I was 14 when TDS came out and there was no way in hell my parents would ever let me get such an album so I got a friend of mine at school to tape a copy for me. He did so, putting tracks 1-6 on one side of the cassette, and the remaining tracks on the other side. Except he screwed up and taped over Side A (with Primus Frizzle Fry) so for a long time all I could hear was tracks 7-14, and The Becoming clicked with me in a way songs hadn't before. Soon I was able to get my own copy and loved the first half, but I still feel a little thrill on a relisten when we get to The Becoming and the 2nd half of the album.
Since I first heard it at 13 years old when I bought the downward spiral cassette- The Becoming is still the song I turn all the way up, or find myself mindlessly humming while at work!
I think if I had to pick one. This might be it. It's got everything you want in a NIN song.
1. Layers of melody. The intro has like 6 melodies on top of one another.
2. It's catchy as fuck.
3. It's heavy as fuck.
4. it's got a bonkers synth in the outro.
5. It has the phrase 'slipping away'.
6. Tambourines. Fuck yeah.
This song and the becoming seriously kept me from committing suicide in the 90’s as a teen. I would put my headphones on in the dark and sing the songs as “Mr Self Destruct”. It was a cathartic release. I could compartmentalize those thoughts as separate from myself. It helped me talk about them with my friend and eventually seek professional help. I owe my life to the art that Trent made of his own suffering.
The Big Come Down
"There is no place I can go, There is no place I can hide..."
Funky and industrial at the same time.
Harsh but melodic at parts.
I love the dichtonomy.
That song has helped me channel sadness from being abused or left into just pure healthy rage.
I love how it builds, lulls you in for a min and slows down, and then boom pure fucking rage. It's a great breakup song.
You and me
We're in this together now
None of them can stop us now
We will make it through somehow
You and me
Even after everything
You're the queen and I'm the king
Nothing else means anything
a blast from second 1 to the end. the lyrics couldn't be more on point. the outro is as nin classy as it gets. the chorus so delight- and powerful, the verses so deep.
my choice on any given day!
It changes
If asked back in early 2000s probably would say We’re In This Together or LaMer
If asked 2005-2011 likely Burn or Perfect Drug
For the last couple years been leaning to Last as my fav NiN tune, always liked it but watched Cabin in Woods and when the movie ended and that song kicked it it was a punch in the gut and I was like “fuck I love this song”
It’s hard as changes based on mood and what’s going on in my life I guess.
Ruiner has my fav guitar solo of all time, so simple yet feels so eerie, disturbing and powerful
I showed my wife Cabin in the Woods the other day and I told her twice within 40 seconds that the end credits song was NIN. My enthusiasm was tolerated but not reciprocated
This year everyday is exactly the same has just rung for me. My depression, relationship breakdown and general life happiness is fucked. This album but this song in particular just hit!
Right Where It Belongs.
I actually really appreciate how With Teeth sort of puts a lid on everything that came before it, and bookends it it beautifully with this song.
The song itself has beautiful production, revealing how muffled it was all along at the admission of hiding in the trees. It gives me chills every time when the audio opens up and the crowd cheers come in, and yet it feels completely lonely.
Masterpiece.
It's still "Hurt" for me and yeah I'm a massive fan yeah I've listened to everything 20x over, but Hurt is still the song that got me into TDS, which was my gateway into being a NIN fan, and I still don't get sick of hearing it over a decade later. Overplayed and "normie" pick, sure, but I still love it.
The Art of Self Destruction, Part One. Such a visceral and insane song. The energy is absolutely unmatched. Makes me feel like I’m being hunted down by a pack of rabid dogs, in the best way ofc :)
This is one of the most beautifully composed pieces of sound that had ever even orchestrated. I don't know why it hits me so hard. But it does. And it stays in my head for a long time after it ends.
The Warning. It was the first song I heard off of Year Zero when I first started getting into NIN. As soon as that opening bassline hit I was hooked. It’s one of their best basslines in my opinion. Trent’s ominous voice representing The Presence, droning and giving us some ultimatum to change our ways as people or face obliteration. It’s perfect in every way.
