<<

Tuesday, Features Sept. 24, 2013 9 Breeding the alternative revolution: a look back at Nirvana’s A historical look at the most important album, Nevermind, of the 1990s Max Robison human experience and catchy as another misunderstood Contributing writer The alternative music or save alternative music Septemberscene came 24, when1991. making Nevermind did not create This week, predictably, popular music was heralded accessibility. youth.in its conceptual stages, was not meant to be the there will be a number of as an incredibly luscious It Thiswas ismusic why the that “alternative spoke to CobainWhen wanted Nevermind to call wasthe bymanifesto any means. of the genre, The album even music publication articles revolution”the misunderstood, worked while so well. its album Sheep as a mockery if it did become that for many devoted to an album lauded genre we might now consider mass appeal told listeners of whom he expected to buy as the catalyst for the career choice. Even metal, a that they were not alone, they had a crowd to which they Nirvanaideas, good successors. and evil, It washoned an “underground” (or at the thechallenge album. to Knowing channel this, that it outlet for ’s inner “alternativewas on the revolution.”brink of being In least “not mainstream”) was Depending on the artist of wassarcastic, producer bitter, Butch raucous Vig’s and timed perfectly for a the 1990s, mainstream music onceMetallica a genre were ofcollections superstars. of belonged.choice, alternative was about energy into something that bygeneration Butch Vig’sthat longed sensibility, for metal, disco and other genres Bandscelebrities like Gunsmaking N’ Roses a lavish and various stages of life and its music that said what they overturned.created by the Classic baby boomer rock, The studio was a melting generation had worn their Alternative music was, to straightforward and tuneful thepot publicfor two would very grasp. different Its relevance today lies living.varying degrees, an antithesis, joysapproach and shortcomings,that worked a ideals: mainstream appeal couldwith not.the countless artists with an intimate message, welcome.demographic was changing in exchange for an emotional After years of various trials the metaphorical hand to a intoThe a“young group adult that music wanted fan” skipping melodramatic chintz beautifully. andthere unrequited was a genuine angst. need This by songs about life, work, flaws, designed to be a genre that gaveboth Nevermindband and producer its impact, to friends and people, not snapshotacted in pure of life.angry It rebellion, was not anddeveloped missteps, a deep Nirvana’s seeded crowd.rock music Nevermind angry andmade anger this as punk did around the same lead singer Kurt Cobain had result is still known today possible. It made alternative of substance abuse certainly meetequally their for catchy own needs. songs Theand superstars. The album of of the humble side of the emotionaldidn’t alleviate miswiring. his status Years [email protected]. their salvation was Nirvana’s time. Rather, it was a mix Nevermind, released on their embedded personality.