Get Down, Trent Reznor, Don't Get Down in It
Written: Apr 16 '04 (Updated Apr 16 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: A really amazing song...
Cons: ...which can be found elsewhere
The Bottom Line: If you "need" everything from NIN, then Halo 1 (aka Down in It) is necessary. Otherwise, just buy Pretty Hate Machine and Head Like a Hole and call it good.
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| lambchops's Full Review: Down In It [Single] by Nine Inch Nails |
Trent Reznor has never quite followed the same path as most recording artists. Rather than relying on album sales as a gauge for success, Reznor has recorded to date just three albums of new material in fifteen years. Filling in the many year gaps is a collection of EPs, singles, and live releases. The entire grouping of releases is often referred to in “Halo” terminology.
Down in It (1989) is the official first release—Halo 1. And for that reason alone, it is an essential recording for nine inch nails fans and completists alike. This isn’t to discount the importance or the loveliness of the song itself, but I’ve come to appreciate nine inch nails for something more than just an individual recording here or there. Down in It is by no means a masterpiece (nothing can be at just three songs) but since it contains three separate mixes of one of the most distinctive NIN songs to date.
Down in It was NIN’s first single. Yes, even before my personal favorite Head Like a Hole. Maybe the better recording is the impressive EP for Head Like a Hole (which also includes two of these versions of Down in It, Terrible Lie, and the song You Know Who You Are) but I still can’t help but appreciate this first Halo release.
The lineup on this single is to be expected—three remixes subtitled (skin), (shred), and (singe). While I’m not always keen on all of Reznor’s remixed songs, in the case of Down in It I find myself entertained and mostly impressed (which is more than I can say for subsequent releases in support of Sin and The Perfect Drug). Not that they are really all that different (aside from length) despite the retooling by Adrian Sherwood (KMFDM, Skinny Puppy) and Keith LeBlanc (Tackhead, Afrika Bambaataa).
The first two versions, skin and shred, are probably the best—of course, they are also the most similar. The differences are slight and unobtrusive. (skin) is indeed the “original” version as found on Pretty Hate Machine. It will come as no shock and will present no revelation. Similar is (shred) with only modest changes and only sometimes musically deviating from the original. I love it with the trademark industrial metal whirrs and noise, but really when compared to the first it isn’t anything new or special—plus, it is on Head Like a Hole.
Speaking of Head Like a Hole, (singe) can be found there. It is a well-produced but incredibly, superfluously long thing that will either annoy to no end or touch in all the right places for just the right amount of time. In any case, I can’t help but believe that Down in It was released to feel out NIN’s audience. It exists because everybody has to have a first single. But in the context of Reznor’s entire discography it is probably best described as unnecessary aside from to people really, really in love with the band.
My suggestion is to buy Pretty Hate Machine and Head Like a Hole and call it good, unless of course it is your mission to own ever last piece of NIN music ever officially sanctioned and released. With that said, it is still a fine enough offering just not Reznor’s best vision.
Rating: 3/5 stars
Track Listing:
1. down in it (skin)
2. down in it (shred)
3. down in it (singe)
Related Reviews
Pretty Hate Machine (1989) Halo 2
http://www.epinions.com/content_98947665540
Head Like A Hole (1989) Halo 3
http://www.epinions.com/content_30111534724
Sin (1989) Halo 4
http://www.epinions.com/content_129330024068
Broken (1992) Halo 5
http://www.epinions.com/content_72560119428
Closer To God (1994) Halo 9
http://www.epinions.com/content_43962764932
Further Down the Spiral (1995) Halo 10
http://www.epinions.com/content_109512593028
The Perfect Drug (1997) Halo 12
http://www.epinions.com/content_41096285828
And All That Could Have Been (2002) Halo 17
http://www.epinions.com/content_65324617348
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lambchops
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