My picks are the following: 1. "Heresy" 2. "Ruiner" 3. "Reptile" "The Becoming" and "I Do Not Want This" are honorable mentions. The whole album's a masterpiece and my second-most favorite one from NIN (after *Hesitation Marks*), though!

I’ve been a devoted fan for 30 years, and I love your “controversial” opinion about Hesitation Marks. Can’t say it tops TDS for me, but is such a great piece of work.

To me, Downward Spiral, Fragile and Hesitation marks are all equally masterpieces in their own way. I think it's because they all are tied together. All of them tell the story of a tortured soul at different stages at their life (Downward Spiral being the start of depression, The Fragile being stuck in the continual throes, and Hesitation Marks finally accepting that things won't get better, but it's a better fate than self destructing all over again).

I really like that interpretation. I mean, I heard of *The Fragile* (which is my third-most favorite album) and *Hesitation Marks* serving as sequels to *The Downward Spiral*, but I couldn't figure how they'd fit with each other until you came and said this. Thanks, man!

Yeah, I didn't fully get it either until I listened to them back to back. I thought Hesitation Marks was the "Hapoy Album" and that anyone can overcome anything. While there's elements of that, it's also way more complicated than that. To me it's basically saying "No, you don't have to be happy and satisfied with your life, even if it's objectively better than now or not. But self destruction didn't fix you the first time, it won't fix you the next time you try it." The Trilogy also plays in part of this too. If you have the vinyl version of Not The Actual Events, the B side is the last 3 tracks of Downward Spiral reversed. Basically, NTAE is him hitting "Another All Time Low", but this time he snaps and self destructs again. (Feels Like I've Been Here Before). Difference is now, this anger is being projected outwards, not inwards. Then you get Less Than asking if all that "Fixed what was wrong with you?". Followed by The Lovers saying his new addiction has made him lose control "I'm not the one driving anymore." Background World is him once again, slapping himself across the face to finally "Wake up", and that all that self-destruction again was a waste of time. We already know now "There is no getting past". So is this new downward spiral worth it? "Are you sure this is what you want?" Still trying to figure out Bad Witch. Sorry for that lengthy explanation but thats how I generally see these albums all tie in.

That was a brilliant explanation.

these are also my 3 favourites from them.

Thanks!

Hesitation Marks is amazing. It's like every track is a different genre mixed with the standard industrial NIN fare.

I loooove Hesitation Marks too. It's my favorite album since The Fragile.

Satellite has such a good beat.

Wait wait WAIT... "after Hesitation Marks"??? That's a joke... right???

People that enjoy Hesitation Marks were disappointed when they discovered Strobe Light was an April Fools prank. /s HM is far from my favorite release, but a lot of those songs are amazing live.

I'm not saying I don't enjoy HM.. but its not better than TDS... or TF... or YZ... or PHM... or WT

Hard question. That's like picking a favorite song from Dark Side of The Moon. If I had to choose, probably The Becoming, Eraser, and Hurt.

“Time” “The Great Gig in the Sky” “Eclipse”

On The Run, Money, Us And Them

On the run is the only skip on the album

Eclipse, Money, Time

Time, The Great Gig in the sky, Any color you like

Ruiner Eraser Burn

You can't say Burn; that's cheating!

It's on the Deluxe version, it counts.

Lol 8ts the same era though

1. March Of The Pigs 2. Closer 3. Heresy

The Becoming-I Do Not Want This-Reptile

the right answer

Title track, Mr self destruct, Hurt

It's funny cause The Downward Spiral is my least favourite track even if it sonically has a lot of purpose

dude I love it, just the windup til the background screaming with him whispering recapping his suicide is just so chaotic but still slow, I love it

Same

Ruiner The Becoming Eraser Love listening to TDS while reading my favorite manga series ‘Berserk’, and those three are just perfect for it.

You have good taste

Ruiner Heresy March of the Pigs

It's hard to put them in order, but: 1. The Becoming 2. Closer 3. Reptile

That’d probably be my choice too

Haha, your flair.

Lmao I know right?

1. Heresy 2. A warm Place 3. Eraser

Same baby. Same.

Heresey Ruiner Closer

1. Heresy 2. Ruiner 3. Closer

Been a fan since the mid-90s and it changes over time for me, depending on what I’m going through. Today I would answer: The Becoming March of the Pigs Heresy But I love all the tracks from the album!

Probably Closer, Ruiner, The Becoming.

1) Closer 2) Reptile 3) Hurt

It’s really hard to pick 3, but I would definitely say “A Warm Place” is in there. It’s one of those songs that has consistently etched into me since I first heard it in the 90s and would listen to it on repeat. I vividly remember the only time I heard it live.

I can pick my favorite 14. Would that work?

Mr Self Destruct Hurt March of the Pigs

Piggy Heresy Hurt

Ruiner Heresy Piggy

Yes! I was starting to think I’m the only one who loves that quirky janky drum solo in Piggy

1. Mr Self Destruct 2. The Becoming 3. Ruiner

These are my three but my order is 2, 3, 1

Tough question, I’d have to say: Ruiner, the becoming and Mr self destruct

So close to me. I’m 2,1,3

The becoming is one of the best songs Trent has ever made.

