Head Like a Hole [Single]

Nine Inch Nails | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 28, 1991)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Single
• Label: Tvt
• ASIN: B000000GQ2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (42 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #64,760 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #41 in Music > Indie Music > Alternative Rock > Goth & Industrial

Editorial Reviews

European edition of single for this smash from Trent's hit debut from 1989. Contains different cover art than the U.S. release & three mixes of 'Head Like A Hole': Slate, Copper &Opal, the last of which is not on the American release. 1990TVT release. Slimline jewel case.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One to choose, January 19, 2000

By 

St. Chris (Browns Mills, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Head Like a Hole (Audio CD)

A word to NIN collectors: This disc contains the two "Down In It" remixes (shred and singe) from that song's single, and if you own Pretty Hate Machine, you've got the "skin" mix -- so don't feel obliged to pick up the "Down In It" CD. This HLH Maxi-Single also includes the demo version of "Down In It," which is a treat: utterly unpolished (sounds like Trent fiddling around on a 4-track with a beatbox and a couple of synths), but listenable -- a glimpse into the early development of an NIN song.

The "Head Like a Hole" remixes are worthwhile cousins of the original; some dancier, some more a pastiche of the source noises. "You Know Who You Are" is a solid dose of the latter.

One of the HLH remixes here (slate? clay? I forget) ends with an unadulterated fade of the synth riff that's mixed into the beginning of "Terrible Lie" on Pretty Hate Machine. Savvy mixmasters can splice that with the album version to get a start-to-finish pristine cut. ("Terrible Lie" itself gets a couple of remixes here. Not my favorite tracks, but they don't detract from the disc as a whole.)

What's REALLY missing from this disc is the Opal mix, available on the 3-track import single, which I recommend -- you'd never think HLH could funk like that. But even with that omission, this is a worthy halo, a good 60 minutes of variations in the vein of Pretty Hate Machine.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "My head is filled with disease....", November 28, 2004

By 

Michael Crane (Orland Park, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Head Like a Hole (Audio CD)

Single releases from Nine Inch Nails are a lot different from the typical single releases you see. Trent Reznor doesn't like to just give you the original song and just leave it at that. He actually likes to re-mix and manipulate the songs to give you different versions. The downside of this is that this will only appeal to real hardcore fans of Nine Inch Nails. The plus side is if you are a real hardcore fan... then you will love it! "Head Like a Hole (Maxi-Single)" is proof of that.

This CD includes 10 tracks, which is pretty much like buying a full length NIN album. The songs that are reconstructed are "head like a hole," "terrible lie" and "down in it." Again, only a real fan of Trent Reznor will really appreciate this, as it does not include the original versions of the songs. If you're just a casual fan or you only like the song, then I'd advise you to think about it before you decide to purchase it.

I really love this Maxi-Single, and that is because I LOVE Nine Inch Nails. I love the lyrics and the instrumentals behind it all. All of the songs are EXCELLENT, proving to us that Trent wants to do more than just provide you with a lame single release. Would it have been nice if they included the original version of "head like a hole?" If you're just a casual fan, sure, but if you really love Trent and Nine Inch Nails, then it won't bother you at all. A must-have for any NIN fan. -Michael Crane

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars only for collectors and NiN extremists, June 13, 2000

By 

Michael Beatrice (Lafayette, IN USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Head Like a Hole (Audio CD)

Don't get me wrong, this is a great single with many remixes from what is arguably the best nine inch nails album. Reznor went though a lot of effort when he put this together. This CD is identical to the domestic version of the CD in every way except for the catalogue number. That is why you should only bother to pick this one up if you're trying to find every version of every album or you don't already have it and this is all you can find.

If you are new to this single, it's a maxi-single and loaded. Reznor didn't bother watching the clock for this one and let enough remixes out to almost allow this thing to be broken up into two or more singles. If you're not very big into NiN. . . well, then you might not like this single too much because you'll probably become bored with it.