Artist: Nirvana
Album: Nevermind
Year Released: 1991
Review or Summary:

There need be no back-drop to Nirvana's "Nevermind" since it's story has been told the world over. Which is quite funny because there really wasn't one considering Nirvana's apprant "Rock God". Remember, this is the album that brought Grunge effectivly into the mainstream, one of the most hallowed works in music history, the alnbum that (apparantly) defined a genneration of dis-sastified teens, the infamous Genneration X. Nirvana (after this album) became the poster child of Teenagers of America and even with their follow up In Utero that was so deliberatly un-mainstream (and also probably more of a polished album) couldn't stunt their rise to the "Biggest Band In The World".
Then Kurt killed himself and Nevermind became more famous by being the work of "Saint" Kurt.

However it's no longer 1991. It's 2005 and I decided to look again at Kurt's "Masterpeiece." I first bourght this album in 2004 simply cause I'd had enough of people saying it was really great and I shouldn't like other Grunge bands better and I definetly shouldn't like the Pixies. However, it rarely got put on and onoly when others were around to shut them up. Hence, I've never really listened to it, but I'm ready to re-evaluate my ignorance of Kurt, Dave and Chris's album since I really liked In Utero.I only listened to the popular songs on Nevermind (which I'd already copied off my friends PC) Hence my Review OF THE WHOLE ALLBUM...

Nevermind opens with the un-doubted Alt-Rock classic "Smells Like Teen Spirit" At first, the song comes off as a Pixies Rip-Off, heavilly borrowing from the style of Doolitle. However, the lyrics punch more emotional depth (Not hard considering the Pixies lack of self-study songs, prefering to sing about situations and experiences, no emotions). It's clear why this song relates to the kids of 1991, and I agree it's a classic song. Indeed, no matter how many times I've heard this song in my friends houses or on the Radio it doesn't lose it's rating of "quite good". Cobain's voice on all the ongs captures the dis-effected breathing that would reflect upon many a listener and with a open mind, it's fair to see why the album is so popular.
The songs "In Bloom" "Come As You Are" "Breed" "Lithuim" follow the same template really, with the first and the latter prefering a slower strum of the acoustics and Cobains's non-direct lyrics sit in the brain. Because of the lack of specifics, the immagination fills in the gaps. "Breed" hints at In Utero's style and any album containing a song as good as "Come As You Are" is unbdoubtably good.However the next song "Polly", a song about a rape victim is deeply dark, and it's here where Nirvana strddle the fine line between genius and deeply worrying. Hearing Kurt song "Cut yourself" strikes a chord in the listener and this song IMO is brilliant.
However, it starts to go downhill (and I expect some flak for this)
"Territorial Pissings" sounds like a faster "Scentless Apprentice" but it's noise is weak and it sounds like a deliberate attempt to follow the trail set by "Breed". This IMO weak song is followed by "Drain You" which contains Cobains' good lyrics but the music is weak and doesn't quite hold together. It's certainly not as good as the earlier attempts on this album, and since it's fair to compare this song to others on the album, I get the song. It just doesn't grab this listener until it goes into it's instrumental bit half-way through. This is where the song impresses and it certainly impresses a un-educated listener.
However, I know it sounds too much like early Sonic Youth to meerly be a ccident. It sounds like a rip-off of "Freezer Burn" (Of their Confusion Is Sex/Kill Yr. Idols) and it disapoints because I go back to the earliers songs and they are good, but then going back the closing songs and it's clear Mr Cobain has ran out of ideas. "Lounge Act" is a good example, being BY FAR utter rubbish. Even Butch Vig's production values (Which Nirvana borrowed after listening to The Smashing Pumpkins's Gish) can't save this song.
"Stay Away" is also utter tripe, with lyrics obviously inspired by the Pixies but replaced with Cobain's dis-interested howl, and it certainly is no match for Black Francis's wolf call.
"On A Plain" on first listen is like a faster "Lithium" (listen close). On second listen, it doesn't shake that claim but it's far more refined than the loose babblings on the songs before it.
"Something In The Way" is where I can see why people like this album. It's a affecting song, with a disponent musing that is beautiful and I really like. As good (if not better) as the earlier songs.
However, the hidden track is a nightmare and is scarily rubbish. It's funny really that the hidden track is one that should be well and trully hidden away.
In conclusion, this album has about 7 out of 13 good songs and the rest vary from obvious filler to nightmarish noise. On this listen, I can't see why this album is hallowed the world over for just the opening songs. Many albums open fantastically but close badly. Why all the whoo-rar about this one. In Utero is a better album, more polished, with it being obvious that Kurt knows better how to make a finer album. Its obvious to see why this album sold so much considering the genius of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and the other singles, with the mainstream audience buying just for them. But it does beg the question... did they actually listen to the album or where they really listening to the press telling them they needed this album or did they get to track 6 and then start all again? Or were they too busy thinking Mr Cobain was singing things relating to them and being all depressive along with his detactched musings to the obvious dis-sasitfaction of someone from Seattle?

Rate: 3.8 out of 5