nirvana – Whipped Owl

Metal Monday 5-9-2022

Welcome to a new weekly post that I will call Metal Mondays, where I will rank the albums of a certain artist in the metal and hard rock genre from worst to best. As I am a list and ranking person, I am unable to have a simple discussion on what a band’s good albums are, as well as their not-so-good ones. I must rank them in some sort of order, or I will not be able to participate! This also makes for a fun debate, don’t you think?

NOTE: I will rank full length STUDIO ALBUMS only. There will be no live records, greatest hits, or EP’s here.

After a lengthy hiatus, we will study the albums of Nirvana. This Washington state group is often credited with bringing alternative music to the mainstream, combining punk music with melody and pop. Furthermore, Nirvana is considered to be the kingpins of the grunge scene that also produced Seattle area outfits, Pearl Jam, Alice in Chains, and Soundgarden.

Nirvana was founded by vocalist/guitarist/songwriter Kurt Cobain and bassist Krist Novoselic. After a series of drummers, the band’s classic line-up was formed with the initiation of Dave Grohl.

Up front, I must say that back in the day, I loathed any of the grunge bands, considering them to be murderers of my beloved hair metal. However, after decades of (mostly) maturing, I must admit that rock music needed something to kick the genre in the behind, as hard rock had become cheesy and watered down (Remember Danger Danger, anyone?). I have grown to admit that I enjoy Nirvana and their counterparts.

I also must break free from my standard of only ranking studio albums. While Nirvana only had three full length LP’s, they released an EP with plenty of unreleased material, as well as a wonderful live Unplugged record that contained several dynamic cover songs. Please forgive me!

While not a proper follow up to the 1991 smash breakthrough, Nevermind, this collection of songs include many tracks that would become fan favorite deep cuts, some of which were part of the group’s, Hormoaning EP, as well as staples in the band’s live set.

Best Song: Sliver

Best Deep Cut: Sliver

The final release during Kurt Cobain’s lifetime, In Utero had the unfair and daunting task of following up Nevermind. This record contains hits, All Apologies, Heart-Shaped Box, and Pennyroyal Tea, as well as fan favorites, Rape Me and Dumb.

Best Song: Heart-Shaped Box

Best Deep Cut: Rape Me

OK, I normally wouldn’t put a live or unplugged record in my rankings, however, with the addition of several amazing cover songs, I view this to be a separate Nirvana album on its own. The band eschewed the unplugged tradition of simply regurgitating its big hits acoustically, as mega songs Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lithium are nowhere to be found. Rather, the group performed deeper cuts On a Plain, Something in the Way, and About a Girl among others. Meanwhile the cover versions of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold the World, the Meat Puppet’s Lake of Fire, and the brilliant rendition of Leadbelly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night became new Nirvana songs to most fans.

Best Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Best Deep Cut: Where Did You Sleep Last Night

Nirvana’s studio debut flew under the radar until the band’s smash Nevermind boosted its sales a couple of years later. The album features cult hits Blew, Floyd the Barber, and About a Girl, the latter gaining in popularity by its inclusion on the unplugged record. Bleach is a more than respectable debut.

Best Song: About a Girl

Best Deep Cut: Blew

The band’s gigantic breakthrough transformed an entire genre that sent those who enjoyed mainstream success in the 80’s into small clubs and dive bars. The hits are plentiful with Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come as You Are, Lithium, and Polly. Meanwhile, the album is strong from start to finish, with deeper tracks more than holding up. Give a listen to On a Plain, Breed, Drain You, Territorial Pissings, and the amazing Lounge Act.

Best Song: Lounge Act

Best Deep Cut: Lounge Act

Metal Monday – Nirvana – Something in the Way

Wordaholicanonymous

Milou and I watched The Batman yesterday and there was a song near constantly playing throughout the movie. I was wondering if it was either Nirvana or the Peppers. But this morning I finally looked it up and was proud that I recognized a song I never heard before. Batman is worth a watch in my opinion. I was not the most hyped about casting choices, but can confirm that I enjoyed most of the film. It is definitly some thing else completely than what I expected.

Lyrics:

Underneath the bridge
Tarp has sprung a leak
And the animals I’ve trapped
Have all become my pets
And I’m living off of grass
And the drippings from my ceiling
It’s okay to eat fish
Cause they don’t have any feelings

Something in the way
Mmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah
Mmm-mmm
Something in the way
Mmm-mmm
Something in the way, yeah

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This Day in History

April 5, 1994:

Rock icon Kurt Cobain dies by suicide.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1994/04/25/generation-exit

Modern rock icon Kurt Cobain dies by suicide on April 5, 1994. His body was discovered inside his home in Seattle, Washington, three days later by Gary Smith, an electrician, who was installing a security system in the house. Despite indications that Cobain, the lead singer of Nirvana, killed himself, some skeptics questioned the circumstances of his death and pinned responsibility on his wife, Courtney Love.

Cobain’s downward spiral began taking shape in Italy the previous month. He went into a coma and nearly died after mixing champagne and the drug Rohypnol. The public was led to believe that the coma was induced by an accidental heroin overdose, since Cobain had a well-known problem with the drug.

Back at home in Seattle’s Denny-Blaine neighborhood, the police were called to Cobain and Love’s home when he again threatened to kill himself. Although Cobain stated in a 1991 interview that he didn’t believe in guns, the officers confiscated four from his possession. As his wife and friends watched him spin out of control, they attempted to intervene. Cobain mostly ignored their concerns but reluctantly checked into a rehabilitation clinic in Los Angeles at the end of March.

On March 30, Cobain walked away from the clinic without informing his family or friends. For the next few days, Love could not locate him and decided to hire a private detective on April 3. The detective made contact with Cobain the following day in Seattle, but Cobain refused to return to Los Angeles.

In the meantime, Cobain had convinced a friend to buy him a gun, claiming he needed it for protection. On April 5, Cobain returned home. He had ingested enough Valium and heroin to reach near-fatal levels. In the apartment above the garage was Cobain’s suicide note, quoting Neil Young’s lyric that it is “better to burn out than to fade away.”

Taken from: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history