Today I went out and bought copies of Hesitation Marks, Broken, Pretty Hate Machine (the remaster) and The Fragile. Saw them for the first time on Monday and feel like I really missed out on this band.
I had something of a NIN renaissance a few years back. I don't identify with Trent Reznor's writing at all, but I appreciate the sonic value of his records even more now than when I was younger. I like "The Downward Spiral" but my go-to NIN albums are probably "The Fragile" and "Ghosts."
"Ghosts" is really cool, LV -- not too far removed from the ballpark of Bowie's instrumentals on "Low" and "Heroes," if that's your thing. I think "With Teeth" and "Year Zero" are pretty weak, and think "Hesitation Marks" has some strong moments but overall isn't that great either. But "Ghosts" I adore.
With Teeth has some terrific songs - Beside You In Time, The Line Begins To Blur and the title track chief among them. Even the lead single still holds my interest.
I have a soft spot for "Pretty Hate Machine" but it sounds primitive now -- the leap between it and "Downward Spiral," with as little music as exists between the two (and especially since "Broken" was more of an exercise for his live band), is gargantuan.
I will have to listen to "With Teeth" again, Zeb -- I don't remember really liking any of those songs. "Year Zero" has a few (especially at the very beginning and very end) that are great, though.
I've always liked With Teeth. It's just not in the same league as what came before it. I certainly think it's better than Year Zero, which has maybe one or two good tracks and a lot of terrible crap.