Since it’s October, it’s the perfect time to listen to a bunch of Nine Inch Nails. Actually, every month is a good month for a bunch of Nine Inch Nails. And sine we’ve been listening to NIN regularly since 1989, we’ve ranked all of Nine Inch Nails. 

Well … almost all of it. We ranked everything from the main releases, singles, and EPs excluding (almost all) remixes and live performances. If you’re not sure what a main release is, nin.com has a helpful, well organized discography page. 

We did not include any of the songs from the Ghosts (mostly) instrumental albums. Those records are great but more of an experiment than a collection of songs. Those aren’t our words, those are Trent Reznor’s. 

Ghosts is the Nine Inch Nails equivalent of Queens of the Stone Age’s The Desert Sessions. What is released on Ghosts may end up as part of a future Nine Inch Nails song, a Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross score or get sampled for the most successful song of 2019 and earn Reznor and Ross their first Country Music Award.

We did not include any of the Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross scores because those are not Nine Inch Nails releases–they are Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross releases. Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross just happen to be the current iteration of Nine Inch Nails. 

Why are we doing this now? This piece originally ran in 2014. We’re updating it because the site it was on is longer in existence and we’re definitely still listening to Nine Inch Nails. Also, Twin Peaks season 3 has been in our heads since 2017 and there’s an argument to be made that the NIN’s EPs released since our initial ranking are based around Twin Peaks: The Return. More on that below and Happy Halloween. 

-Tony Beasley and Brandon Wetherbee

140. “I’m Not from This World” from Bad Witch 

We’re setting the scene. But it’s track 5. It’s a rare example of bad sequencing. Lots of NIN albums start like this. It’s not bad, in fact it’s good, but as individual songs, you’re not putting them on. -B.W.

139. “This Isn’t the Place” from Add Violence

See “I’m Not from This World.” This should either be track 1 or not on the EP. -B.W.

138. “999,999” from The Slip

If this was on a soundtrack, it would not make the list. It’s a perfectly fine, nearly one note instrumental that’s reminiscent of an Angelo Badalamenti score. Does it add to track 2, “1,000,000”? No. -B.W.

137. “The Persistence Of Loss” from Still

Still is NIN’s 2002 EP that came packaged with the deluxe edition of And All That Could Have Been, the incredible live album and film of the Fragility 2.0 tour in 2000. Still includes several original songs from a stripped-down acoustic recording session in Chicago. These songs have unmistakable DNA of both post-The Fragile and pre-soundtrack Reznor, but they’re not great. “The Persistence of Loss” would be the least memorable part of the score to something like Patriot’s Day. -T.B.

136. “The Downward Spiral” from The Downward Spiral

Few relics of my adolescence are now more historically revered or important than The Downward Spiral. It is among a select handful of albums that shaped my musical personality. Like many in the bottom rungs of our list, this titular track ultimately works better as background music. If you don’t believe me, check out the score for Man on Fire (2004). T.B.

135. “The Eater of Dreams” from Hesitation Marks

This is Nine Inch Nails’ version of feedback. A few quiet bloops and bleeps that exist as a warm up to a loud statement. -B.W. 

134. “Lights In The Sky” from The Slip

It’s difficult to get through this song. It’s barely audible for the first 30 seconds. It never really connects. Our protagonist is watching someone drown and he’s following her down and didn’t we already cover this territory on The Fragile? -B.W.

133.  “The Mark Has Been Made” from The Fragile

Upon release, this was one of the 10 best songs on the double-disc, The Wall-esque 1999 album. The slow, creepy, memorable instrumental just goes on a bit too long. The only thing that makes it sound dated is the dominant cello line around the 1:30 mark. It gets louder before a breather around minute 3 and before a final rise in volume. Then it fades away. The last minute of this song does not need to exist. With some basic editing, this could easily be in the top 50. -B.W.

132. “Corona Radiata” from The Slip 

Tracks from The Slip make several appearances toward the bottom of these rankings. This is one of them. Not much to say about “Corona Radiata,” or the album generally, other than that it bookmarks a time when Trent Reznor was trying to find his footing as an artist – both musically and commercially. To its credit, that The Slip existed as a digital download, and that this was a meaningful departure from the norm, is certainly of a time and harder to appreciate in 2023 vs. 2008. It speaks to just how much we owe to people like Reznor for things we take for granted today. -T.B.

131. “10 Miles High” from Things Falling Apart

I get why Reznor thinks some of the lyrics are embarrassing but there’s a good 2 minutes of this 5+ minute song that are just as good as anything in the catalogue. I also understand why he kept this off the US release of The Fragile. -B.W.

130. “Even Deeper” from The Fragile

“Sometimes I have everything, but I wish I felt something,” sings the 30-something millionaire collecting massive checks from massive tours and really connecting with 13-year-boys everywhere. -B.W.

129. “Disappointed” from Hesitation Marks

Could be a stronger song if it eschewed the bloops and beeps. In 2014 (when this list was first published), I was wary of NIN traveling further down the “bleep bloop” path, and I think those fears have been put to rest. -T.B.

