Back in 1991 “Nevermind” was an unpredicted revolution. Sold over 30 million copies worldwide, “Nevermind” was responsible for bringing alternative rock to a large mainstream audience, and critics subsequently regarded it as one of the best rock albums of all time. Kurt Cobain on April 5, 1994 decided to join “27 Club” (Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison and more recently Amy Winehouse) and this was the premature end of Nirvana.
Stephen Thomas Erlewine wrote: following the release of “Nevermind” “nothing was ever quite the same, for better and for worse” – and this is in few words exactly the essence of Nirvana.
SPIN Magazine pays tribute to the 20th anniversary of Nirvana’s “Nevermind”, and as part of their package, tapped some of their favorite contemporary artists to cover the influential album’s 13 songs, in their original order and the tribute album is a gift – free download – at their web page.
From Meat Puppets to Titus Andronicus and from Amanda Palmer to The Vaselines this is an exciting and colourful trip to take.
Curt Kirkwood of Meat Puppets said “”‘Teen Spirit’ is just a few chords. It’s easy to play — slap some reverb on there and it’s good to go.” Maybe. But their version for the song sounds more as a parody of “Weird Al” Yankovic parody, which is much sad then it sounds and only prove that few chords needs at least two balls and obviously Meat Puppets lost their guts long-long time ago.
The L.A.-based Butch Walker & The Black Widows bring a smooth, glam rocking version of “In Bloom” and Walker reveals some secrets: “We slipped some Yes into the guitar solo, it’s a tribute inside a tribute.” It’s quite a sunny, charming moment.
Midnight Juggernauts make a quite spooky version for “Come As You Are”, dance tunes and gospel like spirit melt down into their take, quite strange actually.
Titus Andronicus brings “Breed” as it was, it’s noisy, punky, dirty, it’s rock’n’roll, Patrick Stickles obviously not that bad-ass guy as Cobain was, but at least he tries.
The Vaselines delivered a minimalist, gloomy, little bit church like spirit “Lithium”. It’s nice. Since Nirvana covered “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam,” on MTV Unplugged, many people asked them if they want to make a Nirvana cover back, now this is it and it’s at least elegant and subtle.
Alt-cabaret chanteuse Amanda Palmer reveals a quite, dark, sensible version for “Polly”, it’s beautiful and mysterious, excellent cover.
“Territorial Pissings” re-packed by Surfer Blood it’s nervous and pulsing like the original, it would be quite a shame to make a lemonade out of it.
Glam rockers Foxy Shazam take their chance on “Drain You”, it sounds like the 70s, a little bit like David Bowie with some The Beatles aromas stealth inside, it has its own groove and vibe, and actually the result is catchy.
Jessica Lea Mayfield turned “Lounge Act” inside out. Half Pink Floyd at their very beginning, half folk, this is a totally different approach of the song.
Charles Bradley & The Menahan Street Band reinvent “Stay Away” in soul key, quite a surprising move, but it’s much better than you can imagine it.
“On a Plain” by Telekinesis keeps the original “don’t give a s*it” attitude even if they take it sweeter and softer.
Jeff The Brotherhood comes with a dirty rock output of “Something in the Way”, it’s almost wicked, but it feels great.
The hidden track, “Endless Nameless” was performed intensely by EMA, it’s a modern, pulsing and perfect end of this tribute album.
