The Baby's Name is Bob... Get it?

Nirvana

Nevermind

1991, David Geffen

produced by Butch Vig

Kurt Cobain - guitars, vocals,
Kris Novoselic - bass, vocals
Dave Grohl - drums, vocals

singles -

• Smells Like Teen Spirit/ Drain You/ Even in His Youth/ Aneurysm
• Come as You are/ Endless Nameless/ School/ Drain You
• Lithium/ Been a Son/ Curmudgeon/ D-7
• In Bloom/ Sliver/ Polly

Today is Kurt Cobain's birthday. or, it would have been, had he made some better decisions. Anyway, he would have turned 46 today. This album was Nirvana's breakout hit record. It is their second record, first with Dave Grohl, and the album that created the need for the music industry to invent a new genre (grunge) as well as propel the Seattle scene and alternative music in general into pop culture. Also note, the singles are more like little EPs than actual singles, something that was a big deal in the early '90s and then kind of fell out of favor. Speaking of falling out of favor, the trendy "secret" song was also a big deal back then.

After listening to this album, and Nirvana in general, it is pretty obvious to me now the influence American Hardcore had on the band and pretty confusing to me why the record industry had to coin a new phrase for this particular brand of noise-punk.They are very much like the Pixies, and Flipper, Sonic Youth, and Black Flag far more than other Seattle based bands of the time, like Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam.

I listened to this record in middle school. I owned a copy, but, also, it was everywhere, on the radio, television, etc, pretty hard to ignore. The entire album is pretty impressive. Territorial Pissings is a weird ass track, but that hardly takes away from the other solid garage sound of the rest of the album.  

I think, like a lot of people around my age, this was the first major celebrity death that I actually cared about. Followed shortly by Jerry Garcia. I remember where I was when I was told of his suicide, outside of school, waiting for the doors to open. Which, I guess would probably be true of most 6th grade kids at the time. 

Nevermind was #17 on Rolling Stone's list of top 500 albums of all time and on Virgin's top 1000. It is ranked #2 on VH1's top 100, and #3 on Mojo's top 100, and #4 on the Guardian's top 100.  

Exactly Like a Funeral

Nirvana

MTV Unplugged in New York

1994, DGC

produced by Alex Coletti, Scott Litt

Kurt Cobain - acoustic/electric guitar, vocals

Kris Novoselic - acoustic bass, accordion, acoustic guitar

Dave Grohl - drums, acoustic bass

Pat Smear - acoustic guitar

Lori Goldston - cello

The Meat Puppets - acoustic guitars and basses

singles:

• About a Girl

This is the first album I bought all on my own. I'm pretty proud of it actually. Recorded for Mtv's unplugged series, the album was released posthumously and debuted at #1 on the billboard. The album is mostly acoustic, although Kurt did run his guitar through an amplifier and effects pedals for Man who Sold the World. It doesn't take away from the acoustic sound however.

Not every rock band can pull off the acoustic album, most cheat and incorporate an electric bass. Nirvana's unplugged album is a perfect example of what an unplugged album ought to be. The band departs from what was expected of them, and the tracks chosen are not necessarily the hits. Not relying on Smells Like Teen Spirit, or Lithium makes this album even stronger in its own way.

DGC released the album following Kurt Cobain's tragic suicide. Even though it was recorded a year before the tragedy, listeners cant help but connect the album to the tragedy. In fact, the stage decorations (black candles and lillies) were requested by Cobain because they were "exactly like a funeral". There is a poignant moment at the end of the Leadbelly cover when Cobain loudly sighs, sounding so small and weary.

The album sold very well, I'm sure the news of the tragedy helped propel sales, but I would like to think it would have done well if Kurt had lived. It is a strong live performance. It also reveals a little window into where the band could have been going creatively in a future that never happened.

Oops, I OD'd

I was thinking, recently, while watching a special on Kurt Cobain and reading the 50 greatest comic book characters of all time, that the greatest music tragedies of all time should be examined.

So... here are some that shouldn't be ignored as significant genre changers, ends or beginnings of cultural eras, and just plan old bad luck for music lovers.

1. The first of course is the infamous "day the music died" as portrayed in Don McClean's sometimes annoying ballad American Pie, and chronicled films like The Buddy Holly Story, and La Bamba. On February 3, 1959, the fledgling rock and roll industry was crushed by news that Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and JP Richardson had perished in a plane crash in Iowa.

The music scene would be forever changed, and artists such as Waylon Jennings, Elvis, and Jerry Lee Lewis wouldnt be the same. The first rock superstars are now legend.

2. Jimi Hendrix was able to crank out so much material in the studio prior to his 1970 overdose. Many have imagined what this guitar virtuoso would have been capable of if he had survived past the age of 27. True, now most kids picking up guitars can turn out sounds similar to Hendrix, but at the time, the style and sound was unlike anything previously heard. Everyone agrees he is a genius and we will all be able to only speculate on what would have come next.

3. John Lennon's death was a major shock to everyone, not just the music industry. A victim of a selfish, crazy super fan, Lennon's assassination stole what many believe was a brilliantly creative and loving mind from future music greatness and political activism... despite Yoko Ono.

4. Some say Randy Rhoads is Metal's equivalent of Hendrix. This makes his short career as Ozzy's axeman that much more subject to mythic and tragic adoration. Like Hendrix, Rhoads has been named as a major influence by many contemporary guitarists in the genre. Ironically, Rhoads died in a fiery plane crash... very Metal, and also a throw back to the greatest plane crash in rock history (see number 1).  and perhaps if Rhoads survived, Ozzy wouldnt suck now.

5. Seattle's music scene in late 80s and early 90s exposed rock and roll excess as ridiculous and childish, and cemented the more realistic nature of art mirroring truth . Kurt Cobain's suicide brought this renaissance to a crashing halt, and highlighted the fragility of the mind of a damaged artist and addict. Nirvana was survived by the future success of drummer Dave Grohl's project the Foo Fighters, and Courtney Love's embarrassing antics and long arrest record.

Other notable tragedies are:

Janis Joplin. She has been vaulted to near mythic status, due to a career in music that is borderline appropriation. Her finest moment: the Canadian railroad tour in 1970 with the Grateful Dead, the Band, and Buddy Guy. 

Bradley Nowell. Sublime's front man OD'd and ended the career of a band so unique and talented, there could have been so much more.

Shannon Hoon. His greatest mistake... hanging out with Axl Rose. But we'll always have No Rain. 

Jim Morrison. I hate this guy. But for some reason, the Lizard King is a legend. Dirtbag.

Jerry Garcia. Greatly missed. His death came during a tumultuous point for the band, having gone from counter culture underground success to hugely popular fandom bordering cult following, it was only a matter of time before the band either took a much needed break, or someone died.

Bobby Sheehan. Bassist and soul of Blues Traveler... the band and Jon Popper have never been the same... they suck now.

Cliff Burton. quite possibly the best metal bassist ever. It took Metallica decades to get over.

Biggie and Tupac. Although I dont necessarily care, the hip hop community thought it was a big deal. the genre hasnt been the same. its too bad that terrible rappers like Puff Daddy and 50 Cent cant die.