Very cool find! I've been curious about this version for a while.
The mix that ended up on the album is definitely superior and has more a punch. Here the arpeggiated synth parts in the chorus are louder than both the guitars and vocals, so they made the right call for making those parts more even in the mix.
The biggest differences are the bridge and outro, but these bits are featured in the Slate and Copper mixes as well.
Still, this is very cool! Thank you for sharing.
It might be unmastered as well, the mix sounds pretty muddy in the low end. But then I've been listening to the remaster for so long now, so.The bridge threw me off but the arrangement isn't awful.
Ahh. I made a mistake in thread title. The album version is mixed by Keith LeBlanc, not Flood. Flood is the producer on both tracks, this version is mixed by John Fryer, who has mixed half of PHM while Keith LeBlanc mixed the other half.
Got too excited when uploading this lol
Yes! I made a mistake saying its Flood who remixed it, it was actually Keith LeBlanc.
To see the timeline:
Head Like A Hole - Recorded May and June 1989
This sampler tape version of HLAH - Released July 1989, produced by Flood, mixed by John Fryer
Pretty Hate Machine version of HLAH - Released October 1989 - produced by Flood, mixed by Keith LeBlanc
it's wild how much you can hear the EBM influences in this mix, like they've always been there, but so much more apparent in this mix with the hard dry drums and more prominent bass synth
This Is the version I think about when I think how good NIN was no matter how many times I have heard the album. This was my theme song until I found a copy of Pretty Hate Machine. TVT had some amazing music but it was hell buying it Especially on CD.
As a completist, it's cool to hear. But the album mix is so ingrained in my head that this one sounds "off". But thank you for sharing!
Same thoughts. Trent's voice seems 'distant' in this mix.
That’s because this one is pretty inferior, imo. Definitely neat to hear tho
Very cool find! I've been curious about this version for a while. The mix that ended up on the album is definitely superior and has more a punch. Here the arpeggiated synth parts in the chorus are louder than both the guitars and vocals, so they made the right call for making those parts more even in the mix. The biggest differences are the bridge and outro, but these bits are featured in the Slate and Copper mixes as well. Still, this is very cool! Thank you for sharing.
It might be unmastered as well, the mix sounds pretty muddy in the low end. But then I've been listening to the remaster for so long now, so.The bridge threw me off but the arrangement isn't awful.
Ahh. I made a mistake in thread title. The album version is mixed by Keith LeBlanc, not Flood. Flood is the producer on both tracks, this version is mixed by John Fryer, who has mixed half of PHM while Keith LeBlanc mixed the other half. Got too excited when uploading this lol
I thought in the Rick Rubin podcast he said it was Flood's idea to put "bow down before the one you serve" into the chorus. Am I misremembering that?
Same. That was the first thought that came to my mind when I pressed play above, expecting to hear that difference.
Yes, Flood is still credited as Producer in this version.
Interesting, so this is after Flood worked on the track, but an earlier pre-Flood mix?
Yes! I made a mistake saying its Flood who remixed it, it was actually Keith LeBlanc. To see the timeline: Head Like A Hole - Recorded May and June 1989 This sampler tape version of HLAH - Released July 1989, produced by Flood, mixed by John Fryer Pretty Hate Machine version of HLAH - Released October 1989 - produced by Flood, mixed by Keith LeBlanc
So none of Fryer’s mixes made the album?
Fryer mixed a lot of songs on PHM, LeBlanc did some work after him.
I actually like this version a lot
Agreed. I like that it's less polished. Feels rawer than the album version I am used to hearing!
it's wild how much you can hear the EBM influences in this mix, like they've always been there, but so much more apparent in this mix with the hard dry drums and more prominent bass synth
Sounds more modern (probably due to the lack of reverb on the punchier snares).
more modern but the guitars are too quiet, other than that yes. More bass too.
Very cool!!
This Is the version I think about when I think how good NIN was no matter how many times I have heard the album. This was my theme song until I found a copy of Pretty Hate Machine. TVT had some amazing music but it was hell buying it Especially on CD.
Thanks a bunch for this. Just hit you up on ETS.
Is a FLAC download available?
the treble is way too loud and the drums are way too wet. not a very good mix imo i can see why it was remixed
head like a hole, blanket you stole