Classics Revisited: Nirvana - Nevermind

Is there any album opener as exhilarating and galvanising as Smells Like Teen Spirit? The simple, familiar riff is captivating on a clean guitar setting before Dave Grohl whacks the drums so hard you’d think they’d insulted him. Distortion overwhelms your ears as the song launches into one of the most recognisable riffs in the history of rock music.

We all know this legendary track and many of the other seminal tracks found on Nevermind, despite the fact the album was released over 30 years ago. So what makes Nevermind so special? 

No one could’ve predicted just how huge Nirvana would become when they released Nevermind. Their debut album Bleach didn’t even chart in the US when it was first released. But Nevermind shot to the top of many charts and thrust grunge and punk music into the mainstream at a time when hair metal dominated rock. But bringing grunge into the mainstream was only part of what made Nevermind so ground breaking and engaging.

Something about Nirvana’s sound spoke to younger generations. Misunderstood teens and young adults suddenly had someone to relate to. Someone who gave them a voice. Kurt Cobain's lyrics tackled depression, frustration, loneliness, anti-sexism, anti-establishment views, and dysfunctional relationships. It was a huge contrast to many popular songs at the time that were often about sex and drugs, with Warrant’s Cherry Pie in the charts just a year before Nevermind was released. 

Politics and punk music go hand in hand. And as Kurt Cobain spoke out about racism, homophobia, sexism and ignorance, Nirvana’s music and live shows were a space where young people were free to express themselves and submerge themselves in a sub-culture that had unity, peace, and tolerance at the forefront of its agenda. Nirvana was more than music - it was a philosophy. 

But even if you can’t make out Cobain’s lyrics, his unique, raw, and intensely emotive voice speaks volumes on its own. You can feel the anguish, rage, and solitude in his vocals without understanding a word he sings. 

And while many know Nirvana for their energetic rock tracks, Kurt Cobain had more versatility than some might know. Tracks like Polly and Something In The Way are acoustic ballads on the album, while that punk fury is unleashed on Territorial Pissings, Breed, and Stay Away.

While Endless, Nameless saw the band smash through almost seven minutes of noise rock chaos. But even those simple power chord anthems are incredible for a three-piece band, being louder and bolder than many of the tracks by the band's peers. 

Tracks like Smells Like Teen Spirit and In Bloom effortlessly create a world in which one can escape. Impassioned crowds vented pent up frustration by moshing like their lives depended on it and sang so loud they blew their vocal cords out. 

Nevermind’s cultural impact was beyond what the band could have ever predicted. The album cover is, without doubt, one of the most famous in popular music, and the album became one of the best-selling albums of all time, with over 30 million copies sold worldwide. A captivating listen from start to finish, Nevermind’s impact will certainly continue to inspire young artists and bands for decades to come.

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