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Some bands come on like a hurricane: they settle in and drench you with squalls of personality. Nirvana, in an appropriately punk manner, was more of a tornado: arriving out of nowhere, clobbering you senseless, and veering off to obliterate another piece of turf. Kurt's voice was both plaintive and pissed, and with Dave's drums and Krist's bass clenched in a fist, the trio simultaneously imploded and exploded. Noise, melody, wreckage, rawk. A decade after Kurt's death, we're celebrating his life. Here are 10 of the band's most eloquent screeds. |
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Click song title to listen to a clip. Click artist name for bio, news, CDs, and more. |
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Smells Like Teen Spirit |
Nirvana
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| They nearly left it off Nevermind because it sounded so similar to the Pixies. Inspired by Cobain girlfriend Tobi Vail's deodorant, its timeless adrenaline rush reaches back to "More Than a Feeling," "Sweet Jane" and even "Louie Louie."
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About a Girl |
Nirvana
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| Before he mastered melancholy Cobain had a way with joy pop - or at least anxiety-flecked joy pop. One of Bleach's most memorable tunes bounced around a post-Beatles template (jangle, jangle) that almost side-stepped grunge.
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Heart Shaped Box |
Nirvana
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| By their third album, Nirvana had found ways to bring a deep theatricality to their tunes. This slow-moving ballad was laden with images of diseased affection and the pitfalls of love. As it convulsed with its "complaints," it proved its passion. |
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All Apologies |
Nirvana
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| The last song on In Utero is one of Nirvana's saddest, an inadvertent farewell. Its decidedly mixed sentiment suggested the band was at an impasse, with Cobain wailing the shamefaced vindication, "What else should I be?/all apologies."
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Come as You Are |
Nirvana
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| A universal call to arms, it also invites all interested parties to the alt-rock bash (some call it a cultural coup) that the trio wound up hosting. The bass line is Krist Novoselic's finest hour.
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Where Did You Sleep Last Night? |
Nirvana
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| The choice to cover this 1870 Appalachian folk song on Unplugged was as leftfield as Nirvana's chamber rock instrumentation. Seemingly directed at wayward wife Courtney Love, Cobain's soul-shredding vocals made its accusations draw fresh blood.
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Rape Me |
Nirvana
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| An unabashed feminist, Cobain wanted to make a point about the violence done to women every day. Using echoes of "Teen Spirit," he came up with a blunt headline and a simple song line that the band beat senseless.
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Lithium |
Nirvana
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| Negotiating the chasm between the rage and glee ain't exactly easy. But hearing the adventure interpreted by powerhouse trio blending impressionistic poetry and metallic bombast sure is fun. Sharp, vicious, and a bit harrowing. |
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In Bloom |
Nirvana
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| With a keen sense of melody, you can go almost anywhere. The trio was expert at clearing out corn, and masterful arrangement certainly sharpens the chorus of this gem. That's one way to get an entire generation to sing along. |
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Dumb |
Nirvana
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| It sucks to be alone if you don't want to be, but, in some cases, it sucks even worse to hang out with others just to avoid isolation. The Unplugged version of this indictment had a grace that helped underscore its biting tone.
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