Luke Lewis blog on NME’s website says what I’ve been saying for years – Nirvana’s Nevermind is overrated.  While I love lists of best albums and songs, I’m always frustrated that Nirvana is at the top of the list.  I admit that I liked them when I was younger, their music is good for that.  Many teenagers have their Led Zeppelin and Nirvana phase.  You know – the phase where all they every think about is sex (see Led Zeppelin) or feel angry (see Nirvana.)

I love when musicians talk about the album in retrospect and suggest that it was “so raw”.  Please.  Anybody ever listen to Raw Power?  It’s also laughable that Kurt Cobain is considered a great guitarist.  But as far as influence goes, I think Nirvana’s influence gave rock music one of its worst genres – post grunge.  Bands like Creed, Nickleback, Shinedown, Papa Roach and other insist on using the soft verse/loud chorus song arrangement like they’ve never a song written any other way.  

That being said, I don’t totally hate Nirvana.  I think their Unplugged CD is great.  But unfortunately at the same time, the best performances also happen to be the songs that aren’t theirs.