Recently a boxset of old, and mostly previously unreleased material was released in a set called With the Lights Out. I had the good fortune of being able to sample a small portion of this set, and from what I heard, this is primarily for the die hard Nirvana fans.
I was a fan when they burst onto the scene with the Nevermind album. I was a junior in high school at the time, and right in the middle of the age group that this, and the rest of the grunge movement, were affecting. The album was brilliant and mediocre at the same time. I could never quite figure out why everyone was hailing them as geniuses. I thought the music was very good and different from everything that was out there, but brilliant? Nah.
Anyway, as years passed and subsequent albums were released, I become more of a fan of the material, and noticed just how much of an impact it had on the music industry. Then Kurt goes and kills himself, and all of a sudden this bubbling reverence came spilling out onto the scene, and Kurt is placed on a pedestal as some sort of god. I still don't buy it. I can't help but think about what he, and the rest of Nirvana could have done hadn't he taken the easy way out of fame and substance abuse.
Back to the sampling I got to taste, it's not nearly enough for me to comment on the quality of the entire set, but I wasn't all that impressed. It is primarily of early four track recordings and demo versions. It is early material from a still developing band, but I found it to be rather underwhelming. The first thing necessary in listening to it, is getting past the lousy sound quality. I can forgive that considering the source recordings were not in a top notch studio, and they were probably not preserved that well.
Article comments
1 - Eric Berlin
With all respect, you betray your bias against the band with the first several paragraphs of your review. As I read through the rest of your comments, I thought to myself, "Well, sure he doesn't like the Box Set -- he wasn't much of a fan of the band in the first place."
That being said, I've heard a bunch of the Box Set via 30 second snippets on iTunes, and I enjoyed what I heard very much. I heard the gathering strength of a musical force, and important acoustic, folk, and new wave underpinnings that would have been expanded on had Mr. Cobain not ended his own life.
Finally, as far as Cobain being a "poor guitar player": he was recently named the #10 or #11 guitar player of all time, out of 100 listed. Not bad, that.
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
2 - Chris
Let me say that a bigger bias o mine would be whenI am informed I am too receive the boxset for review and I receive a 7 song "sample" There is no way I can do a full review. I wasn't impressed by what I heard.
And Cobain number 10 or 11 guitarist of all time? Not a chance in hell.
And regardless of what you may think, I am a fan of Nirvana's music, just not a die hard.
3 - Douglas Mays
hhhmmm...I really like this whole box set. It is what a retrospective box set should be. Why? The crappy quality recordings of obsure stuff. I love that sort of thing.
No matter what, the sound is good enuf. Say, for instance, "Ogden's Nut Gone Flake" by Small Faces is one of the greatest albums of all time, yet what an awful mix, some would say.
The trick is that I have my own mixing studio between my ears and brain, so that fixes things up. Lets you hear what the artist is trying to say or do without the limitations of 'studio perfection".
Heck, just pass that all off to "art" anyway. Great album. Could be the best box set ever released in the industry.
peaceloveguidance
4 - Aaron, Duke De Mondo
gotta say, man, it's fairly ridiculous for folks to expect a review of a 3-cd and DVD set from seven tracks. You did a great job given the circumstances.
I love the box set, find it fascinating, although for sure, if folks are looking for a place to start, i'd avoid it. For folks who love the records, though, this here is amazing. Like seeing Picassso's early sketches. Sometimes he's got the nose in the wrong place, but it's still cool seeing how he eventually figured to put it were folks teeth should be.
5 - Eric Berlin
Re: "Not a chance in hell"
Rolling Stone named Kurt Cobain the #12 guitarist of all time (my apologies: I thought he was #10 or #11).
I couldn't agree more. He is obviously not the technical champion. Hell, you can go down to any music school and find someone who can do gymnastics up and down the spine. However, Cobain was an absolute genious at crafting a hook and perfected the loud-quiet-loud stylings based upon the work of the Pixies and other bands.
Out of curiosity: why were you "forced" to write a review based upon a 7-song sample?
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
6 - Eric Berlin
Here's the Rolling Stone link re: 100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time
http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/_/id/5937559
7 - Eric Berlin
Wow... I just a found a huge discussion of this list on Blog Critics... didn't search it for any Cobain talk (wouldn't be surprised if my opinion is in the minority!)...
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2003/08/28/123326.php
Eric Berlin
Dumpster Bust: Miracles from Mind Trash
http://dumpsterbust.blogspot.com
8 - Chris
It wasn't so much forced, as no other choice. As a contributor to BC, we have review materials available, this "set" was one of the things, that I asked to review, and the rep sent the sample. I find it hard to really give a review of something as expansive as this set with such a small sample. Plus the sample, as you can tell, didn't terribly impress me.
I'll have to check out that RS list....
9 - Chris
Agreed, Duke. I have a feeling that I would like this set. I was hoping to be able to listen/view the entire set, but I have to work with what I am given.
And despite, my somewhat harsh comments, I have been a fan since Nevermind and will continue to be a fan.
10 - Mr. Real Estate
Cobain was undoubtedly a great musical talent, and the fact that we're debating him shows it.
11 - Eric Berlin
I've actually been listening to selected tracks off this box set a good bit lately. There are serious jewels on this collection that you can't find anywhere else (or very few places, at any rate). Thee version of "Verse Chorus Verse" found here is amazing. I'm also on a serious "Hate Myself and Want to Die" binge (never thought I'd write that!).
Would absolutely love to find Nirvana's cover of "Seasons in the Sun," which appears on the DVD but not the album.