Why should I like Nirvana?

Joe Jackson wrote:

I haven't been keeping track wrote:

Is that the band where every song is really quiet for a while, then at some point they start shouting the lyrics?

No, that doesn't describe a single Nirvana song that I can recall.

That describes their song “Lithium”.

But the album “Incesticide” is great for the first 9 tracks.

Every song is fast paced and short.

Then in the last 8 it sounds like the drugs kick in and it gets pretty weird.

Like them...or don’t...listen to what you like...

Are you also really into Wings but don't get the big deal about the Beatles ?

I’m extremely impressed

I agree that Nirvana is a bit overrated. Kurt Cobain said so countless times in interviews while looking the camera dead on and admitting that he shamelessly ripped off better musicians all of the time. It’s details like this that make Nirvana so special. They weren’t the best at anything. They were just a talented garage band who could churn out top-tier hard rock like butter.

Kurt Cobain’s vocals are world class... nobody can even come close to his sound. Kurt Cobain’s guitar work was not noteworthy from a technical perspective, but his alternate tunings and precise control when it came to generating feedback were very unique. As far as his lyrics, I loved his stream of consciousness approach. I felt like he was often able to share thoughts and feelings that would otherwise be impossible to articulate.

Rupp fan wrote:Kurt Cobain’s vocals are world class...

All the classes in the world couldn't teach that mushmouth to sing

Bad Wigins wrote:All the classes in the world couldn't teach that mushmouth to sing

Countless musicians have tried to sound like Kurt Cobain. The result was Nickelback. I rest my case.

Star wrote:

Joe Jackson wrote:

No, that doesn't describe a single Nirvana song that I can recall.

That describes their song “Lithium”.

But the album “Incesticide” is great for the first 9 tracks.

Every song is fast paced and short.

Then in the last 8 it sounds like the drugs kick in and it gets pretty weird.

In these dire times, I feel this thread needs to be resurrected to set the record straight.

'Quiet then shouting' does not describe Lithium any more than it describes a billion other songs where the verse is sung with less 'enthusiasm' than the chorus. If you want 'quiet then shouting' go listen to Bjork, It's Oh so Quiet.

Insecticide starts off pretty lackluster in my opinion, gets into a groove at track 6, then starts sounding like Nirvana at track 9 through the end. 6-8 are good songs but they lean too far 'punk' for me to act like they are as unique as many Nirvana songs are. Honestly, you could confuse them for the Ramones or blink 182 if you changed the vocals a bit.

Star wrote:

Joe Jackson wrote:

No, that doesn't describe a single Nirvana song that I can recall.

That describes their song “Lithium”.

But the album “Incesticide” is great for the first 9 tracks.

Every song is fast paced and short.

Then in the last 8 it sounds like the drugs kick in and it gets pretty weird.

1-8 are great. The last two and especially Aneurysm are great as well.

nonochoochoo wrote:

Maybe the most impactful bad of the last 50 years...changed the top 40 overnight...really great, straightforward rock songs.

Nevermind is a great album (don’t listen to that kid who dismisses things cause they were popular, we aren’t 12).

Bleach is a sorta watered down introduction to pissed off quasi-corporate garage punk sorta grunge business.

Nevermind is just a great pop/rock album.

In uterus is a little more sophisticated kinda maturing pop goodness.

Incesticide is likely what bleach should have been.

All of those albums have gems

Last 50 years? Hmmm. Maybe. But keep in mind that the target audience were latchkey, spoonfed, yo MTV raps musical dimwits (present company included) who had no idea what they wanted in music. Nirvana's "impact" notwithstanding, does not mean they are great and/or I should like them. I will admit that some additional listens to their "with the lights out" demo basement album has revealed a few cool tracks. They are raw and simple and I can see the appeal for a lost generation that needed simplicity. Not even close to Foo Fighters in terms of range of songs and depth IMO though. Silly debate no one wins or loses I know.

To say that Nirvana touches 1) Zeppelin 2) Rush and 3) Metallica to name a few only underscores the shortsightedness of Nirvana's supporters.