Dan and Carl dive into Pretty Hate Machine, the 1989 debut from Nine Inch Nails. Ranked #453 on Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list, this record helped define the industrial sound that would dominate the ’90s.

Dan revisits the album with decades of context, while Carl hears most of it for the first time—bringing a fresh perspective to an album that blends synth-pop textures, hip-hop-inspired sampling, metal aggression, and raw emotional vulnerability. From the explosive opener “Head Like a Hole” to the brooding balladry of “Something I Can Never Have,” we break down the production, themes, influences, and legacy of a debut that still feels urgent.

Join us next week when we cover Anthology by Dianna Ross and the Supremes.