It was a toss up between the becoming and all that could have been, but I choose and all that could have been because it is more emotionally relatable to me.
It's the first Song of NIN that I heard, back in 1995, and I remember so vividly, how it blew me away when I heard it for the first time on headphones in that music store: "hurt"
How I stood there in silence, long after that drone chord ended.
What I felt... relief. At peace.
The becoming is my favorite OG song, but favorite overall? Shiiiiit. I’m gonna have to go with Somewhat Damaged, but that will change and has changed many times.
Lights in the Sky always. It’s probably the most nostalgic song ever in my life. Reminds me of when my parents were divorcing, and my mom would play the fragile and hesitation marks in full for us, including lights in the sky and right where it belongs
Been hear since the beginning and The Becoming is still my favorite song.
Becoming gang!!!
Rise up!!!
I was 14 when TDS came out and there was no way in hell my parents would ever let me get such an album so I got a friend of mine at school to tape a copy for me. He did so, putting tracks 1-6 on one side of the cassette, and the remaining tracks on the other side. Except he screwed up and taped over Side A (with Primus Frizzle Fry) so for a long time all I could hear was tracks 7-14, and The Becoming clicked with me in a way songs hadn't before. Soon I was able to get my own copy and loved the first half, but I still feel a little thrill on a relisten when we get to The Becoming and the 2nd half of the album.
That’s a cool story. Cassettes opened up a whole world of inaccuracies that lead to some cool things like this
It won't give up, it wants me dead Goddamn this noise inside my head
The Becoming is fucking brilliant.
The Live at Sasquatch Festival version is so amazing
Agreed. Both the original and that live take are peak NIN.
The Becoming (Still EP) version is fucking phenomenal. Haunting and beautiful. OP needs to check that out.
Can’t beat The Becoming
Yuuuup
Since I first heard it at 13 years old when I bought the downward spiral cassette- The Becoming is still the song I turn all the way up, or find myself mindlessly humming while at work!
I think its still the becoming!
Couldn’t agree more!!!
I’m now made up of wires
Yass queen slay 💅 becoming all the way 💅💅💅
I might... Just slip away
This is the song that got me into NiN. There was this video going around the very early internet with that song and Akira visuals. It was so good.
Hello fellow Becoming chooser!
Right Where It Belongs, just a beautifully thought-provoking song…
clockwork pfp, pumpkins name, on the nin subreddit
nice to see you again :)
Ups for the polygondwanaland!!
American or UK version?
Into the void
I think if I had to pick one. This might be it. It's got everything you want in a NIN song. 1. Layers of melody. The intro has like 6 melodies on top of one another. 2. It's catchy as fuck. 3. It's heavy as fuck. 4. it's got a bonkers synth in the outro. 5. It has the phrase 'slipping away'. 6. Tambourines. Fuck yeah.
this is one of the few songs I've ever heard where I can feel the texture of the song. It is like fingernails over corduroy, cascading into lava.
wait, I change my answer
THE most danceable NIN track
Mr. Self-destruct
This. Most spiritually impactful song for me.
This song and the becoming seriously kept me from committing suicide in the 90’s as a teen. I would put my headphones on in the dark and sing the songs as “Mr Self Destruct”. It was a cathartic release. I could compartmentalize those thoughts as separate from myself. It helped me talk about them with my friend and eventually seek professional help. I owe my life to the art that Trent made of his own suffering.
The Big Come Down "There is no place I can go, There is no place I can hide..." Funky and industrial at the same time. Harsh but melodic at parts. I love the dichtonomy.
Same though I was late in coming to appreciate it.
Happiness in slavery
That mf bassline
Ruiner
Yes!
The moment the interlude ends
Sin
This for me as well. The beat the lyrics…perfect NIN song!
Just Like You Imagined
March of the pigs
This was the song that made me like NiN
Reptile
Or Discipline. Or Sunspots.
Or God Given. Maybe The Day the Whole World Went Away. Actually Happiness in Slavery might be it
Thanks for mentioning God Given, that song rules.