128. “Memorabilia” from The Downward Spiral

This track from disc 2 of the deluxe version sounds like a bad dance remix by an unknown DJ. Doesn’t need to exist, let alone be included on an important release. -B.W. 

127. “Gone, Still” from Still

A nice little motif that you’d imagine hearing on Ghosts many years later. Won’t hurt anyone. -T.B.

126. “La Mer” from The Fragile

Extremely Air-core (“La Mer” means “the sea” in French, FYI). -T.B.

125. “The Four Of Us Are Dying” from The Slip

If this were on a score and wed to a foreboding David Fincher visual it may rank higher. Instead, it’s a perfectly fine b-side that’s not a b-side. -B.W.

Would be Top 20 if we were ranking by song titles only. -T.B.

124. “In Two” from Hesitation Marks

I asked GPT to write a blurb about this song from the perspective of a 40-year old man: “‘In Two’ from Nine Inch Nails’ Hesitation Marks album is a compelling blend of unsettling falsetto and familiar pace, pointing to something new and exciting. However, as a 40-year-old listener, you might find yourself torn between the nostalgia of Reznor’s older material and the intrigue of his fresh approach.” I, for one, welcome our new robot overlords. -T.B. 

123. “Another Version of the Truth” from Year Zero 

An intriguing instrumental track (that would serve as more than filler material) up until about the 1:45 mark, at which point it devolves into said filler material. -T.B.

122. “Black Noise” from Hesitation Marks

What’s the sheet music like for this one? -B.W.

121. “The Way Out Is Through” from The Fragile

I love everything this song does. The drama is just so dramatic! But NIN has gotten better at making this drama over the years. It’s a rare feat. -B.W.

120. “Leaving Hope” from Still

The depth and ethereality of the piano on this track put it above most of the others on Still. Ultimately, it is filler. -T.B.

119. “Various Methods of Escape” from Hesitation Marks

Revisiting this list in 2023 compared to 2014 helps me appreciate the ability to view lyrics in real time on Spotify. Lyrics such as “I’ve gotta let go / I’ve gotta get straight / Why’d you have to make it so hard? / Let me get away,” expressing a sentiment being felt in 2013 as an extremely successful man in his late 40’s. Good song, if not clinging a bit too hard to the angst of someone younger (but, who amongst us, right?). -T.B.

118. “The Background World” from Add Violence

It’s a grower, which is fine since it’s nearly 12 minutes. Gimme that noise, baby! -B.W.

117. “The Great Below” from The Fragile

I’d put this in my top 20 when this record was released and I was a teenager. But now I am an adult and this song clearly belongs at 117. -B.W.

116. “And All That Could Have Been” from Still

If you’re a music supervisor or director or anyone involved in film and television that chooses pre-existing songs for scores, how do you not attempt to use this for any drama or action film? There’s like 3 distinct movements that would work well right before a big action sequence or in a comedown from a horrific scene. Musically it’s incredibly cinematic. Lyrics are eh. -B.W.

115. “Running” from Hesitation Marks 

2013-core, In Rainbows-ass song. And to be clear, this is a compliment – this is nearly worthy of being a top 100 NIN track. -T.B.

114. “The Greater Good” from Year Zero

Works well in the Year Zero world but falls short as a standalone track. -B.W.

113. “The Fragile” from The Fragile

-T.B.

112. “Over and Out” from Bad Witch

I like this song. I like this song that’s two songs. I like this song that’s clearly about David Bowie and clearly influenced by Blackstar. I just like 111 NIN songs more. -B.W.

111. “The Lovers” from Add Violence

I loathe any song that uses the word ‘lover.’ It’s a me problem but it’s a problem nonetheless. -B.W.

110. “Something I Can Never Have” from Pretty Hate Machine

This is the footnote to Pretty Hate Machine that firmly establishes to its audience that NIN is not purely a Front 242 clone, but includes plenty of pop-sensible, gothic melodrama as well. The stripped-down version on And All That Could Have Been is better. -T.B.

109. “Zero Sum” from Year Zero

The song is better if you just remove the whisper vocals and keep the clearly spoken/sung stuff. -B.W.

108. “The Frail” from The Fragile

Dude was ripped when he released “The Frail.” GTFO. -B.W.

107. “Adrift & At Peace” from Still

Some pretty piano tinkling that grows into a mood piece that would be on a soundtrack if it wasn’t released in 2002. -B.W.

106. “In This Twilight” from Year Zero

Even the filler is good. This song does not need to be on this album and is entirely listenable. It really peaks around the minute mark. Nice falsetto too. -B.W. 

105. “Find My Way” from Hesitation Marks

Tracks like that make it the spiritual sequel to TDS. -B.W.

104. “Ripe (With Decay)” from The Fragile

It’s more of a mood than a song. -B.W.

