Halo 2: Pretty Hate Machine
Originally released in 1989, Trent Reznor wrote, produced, and performed the first NIN album, Pretty Hate Machine. It is, for the most part, pop influenced, but balanced a fine line between what was being done with the industrial music scene. Though musically dated, its lyrical content still holds up to this day. There's a certain desperation in Reznor's voice that comes from both the lyrics and what is to date, one of the most recognizable and distinguishable voices in the annals of music history. It's easy to liken this album to early Ministry, Skinny Puppy, and Depeche Mode, in that each of the respective bands created an interesting melding of voice and synthesizer. This would be the start of a trademark sound for Nine Inch Nails. The album was re-released and remastered in 2010, celebrating its twentieth anniversary. This album usually comes up as a favorite for a lot of fans in conversation. It's truly a testament to its staying power and I feel a lot of that comes from one person's hard work. You can hear everything put into the album and despite its antiquated sounds, Pretty Hate Machine has some of the most memorable lyrics in the entire discography.