Nirvana - Nevermind

When Nirvana released their second studio album Nevermind which came out in the autumn of 1991- The underground grunge threesome underwent commercial success with songs such as ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ and ‘Come as You Are’ with sizzling power chords and high octane hits. The album was a mainstream rock record but one that changed popular music as we know it.

Twenty- seven years after the album was released, it’s still a sensation that changed the rock industry. When the trio started their careers there was no illusion about their chances for mass success and that is why this album is so ironic, Kurt Cobain's values and mentality were very punk definitely not conforming to conventions, like Nevermind does. Nirvana were playing music that was to raw around Bleach for the “alt-rock”- mainstream MTV lust that the kids had around this time and the Nevermind was conforming to what people wanted. So, what makes never mind so unique? Nirvana, certainly never made another album like it- it is an unrepeatable phenomenon.

Personally, the album gives me a sense of historic curiosity. Nevermind was the first album I listened to by Nirvana, It enlightened me on what was happening musically within this era at a time when I could not see it for myself, and it gave me a sense of how music has evolved. The sound of hectic guitar strums and loud and quiet dynamics and the juxtaposition from screeching angst to smooth acoustics of ‘Something in the way’, was something that I had never heard before. Nirvana, being one of the first ever grunge bands, I am thankful for their existence because they have carried the torch for so many great bands today, that carry out the band's legacy.

The album changed music as we know it, there’s no doubt that ‘Smells like teen spirits’ blaring riffs and catchy chord patterns will be forever the soundtrack of Nirvana's popularity- Nevermind is a flawed classic but a classic all the same.

Words by Emily Bedward