103. “Kinda I Want To” from Pretty Hate Machine

I understand why people love this song. It’s fine but in a catalogue this good, it belongs right here. -B.W.

102. “I Would For You” from Hesitation Marks

This is not a bad song but it’s not a great song. Live in 2013 it was a highlight, but mostly because of the groundbreaking light show and usage of screens. -B.W.

101. “The Idea of You” from Not The Actual Events

Should this be higher? Whenever I hear the first 20 seconds I think it should be higher. Maybe it’s the whisper vocals. I don’t think I like whisper vocals. -B.W.

100. “Underneath It All” from The Fragile

This song actually grew on me between 2014 and now, but not enough to unmoor it from the bottom half of our list. -T.B.

99. “Head Down” from The Slip 

This is one of the brighter spots on The Slip, even if marred by overuse of distortion effects. -T.B.

98. “While I’m Still Here” from Hesitation Marks

Outdone by its remix with guest vocals by Breyer P. Orridge (RIP) – see further down the list to reveal just how outdone I mean. -T.B.

97. “Demon Seed” from The Slip

If released today it would live on a score. -B.W.

96. “Me, I’m Not” from Year Zero

I bet if that HBO series based around this album was ever made this song would rank higher. -B.W.

95. “Sunspots” from With Teeth 

Like much of this album, this track asks: what if NIN was a simple arena rock band? It’s very solid on rhythms (Grohl), but otherwise fails to stroke the industrial influence that we love. – T.B.

94. “The Day The Whole World Went Away” from The Fragile

One of many NIN songs about when you go away. See also “Something I Can Never Have,” which also includes lyrics about going away, and an entry much, much further down the list about when someone else (a she) goes away. -T.B.

93. “Dear World,” from Not The Actual Events

If any other artist is using a comma to end their song title I’m calling bullshit. But when NIN do it, I’m like, “Oh yeah, good artistic choice.” -B.W.

92. “Echoplex” from Hesitation Marks

Is he trying to do Death From Above 1979? Kinda, right? -B.W.

91. “Right Where It Belongs” from With Teeth

Every composer that attempts to sound like Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross kinda sounds like this. -BW

90. “Burning Bright (Field on Fire)” from Not the Actual Events

Is this how industrial ages gracefully? I’ve long thought country/Americana and shoegaze were the best genres for all ages but songs like this make me think there’s a case for industrial. I can’t see the 1989 version of NIN doing this but can absolutely see the 2029 version playing this 2016 track. -B.W.

89. “Reptile” from The Downward Spiral

I used to think this was the throwaway song on an otherwise-perfect album, but I was wrong, it’s great. We didn’t know how good we had it. -T.B.

88. “Every Day Is Exactly The Same” from With Teeth

Works well in the opening sequence to Wanted, an otherwise mediocre movie. -T.B.

87. “My Violent Heart” from Year Zero

When it kicks in it’s pretty good. It just takes a bit long to kick in. -BW

86. “The Only Time” from Pretty Hate Machine

Is it slap bass or a Casio keyboard? The most 80s sounding entry in the catalogue. Oh yeah, it’s got that “Devil wants to fuck me in the back of his car” line. -BW

85. “Branches/Bones” from Not The Actual Events

A really great song that’s almost as good as “Not Anymore.” -B.W.

84. “We’re In This Together” from The Fragile 

Loved, loved, loved this song the first time I heard it. I was 16. People change. -B.W.

83. “God Given” from Year Zero

Good song, cool lyrics. Evangelical Christians are bad. Does anyone remember how NIN released Year Zero on MySpace? Bum badabum bum bum GOD GIVEN! -T.B.

82. “Beside You In Time” from With Teeth 

This is what The Fragile could have been. -T.B.

81. “Ringfinger” from Pretty Hate Machine

Want to go to that club in the first Matrix and wear pleather and rub up on people that don’t see the sun? -B.W. 

80. “Satellite” from Hesitation Marks

Starts off sounding like a 20-year-reunion version of “Sanctified,” but then right at around 3:00, Runs Home to Mama, rewarding us with layered, distorted guitars and synths — our favorite NIN elements! -T.B.

79. “With Teeth” from With Teeth

The way he sings, “With the teeth-a” in the chorus is absolutely stunning. It’s a James Brown way of attacking lyrics. -B.W.

78. “Everything” from Hesitation Marks

We’ve been working on this piece every few months for a decade. With each re-examination this song moves up and up in the rankings. It sounds like TV on the Radio in the best possible way without forsaking what this band is. It shows the most growth on the album while referencing the past (especially at the minute 2 mark). It also has positive lyrics that don’t sound cheesy, a feat for any band. I also understand why people hate it. -B.W.

77. “All The Love In The World” from With Teeth

I enjoy any and every artist that works outside their comfort space. Reznor sings the first verse in a fragile yet straightforward manner that doesn’t sound affected. This is the one and only NIN song I’d like to hear Billy Corgan cover. -B.W. 

76. “Get Down, Make Love” from Pretty Hate Machine

If The Social Network was about Tinder instead of Facebook. -B.W.

