Nevermind - Nirvana Classic Album Review

Nirvana

Classic Album Review

One of the most acclaimed albums of all time, Nirvana's infamous Nevermind is what launched the grungers into the public eye. The 1991 release has been hugely influential since its release, selling a whopping 26 million records worldwide in the process.

Amongst the songs included on the downbeat album is Smells Like Teen Spirit, the bands biggest hit to date featuring an incomprehensible chorus and simplistic yet addictive guitar intro. Drummer Dave Grohl offers his hard hitting sticksmanship and combined with vocalist Kurt Cobain's screechy sound during the chorus, Nirvana immediately separate themselves from the pack.

The beauty of this CD is that there isn't a bad track throughout. Breed might not have received much acclaim, yet the fast tempo'd and drum roll filled song is a great tune. As with the majority of this album, bassist Krist Novoselic contributes massively to this song. It helps Nirvana step away from being a rock band too, with the bass making the band sound even gloomier.

From Nevermind Nirvana releases four singles, Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Lithium & Come As You Are. In Bloom is the least known of the four, it's written about how record companies didn't understand the bands music and message. In Bloom features a characteristic fast paced chorus and bass-filled verses, yet it doesn't contain the same depressing taste which all of the album is coated in. Come as You Are deviates from Nirvana's usually fast paced choruses, opting for slower and more repetitive vocals. The song contains the now renowned lyrics "No I don't have a gun" which some linked in with Kurt Cobain's 'suicide' in 1994. Lithium is filled with disheartening vocals throughout, combined with punchy drums and Krist Novoselic's grunge filled bass riffs creates a song that really sounds suicidal. The tone of the song is one of Nirvana's most downbeat from Nevermind, yet proves to be one of their biggest songs to date.

Also on Nevermind is the acoustic track Polly, which would appear later on Nirvana's MTV unplugged performance. Territorial Pissings allows Dave Grohl to showcase his drumming to new speeds and Kurt Cobain's ability to screech without destroying his voice. Stay Away follows a similar path too opening with an amazingly basic drum roll, which sets the tone for the whole song. It's unlikely to ever be voted the top track on the album, but it's simplicity throughout works unbelievably well and shows perhaps Nirvana can do no wrong on this cd.

Nirvana Nevermind is arguably the best cd of all time. If you take aside the four hit singles from it, you're still left with a whole host of fantastically written songs each owning potential to be a single themselves. The band shows their range of skills throughout switching tempo and sound constantly throughout. The use of bassist Krist Novoselic allows Nirvana to reach their potential by favouring his sound over Kurt Cobain's rather limited guitar ability. Kurt does have a fantastic vocal ability, his screaming on songs seem to carry a wave of emotion on every lyric whilst his softer notes gives the impression of a sorrowful man. You cannot fault this album. Some argue Radiohead's O.K Computer was unbeatable, others say Oasis' What's The Story Morning Glory. But Nirvana's Nevermind offers much more to music than these ever could. If you haven't heard it, you haven't heard music.

Tom Crowther