Nevermind review

The second album by Nirvana is probably the most beloved nineties record of them all. It opens with one of the most famous songs ever and remains one of the most important albums ever released. More than 20 years after Kurt Cobain's extremely tragic passing, Nirvana are still huge and this is definitely their biggest work.

Tracks:

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit: 7/10 although it remains rousing and catchy, with its meaningless lyrics and musical excess it remains one of the most overrated songs of all time. In my humble opinion anyway.

2. In Bloom: 9/10 already, here's a far better song than Teen Spirit. With minimalist but fascinating lyrics and a hugely exciting mixture of artistry and heaviness, this is an utter blast in every way.

3. Come as You Are: 9/10 a brilliant and angst-filled work of art with a terrific intro.

4. Breed: 8/10 this one is an intelligent work of rock simplicity, and the impenetrable and repetitive nature of the song is only an enhancement.

5. Lithium: 9/10 a terrific psychological song with the best writing on the album.

6. Polly: 8/10 a quiet and fascinating one with a really good baseline. Working out what it actually means is part of the fun.

7. Territorial Pissings: 8/10 a short, sharp, sweet and smashing rock song which should not be forgotten when reflecting on the album.

8. Drain You: 7/10 it may not be the best on the album, but it's a well-done rock song with some good lyrics.

9. Lounge Act: 7/10 a decent one, though a tad phoned-in.

10. Stay Away: 8/10 a loud and thoroughly entertaining blast, even if it's not the album at its most memorable.

11. On a Plain: 8/10 a typically strong song from this album. It doesn't stand out musically, but lyrically it's one of the album's best.

12. Something in the Way: 7/10 a bit too quiet for its own good but an undeniable lyrical juggernaut and a moving song about homelessness.

13. Endless, Nameless: 7/10 an enjoyable albeit overlong jam which closes the album well.

Best song: Come as You Are
Worst song: Lounge Act

Summary: This album mostly lives up to the hype, which is impressive since the hype is enormous. Overall, this is a strong album. The heavy instrumentals have a genuine sense of art and stand out from other rock albums, while both Kurt Cobain's vocals and lyrics are excellent. It's a very enjoyable album which crucially has plenty of depth as well, and it's delightfully angsty throughout. The trouble is, the second half fails to live up to the first and Smells Like Teen Spirit doesn't quite do it for me. Still, there's plenty to love in this album, and it's a gripping, punchy and hugely fun record that shows just how much of a loss Kurt Cobain's tragic death was.



Final rating: 8/10