Top 10 Queen song, barely top 100 NIN song. -T.B.

75. “Heresy” from Broken

The most used song in sex dungeons for the last 20 years. Top 10 quoted song by angry 12-15-year-olds who really hate their parents making them go to church. -B.W. 

74. “That’s What I Get” from Pretty Hate Machine

With more releases, the more fun PHM seems. There’s a jaunty intro before we get to a Livejournal worthy verse about lust lost. Never really noticed Reznor sings the word get like James Hetfield. -B.W. 

73. “Eraser” from The Downward Spiral

Programmed parts sound like Pretty Hate Machine. The unidentifiable noise sounds like Broken. The guitars sound like The Fragile. And the lyrics sound like high school poetry. This one takes a few minutes before it becomes clear why it’s in the middle of the list. -B.W.

72. “Please” from The Fragile

If Reznor isn’t on heroin, the bloated lyrics get a trim and it breaks the top 50. Lots of unrealized potential in these 3 and a half minutes. -B.W.

71. “Starfuckers, Inc.” from The Fragile 

If Reznor could take one track off any album, I have a feeling it’s this one. 

A song that could only exist in the late 90s, “Starfuckers, Inc.” is a lyrically horrible screed against the music industry. But the verses are fun and the chorus isn’t horrible. It’s nearly unforgivable but it’s so over-the-top, it’s funny. A Carly Simon homage? Hilarious! 

The video is extremely amusing. Remember when Marilyn Manson was influential? -B.W.

70. “The Warning” from Year Zero 

If the TV show of Year Zero ever gets made, this would make for a fine title sequence score. Hell, the images could just be the lyrics realized. Like “Everything,” this one is rated better and better with repeated listens. -B.W. 

69. “Into The Void” from The Fragile 

An outlier in the canon and an odd choice for a music video. -B.W. 

68. “Vessel” from Year Zero

If this song didn’t have yet another oral sex illusion, it’d rank much higher. The programming on the song is extremely interesting, both on the album and the remix album, but the lyrics are pulled down yet again. -B.W. 

67. “Sanctified” from Pretty Hate Machine

The horniest NIN song. -T.B.

66. “The Day The World Went Away” from The Fragile

Whoever thought this would be a good first single was completely detached from reality. We would probably get along. What a great, untraditional first single! The performance from the 1999 Video Music Awards was and remains incredibly awkward. -B.W.

65. “A Warm Place” from The Downward Spiral

A beautiful, somber instrumental that would have been his “All Apologies” if he went the way of Cobain. -B.W. 

64. “The Becoming” from The Downward Spiral 

This song works better on Still (aka NIN Unplugged). There, the lyrics and music create an interesting sense of desperation. By comparison, on The Downward Spiral, it feels misplaced. – T.B.

63. “The Line Begins To Blur” from With Teeth

As time passes, this album begins to rise in the ranks. 

The first verse starts quite strong. The chorus isn’t horrible. The drums are perfect. The bass line is solid. But placed at track 11 of 13, it gets lost in the mix. -B.W. 

62. “The Good Soldier” from Year Zero

“And the bass goes bomb.” NIN experimenting with a heavy bass and a heavy political message. And it’s subtle. And it’s a great transition to the next track on the album, “Vessel.” On paper, this song makes no sense. In reality, it’s a quality sleeper on an ambitious and quite possibly career saving album. -B.W.

61. “Discipline” from The Slip

A straightforward rock and roll song with a pulsating drum line, distorted bass and a simple piano line that’s become a staple of the band. If this was written mid 90s rather than mid 00s it’d be about heroin rather than sex. Since it’s not about abusing yourself, it’s able to rein in every aspect and is a good mid-album track. -B.W. 

The stuttered lyrics always catch me off guard. What a choice. -T.B.

60. “The Great Destroyer” from Year Zero

Just have to say that Year Zero, now over 15 years old, is rounding out into adulthood with flying colors. Some of the lowkey best Reznor songwriting and production in the entire NIN catalogue, especially in his post-industrial phase. “The Great Destroyer” would be a top 50 song if it wasn’t for the dubstep interlude. -T.B.

59. “Just Like You Imagined” from The Fragile 

This is one of several instrumental tracks from The Fragile, with a notable distinction: it’s the only one featured in the trailer for 300. – T.B.

58. “Love Is Not Enough” from With Teeth

Far from a great track, the drumming is the saving grace for this otherwise throwaway. The chorus sort-of masks the not very good lyrics and the production value is high enough to make this one that doesn’t warrant skipping. -B.W.

57. “I Do Not Want This” from The Downward Spiral

For anyone listening to The Downward Spiral from start to finish, this is a rewarding signpost for the halfway mark. Vacillating between noisy and melodic, it’s a microcosm of both the album and NIN generally. – T.B.

56. “Physical (You’re So)” from Broken

So much distortion! So much feedback! So much fun! -B.W.

