Nirvana - Nevermind

Sign of the Times

Nevermind is a fascinating, strange, grumpy old creature. If you think that means I think it sounds dated, you're wrong. I KNOW Nevermind sounds dated, don't be fooled. Some just think that
"It aint dated, man. It's just classic, it's just influential! Don't ask questions."
That's absolutely fine and appropriate. But I KNOW it sounds dated, . Why does this matter.
Some say "well, duh, it's narrow, it's un-spectacular. It's too loud, it has nothing to say. They're Not even musicians." I think their right, but I also think that such people enjoy their favorite music like many enjoy fallatio; extremely customer-biased, with not much to say but witha whole lot of work to be done. But this band is a punk group.
However, the latter group of idiots is totally right and first group is wrong :-( But, obviously, the latter group is the real jerk. Nevermind is the first album I've heard whose dated sound is a reflection on its listeners rather than itself. I say whose, because the album is such a fun-loving punk rock mentality. It matched the sentiment of society that was done with nonsense-music. And in spite of it's affinity to (not for) nimrods as well as its inaccessibility to ( and for ) anal musical bores-it makes fools of those who hate it, and makes villains out of those who can't explain it...it stands on its own and watches the debate boil over time, smiling bitterly.

The record is a born punk, a cranky older middle-aged man in album years. Obviously the punk's brain is Cobain and obviously its limbs are Noveselic, Grohl as well as Cobain. People say Nirvana is terrible because they're overrated and are being called the new Beatles. It didn't want to move a million or re-define the counterculture, but it did. And this is what dates it so cruelly just like Sgt. Pepper-it's true-also has an expiration date ranging in or around the mid 1960's. It hasn't aged gracefully into a new era, because punk rock is a hell of a think to fit into any sort of mainstream filter. Yes, It's a guitar-driven record that corals much of its songwriting chops from someone who doesn't ably blow away yesteryears guitar-heroes. And yet, he doesn't want to.

Kurt Cobain was a snot-nosed punk who would much rather blow such people off in favor of outdoing 70's icons ultimately more respected then his -extremely-talented contemporaries like Soundgarden and Alice and Chains. This is the first time I've reviewed this album, but I feel it's duly worth noting that Nevermind sounding dated is less a reflection on the album itself and more a reflection on the listeners. It perfectly connects punk rock senselesness with pop sensibility. And for some inane reason this equation equals reality, like a new world discovered on the other side of the black hole.
Nevermind, don't be fooled, is a masterpiece; the kind that judge you more than it tries to impress you. Smells like Teen Spirit, Lithium, and especially speedier works like Territorial Pissings and Breed are catchy, but not flashy, two very different things. I'm not afraid to say it, Nevermind is frustrating to understand. Scathing lyrical attacks on a reuniting of old friends/enemies a la "Come as you Are" hint at a terrifingly huanting and blurred core beneath the fantastically poppy drums. The beautifuly scarce solo is basically the ghost that crashes the part. If it was any more techinically proficient or any less, the song would be cut down. This is the sum of the albums parts, just enough to fool, terrify, and label you better than you can label it. July 8, 2008

Overrated? Absolutely. Amazing? You Bet!

OK, so I have set myself the task of reviewing the second most overrated albums of the 90's (the first being OK Computer) whilst trying not to offend anyone and also trying to be fair. It has been quite some time since I have listened to Nevermind all the way through. Back in the day I listened to it endlessly and loved it. It is a great album, certainly a very important album, maybe the most important of the 90's. However, it is also a very `cool' album. Many people give this top marks without thinking about it because it's cool to like Nirvana isn't it? Cobain was such a tortured genius wasn't he? My friends will think less of me if I don't like this album won't they?

I personally am not bothered about what is cool, what is not, about being pretentious etc. If I like something then I like it, not because I'm expected to like it. The same goes for if I dislike something.

Having said all that, I really enjoy this album. It is a very solid piece of work; there are no problems at all with running through this from beginning to end, each song ranges from good to great and the power and energy runs throughout. Add that to the nostalgia I feel, remembering listening to it as an 11 year old, then a few years later when everyone started listening again after Cobain's death, then it surpasses being just an album; it becomes part of my coming of age.

Smells Like Teen Spirit- Straight off the bat we get a cool riff and then BAM, the power hits us. Like the album, this track is overrated and overplayed. We shouldn't let this detract from the fact that it is still a fantastic anthem, which the so-called Generation X embraced. A very powerful opener for an album, everybody's attention was grabbed and all eyes were on Seattle.

In Bloom- This next track is as every bit as good as Teen Spirit. Cobain's guttural vocals, a big fat baseline and a great solo combine to bring us a superb song that sometimes gets forgotten, wedged between two better known titles.

Come As You Are- Featuring some of the best lyrics on the album and a hugely famous intro, Come As You Are is only second to Teen Spirit when it comes to popularity and fame amongst the Nirvana catalogue. For me this is the best track on the album, Nirvana's best song in fact. Absolutely incredible.

Breed- Grohl's drums propel Breed throughout the next three minutes. Cobain is great on vocals, the lyrics are once again very good and a middle eight that loses none of the songs fire and tempo.

