NIN was probably one of the first electronic music influences of mine along with late 80's to mid 90's tech-house on Chicago radio (Inner City, Cajmere, etc). I picked up The Downward Spiral on a friend's advice in '94 when I was about twelve, a few months before "Closer" hit the big time. It was probably the first time I heard caustic noises, atmospheric textures and programmed rhythms presented in a fresh and unique style, and I immediately identified with it along with most of my friends who heard it. I pretty much started buying anything "industrial", for better or for worse...KMFDM, Ministry (and all Al's side projects), Frontline Assembly, Skinny Puppy, Pigface, Nitzer Ebb, Front 242, you name it.

Reznor is a sonic genius when it comes to sound design, bar none. I can still slap on TDS or Broken to this day and scratch my head as to how he came up with some of the ideas that are present. Although The Fragile was a great album, it just didn't have that ground-breaking feel anymore. IMHO, it'd be fun to hear Trent go back to doing synth-poppy stuff like Pretty Hate Machine just for laughs.