Nirvana - Band Review - Essay Example

?Music History When considering my life and the challenges I have faced throughout, I realize that some of the primary elements that have helped me great through difficult situations have been music and art that I have had at my disposal. It comes as no surprise that there have been certain bands that have greatly appealed to me more than others as they have demonstrated both a propensity towards strong and passionate music and an ability to peer into the human soul in ways that make me feel comfortable and strong in both my happy and depressed periods. This essay considers one of the bands in particular, Nirvana, that has had a profound impact on my life. Nirvana was an alternative rock band that experienced the majority of their fame and popularity in the 1990s. Their lead singer Kurt Cobain became a dynamic figure within youth culture and had a profound influence on other musicians and individuals during and after his time with Nirvana. His fateful suicide signaled a major loss to the music environment and marked one of the pivotal events of 1990s music. Even with the fantastical nature of Cobain’s story, the power and insight of his music is perhaps the most moving element of Nirvana. While generally concerned with the pains and angst of existence, Nirvana’s albums span a wide-range of emotions. It’s within this context that I have come to greatly relate to their music. While it was not the first album of Nirvana’s that I heard or nearly their most popular record, the first full-length album that Nirvana released was Bleach. Bleach has been an important album to my life for many reasons. One of the primary aspects that I appreciate this record is that it has a raw edge that the later Nirvana records don’t have. In many regards, some of the themes on this record are the same as on later Nirvana records; indeed, ‘About a Girl’ is even featured on these later records. For me, I return to this record in times of anger or jagged despair, when I need a raw feel to occupy the feelings I am having. The next Nirvana record that was released was ‘Nevermind’. This is one of the most powerful records I have come into contact with and it represents perhaps one of the most meaningful records in my life. This is the record that broke Nirvana into the mainstream and when people listen to it, it should really come as no surprise why it gripped the nation with such force. Virtually every song on this album is highly emotionally charged and gripping. This was the first Nirvana album I discovered. I listened to this album in a time of intense despair in my life, after my girlfriend and I had broken up. The intensity of emotion and deep feeling spoke the depression I was feeling on a level that other music couldn’t. I also believe the album was successful for speaking to the challenges of socialization and fighting one’s way through a scholastic environment that was oftentimes cruel and challenging. While other music attempts to speak to these growing pains, oftentimes the emotions contained in those albums come across as forced and somewhat produced. When listening to Nirvana’s ‘Nevermind’ I was truly able to take solace in a record that I felt understanding the pain and challenges I was facing in attempting to relate and survive in a cold social climate. In terms of specific tracks, I’ve always felt like ‘Smells Like Teen Spirit’ spoke directly to my angst at feeling like I didn’t fit in with the popular crowd. While a lot of individuals put-down Nirvana for being depressing music, or criticizing Kurt Cobain for ultimately committing suicide, I find a different perspective on this music. For me it represents a necessary response to questions of life that oftentimes go unanswered. I believe that in great part the nature of the music is attempting to grasp with aspects of life that are unfair. Why do more attractive people get to enjoy certain aspects of existence that others don’t? Why do some people feel more depressed than others? Why these may seem simple and trite questions, they also represent aspects of reality that haunt many individuals. In these regards, I find that the music of Nirvana makes for the most powerful means of solace. After Nevermind, Nirvana released In Utero and an Unplugged album. Both of these albums are brilliant in their own right, but lack the intensity of Nevermind. In large part, I appreciate these albums for the difference that add to the spectrum of emotions Nirvana covers. In Utero is a very angry and intense record, whereas Unplugged represents a more subdued and low-key approach to things. Generally, I will listen to Unplugged when I experience somber moments that don’t reflect anger, but a certain sadness and resignation. I feel that sometimes it is scary as it was not long after this album was recorded that Kurt Cobain committed suicide. Still, I recognize that it is possible to appreciate this album for its musical qualities and still not entirely buy into the belief that suicide is the proper means of escaping one’s pain. Instead I find that the intensity of Cobain’s pain and emotion can be appreciated yet channeled into positive aspects of existence. For me, it is motivating and comforting to know an individual felt the intense pain that I felt, yet I am able to remove myself from suicide thoughts and instead go on with my life. In conclusion, it’s clear that music, specifically Nirvana, has had a tremendous impact on my life. Through Nirvana I have found solace in my times of despair and depression. This essay has demonstrated that they represent a response to many of the challenges of life and that through listening to the music one can take solace in the challenges life throws out. Ultimately, without music like Nirvana it’s clear that life would be a more challenging task with which to live and cope. Read More