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NIRVANA
- In Utero
This local re-release of Nirvana's 1993 follow-up to their explosive
historic album Nevermind is a more gritty one with a little less
commercial appeal, but a more personally exerted effort. Sure, hits that
got Unplugged, like All Apologies are fantastic songs, without
the chart topping possibilities coming into the equation. Looking back
at this album (sans media hype), In Utero stands firmly as an accomplishment
separate from the expectations of media and public. In fact they take
a crack at the unintended popularity exploding around them and the birth
of Grunge and the ensuing feeding frenzy. Songs like Rape Me (copying
the ever-popularized Smells Like Teen Spirit riff) takes a crack
at all of this, its lyrics never to reach the commercial airwaves. Radio
Friendly Unit Shifter and Milk It border along the same lines,
while Cobain's lyrics are pretty much open to interpretation. Even with
absolutely incredible tracks like Heart-Shaped Box displaying strong
commercial viability, its intentions were hardly that. With essentially
a punk rock attitude towards life and music, the band maintained a lot
of their integrity, regardless of their popularity (mainly because the
simplicity and catchy nature of their songs made it easily attainable
for a wide range of listeners). This album was also one of the early "hidden
track" holders, a trick which is hardly strange today, as every third
CD release contains one. The population's split loyalty to the band is
not a fair one. Some people wanted them to remain underground, the general
public not allowed to enjoy them; media build ups & break downs…It's an
endless debate, but what remains a fact is the immense impact Nirvana
had on rock & roll music of the 90s (and even beyond). It would've been
interesting to see what direction the band would've headed into, had Kurt
Cobain not committed suicide. Meanwhile you can shift to drummer Dave
Grohl's Foo Fighters as a possible indication, whereas the best
bet is to revert back to these Nirvana albums and having them shine
in a new context, un-blurred by hype and controversy - the music speaking
more clearly than ever before.
5 / A
- PB
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