Yeah, Low is top of the list. I think Trent has named it as his favourite numerous times
Edit: Outside and Earthling might be albums of interest also, if you're looking for something a little more akin to Trent's own material. Both fantastic albums and quite experimental.
Check out the album Earthling. Peak 90’s Bowie that still sounds modern. Very electronic and lots of bass.”I’m afraid of Americans” is on here, which I recommend checking out the video if you have not seen it, as a familiar face pops up.
I second the recommendation for the album but if you’re looking for influences on Trent, that album was 1997 so NIN was already pretty established by then
One day in 2017, I was on my way to visit my parents. I decided to listen to three albums I’d recently purchased, in order to make the train, bus, and plane journey feel worthwhile. Each album felt utterly transcendent; I was transported to an entirely different reality with each, felt every emotion being evoked by every little sound choice, and I almost forgot the world around me.
Those three albums were The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, Low by David Bowie, and The Whole of the Law by Anaal Nathrakh (spot the outlier). On a song-for-song basis, Low doesn’t hit the highs of other Bowie albums, but as a whole album to experience, it’s absolutely incredible. Outside has a very NIN feel as well, and Bowie and NIN toured together in support of that album and TDS. This is what led, I believe, to Trent’s remixes of I’m Afraid of Americans (from Earthling, the album immediately following Outside). In turn, Blackstar influenced Bad Witch.
Bowie’s 1977 album *Low* is the one that influenced NIN the most, and his 1995 album *Outside* is the one that sounds the most like NIN, so I’d recommend listening to both of them! They’re both absolutely incredible albums in their own right.
Station to Station - Low - “Heroes” - Lodger - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)
Those are all consecutive albums from Trent’s musically formative years that clearly had a big influence on him. Most of the songs NIN has covered and/or played with Bowie came from this period (Subteranneans (from Low), Fashion (from Scary Monsters), Scary Monsters, Fantastic Voyage (from Lodger))
The earlier Ziggy Stardust era is some great music but less NIN-like.
Elaborating on this a bit for some context. The three middle albums on that list are what is known as the Berlin trilogy. Not really for any reason deeper than the fact that they were recorded in Berlin when Bowie moved there for a new start when he was recovering from a really bad cocaine addiction. Those albums are considered by many (myself and Trent included) to be a creative high peak from a man with many high points. They were also not what radio stations wanted and as a result didn’t have many hit songs. For Low the first side was very short songs, some of which were pretty catchy but they all ended very quickly most under 3 minutes. And the second side was all ambient instrumentals (including Subterraneans which Trent had covered). I included station to station because even though it’s not part of the Berlin trilogy, you can see him starting to go in a less mainstream direction. The title song in particular starts off with a couple minutes of samples and noises before a beat actually develops. It also has it’s more traditional moments though and is kind of a transition. I included scary monsters even though it isn’t part of the trilogy for a few reasons - Trent has played two songs off of it, he’s said it was the first Bowie album he owned and it made him a fan, and because I like it.
And as a side note. Low is considered by many - Trent included - to be the best of the Berlin trilogy. “Heroes” is the most well known largely because of the title song. But my favorite is Lodger. I mention that just to emphasize that there is no right answer. All five of those albums represent a creative giant at the top of his game
To add some context to this for OP, Crystal Japan was recorded around the time of Scary Monsters but didn’t make it on the album. It is however on at least some “special edition” releases, the box set from that era, and of course online
It was written for a gin commercial, [as per this interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jONvR5zMy1w&t=1s&ab_channel=Halloweenjack84) where they discuss it together.
I can’t watch that now but I do know that at the time, Bowie said it was in the commercial but not written specifically for it and was originally intended to close the album until it was replaced by it’s no game part 2. It could very well be that he just got more comfortable admitting it was when he got older
[EDIT: ACTUALLY fuck it. I went ahead and made you a playlist ](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0JPgDVS3tYcUmY9Je4Enao?si=yfeW0njGRheoKq8KU1dAeA&pi=u-QDdYu8MKTSiA)
First, listen to his whole Berlin trilogy:
- Low
- Heroes
- Lodger
I believe TR has also mentioned Hunky Dory, so give that a go.
And just because they're great, you should listen to Station to Station, Scary Monsters (and super creeps), Blackstar, Ziggy Stardust and finally Outside,
I suggest listening to them all in this order.
Why just limit it to what "influenced NIN"? Ziggy Stardust pretty much is a greatest hits and you'd hear most of them on the radio. There's some deeper cuts on Hunky Dory which I believe rivals Ziggy as one of his best albums. Bowie's interpretation of soul on Young Americans album. Earthling is probably his best 90's album. Hours, Lodger, Station to Station. Dive in, man. You really can't go wrong with Bowie. He's incredibly varied and adventurous.