One of the few NIN covers that adds very little to the original (here, Adam Ant’s version from the incredible Kings of the Wild Frontier. Please listen to Adam Ant.) -T.B.

55. “The Collector” from With Teeth

The straight forward rocker from With Teeth. Dave Grohl’s simple drums help the track stand out (get ready for a lot of Grohl drumming love). If the lyrics were better, it might crack the top 10. Instead, we get another illusion to oral sex. Groundbreaking. -B.W.

54. “No, You Don’t” from The Fragile

The Fragile showcases Reznor’s advancement as a composer but often also reminds us that it was still the 1990’s. This is one of those tracks that feels stuck in time, but it was a good time. -T.B.

53. “Play the Goddamned Part” from Bad Witch

The only NIN song I could picture being played by Bill Pullman’s character in Lost Highway. If not clear by now: this is one of the highest compliments I can give something that came out in the back third of NIN’s catalogue. -T.B.

52. “The Hand That Feeds” from With Teeth 

A catchy track and not a bad first single/reintroduction to the band. A straight forward rock song about nothing in particular, Reznor is perfectly comfortable screaming abstractly about what could be oral sex. As the song goes on it gets louder and louder and better and better. Then the bridge comes and it’s a whole lot of ugh. Thankfully, it gets loud again. -B.W.

51. “The Wretched” from The Fragile

No NIN song simply plods along as much as “The Wretched.” It’s never boring and it’s never uninteresting, but it shouldn’t feel so agonizing to get a mid-tempo chorus. Production values keep it this high on the list. -B.W. 

50. “Meet Your Master” from Year Zero 

More Year Zero dubstep. Was a huge track for my running playlist in the mid-2010’s, and I still like it. – T.B.

49. “Only” from With Teeth 

Reznor is not a bad bassist. For this mid-00s track he goes with a thick, funky sound. It’s not thick and funky enough to mask the lyrics, but it’s strong enough to linger around after the song concludes. -B.W.

48. “A Violet Fluid” from The Downward Spiral

This is the song that still made the industrial kids continue their devotion to St. Reznor. A minute and four seconds of angry drums and creeping synth lines in an odd time signature. No one else can make angry kids care about instrumentals. -B.W. 

47. “The Big Come Down” from The Fragile

The product of extensive studio time. I have no idea how most of these sounds were made and I don’t think the band does either. The guitars are easy to identify, but the drums and samples and programmed drums are a mystery. The Fragile was bloated with these songs. It was overwhelming on its 1999 release and 24 years later it’s still hard to digest. -B.W. 

46. “Big Man With A Gun” from The Downward Spiral

I’m convinced at least one professional athlete uses this as their pre-game anthem, most likely a defensive lineman in the NFL, most likely a Detroit Lion. (T.B. note – No, most likely a Chicago Bear)

On bad days this song ranks much higher. On days with a national tragedy this song comes to mind. On sunny days with pleasant company this song seems like a juvenile rant from a 13-year-old. -B.W.

45. “I’m Looking Forward To Joining You, Finally” from The Fragile

One of the stronger songs on The Fragile, mostly vocals and minimal synth intrusions. Cleverly layers whispers atop faint screaming. Always love a good use of screaming. -T.B.

44. “Survivalism” from Year Zero 

“Survivalism” doesn’t break any ground, but it does encompass the catalogue. From funk to industrial, political couplets next to lines about fisting, sing/talk vocals followed by screams. NIN: 101. -B.W.

43. “While I’m Still Here (Breyer P-Orridge ‘Howler’ Remix)” from Hesitation Marks

Another deviation from our “no remixes” rubric, this is a song that prompted a lot of research and learning about the incredible life and career Genesis Breyer P-Orridge. They died in 2020, making the lyrics and samples particularly poignant. -T.B.

42. “Came Back Haunted” from Hesitation Marks 

A rediscovery of the synth. The first single from Hesitation Marks sounds more like Pretty Hate Machine than any other Halo in the NIN catalogue and it’s a welcome return. Since its release it’s aged remarkably well. It doesn’t sound dated or whiny or pointless. It’s somewhat funky, somewhat angry, somewhat complicated. The worst part about it is the lackluster video by David Lynch. -B.W.

RELATED: Twin Peaks The Return Theory #1: Came Back Haunted

41. “Closer (Precursor)” from The Downward Spiral / Se7en Soundtrack 

Although the ranking rubric does not ordinarily include remix tracks, we included this one as a special nod to its use in the still-awesome opening credit sequence of Se7en. Fitting that now, nearly 30 years later (!!!!), Reznor has scored three David Fincher films, with a fourth on its way very shortly. – T.B.

40. “Pilgrimage” from The Fragile 

A video game designer used this. In my mind, a video game designer has based entire games around this three-and-a-half minute instrumental. It sounds like the score to a Nazi rally. If it’s not clear, we are very much anti-Nazi. -B.W.

