Nevermind

I used to think this album was overrated. Nirvana’s second album, Nevermind, is one of the most iconic, praised, and important albums in music history. The group combined elements of hard rock, punk, and metal to pioneer their own genre, known as grunge (although the extent to which they actually invented this genre is a matter of debate). Needless to say, this album changed music forever, not just because of its unique style but also because of its exceptional quality.

Nevermind is full of unforgettable moments, whether it be the iconic, well, everything on Smells Like Teen Spirit, the riff on In Bloom, or Come As You Are, or the explosive chorus on In Bloom; this album doesn’t lack in any department.

One of my favorite things about Nevermind is its attitude; the ironic nature of Cobain’s writing makes any song he touched uniquely his own, and it is obvious that he wrote it. The lyrics are nihilistic, gloomy, edgy, angsty, and messy. Still, they work in a way that allows these songs to convey specific emotions.

Most of these songs are pretty straightforward, like On A Plain or the absolute straight insanity that is Breed, but that doesn’t stop them from being amazing. In fact, Breed’s off-the-walls and batshit insane energy is the main reason it’s so amazing to me; it’s so loud and unflinching.

Lithium is, at least to me, the quintessential '90s alt-rock/grunge song. It has everything you could ask for in a '90s alt/grunge song: the nihilistic, sarcastic nature to the “I don’t care” inflection Cobain uses in the verse to the explosive “yeah yeah yeah yeahhh” chorus. There’s something about the flat and numb vocals during the verse, contrasting with the yelled chorus with the huge guitars, that is so infectious. It’s simple but very captivating, also the “I ____ you, I’m not gonna crack” part of the song is pretty easily my favorite moment on the whole album.

For the most part, this album is just banger after banger, but the same can’t be said with the outro, Something In The Way, which is this dark and slow string-filled ballad. It’s super bleak and minimal, and the repetition of this track actually makes it quite hypnotic. The higher note strings during the last minute can only be described as ethereal; it’s a pretty subtle “climax,” but it has a huge impact. It’s quite a depressing song, but it is utterly brilliant, and there’s not really any other Nirvana song that's “beautiful” like this one is, making for one of my favorites on the record.

Really, the only issue I have with this album is the song Polly, which is actually a song I like; it’s just not nearly as good as the other tracks.

So yeah, my opinion on Nevermind has changed quite drastically. I love this album so much, and regardless of its influence, it somehow remains unique.