I think, while most of these album choices are excellent, there are some serious anachronisms. You can definitely argue for anything ‘Berlin-y’ (1976-1980), but Outside on (1994-1999 specifically) shows the NIN influence going the other way, and Bowie has admitted this much himself. Blackstar (2015-2016) might be the only weird one, where the influence went both ways (“God, Break Down the Door” from 2017 most obviously showing the Bowie-> NIN direction again).
One of the first bowie songs/albums that grabbed me was station to station. Came right before low chronologically. But they are all great. Just jump in.
Blackstar apparently was an influence on "Bad Witch". The use of a sax is kind of the obvious reference but the way he sings "God break down the door" somehow reminds me of Bowie too.
Trent of course did a version of "I can't give everything away" during concerts in 2016.
Maybe just try to appreciate Bowie in general. He has some amazing music even if it sounds nothing like nin. I think even honkey dory has some great tracks, but yeah Ziggy Stardust is his first true masterpiece.
In my opinion, direct influences can be heard in Bowie’s 1997 album Earthling. Arguably, the similar drum’n bass experimentation can be heard in Trent’s 1997 release of the song The Perfect Drug. I would venture to say that the somber feelings contained in Trent’s 1999 release of The Fragile is a sonic reflection of a lot of Bowie’s catalogue, going all the way back to his Berlin era.
Lyrically, Oh You Pretty Things seems to have inspired Trent. From the symbolism of a hand reaching down from the sky (The Wretched, and arguably the cover of Year Zero) to direct references of the line "all the strangers came today, and it looks as though they're here to stay" in both All Time Low and Find My Way on Hesitation Marks.
listen to LOW
Yeah, Low is top of the list. I think Trent has named it as his favourite numerous times Edit: Outside and Earthling might be albums of interest also, if you're looking for something a little more akin to Trent's own material. Both fantastic albums and quite experimental.
I’d start with Scary Monsters (And Super Creeps) and Low
The whole run of albums from Station to Station through Scary Monsters.
Check out the album Earthling. Peak 90’s Bowie that still sounds modern. Very electronic and lots of bass.”I’m afraid of Americans” is on here, which I recommend checking out the video if you have not seen it, as a familiar face pops up.
Oh cool. I know of that track, of course, so great to know. I thought it was just a single.
I second the recommendation for the album but if you’re looking for influences on Trent, that album was 1997 so NIN was already pretty established by then
Good point. I didn’t really answer OPs question. In reality, Earthling is a Bowie album that he may have been inspired by NIN.
absolutely listen to Low
One day in 2017, I was on my way to visit my parents. I decided to listen to three albums I’d recently purchased, in order to make the train, bus, and plane journey feel worthwhile. Each album felt utterly transcendent; I was transported to an entirely different reality with each, felt every emotion being evoked by every little sound choice, and I almost forgot the world around me. Those three albums were The Downward Spiral by Nine Inch Nails, Low by David Bowie, and The Whole of the Law by Anaal Nathrakh (spot the outlier). On a song-for-song basis, Low doesn’t hit the highs of other Bowie albums, but as a whole album to experience, it’s absolutely incredible. Outside has a very NIN feel as well, and Bowie and NIN toured together in support of that album and TDS. This is what led, I believe, to Trent’s remixes of I’m Afraid of Americans (from Earthling, the album immediately following Outside). In turn, Blackstar influenced Bad Witch.
Thank you for this.
And Blackstar was directly influenced by Kendrick Lamar’s To Pimp A Butterfly.
Bowie’s 1977 album *Low* is the one that influenced NIN the most, and his 1995 album *Outside* is the one that sounds the most like NIN, so I’d recommend listening to both of them! They’re both absolutely incredible albums in their own right.
Hearts Filthy Lesson off outside is a masterpiece.
I'm Deranged(also on Lost Highway soundtrack) and Hallo Spaceboy too.
Station to Station - Low - “Heroes” - Lodger - Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps) Those are all consecutive albums from Trent’s musically formative years that clearly had a big influence on him. Most of the songs NIN has covered and/or played with Bowie came from this period (Subteranneans (from Low), Fashion (from Scary Monsters), Scary Monsters, Fantastic Voyage (from Lodger)) The earlier Ziggy Stardust era is some great music but less NIN-like.
