiece of an album.
I'm not great at that type of thing but I'm trying! I know the lyrics mean a lot to the piggies.
It makes me feel old that 'the downward spiral' is 27 years old, but it makes me feel good that a good 'rock opera' style album like this has gotten its dues in remaining relevant alongside 'the wall' and 'ziggy stardust' for generation after generation. I definitely picked up on the 'phrygian' theme of the album and your deep dive here makes me want to jump back into 'the fragile' and some of the other albums I ignored when they came out.
Returning to these classics confirms that music is important! I'm sure we'll all still be pondering 'the downward spiral' when we're all 100+ years old!
Totally! I don't know if everyone would agree but I don't think this album sounds one bit dated. If it came out today I think it would still have hit hard.
@@iximusic hey this has nothing to do with Mr Self Destruct, but did you know that 'in a warm place' is actually a cover of this David Bowie one off song made for a Japanese advertisement?
th-cam.com/video/Tg-9pL6k3CI/w-d-xo.html
I didn't learn about that until recently and it kind of cemented the connection between 'the downward spiral' and earlier 'concept' albums. I wish there were more.
This is one of my favorite songs of all time. Everything you said is why I love it. This album has so much to offer. It is an intense story.
A great song and the perfect intro to one of my favourite albums. I wouldn't say it makes me feel uncomfortable exactly, despite its dark lyrical content. More empowering than anything else as the inner struggle feels so relatable.
Yeah I feel that, it's got a lot of power!
i only discovered your channel a few minutes ago, but this is THE BEST channel
Gosh thanks :D That means a lot!
I am a giant Trent fanboy and I'm just discovering all of these videos and I feel totally justified in my obsession.
i ammmm justifiedddddddddd i ammmmmmmm purifiiiiieeeedddddddddddddd i ammm sanctifieddddd
X 2
Hard same
Ugh huh M
Ññ1
1m1
Ñ
?d+e
He, mr self destruct, the mental struggles, the illness that haunts and overtakes the protagonist "is a silencing machine", that's what those drums definitely represent to me. The "machine" itself. Such a powerful song and such an in depth, illuminating analysis!! I love hearing you talk about NIN's music from a theory perspective.
I became fascinated with music theory about two years ago. I was never sure why: I’m not a musician. I just wanted to learn.
Now I know the answer. I was preparing for this video. My god, it’s fantastic; and I was able to understand it.
Now that is fascinating to ME. Most folks don't want to learn music theory - they only learn it because the know it will help them as a musician. Then again, music theory can be very analytical and mathematical.
Anyway, I'm thrilled you were able to understand it, that is awesome. More to come! Thank you for tuning in and leaving a comment :)
Your musical analysis is amazing. I just found your channel through this video and I cant wait to watch the rest of them. You really deserve way more credit than you get.
Thank you for that - I'm glad you found your way here! Enjoy the videos and let me know if you have a request! I have a list :)
@@iximusic The fragile is probably one of my favorite NIN songs so definitely that. And if you're considering other bands to do analysis of maybe radiohead or massive attack? Thanks for replying. Seriously love your vids!
@@The_halfofit The Fragile (the song) is on my list! The discography is so massive I could be doing NIN analyses for years.
I'll be analyzing Radiohead for sure! Massive Attack is a cool suggestion. Thanks!
i think each voice is another "demon" (vice or mental illness) that the protagonist is battling, and they are winning.
that bridge is pure heaven. I think it's the characters quick moment of ecstasy (an "exit" from the pain) when he gives into a "demon", but then the pain returns.
That's kind of how I always thought of it, with each line representing a different vice/demon/part of him.
Lovely interpretation of the bridge. I'll try that one on next time :)
Love the song, love your video, love how you're making me think about this album differently!
I am the Great Mind Benderrr! But you let me in. 👀
You've outdone yourself, ixi! This is fantastic. I'm really looking forward to the next video.
Mr. Self Destruct was the third nin song I ever heard, the first being Closer (cuz of course) and the second being Dead Souls, the joy division cover from The Crow soundtrack. I was 14 or 15 and was honestly pretty green in the ways of anything "heavy" so to say it was a mind fuck is a total understatement. Thank goodness it was followed by the calm, quiet opening to piggy because I don't think I could've handled the opening to Heresy just yet. The religious skepticism in the lyrics was completely new to me, too, so, even more jarring. I really didn't know the rabbit hole I was going down, but I was instantly hooked.
See you at the live stream!
It's so cool to hear everyone's NINitiation stories! I was 14 too. I hear from a lot of people that that's the specific age they discovered NIN.
That's interesting to hear your experience of Piggy being a relief. When I was younger, I felt like the intense energy created was dropped on the floor and wasted with Piggy and I felt let down by that. Everything was so dramatic when I was 14 though ;)
I had a cassette tape of The Crow album my brother made me that I would just listen to on repeat on a tape recorder from the 70s my dad gave me :)
@@ashm7955 What a great album that was. Pantera, Nine Inch Nails, The Cure... it really influenced my musical taste as a teenager. And man, I forgot all about those double cassette recorders that could make copies!!
@@brandonsharp3147 my parents caught on fast 🤣🤣
ur the greatest music analysis channel on youtube tbh. you deserve more subs/views
Thank you for the vote of confidence!
This song is just the right kind of anger and darkness. This and Gave Up from Broken have the same feel to me. Keep up the amazing work buddy you are going to teach the masses why Trent is the best sculptor of music and sound.
"The Sound Has Been Sculpted" could be one of his song titles ;)
@@iximusic I think we would have been besties if I still lived in Austin... Cant wait for the live stream!
🙌 yeeehaw, see you then!
this is genius!! im really speechless. thank you for making this video. the downward spiral deserves more recognition, and so do you!
Ahhh thank you so much! This record can never be recognized enough!
I did this as a high school English project in high school. A track by track thematic analysis of The Downward Spiral aka the greatest work of art ever.
Wow! Feel free to chat me up on Instagram if you want to contribute any of your findings :) @ixi.music
Somehow this breakdown is emotional.. unpacking years of my own subconscious interpretations of this song. Everything from angsty kid feelings when it first came out.. to the best description "when the thing controlling you starts to lose control.. You're in trouble". It's brilliant, you're brilliant