Nine Inch Nails - Closure

However, there are three things I think you should know.

A. You should know that this is a bit more than a simple videography. Specifically, I expected the second tape to give me every NIN video (up to "The Perfect Drug"), and it did that. But it's much more unified than the usual one-video-after-another videography format. It doesn't have that "greatest hits" feel. The classic videos are gathered together with strange turn of the century (?) film reels ("Electrocuting the Elephant" is a memorable one), and several untitled arty "videos" for those quiet little "ninstrumentals" which appear between the better known songs-with-lyrics on "Broken" "The Downward Spiral" and "Further Down the Spiral." Both tapes are suitable for playing repeatedly during a loud-and-freaky party or for gathering your art school (not to mention psychology school) friends for viewing-and-analysis party.

B. You should know that these tapes are bizarrely packaged. Much as I love NIN, their packaging is getting stranger and stranger. In a way it's cool and in a way it's just tiresome. The "Broken" case is one thing, but by the time "The Fragile" rolled around... enough already. If you have a fetish for keeping your music stuff in near-new condition (I do), know that you will probably damage this video set the moment you receive it. The whole setup (an irritating Downward Spiral-esque plastic sleeve over a box around two boxes with the videos inside) made me feel like a spastic infant. Not to mention that the Part 2 tape has no content label; the videos and their credits don't appear anywhere except at the end of the tape. I'm sure they intend for you to view the whole tape as a unit (and you should), but I like to have a table of contents, you know? I'd rather have an elaborate brochure than a box that can only become tragically frayed. This is the only real complaint I have about this set, and it is not nearly enough to make me take off a star. But for anyone else with similar personal glitch, here's the video list from the end of Part 2:

"Head Like a Hole" Director: Eric Zimmerman ; "Sin" Director: Brett Turnbull ; "Down in It" Director: Eric Zimmerman/Benjamin Stokes ; "Pinion" Director: Eric Goode/Serge Becker ; "Wish" Director: Peter Christopherson ; "Help Me I am in Hell" Director: Eric Goode/Serge Becker ; "Happiness in Slavery" Director: Jon Reiss ; "March of the Pigs" Director: Peter Christopherson ; "Eraser/Hurt/Wish" - Live Director: Simon Maxwell ; "Closer" Director: Mark Romanek ; "The Perfect Drug" Director: Mark Romanek

C. You should know that this set is explicit. If you're a NIN fan, this probably won't bug you. If you can handle any one of these: movie gore, German sex art, or the surgery channel-- you'll be fine. There's an abstract quality to most of the creepier themes, but this is not for those with delicate sensibilities. I'm 24 years old and extremely liberal-minded, but I wouldn't give this set to a kid. If you're buying this for your 16-year-old grandkid because you saw NIN stickers on her stuff... well, you are so much cooler than my grandparents! But just know that back when they had X ratings, this probably would have gotten one.

That said, I don't want to discourage anyone. If you're a 16-year-old NIN fan, just promise not to go on some crazed Happiness in Slavery rampage, or it'll be Judas Priest all over again.


So what exactly is on the live tape (tape #1)?   November 2, 2002
dknight16
10 out of 11 found this review helpful

This is what the other reviews have left out and what has maybe kept you from considering the purchase of this video set: the mystery of tape #1.

Tape #1 is a rockumentary of the Self-Destruct tour as others have mentioned. The camera work of the live shows is generally professional, multi-cam. Sounds good so far. But as others have mentioned, the sound is not always what you would expect out of a professional soundboard. It does often sound like a B+ bootleg recording. Thin on some songs and compressed on others. This should not discourage you from getting Closure. It still works, and the visuals alone wonderfully document the feel and violence of the band live. Studio tricks and overdubs would have ruined it completely. I feel fortunate to have the opportunity to see this footage. If you are a fan of the band I think you will too. Most importantly, here is the track list (intermixed with backstage "camcorder" footage and other freakshow nonsense!).

Terrible Lie
Piggy
Down In It
March Of The Pigs
Eraser (studio remix) short video filler of tour life
The Only Time
Sanctified (studio) short video filler of tour life
Wish
Hurt (with David Bowie)
Something I Can Never Have
A Warm Place (studio) short video filler of tour life


perfectly captures an era   July 3, 2004
J. Getka (Baltimore, MD United States)
7 out of 7 found this review helpful

a personal look at what went on backstage at NIN's self-destruct tour. although not as huge a NIN fan as I once was, I've probably watched this set at least a hundred times, and I continue to watch it on occaission just because it truly captures the band at their best. the live performances are so perfectly sloppy and intense... the shabby film quality in parts fits the music and the images so well it is hard to desribe. the whole thing just seems so natural. the second video featuring the actual music videos for NIN's songs are wonderful as well, in particular, the video for GAVE UP. this video, which simply depicts the band plus marilyn manson recording the song in the studio, is my favorite for some reason. maybe just because it humanizes the artists and shows where the music actually comes from.