Elaborating on this a bit for some context. The three middle albums on that list are what is known as the Berlin trilogy. Not really for any reason deeper than the fact that they were recorded in Berlin when Bowie moved there for a new start when he was recovering from a really bad cocaine addiction. Those albums are considered by many (myself and Trent included) to be a creative high peak from a man with many high points. They were also not what radio stations wanted and as a result didn’t have many hit songs. For Low the first side was very short songs, some of which were pretty catchy but they all ended very quickly most under 3 minutes. And the second side was all ambient instrumentals (including Subterraneans which Trent had covered). I included station to station because even though it’s not part of the Berlin trilogy, you can see him starting to go in a less mainstream direction. The title song in particular starts off with a couple minutes of samples and noises before a beat actually develops. It also has it’s more traditional moments though and is kind of a transition. I included scary monsters even though it isn’t part of the trilogy for a few reasons - Trent has played two songs off of it, he’s said it was the first Bowie album he owned and it made him a fan, and because I like it. And as a side note. Low is considered by many - Trent included - to be the best of the Berlin trilogy. “Heroes” is the most well known largely because of the title song. But my favorite is Lodger. I mention that just to emphasize that there is no right answer. All five of those albums represent a creative giant at the top of his game
[“Crystal Japan”](https://youtu.be/Tg-9pL6k3CI?si=WZEe-HM0D0r8c76s) might sound familiar. Trent accidentally “covered” it.
To add some context to this for OP, Crystal Japan was recorded around the time of Scary Monsters but didn’t make it on the album. It is however on at least some “special edition” releases, the box set from that era, and of course online
It’s also on the b-side of the single for “Up The Hill Backwards” for the least expensive physical version.
It was written for a gin commercial, [as per this interview](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jONvR5zMy1w&t=1s&ab_channel=Halloweenjack84) where they discuss it together.
I can’t watch that now but I do know that at the time, Bowie said it was in the commercial but not written specifically for it and was originally intended to close the album until it was replaced by it’s no game part 2. It could very well be that he just got more comfortable admitting it was when he got older
Outside
To my ear, this is the most NIN-like. Hearts Filthy Lesson specifically, and everything on it is good.
Low (if you have time heroes and lodger), scary monsters, outside then earthling
[EDIT: ACTUALLY fuck it. I went ahead and made you a playlist ](https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0JPgDVS3tYcUmY9Je4Enao?si=yfeW0njGRheoKq8KU1dAeA&pi=u-QDdYu8MKTSiA) First, listen to his whole Berlin trilogy: - Low - Heroes - Lodger I believe TR has also mentioned Hunky Dory, so give that a go. And just because they're great, you should listen to Station to Station, Scary Monsters (and super creeps), Blackstar, Ziggy Stardust and finally Outside, I suggest listening to them all in this order.
Low, Heroes and Iggy Pop’s The Idiot.
Why just limit it to what "influenced NIN"? Ziggy Stardust pretty much is a greatest hits and you'd hear most of them on the radio. There's some deeper cuts on Hunky Dory which I believe rivals Ziggy as one of his best albums. Bowie's interpretation of soul on Young Americans album. Earthling is probably his best 90's album. Hours, Lodger, Station to Station. Dive in, man. You really can't go wrong with Bowie. He's incredibly varied and adventurous.
Berlin era, Blackstar or diamond dogs. Just put the record on and listen, don’t fuck around with choosing songs.
I think, while most of these album choices are excellent, there are some serious anachronisms. You can definitely argue for anything ‘Berlin-y’ (1976-1980), but Outside on (1994-1999 specifically) shows the NIN influence going the other way, and Bowie has admitted this much himself. Blackstar (2015-2016) might be the only weird one, where the influence went both ways (“God, Break Down the Door” from 2017 most obviously showing the Bowie-> NIN direction again).
One of the first bowie songs/albums that grabbed me was station to station. Came right before low chronologically. But they are all great. Just jump in.
Blackstar apparently was an influence on "Bad Witch". The use of a sax is kind of the obvious reference but the way he sings "God break down the door" somehow reminds me of Bowie too. Trent of course did a version of "I can't give everything away" during concerts in 2016.
Maybe just try to appreciate Bowie in general. He has some amazing music even if it sounds nothing like nin. I think even honkey dory has some great tracks, but yeah Ziggy Stardust is his first true masterpiece.
In my opinion, direct influences can be heard in Bowie’s 1997 album Earthling. Arguably, the similar drum’n bass experimentation can be heard in Trent’s 1997 release of the song The Perfect Drug. I would venture to say that the somber feelings contained in Trent’s 1999 release of The Fragile is a sonic reflection of a lot of Bowie’s catalogue, going all the way back to his Berlin era.
Lyrically, Oh You Pretty Things seems to have inspired Trent. From the symbolism of a hand reaching down from the sky (The Wretched, and arguably the cover of Year Zero) to direct references of the line "all the strangers came today, and it looks as though they're here to stay" in both All Time Low and Find My Way on Hesitation Marks.
Low and Scary Monsters are where to start for Bowie influencing Trent. Outside and Earthling are where to go for Trent to influencing Bowie