Nirvana. Overrated?

tempo_n_groove

I was so happy when they released "you know your right".  I'm still hoping that there is more unpublished music out there.

Hearing something new from them was great after all those years.  Kurt had a voice that I loved.

rummy

I think the issue with Nirvana nowadays is there's (likely) nothing left in the vault, no touring (obviously), no recent concert reissues...

To keep the legacy alive, you gotta provide something/anything to attract attention.

DewieCox

MayDay10 said:

DewieCox said:

MayDay10 said:

I think if we are comparing them with Zeppelin, The Who, Beatles, Stones, and Floyd, etc.... that is a HUGE overrating of the music and induces laughter.

I think they definitely belong when discussing importance and influence, but it’s easier to separate once you start comparing entire bodies of work.

The influence is/has dried up though.  They were a flashpoint of a musical revolution that lasted about 10 years... which was great, awesome, and I love Nirvana.  But from then to now, I don't hear Nirvana in anything that comes out.   So then, you have the body of work/catalog, which in many people's opinions, has not aged great.  Especially when held up to those listed bands and even some contemporaries such as PJ, Soundgarden, AIC, STP, etc.  That "angst" thing played well when we were 15-25 and pissed off.  But now, as 40-45 year olds who host dinner parties.... it doesnt quite reverberate.   I'm not sure that many kids are getting into Nirvana's music as a counterculture.  

*and no, Im not basing this as a PJ vs Nirvana argument.  I dont care about that. I like both

Who wants fucking dinner music? PJ delved isn’t some political things but angst was the central theme to those bands you mentioned, except for STP, which were mostly just leaning heavy on poeticism. Flashpoint for any musical revolution is going to be short lived. The fact that they achieved that means their influence is more like to translate to following generations. Even a majorly influential act’s direct effect will die off in a couple generations any most.

rummy

All I know is they were HUGE at the time (1991-1993) and I loved them back then, as I did PJ, Soundgarden, and AIC.
They do indeed get more hype due to the suicide (sadly, on so many levels) but their albums (Nevermind and In Utero, anyway) hold a very special place in my heart.

The Juggler

tempo_n_groove said:

I was so happy when they released "you know your right".  I'm still hoping that there is more unpublished music out there.

Hearing something new from them was great after all those years.  Kurt had a voice that I loved.

Oh yeah. Me too. 

Spiritual_Chaos

tempo_n_groove said:

I was so happy when they released "you know your right".  I'm still hoping that there is more unpublished music out there.

Hearing something new from them was great after all those years.  Kurt had a voice that I loved.

Yep. That was crazy magic. And the music video. 

It was surreal, and I thought "what else will come out?" Then it pretty much stopped at that song.

PJ_Soul

Spiritual_Chaos said:

PJ_Soul said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

PJ_Soul said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

PJ_Soul said:

I don't think the music is overrated, nor the talent, but I feel like Kurt Cobain as a person kind of is. That sounds awful I guess, but I really do feel that way. I always found him to be incredibly unlikable and annoying.

Annoying? The guy was quiet lol

So? Quiet people can be annoying too. Annoying doesn't mean loud.

How if they don't talk much? lol
Quiet people never annoy me. Loud people do.

K.

Cobain wasn't annoying to me because of how much or little he talked. He was annoying to me because he was a grown man acting like he belonged on the cover of Teen Angst Magazine.

.... then What was Eddie?

Not that, at all. Eddie was way more outgoing and up front and not all whiny and sullen.

DewieCox

PJ_Soul said:

Spiritual_Chaos said:

PJ_Soul said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

PJ_Soul said:

Thoughts_Arrive said:

PJ_Soul said:

I don't think the music is overrated, nor the talent, but I feel like Kurt Cobain as a person kind of is. That sounds awful I guess, but I really do feel that way. I always found him to be incredibly unlikable and annoying.

Annoying? The guy was quiet lol

So? Quiet people can be annoying too. Annoying doesn't mean loud.

How if they don't talk much? lol
Quiet people never annoy me. Loud people do.

K.

Cobain wasn't annoying to me because of how much or little he talked. He was annoying to me because he was a grown man acting like he belonged on the cover of Teen Angst Magazine.

.... then What was Eddie?

Not that, at all. Eddie was way more outgoing and up front and not all whiny and sullen.

Psyche?

Thoughts_Arrive

speaking of Nirvana, look at this atrocity by Kanye West...
https://tonedeaf.thebrag.com/kanye-west-nirvana/?fbclid=IwAR1fBIE5rZ0jv_Ss4Jg5sjLox519B6OcqOkSHr8AGknOn1-BWiieGn2Vr1g

pearljammr78

You know your right is a great song. I will say that. 

bbiggs

Not overrated one bit.  If anything, I think they’re underrated.  They paved the way and changed the game completely during those early years.  I find it interesting that some have said Grohl was the most talented band member.  I’ve always thought he rode the wave of Nirvanas success into his Foo Fighters career.  That’s not a knock on Grohl. Talented dude and I’ve always liked Foo Fighters (less these days), but to say he's more talented than Cobain doesn’t compute to me.  I’ve always wondered what they would have been, if not for Kurt’s death, and how that would have potentially changed the trajectory of PJ, Soundgarden, AIC. 