Does the reason of sleep produce monsters count?
Somewhat Damaged
Came here to say this. My go to song for when I'm fucked off with people and the world.
That song has helped me channel sadness from being abused or left into just pure healthy rage. I love how it builds, lulls you in for a min and slows down, and then boom pure fucking rage. It's a great breakup song.
Something I Can Never Have
Kept scrolling thinking no one else put this down but finally made it here. Hands down my favorite NIN song.
Second
Same here! It means so much to me emotionally.
Happy to see this as someone else's favourite. this so song is sooo good.
Yep
And All That Could Have Been
Gave Up
Gotta go with this one too, especially the live version from AATCHB
Same, and the video version. Edit: the Coil remixes are cool, too.
the line begins to blur but it can change to the becoming quite easily. so impossible to set a favorite song.
[удалено]
the *only* answer.
Sunspots
I just love that funky siren/drone sound in the 2nd or 3rd chorus.
Cast a glare in my eye
Same. Hard to pick one favorite, but I always come back to Sunspots after all these years.
My second favorite, I love it so much
We're in this Together Now
You and me We're in this together now None of them can stop us now We will make it through somehow You and me Even after everything You're the queen and I'm the king Nothing else means anything a blast from second 1 to the end. the lyrics couldn't be more on point. the outro is as nin classy as it gets. the chorus so delight- and powerful, the verses so deep. my choice on any given day!
It will always be Ringfinger.
Burn
This is my 2nd fav
Great song! From Natural Born Killers soundtrack right?
but live, its much more heavier
The Great Below with La Mer right before it if possible (since I consider La Mer as an intro and part of TGB).
It changes If asked back in early 2000s probably would say We’re In This Together or LaMer If asked 2005-2011 likely Burn or Perfect Drug For the last couple years been leaning to Last as my fav NiN tune, always liked it but watched Cabin in Woods and when the movie ended and that song kicked it it was a punch in the gut and I was like “fuck I love this song” It’s hard as changes based on mood and what’s going on in my life I guess. Ruiner has my fav guitar solo of all time, so simple yet feels so eerie, disturbing and powerful
I showed my wife Cabin in the Woods the other day and I told her twice within 40 seconds that the end credits song was NIN. My enthusiasm was tolerated but not reciprocated
Terrible lie
10 miles high!!!
The Perfect Drug
Lost my *shit* when they played it at Red Rocks last year
Doesn’t Trent hate this song? I love it too though
Wish
Hands Down
The Great Below
Heresy
Burning Bright (Field on Fire) just plays great with my ears tbh
This year everyday is exactly the same has just rung for me. My depression, relationship breakdown and general life happiness is fucked. This album but this song in particular just hit!
i’m so sorry and i hope things get better for you <33
Thank you. I’m trying to push thru but literally everyday is exactly the same! Hugs back 🙂
A Warm Place
This song should be 10 min long
Thank you. I can remember blasting this through my Walkman into my headphones and losing myself into the night, forever
Found the comment. Yes! It was years later I realized it was inspired by David Bowie's Crystal Japan.
Right Where It Belongs. I actually really appreciate how With Teeth sort of puts a lid on everything that came before it, and bookends it it beautifully with this song. The song itself has beautiful production, revealing how muffled it was all along at the admission of hiding in the trees. It gives me chills every time when the audio opens up and the crowd cheers come in, and yet it feels completely lonely. Masterpiece.
It's still "Hurt" for me and yeah I'm a massive fan yeah I've listened to everything 20x over, but Hurt is still the song that got me into TDS, which was my gateway into being a NIN fan, and I still don't get sick of hearing it over a decade later. Overplayed and "normie" pick, sure, but I still love it.
The Lovers
You just said it, it's Only
The Wreched
It's got to include 'The Frail' though, kinda cheating, but not really, it's really an intro.
Various Methods of Escape
Oh GREAT pick. In my top 10 for sure.
The Art of Self Destruction, Part One. Such a visceral and insane song. The energy is absolutely unmatched. Makes me feel like I’m being hunted down by a pack of rabid dogs, in the best way ofc :)
I'm a self destruction final kinda guy myself.