39. “All Time Low” from Hesitation Marks 

One of the strongest highlights from this album, it shows that Reznor hasn’t tired of “new” sounds. Also, the perfect excuse to use backup singers in the live set. -T.B.

38. “Complication” from The Fragile 

One of The Fragile instrumentals that make it clear Trent Reznor loves David Bowie’s Low. A guitar put through a phaser and a whammy. A drummer working overtime. Background screams on par with Pink Floyd. Still impressive after all these years. -B.W.

37. “Getting Smaller” from With Teeth  

It sounds like a band warming up. NIN rarely sound like a band. Thanks to Grohl, the drumming makes this track. Reznor’s guitar playing is elevated thanks to an outside driving force. Lyrically, it’s not bad. Really. -B.W.

36. “Metal” from Things Falling Apart

This is Reznor’s karaoke song, right? What a fantastic cover! It’s a great reminder that Gary Numan’s The Pleasure Principle is a near perfect album. Fun fact: this almost ended up on an X-Files compilation, which would make perfect sense because one of Foo Fighters’ best covers is their version of Gary Numan’s “Down in the Park” from 1996’s Songs in the Key of X: Music from and Inspired by the X-Files. I loved that record and it serves as a good reminder that everything is not on Spotify. -B.W.

35. “Down In It” from Pretty Hate Machine

I hated, hated, hated this song between 1991 and 1999. JBTV seemed to play the music video every episode and I had had enough. With some time and distance, it’s become clear how magnificent this track is and was. Video too. The sound is dated, sure, but that’s OK. It’s the song that influenced a wave of imitators. It hinted at everything NIN could and would become. The lyrics are not bad, which is all you can ask for from NIN. And the video is perfect. 

The first NIN video was filmed in an industrial part of Chicago. Reznor ‘dies’ in the end. To create the effect director’s Eric Zimmerman & Benjamin Stokes tied a camera to balloons to hover over the body. One got away and ended up in Michigan. A farmer found it and turned it over to authorities because he thought it was a snuff film. Amazing. -B.W.

34. “Somewhat Damaged” from The Fragile 

Here now are a pair of opening tracks. This is the first song from The Fragile. It’s unique. I am unaware of any other NIN song that opens with a naked acoustic guitar. By the time you hit the halfway point, it is really intense. Points for one of my favorite NIN lyrics: “flew too high and burnt the wing / lost my faith in everything.” One of the few high points on the album, which continues, unfortunately, to not age very well. – T.B.

33. “Mr. Self Destruct” from The Downward Spiral 

Let it be known that I continue to compromise significantly on the ranking of “Mr. Self Destruct.” The opening samples are from THX 1138 for crying out loud. As opening tracks go, it’s so abrasive compared to the previous opening LP track (“Head Like a Hole”). I admit that it does weaken during the bridge, but it also appropriately kicks off the “descent” theme of the album. – T.B.

32. “Suck” from Broken 

“Suck” begins with a funky, synthy, gothy vibe, like a leftover from Pretty Hate Machine, before hitting you with an angry, riffy, industrial series of power chords. It’s a meeting but not melding of genres. The lyrics aren’t good but there is a very good use of the lead singer yelling the word suck four times. – B.W.

31. “The Beginning of the End” from Year Zero 

The “grown up” and paranoid version of NIN calmly warns us to “watch what you think / they can read your mind” in this short, digestible track two. It doesn’t really start to sound like a NIN song until the distorted guitar comes in at around the 1-minute mark. -T.B.

29/30. “Help Me I Am In Hell” / “Happiness in Slavery” from Broken 

“Help Me I Am In Hell” is one of many NIN instrumentals that give hope to kids that can’t really play guitar that they too can one day build simple sonic landscapes and give their works epically tragic titles. “Happiness In Slavery” is the second most used song in sex dungeons for the last 20 years. -B.W. 

Seeing this duo of songs performed at Red Rocks in 2018 contributed heavily to moving them up, together, from around the 100s into the Top 30. -T.B.

28. “Letting You” from The Slip 

“Letting You” is a little bit KMFDM, a little Atari Teenage Riot and somewhat of a throwback. It could have been on Broken. B.W.

27. “Last” from Broken 

This is NIN being elemental, hard-rock, straightforward. The layering of vocals atop one another is especially cool. The song just works. Yet, it is only the first of four from the paradigmatic Broken EP in our Top 30. – T.B.

26. “Not Anymore” from Add Violence

How does he get those wonderful sounds? Like how do you even write or create the first minute of this song? Whatever, once the screaming kicks in you forget about all the neat technical stuff. Just great screams. 

Oh yeah, this song is about Twin Peaks. Every song on this EP is about Twin Peaks. -B.W.

25. “Where Is Everybody” from The Fragile 

I’m sad to report that this is the highest-ranked track from The Fragile on our list. That’s just how it turned out. In a way, this is emblematic of the album, which Reznor has described as “sound[ing] like there was something inherently flawed in the situation, like someone struggling to put the pieces together.” -T.B.

