Trent Reznor’s formal debut as an artist is absolutely a product of its time and place, with Pretty Hate Machine audibly being a sweet spot balanced between Depeche Mode’s synth hook prowess and late 1980s Ministry’s rampaging rock/industrial hybrids. But by adding his own ear for earworm melodies, a gift for haunted ballads and a deft helping of Prince’s groove obsession, Reznor scored an underground smash with songs like “Head Like a Hole” and “Down In It” becoming subcultural standards by the time Nine Inch Nails toured on Lollapalooza in 1991.

– Ned Raggett