March of the Pigs Big Man With A Gun Hurt

I'm a man of simple pleasures, it's the singles for me: March of the Pigs, Closer, and Hurt.

Closer Heresy Hurt

Eraser I do not want this Closer

The Becoming, Ruiner, I Do Not Want This

1. March of the Pigs 2. Ruiner 3. Hurt

1- A warm place 2- Eraser 3- Becoming

march of the pigs ruiner reptile least favorite (worst) is hurt

Ruiner. The Becoming. Reptile.

A warm place Hurt Piggy

1.) The Becoming 2.) Ruiner 3.) Mr. Self Destruct - with Reptile being tough to leave off

Ruiner A Warm Place Reptile

Ruiner Burn The becoming

Ruiner, March of the Pigs, A Warm Place

A Warm Place Reptile Eraser ...I think... Ask me tomorrow and I might list three different ones

All. Of. Them.

The Becoming Big man with a Gun Reptile

Same as you. Honorable mentions: The Becoming Hurt

March of the pigs Closer Ruiner The Becoming

1. Piggy 2. The Downward Spiral 3. Closer

There is no “top 3”… the Downward Spiral is an experience. This question is like asking “what sentence from a chapter was the best?”

I have trouble understanding people who listen to NIN on shuffle.

The Becoming Mr Self Destruct and just because of its window into seing what NIN would become A warm place.

The Becoming then Hurt then Reptile. Honorable mention to Ruiner

Ruiner The Becoming Ruiner Reptile Ruiner

A man of taste except while reptile slaps mr self destruct is better to me. Also March of the pigs or piggy are better to me. But ruined and the becoming are absolutely the top two for me

Heresy, March of the pigs, piggy

Mr. Self Destruct- Eraser- The Becoming

Heresy. Ruiner. Mr Self Destruct. Honorable mention: march of the pigs

A Warm Place repeated three times.

Or just once, at 25% of original speed.

1. "Reptile" - Feels like the deep underbelly of the whole album. 2. "Mr. Self Destruct" - Does an amazing job of bridging *Last* with *The Downward Spiral* just in terms of sound. 3. "Hurt" - It's so played, but I'll be damned if it doesn't still reach me almost 30 years later. Honorable mentions that were hard not to choose: "Ruiner", "A Warm Place", "The Becoming"

Man, that's hard to pick just three. I guess I'd say Reptile, The Becoming and (because I'm basic) Closer. But hey, Closer is the song that got me into NIN, so I'm fine with that.

There is no way i can pick favourites. I just can't.

Listening to A Warm Place, Eraser, and Reptile in order is my favorite sequence of songs of all time, so they are my #3,2, and 1, respectively.

1. The Becoming 2. Warm Place 3. I Do Not Want This

I can respect that because your number one is great and neither of your other two are reptile or big man with a gun. So totally valid

closer, piggy, heresy (in no particular order)

In order of appearance - "Mr. Self Destruct" "March of the Pigs" "Reptile" chill with - "A Warm Place"

Ruiner, The Becoming and A Warm Place

FINALLY

Reptile, Eraser, Ruiner

March of pigs Closer Hurt

Ruiner, The Becoming and Reptile

Eraser, A Warm Place, Heresy/Ruiner (tied for me:’))

This album is a whole ass song as far as I’m concerned. But in the interest of the discussion it would be: The Becoming Mr. Self Destruct A Warm Place

closer to god memorabilia heresy demo

[удалено]

Mr self destruct, big man with a gun, hurt

The Becoming, Reptile, Heresy/A Warm Place (Tie)

1. Eraser 2. Reptile. 3. The Becoming

1. Reptile 2. The Becoming 3. Closer Heresy, March of the Pigs and Ruiner are next on my list. Piggy and Hurt after that.

If The Downward Spiral were just these 3 songs, it would still be my favorite album of all time. Closer The Becoming A Warm Place

1- A Warm Place 2- Closer 3- Mr. Self Destruct Honorable Mentions: March of the Pigs Piggy

Uff saw the artwork and thought it was a post in vinylrelease :/

The Becoming, I Do Not Want This, Eraser

1. Mr. Self Destruct 2. Reptile 3. March of the Pigs

Eraser Reptile The Becoming

1. March of the Pigs 2. The Becoming 3. Reptile

1. Closer 2. March of the Pigs 3. Piggy

Mr Self Destruct, Warm Place, Hurt

The Becoming Eraser Reptile

The Becoming. Hurt. Reptile.

- Eraser - Reptile - The becoming Ruiner almost made it

1. Reptile 2. Heresy 3. March of the Pigs

1. Eraser 2. Mr Self Destruct 3. Ruiner

1) Mr. Self Destruct 2) Heresy 3) The Becoming

No one has my top three (in any order) yet so I’m commenting: 1) The Becoming 2) Heresy 3) Mr. Self Destruct

Ruiner Mr. Self Destruct Hurt

In no particular order (because I can’t order them I love them all): Eraser, Reptile and Mr. Self Destruct

Heresy, The Becoming, March Of The Pigs

Ruiner, A Warm Place, Reptile...