24. “Capital G” from Year Zero 

NIN’s Bush era political material has ages surprisingly well. Keeping things vague in the lyrics, it’s not clear if he’s rocking against Bush. The lyric, “Don’t give a shit about the temperature in Guatemala,” makes the song an anthem against torture rather than a screed against the Guantanamo Bay detention camp. -B.W.

23. “Ahead of Ourselves” from Bad Witch

The most complicated drums post-Lost Highway soundtrack and the spookiest vocals post-Year Zero. -T.B.

22. “1,000,000” from The Slip 

Organic drums. “Real” drums. Whenever Reznor uses acoustic drums, he seems to have a better handle on what he’s trying to achieve. What’s he trying to achieve in “1,000,000?” Urgency. He achieves his goal. -B.W.

21. “Piggy” from The Downward Spiral 

Next to “March of the Pigs,” “Piggy” has the best drums on TDS. The ambient noises are used perfectly, just slightly louder than the vocal and bass tracks. Quite possibly the best and most remixed song in the catalogue. The drums, beginning around minute 3, take on a free jazz vibe, something NIN hasn’t done since and seemed unimaginable on Pretty Hate Machine. -B.W.

20. “Head Like a Hole” from Pretty Hate Machine 

Welcome to the Top 20! Ignoring the single for “Down In It,” this is NIN’s introductory salvo to the world (but not, in my mind, the first “real” NIN song — see later on). And despite the chorus lyrics that are now almost embarrassing, its centrality to the NIN catalogue is hard to oversell. -T.B.

19. “Less Than” from Add Violence

Arguably the best, most accessible NIN pop song since the 1990s, and the strongest NIN entry generally in the post-Hesitation Marks era that was not performed at the Roadhouse in a television show. I’d love to see it performed live in real life. -T.B

18. “Copy of A” from Hesitation Marks 

The tour opener for the 2013 tour, “Copy of A” may be higher on this list in another year.

The song sneaks up on you. It sets the scene for the album Hesitation Marks, and was a brilliant opener for the tour of the same name. The first leg featured just Trent on a synth with more members on more synths coming on stage. The second leg featured the entire band with ‘regular’ instruments attacking the song. If there’s ever a NIN musical (Jesus, God, please let there never be a NIN musical), this will be in the first act. -B.W.

17. “Dead Souls” from The Crow Soundtrack / The Downward Spiral 

With all apologies and utmost respect to Joy Division (I do mean this), this is better than the original. -T.B.

16. “God Break Down the Door” from Bad Witch

Alright, let’s be honest, sax usually sucks in rock & roll. Most bands are not The Stooges and should not be incorporating sax in their angry music. But this tribute to David Bowie has Mr. Self Destruct blowing a horn a la sax man in The Lost Boys, delivering a vocal performance reminiscent of late stage Bowie and a breakdown that kinda reminds me of “The Perfect Drug.” On paper this song sucks. In reality this is exactly how a band should age. BW

15. “Terrible Lie” from Pretty Hate Machine 

The first real NIN song from the first real NIN album. Unlike “Head Like a Hole” and “Down In It,” this song eschews its place in history with aggressive, gothic synths and drums. A guitar is added in live performances (e.g. its best rendition on the Halo 17 live DVD), and actually improves the song. If we were ranking NIN songs based on lyrics–and we would never do that– this might be my choice for No. 1. – T.B.

14. “Gave Up” from Broken 

Like another song featured closer to the top, this was a staple of NIN setlists for a long time. As the setlist material piled up, it seems to have been permanently cut. Too bad, because it’s one of the best. 

We should take this opportunity to acknowledge the existence of the Broken film, which was never given an official commercial release, and which I have never actually watched from start to finish. “Gave Up” is the penultimate song featured in the film. The sub-cum-mainstream culture that embraces NIN has always overlapped somewhat with “hacker” culture, and the Broken movie is probably one of the most famous relics of early P2P and file sharing communities. As recently as 2013, digital copies were reportedly available at The Pirate Bay. From what I’ve seen of the film, it is overly violent and grotesque, and frankly just not very good, and I am glad that it’s no longer inextricably intertwined with NIN mythology. Reznor, of course, went on to do much better collaborations with filmmakers. – T.B.

13. “Closer” from The Downward Spiral 

Kids much too young to be fornicating fornicated with this as their soundtrack for many, many years. Nothing else in the catalogue sounds like “Closer.” That may be why the band has been playing a slightly funkier version of it live for over a decade. -B.W. 

12. “HYPERPOWER!” from Year Zero / “Gunshots by Computer” from Y34RZ3R0R3M1X3D 

NIN albums typically start strong, and this is one of the best Track 1’s. There are no vocals, just Reznor production that starts with a drum, adds a guitar, adds another guitar, and then gradually layers sound upon sound until it feels like the world is ending around you. This is what he is best at. 

Though our scoring rubric dictated that remix albums be left out of the rankings, this is an opportunity to cheat and acknowledge one of the best NIN “remixes,” which is basically Saul Williams adding vocals to the already perfect backdrop via “Gunshots by Computer.” – T.B.