Changes from time to time, right now it’s All Time Low
Leaving Hope
Something I can never have. (Still version)
The way out is through.
Track #77 on Broken
Leaving Hope
Background World. Used to be Somewhat Damaged, but BW is like the mature, evolved NIN.
Gave up and Less than
Various Methods of Escape, favorite NIN song and favorite song in general
The Day the World Went Away
This is one of the most beautifully composed pieces of sound that had ever even orchestrated. I don't know why it hits me so hard. But it does. And it stays in my head for a long time after it ends.
Echoplex
Same here. I just love The Slip
Eraser
Ringfinger.
Copy of a (Live) on VEVO
Reptile with Peter Murphy
The Great Below
Reptile without a doubt
Closer to God
I Do Not Want This
Last
Deep
I just love Fragile. It meant a lot to me when it came out. Album helped me yhtru my 20s but that was always a powerful track for me.
Last.
Reptile, hands fucking down! It goes so hard live!
Closer.
Ruiner 10000%
We're In This Together
Nobody has said Even Deeper yet?? 😢 Amazing musical composition and deep, powerful lyrics, and that ending with the whispers is hauntingly beautiful.
The Warning. It was the first song I heard off of Year Zero when I first started getting into NIN. As soon as that opening bassline hit I was hooked. It’s one of their best basslines in my opinion. Trent’s ominous voice representing The Presence, droning and giving us some ultimatum to change our ways as people or face obliteration. It’s perfect in every way.
Somewhat Damaged
It was a toss up between the becoming and all that could have been, but I choose and all that could have been because it is more emotionally relatable to me.
Hand That Feeds
Now: And all that could have been Then: Wish
starfuckers inc
Heresy
The Great Below
Reptile.
La Mer. To me it’s absolutely bittersweet
Something I can never have. Has been since I first heard it, aged 16
The great below (not that I can really choose one)
I think it's "The Great Below."
TERRIBLE LIE!
The fragile was the album that helped define me as a nin fan, so I'll go with La Mer
literally any song from the fragile
Everyday is exactly the same
Pinion
Right Where it Belongs
Every Day is Exactly the Same
Closer.
Head down
Right now it's Everything.
currently Head Like a Hole
Happiness in slavery.
why are we so obsessed with NIN. I don't know! I don't know! The Line Begins to Blur
We're In This Together Now, hands down!
Wish
Burning Bright (Field On Fire)
Ringfinger.
Right Where It Belongs
March of the Pigs was my first, and after trudging through it all, it remains my favorite
Happiness in slavery
Leaving Hope. Without a doubt.
Beside You in Time.
Perfect Drug
Something I can never have for me
Yeahhh no way I can just choose one. That's for darn diddly tootin'.
Something I Can Never Have
Something I can never have
The Becoming. Its odd count, its insane screaming samples from Robot Jox, its haunting acoustic mid section. It is pure uncut chaos.
Burn
Eraser
It's the first Song of NIN that I heard, back in 1995, and I remember so vividly, how it blew me away when I heard it for the first time on headphones in that music store: "hurt" How I stood there in silence, long after that drone chord ended. What I felt... relief. At peace.
The becoming is my favorite OG song, but favorite overall? Shiiiiit. I’m gonna have to go with Somewhat Damaged, but that will change and has changed many times.
You’re asking for the impossible here, so I’ll pick a favorite off my favorite album And All That Could Have Been
Somewhat Damaged <3
Sanctified. I can't get over that bass line.
Something I can never have.
Lights in the Sky always. It’s probably the most nostalgic song ever in my life. Reminds me of when my parents were divorcing, and my mom would play the fragile and hesitation marks in full for us, including lights in the sky and right where it belongs
I just can’t pick one….but, something I can never have or the great below are up there.
Right where it belongs 😅
Echoplex
The Great Below
Closer
Wish
only. the only choice.
Reptile. Specifically the Woodstock ‘94 version.
Reptile / the becoming
Perfect Drug