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<blockquote>"I was really into electronic music at the time. [[David Bowie]]'s 'Low' was probably the single greatest influence on 'The Downward Spiral' for me. I got into Bowie in the 'Scary Monsters' era, then I picked up 'Low' and instantly fell for it. I related to it on a song-writing level, a mood level, and on a song-structure level...I like working within the framework of accessibility, and songs of course, but I also like things that are more experimental and instrumental, maybe."[http://www.theninhotline.net/archives/articles/xart43.shtml]</blockquote>
Pink Floyd's ''The Wall'' was also heavy in Reznor's rotation during the making of the album.[https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2005-apr-10-ca-reznor10-story.html] In a Q+A session before the [[2017/09/15_Chicago,_IL|2017 Riot Fest show]], it was revealed that [[David Lynch]]'s use of sound in his films was an inspiration for the sound design of ''The Downward Spiral''.
==Recording==
The Mellotron MKIV used on the album (as well as on ''Broken'') once belonged to John Lennon. Contrary to popular belief, it was not used to record The Beatles' "Strawberry Fields Forever", nor is it owned by Reznor. It was on loan to him from [[Interscope Records]] co-founders Ted Field and Jimmy Iovine.
==Concept and Interpretations==
Most fans seem to agree that "Closer" (noted for its "I want to fuck you like an animal" lyric) has meaning deeper than its surface lyrics (note the desperate dependency expressed by the final line, "you are the reason I stay alive"). The narrator was not exactly modeled after Reznor's previous life, though he would later go through his own sort of "downward spiral" during the Fragility tour, battling issues such as drug abuse.
==Writings on the album==
==="A dissertation on The Downward Spiral"===
This is a lengthy interpretation of the album's story written by two men back around 1998. Read it at:
* http://www.4degreez.com/nailz/ninterpretations/downspiral.html with feedback from several fans
* http://web.archive.org/web/20050920110644/http://www.sickamongthepure.com/files/2002/02/TDS/TDS.html archive of the article on [[SickAmongthePure]]
===''Into The Never'' book===
In 2020, author Adam Steiner published a book called ''Into The Never: Nine Inch Nails And The Creation Of The Downward Spiral''. The book's press release states that it "explores the creation and cultural impact of ''The Downward Spiral'', one of the most influential and artistically significant albums of the twentieth century" and features "new interviews with collaborators and artists inspired by the album."
==Recurring themes and styles==
* "Mr. Self Destruct" begins with a sample from the 1971 film ''THX 1138.'' It is taken from a scene in which a man is being beaten by a guard depicted on a holographic television. [http://www.discogs.com/release/4404]
* "A Warm Place" is based on the melody from David Bowie's 1980 single "Crystal Japan." Some hear it as a complete rip-off, while others argue that from a music theory point of view that the structure has significant differences.
*The looping female voice that appears on "Reptile" (approx. 5:06) is from the 1974 film ''The Texas Chain Saw Massacre''. The strange mechanical sound before the drums start can be found in the movie ''Leviathan'' and the other sounds during all the song are found in ''Aliens'' (the escape in the vessel). Also, while not a direct sample, the ascending synth melody from 5:13 to 5:20 seems to be a reference to "Laura Palmer's Theme" from the television show ''Twin Peaks''.
* "The Becoming" uses screams from the film ''Robot Jox'' and a reversed sample of the phrase "I know who I am" from the film ''Angel Heart''.
* "Ruiner" samples pitched-up wind noises from David Lynch's ''The Elephant Man''.
* "March Of The Pigs" samples a buried scream from the film ''Sorcerer''.
==Re-Releases==