Sex, drugs and … God? Nine Inch Nails’ greatest songs – ranked!
Thirty years on from their masterpiece album The Downward Spiral, we assess the studies of faith, authority and self-loathing from Trent Reznor’s band
June 2022
Honest playlist
‘Nine Inch Nails is inappropriate for a Christmas party’: St Vincent’s honest playlist
The art-pop star was raised on Pearl Jam, wants Jacques Brel played at her funeral and thinks Iggy is sexy. But which song would she interrupt a haircut for?
November 2021
Grammys 2022: Jon Batiste, HER and Justin Bieber lead nominations
Olivia Rodrigo, Doja Cat, Billie Eilish and Lil Nas X also among those with multiple nominations in top categories
April 2021
Pino Palladino, pop's greatest bassist: 'I felt like a performing monkey!'
One of the world’s most celebrated bass players has worked with everyone from Adele to Elton John, the Who and D’Angelo. But the Welsh musician has hidden from the spotlight – until now
March 2021
David Fincher and Trent Reznor on Mank: 'People were like: Huh. This is very niche'
The director and the rock star composer have now collaborated on four films and discuss their work on the overwhelming Oscar favourite, plus why Bird Box made no sense and whether Fight Club could come to Broadway
February 2021
Trent Reznor: sexual assault story in Marilyn Manson memoir is 'fabrication'
Nine Inch Nails frontman claims Manson invented recirculated story in memoir, as Manson is accused by further women of abuse, which he denies
January 2020
Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 2020: Whitney Houston, Depeche Mode and more inducted
Notorious BIG, T Rex, Nine Inch Nails and the Doobie Brothers all join US repository of the pop canon
June 2018
Nine Inch Nails review – ferocious, saw-toothed gothic wonders
Trent Reznor unleashes super-fast tracks from the new album, a heartfelt Bowie tribute and a nostalgic smattering of the hits
Nine Inch Nails: Bad Witch review – an inventive, aggressive return
(Caroline)
Trent Reznor: ‘You’re seeing the fall of America in real time’
He’s survived infamy, addiction and a foray into tech. Now the Nine Inch Nails frontman has swapped his self-loathing for shame at the state of the nation
July 2017
This week's new tracks
Dizzee Rascal’s Wot U Gonna Do?: a banging moment of self-reflection
Also this week: Jack Johnson has somehow become even more laid back, while Mount Kimbie bring a post-punk treat
May 2017
Prison, casket or Taj Mahal – where's the strangest place an album was recorded?
Kanye West is reportedly making new music atop a mountain in Wyoming – but he won’t be the first, or last, artist to head outside of the studio for inspiration
December 2016
The Observer's obituaries of 2016
David Bowie remembered by Gail Ann Dorsey
The bassist in Bowie’s band remembers a towering creative force with a vision beyond music
October 2016
David Lynch's festival of disruption review – not quite reaching its peak
This two-day multidisciplinary event felt thin in places, particularly the film portion, but offered an interesting glimpse into artists influenced by the auteur
June 2016
Readers recommend
Readers recommend playlist: songs about broken promises
Relationships, politics and dreams that die to soon form the backbone to this week’s rundown, with Bruce Springsteen and Calexico among those providing the tunes
A gutsy showcase of covers given an Americana kick
October 2014
Arca: ‘Nothing is off limits emotionally’
He’s only 24 but hip-hop producer Alejandro Ghersi, aka Arca, is already a muse for both Björk and Kanye. What do they know that we don’t?
July 2014
From Rock's Backpages
Lollapalooza: a Woodstock for the lost generation
Ahead of this year’s festival, we go back to August 1991 to see what Simon Reynolds made of the first event. Written originally for the New York Times, and lifted from Rock’s Backpages
May 2014
This week's new live music
Nine Inch Nails, Mac DeMarco, Fat Out Fest: this week's new live music
Trent Reznor: 'a staleness has permeated rock music'