11. “Burn” from Natural Born Killers soundtrack 

A disturbing song with an even more disturbing video. The most brutal NIN has ever sounded. Another non-album track, “Burn” can be found on The Downward Spiral deluxe edition but belongs in the Broken era. Excellent programmed drums, nihilistic adolescent poetry screamed and so much distortion the tracks lives in the red. -B.W.

RELATED: “Burn”: The Cure vs. Nine Inch Nails

10. “Ruiner” from The Downward Spiral 

More than anything on The Downward Spiral, “Ruiner” continues to grow on me over the past three decades. It is neatly divided into several parts, and like many of the great songs on this album, the instruments build on top of each other and then deconstruct themselves. It’s the only NIN song I can think of that includes a Reznor guitar solo (which he professes was an attempt to emulate Pink Floyd’s David Gilmour on “Comfortably Numb”). Vocally, there are sections where the lyrics are indecipherable, but recall the era during which the CD was released, and recall that the CD came wrapped in cardboard and cellophane (instead of a jewel case) and included a lyric booklet. What better way for a brooding barely-teen to spend his time than listening and following along with the printed lyrics. T.B.

9. “Shit Mirror” from Bad Witch

This could work on Broken or With Teeth or Bad Witch (obviously). One of the most straight ahead tracks on the 3 EPs (does this count as a High Fidelity reference?), it’s a 3 minute rocker with handclaps (wtf?) throughout the verses. -B.W.

8. “You Know What You Are?” from With Teeth 

Mr. Dave Grohl makes this song. The most famous rock and roll drummer that isn’t a full-time drummer sat behind the kit for With Teeth and for the first time, NIN songs had double-bass drumming. It pays off instantly. The first 47 seconds are an intense master class on poweful drumming. The chorus offers some relief with a sweeping synth part but quickly fades. The drums once again take over. -B.W.

7. “She’s Gone Away” from Not the Actual Events

Brandon and I wrote the original, definitive ranking of NIN songs in 2014. Between then and now, NIN has released several EPs and Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have scored several television shows and movies. But there was no more significant moment for NIN in that time period than June 25, 2017, when Part 8 of Twin Peaks: The Return aired on Showtime. Every episode of The Return featured either a real-life or quasi-fictional music artist performing at the Roadhouse. Part 8, which overall is an unimpeachable masterpiece and one of the best hours of television to ever exist, features a surprise appearance by “The Nine Inch Nails” performing “She’s Gone Away” to the crowd. It’s as surreal and welcome of a moment as I’ve ever had watching TV, and it’s the best NIN song in this millennium. -T.B.

6. “Hurt” from The Downward Spiral  

Now owned by Johnny Cash. -B.W.

4/5. “Pinion/Wish” from Broken 

These tracks are grouped together because they’re sequential on Broken and often packaged as a unit in NIN setlists (for example, all throughout the “Lights in the Sky” tour). “Wish” is a staple of NIN setlists and an irreplaceable element of the consistently ahead-of-its-time NIN stage show. It perfectly combines almost all of the best NIN elements: aggressive riffs, desperate vocals, confrontational lyrics. “Wish” also, of course, has the most shoutable two words in any NIN song. (They rhyme with “mist muck.”) -T.B.

3. “March of the Pigs” from The Downward Spiral 

The best part about this fast-paced diatribe against the cops? The time signature. Transitioning from ⅞ to 4/4 gives it a frantic feel. It also helps it stick in your head. This is the song to play air drums. -B.W.

2. “Sin” from Pretty Hate Machine 

The strongest combination of raw song quality and historical significance, “Sin” is the earliest exhibition of the signature Reznor production style. It’s where Reznor takes the torch from KMFDM, Skinny Puppy, and Front 242 and makes clear that he’s about to unlock access to an army of millions of new fans of industrial music. It’s the singular moment in time when industrial music finally leaps off of indie labels and into the mainstream. It’s also the best long-enduring setlist entry and it has the best set of Reznor remixes (including “Sin – Long” from the 1990 EP). Compared to our 2014 list, “Sin” received the biggest promotion: from well outside the top 25 all the way to number two. – T.B.

1. “The Perfect Drug” from Lost Highway Soundtrack 

The song they didn’t perform until 2018. The song that isn’t on a full length. The song with the best drum breakdown in the catalogue. Released between The Downward Spiral and The Fragile, “The Perfect Drug” finds Reznor in a wonderful transitional period. Not as depressing as TDS, not as beautiful as TF, this epic song embodies everything NIN was and still is. Simple guitar lines, epic drums, quiet vocals, loud vocals, dramatic breaks, a piano outro and oh-so-important lyrics about the end of everything. An amazing video doesn’t hurt either. -B.W.

tl:dr; With Teeth is better than first thought, The Fragile is worse than first thought, Year Zero is aging well, Dave Grohl should drum on everything, 35 years into a career Reznor is still trying.

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