Although Nirvana will be remembered for Nevermind, their mega-selling record that brought grunge to the mainstream, it was Bleach which set the stage for their mass popularity. Bleach is not as slickly produced as Nevermind (Bleach was made for under $800), but it still roars. All of Nirvana's trademarks are here - fat, noisy power chords, atonal guitar solos, uncontrollable feedback, screaming lyrics, and a powerful backbeat. Kurt Cobain's riffs are unforgettable ("School", "Negative Creep", and "Mr. Moustache" (149,604 byte .wav file) are standouts).
Dave Grohl was hired for recording Nevermind, and his bombastic style helped make it a smash. This record will always be remembered for its single laiden first half, but it would be wrong to forget the rest of the record, including "Stay Away" and "Lounge Act" (128,100 byte .wav file).
After releasing Incesticide, a collection of B-sides and rarities (worth picking up for "Aneurysm"), Nirvana recorded In Utero, their most ambitious album. Although aggressive on "Scentless Apprentice" (112,228 byte .wav file) and "Milk It", there is a melencholy to "Pennyroyal Tea" and (especially) "All Apologies" that gave away Cobain's thoughts and feelings. It is very noticible in their cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" (308,324 byte .wav file - off their Unplugged release), where Cobain lets his tortured soul wail.
This is the key to why Nirvana's music is so good. Cobain's personal self-loathing was exorcised through his music. It has an energy that could only come from someone who was internally troubled and insecure (not to mention insane). Sadly, this is the stuff from which good music comes. This characteristic of Nirvana cannot be copied, and that is why their music stands head and shoulders above the efforts of many of the one-hit-wonders who have tried unsuccessfully to emulate their style.
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