Nine Inch Nails was, initially, Trent Reznor’s attempt at hijacking rock music. It then turned into something of a bizarre cult. Later, it became a sophisticated industrial-rock experiment.

The Nine Inch Nails story is fascinating. And it’s worth much more than a listen to ten songs. I know that.

But let me focus on the best for a moment. These are 10 songs that will help get you into the work of Nine Inch Nails, one of the greatest musical projects of all time.

The Greatest 10 Songs by Nine Inch Nails

10. “The Perfect Drug”

There were, contrary to popular belief, plenty of dumb rockers basking in 1990s alternative-rock success. You could never confuse Trent Reznor for that.

His reputation as a forward-thinking musician was such that by 1997, director David Lynch was asking him to collaborate.

While this mostly constituted providing horror movie noises, Reznor also had time to write the horror-pop of “The Perfect Drug.” This is one of the most direct singles Nine Inch Nails ever released.

9. “Last”

Like Meat Loaf or Alice Cooper, the character that Trent Reznor built for his stage time caught up with him early on. By the “Broken” EP, he’d surrendered fully to the nihilism that accompanied Nine Inch Nails’ early recordings.

It sucked for him in the long run. But it works brilliantly for the music. “Last” is an anthemic industrial rock track about living for the moment and fearing the unavoidable consequences.

8. “March of the Pigs”

Part of Nine Inch Nails’ live shows was performance art. Sure, some of it was scripted. but, just as in wrestling, people genuinely got hurt.

With mainstream audiences generally shocked by the sound and look of Nine Inch Nails, Reznor gave them what they feared most. The dynamics of “March of the Pigs” are still attention-grabbing. Just whisper “boo!” around someone who’s just heard it for the first time.

7. “Wish”

Flood and Reznor produced a mini-masterpiece with the “Broken” EP. And it was all down to personal frustration that the songs turned so good. During this time, Reznor began a lengthy court battle with his record label and was unceremoniously traded to another.

That kind of anger is reflected in “Wish.” But the song is also very hooky. It’s no wonder this caught on nearly as quickly as grunge and Nirvana did.

6. “Into the Void”

Reznor rarely played by the rules. This annoyed record labels. And it kept fans not knowing what to expect.

“The Fragile” was a complex, sophisticated and not very welcoming double record industrial concept album. The soundscapes and compositions are incredible. But “Into the Void” was one of only a few potential singles. Still, it’s a great song. And making uncommercial material never much affected NIN’s success.

5. “The Hand That Feeds”

Reznor resisted making a typical Nine Inch Nails record for a long time. Maybe he just didn’t have the bitterness to stimulate him for a while.

By the early 2000s, the general mood in American politics spurred Reznor on to produce “With Teeth.”

This is the most rock-friendly that the album ever produced. “The Hand That Feeds” is politically charged but radio-ready. Critics didn’t much care for it. But myself, and regular rock audiences loved it.

4. “The Wretched”

Chuck Palahniuk claims to listen to “The Wretched” for hours at a time. He says that this helps him slip into the mood he needs for writing. If you’re familiar with “Fight Club” and any of his other novels, you’ll be able to appreciate what kind of darkness the song has inspired.

A blend of classical and torture pop, “The Wretched” is still not quite anything ever produced.

3. “Head Like a Hole”

Yes, yes, Trent Reznor had heard a Ministry record or two before he made his own “Pretty Hate Machine.” And, yes, it’s true that the songs were written to provide the maximum commercial punch for the one-man project’s industrial metal.

Still, “Head Like a Hole” is a very well-crafted pop record, albeit a very dark one. It has survived as one of the best industrial rock songs of the time.

2. “Hurt”

It was strange when “Hurt,” the quiet album closer to “The Downward Spiral”, became a hit for the first time. It was a shock when Johnny Cash transformed into a global success again years later.

Written to frame the story of the album and offer it the predictably tragic ending it deserves, “Hurt” is a great song, a most atypical hit song.

1. “Closer”

“Closer” was the biggest thing since sliced bread, or, at least, since Nirvana had released “Nevermind.”

Scary, perverse, and sexy, Nine Inch Nails ushered a sound and aesthetic darker than what the mainstream music industry was used to accepting in years prior.

Hype aside, “Closer” is a brilliant single. Excellently produced and thought-provoking, it’s Trent Reznor’s shining hour. Frequently played but still not overrated, “Closer” is one of the greatest rock songs of the 1990s.