Lithium- `I'm so happy cos today I've found my friends, they're in my head. I'm so ugly, that's ok cos so are you' are my favourite lyrics from the album. The chorus is the very essence of the grunge movement. One of the best crafted songs on Nevermind.

Polly- Not as innocent as it first sounds, this acoustic track has darker undertones. A slight change in mood here as we have a softer song with no loud moments, just Kurt, his guitar and minimal background.

Territorial Pissings- Pure energy is the only way to describe this song. The drums, guitar and vocals all strain together to give this odd and almost novelty song a brute force that almost smashes it's way through the speakers.

Drain You- Another underrated track on an album with so many highlights. The balance between all elements is spot on, including the brilliant lyrics.

Lounge Act- The intro starts with a big fat meaty bass line and then the track develops quite an upbeat tempo. The vocals show off both sides of Kurt's abilities; in the first half we get his singing voice which is low and rough, then in the second half we get his scream and yell which makes his voice even more gravelly. His voice IS grunge.

Stay Away- `Rather be dead than cool' perhaps the most fitting and revealing lyrics that Kurt Cobain penned. A good solid track with brilliant drumming by Dave Grohl.

On A Plain- One of my favourite nirvana songs; everything about it, once again, fits together just right. I just love the way the lyrics kick in at the start.

Something In The Way- We started off with a heavy anthem but know we end the album on a quiet note. This is even more laid back than Polly and it is so much better. A very simple tune with a very simple yet beautiful harmony on the chorus, this is the most understated track on the album and, hence, the most underrated.

There is a hidden track called `Endless, Nameless'. It doesn't really fit with the rest of the album and isn't a great track, however there is some good musicianship going on and a few good melodies intertwined with the rawness of the singing. July 7, 2008

One That Changed My Life

It's hard to believe the albums that changed my life all seemed to have been around the late 70's and early 80's and I didn't think that would change but then something happened. In all fairness there wasn't all that much greatness after the beginning of the 80's - by the time I had worn out most of my vinyl from the early 80's I was mulletized, wearing name brand acid washed jeans and trying to hang with the cool kids of the Def Leppard crowd. Of course I never fit in with them but that's probably because I'd run home, watch the Aqua Net out of my hair and put on my Lisa Hartman album.

But by 1991 we had all had enough of hair bands and constant sexual innuendo. Sure, Lita Ford got me through some fits but come on I needed more, so along came a new Messiah and his name was Kurt. He didn't care if you liked him, looked at him or hit him, just as long as you heard him. And we did. But this goes beyond just affecting me with the thrilling moments of angst found on the album, Nirvana brought about a whole movement - I tore those labels off my jeans, I put on the thrift store cords and boots, the flannel and the big ratty sweaters, I let my hair grow. I have to admit though I never went so far as to only bathe by Pachouli but come on I was raised right.

In essence, Nevermind became a voice for people of my inner angst - my age, my outsider status, everything I thought was on the sidelines was suddenly there in front of me. The music had anger, the music had depth, the passion was there in the lyrics and in the performances, and it changed my whole life. I was finally in a place I wanted to be. My own style changed, my writing, my poetry and stories, my lyrics all took on new meaning and I was no longer afraid to write how I really felt - warts and all. It made me an artist - an unpaid artist sure but if you create art and no one's there to pay attention you're still an artist aren't you? Sure you are and so am I - thanks to the life altering album Nevermind.

The opening riffs of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" through "Breed", "Come As You Are" - each one pushing and pulling at you until you feel the same angst running in your own veins. There's a reason this album is always a top with the critics, it's because it's that powerful, that entertaining and that good.

June 25, 2008

3 Chord Drivel

This album is the worst kind of trash....talentless noise...

I swear we hate capitalism (hey david geffen, can you shoot us another million so we can make yet another overproduced, lame video for our target audience of 16 year old girls on MTV?)

I cannot go on...the most over rated pile of rubbish ever recorded....not to mention it ruined the music scene forever....yuck...

The only album that is worse is the barely decipherable In Utero.

One final point....people seem to forget....the popularity of this trash was/is always massively overstated....this album sold about 9 million copies in the US....put another way...it would be Bon Jovi's Fifth most popular album.
June 17, 2008

Nirvana on Vinyl is just what the doctor ordered

I have this album in Vinyl and CD format. Let me say the Vinyl just blows the CD outta the water. I just got this LP at a local record store but it is the 180 grahm (audiophile quality) edition. If you are gonna get anything in Vinyl make sure it is in good condition or 180 grahm audiophile quality editions or Half Speed Mastered. If you don't know what half mastered is well here is a break down. What is done is the album is transfered to vinyl at half the speed of a normal 33 rpm record, thus giving you profoundly better quality over your run of the mill LP.

Anyways onto my real review of this record. The guitars and symbols sound very crisp here. Everything just sounds crisp and more natural. Vinyl is just the way to go with all of your favorite music. Most people would be surprised at how much modern music is put on vinyl these days. I give this album a 5/5. It has not one filler song and is mixed really well. June 11, 2008

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