Nirvana was a band before Nervermind album, but people don't really talk about it. I wasn't really ever into them, but the Unplugged set was cool, and really showed off their talent, imo. Before he died Kurt said the next album would of been totally different from the rest, I could imagine them becoming the dark Flaming Lips but oh well. I hated Smells Like Teen Spirit when it first came out, after listening to Bad Brains etc. for many years prior, it really didn't do much for me. I just think they were in the right place at the right time, and the rest is history. But to call them garbage is pretty stupid. Everyone knew Pearl Jam was no Nirvana, so don't even go there.
Prince has more talent in his afro then all of Zeppelin combined. I am talking about Prince the artist who mastered 20+ instruments by the age of 20. I am also talking about Prince the performer. He is the complete package. There was no recorded music in Mozart's time, performance was everything (I kind of wish that was still the case). I think what Prince could do if he wanted to is limitless.
Mr. M did you see him at the Rock & Roll hall of fame induction ceremony when all the inductees did a tribute to George Harrison and Prince did the solo for "While My Guitar Gently Weeps?" Absolutely mind blowing! Everyone else on stage basically stopped playing just to watch him! I'm getting goose bumps just thinking about it.
How much do you know about blues music? Ever heard of Willie Dixon? Otis Rush?? You need to take a look at the songwriting credits on Led Zeppelin 1.
I agree with those who don't like comparing a classical musician to a pop/rock musician. The only non-classical musician who has really changed music is Ornette Coleman (look him up) and nobody in pop has really made any true innovation (other than stylistically). Even Prince, despite his talent, really didn't introduce anything new (nor do I think he's interested in such - he's the archetypal bandleader/dictator whose primary goal is entertainment). I like and respect Nirvana's contributions to music. They remain one of the few popular bands (NIN also comes to mind) that actually integrated real dissonance (especially on In Utero) into pop music without it sounding like "uh oh, here comes the weird part." Kurt's lyrics were also quite interesting, especially in some of the imagery he used, although I will agree that he tended to sing about the same topics. He also happened to have a good rhythm section behind him that gave the music quite a wallop. Overall, the music was standard pop but it had enough individuality and quirks to make it unique even now. As far as the Pearl Jam comparison, I think Mad Max inadvertantly hit the nail on the head when people called Eddie Vedder the next Jim Morrison. Pearl Jam always sounded like a mix of very obvious influences rather than new or innovative. Their appeal was their familiarity and the charisma/social consciouness of Vedder. Led Zepellin has always been a vastly overrated band. They stole liberally from blues artists and always carried a certain lyrical cheesiness. However, despite its ridiculous omnipresence in classic rock, Stairway to Heaven really is a unique song. As for the guitar solo, I think they disappeared because many people got turned off because of the wankiness of 80s musicians.
I like Nirvana, but the best, I don't think so...They were talented and made some good music, but not on Mozart's scale... Carry On...
I don't care about the Mozart comparison, but I do think Nirvana was the last great, big rock band. After them, rock descended into irony. They were the last ones that meant it and had the kind of impact they did. And it had nothing to do with Cobain dying. Comparing them to Pearl Jam is insane.
i guess i'm nutty that way. but i certainly enjoyed pearl jam's music far more than i enjoyed nirvana's.
I agree, comparing Nirvana to Mozart is just silly. I really dig Ornette but you should really check out Albert Ayler. Ornette gets the credit but Albert is the unknown king who really changed how music is played. Look him up. Prince IMO is the bomb. He may not have introduced anything new but what he does he does well. And anyone who can compose, arrange, perform and produce just about anything he wants is thumbs up in my book. Kind of reminds me of Mingus or Sun Ra. Look them up. I also agree that Zeppelin is extremely overrated and overplayed. I went through a brief Zeppelin phase when I was about 13. Most teenage boys go through this. But if you want to talk about a band from that era that is extremly influencial and commonly overlooked, I would have to go with Black Sabbath. Though their music was not that intricate, they invented heavy music as we know it. I can still listen to Black Sabbath, but Zeppelin makes me cringe. Look them up.
Nirvana was a great band that put on a wild live show (clubs) that came around at just the right moment (isn't that always the case though). They are on the same level as most of the great rock bands/artists they are as good as say Led Zep, but not on the level of the Beatles. Personally I always liked Nirvana, but was never really crazy about them - bleach is by far their best. Cobain's death vaulted Nirvana to a higher standing than it should be just as it did Hendrix, Joplin, Morrison, etc. They are timeless in the sense that you will go through phases when you will play them a lot then not listen to them again for a year or more. Their music will never get to a point where you just can't stand it (like most popular music these days). One reason Nirvana gets my respect is they didn't ever sell out IMHO - but they really didn't have time to either...
Yes and Trent Reznor would say that the musical genius of our time is Richard James (if you haven't heard of him, you might be able to find him as Aphex Twin).
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was not some great musician. He was one of the greatest geniuses to ever grace our planet. Ever. On par with the greatest minds to ever influence philosophy, science, literature, art, etc. Mozart was a tear from the eye of God come to create sounds upon earth never heard before and never heard since. Let's compare modern rock bands to other modern rock bands, shall we?
Nirvana is a good band...but that's it. If Kurt Cobain had never blown his head off with that shotgun, they'd be like every other good band. I bet if guys like Jonathan Davis from Korn or Zack De La Rocha had blown off their own heads while they were at the top of the musical world, their bands would probably be in the same category as Nirvana. Why do people say Nirvana is so "influential" anyways? Their lyrics weren't that great (most didn't even make sense), and Kurt Cobain is considered a "guitar god" by some because he knew how to put a few power chords together that sounded good??? If any band in the modern days deserve this, it's RATM. Zack at least put together lyrics that made you think, while Morello worked his guitar like the world has never seen before (literally). All Nirvana ever did was put out a few albums with some catchy songs, and then Kurt committed suicide. It's like that Seinfeld episode where George tries to go out on a high note. I love Nirvana, but I just hate it so much when people claim Nirvana belongs at the top with the other great bands in history and Kurt Cobain is a guitar god