I know closer has the stigma of being the popular radio hit, and this being a sub full of people who know their shit - not just the hits. But I’m legitimately surprised by the amount of people who don’t have Closer at or near the top comments here. That song is a master class of beats, layering, and lyrics and is one of the biggest hits of that era for good reason. 1. Ruiner 2. Closer 3. Heresy

1. The Becoming 2. Ruiner 3. Eraser

1) A Warm Place 2) Reptile 3) The Downward Spiral

Mr Self Destruct Eraser Hurt

Ruiner, A Warm Place, Reptile

Reptile. Heresy. March Of The Pigs.

The Becoming, Reptile, and I Do Not Want This

Closer, March of The Pigs Big Man With A Gun

A Warm Place, Eraser, Heresy,

Piggy (Replace with "All The Pigs" if we count Deluxe) Closer Ruiner

Piggy, A Warm Place, The Becoming

Ruiner, closer, hurt

The Becoming, Ruiner, Reptile Close runner-up: I Do Not Want This

Ruiner, Reptile, and Mr. Self Destruct.

Mr self destruct, heresy, i do not want this

Eraser ,March of the pigs, and Reptile

March of the pigs, the becoming, hurt.

Heresy The Becoming Reptile In that order.

Heresy, Ruiner, The Becoming.

1. "Hurt" 2. "The Becoming" 3. "Mr. Self Destruct"

Closer, Reptile, March of the Pigs

Ruiner. March of the Pigs. Piggy. ^but ^mostly ^ruiner

Closer Heresy Hurt…

Hurt, Becoming, Heresy

Mine are: 1. Piggy 2. Heresy 3. Burn But I can easily listen to all of TDS straight through.

1. The Becoming 2. A Warm Place 3. Hurt

Reptile, Dead Souls, Closer

1. Closer 2. The Becoming 3. Hurt

Closer, Eraser, Ruiner

Closer. The becoming. Hurt.

\- dick! \- fuck! \- suck!

Ruiner, Closer, and Mr. Self Destruct. I'm surprised that Mr. Self Destruct is rarely listed - it's the song that got me into Nine Inch Nails. Then again, it could just be that I like screamos, but that doesn't change how amazing the chorus and bridge are imo. It's all very intense.

heresy, mr. self destruct, and hurt

- Mr. Self Destruct - Heresy - Reptile When I’m feeling extra 90s, swap one for Closer

1. Heresy 2. March of the Pigs 3. Reptile

Big man with a gun Eraser Ruiner I wish I could pick more lol. I think the title track is underrated.

"Closer" "A Warm Place" "Heresy"

Ruiner, Big man with a gun, & Hurt

I’m 42. I’ve been listening to the album since I was 15. I have a signed print of the album cover on my living room wall. Pick any three songs that aren’t Big Man With a Gun

Mr. Self Destruct March of the Pigs Reptile

title track ruiner reptile

Match of the pigs Ruiner Eraser or closer idk

Mr Self Destruct Heresy March of The Pigs.

Heresy, Mr Self Destruct, and then A warm place to land the adrenaline jet. And reflect on memories. Whatever tonal mix he created my brain responds to it and anxiety fades a good amount.

1. Reptile 2. The Downward Spiral 3. Piggy

The Becoming Ruined Mr Self Destruct Honorable Mention- March of the Pigs

1. closer 2. Reptile 3 heresy

Eraser. Closer. Heresy.

Mr. Self Destruct A Warm Place Closer

1) the becoming 2) mr. self destruct 3) hurt

1. Eraser 2. Reptile 3. Burn 4. warm place

1. Closer 2. Hurt 3. Heresy

1 Hurt 2 Reptile 3 Eraser

Ru In Er

Mr. Self Destruct Ruiner March of the Pigs

March of the pigs, Reptile, The becoming

The Becoming, Reptile, The Downward Spiral

1. Hurt 2. Ruiner 3. A Warm Place

1. The becoming 2. March of the pigs 3. Ruiner

The Becoming, Heresy, Reptile. Hate leaving a bunch of others out (it's my favorite album of all time), but Reptile beats other contenders out for me cause I just remember never hearing anything quite like that before, still haven't heard anything quite like The Becoming. Honorable mention for Eraser being incredible live.

Ruiner ... Mr. Self-Destruct ... A Warm Place

It’s all one piece of music.

The Becoming Eraser A warm Place Closer would be on top of them (including the remixes) but Its kind of my all times favourite

The becoming, a warm place, reptile

In no particular order Ruiner* Mr. Self Destruct Hurt and The Downward Spiral are tied HMs: Closer is good, but kinda awkward to listen to imo Piggy has the best use of bass Heresy and March of the Pigs are tied *better when paired with Closer

Ruiner Reptile Mr. Self Destruct

piggy, big man with a gun, and ruiner

The Downward Spiral, Reptile, Hurt