Not one mention of Bleach in this entire thread either. That album f’n rocks. 

Thoughts_Arrive

If they are so overrated then why did they have a bigger impact on music than other grunge bands?
There was Nirvanamania when Nevermind was released. The biggest thing since Beatlemania.

Merkin Baller

bbiggs said:

Not overrated one bit.  If anything, I think they’re underrated.  They paved the way and changed the game completely during those early years.  I find it interesting that some have said Grohl was the most talented band member.  I’ve always thought he rode the wave of Nirvanas success into his Foo Fighters career.  That’s not a knock on Grohl. Talented dude and I’ve always liked Foo Fighters (less these days), but to say he's more talented than Cobain doesn’t compute to me.  I’ve always wondered what they would have been, if not for Kurt’s death, and how that would have potentially changed the trajectory of PJ, Soundgarden, AIC. 

Not one mention of Bleach in this entire thread either. That album f’n rocks. 

Bleach is the shit.

I just pre-ordered the Live & Loud vinyl, I can't freakin wait to spin this.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-live-and-loud-concert-vinyl-streaming-services-861210/

Spiritual_Chaos

Merkin Baller said:

bbiggs said:

Not overrated one bit.  If anything, I think they’re underrated.  They paved the way and changed the game completely during those early years.  I find it interesting that some have said Grohl was the most talented band member.  I’ve always thought he rode the wave of Nirvanas success into his Foo Fighters career.  That’s not a knock on Grohl. Talented dude and I’ve always liked Foo Fighters (less these days), but to say he's more talented than Cobain doesn’t compute to me.  I’ve always wondered what they would have been, if not for Kurt’s death, and how that would have potentially changed the trajectory of PJ, Soundgarden, AIC. 

Not one mention of Bleach in this entire thread either. That album f’n rocks. 

Bleach is the shit.

I just pre-ordered the Live & Loud vinyl, I can't freakin wait to spin this.

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/nirvana-live-and-loud-concert-vinyl-streaming-services-861210/

Saw this on an internet store and thought it was one of those bootleg releases... hmm... Will buy this I think

Gern Blansten

pearljammr78 said:

My opinion is strictly that. My opinion.  But even though I like Nirvana and own their albums on vinyl, they seem to be overrated in my eyes. Kurt’s lyrics are nonsense for the most part. To me, I believe that Dave Grohl has a much bigger influence on the band than it has ever been said. Soundgarden, Tad, Alice In Chains, Kyuss, the Melvins and of course Pearl Jam are much more listened to in my house and I believe to be better bands than Nirvana. I think Nirvana was right place, right time but not as important as everyone seems to make them. Maybe I am wrong. But just my opinion. 

Thanks for your opinion.  But yes, you are wrong.

Thoughts_Arrive

Gern Blansten said:

pearljammr78 said:

My opinion is strictly that. My opinion.  But even though I like Nirvana and own their albums on vinyl, they seem to be overrated in my eyes. Kurt’s lyrics are nonsense for the most part. To me, I believe that Dave Grohl has a much bigger influence on the band than it has ever been said. Soundgarden, Tad, Alice In Chains, Kyuss, the Melvins and of course Pearl Jam are much more listened to in my house and I believe to be better bands than Nirvana. I think Nirvana was right place, right time but not as important as everyone seems to make them. Maybe I am wrong. But just my opinion. 

Thanks for your opinion.  But yes, you are wrong.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Jja5iWRp1w

mcgruff10

Will definitely be ordering live and loud.   Imagine if Pearl Jam didn’t cancel?!

rummy

mcgruff10 said:

Will definitely be ordering live and loud.   Imagine if Pearl Jam didn’t cancel?!

Were they supposed to perform, too? If so, I (obviously) didn't know that.

northerndragon

Thoughts_Arrive said:

If they are so overrated then why did they have a bigger impact on music than other grunge bands?
There was Nirvanamania when Nevermind was released. The biggest thing since Beatlemania.

First no it wasn't, second because sheep gonna follow. Just because something becomes a craze doesn't mean it's any good. It just means it was marketed well. 

rummy

Obviously everyone is entitled to their opinion but I find it tough to read such negative comments about Nirvana. KC may have been a dick at times (and the heroin around a baby ain't good) but they made some incredible music. 

I still lump Ten and Nevermind (and BMF) together along with Vs and In Utero (and Siamese Dream) together which provided me with some of the greatest music as a young adult. I'll always cherish it.