Diez: My top ten favorite Nirvana songs

In spirit of my Nirvana themed week here, I’ve  decided to do a list of my favorite Nirvana songs of all time. It’s funny to think about how much my list has changed over the years, but I guess it shows how much my musical taste has changed. I’ve strayed away from most of the pop songs and delved into their darker material. This list spans their entire career and is not exclusive to their studio releases. I think a lot of their b-side material and unreleased demos are their finest moments.

1. “All Apologies” from In Utero – Something about the guitar work and the super heavy chorus really gets me these days. I’m a huge fan of the outro, how it seems so structureless and everything is melting down, but there’s that one overdriven bass note that resonants for the final few measures.

2. “Come As You Are” from Nevermind - Definitely some of their finest moments for transitions. The transition from the bridge back into the last chorus gives me goosebumps. Using the back-up vocals to help usher back in the main stanza of the chorus was very well thought out.

3. “Drain You” from Nevermind – Probably my favorite of their poppy songs. The really Sonic Youth-esq bridge is awesome, totally out of right field. And of course the instrumental last verse is a very triumphant moment, it’s like the climax of the entire album in my opinion.

4. “Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle” from In Utero – Great verse, super memorable chorus. It’s really heavy but still there’s an outstanding awareness of melody. The bridge is really different from them, and is a glimpse into the experimental material they would have gotten into in their latter years.

5. “In Bloom” from Sheep – I’m not talking about the hit single from Nevermind, I’m talking about the version they recorded for their second full length intended to come out on Sub Pop. It’s out there floating around, there’s even a music video for it. Check it out, it’s all “Bleached-out” if you will. Totally fuzz.

6. “Old Age” from the Nevermind studio outtakes – The intro to this song gives me goosebumps. Actually the whole thing is just spine-chilling. The chord progression is really haunting, and the fact that this song was never finished gives it this almost mythical status. If only they finished it and released it, it probably would have been another single.

7. “Paper Cuts” from Bleach – The heaviest song they ever wrote. The feedback matched up with the fuzzed out chord hits is skull-crushing. Also how it transitions into the mid-tempoed verse is awesome. I like how they used feedback transitions for the whole song, but it worked just fine.

8. “Pennyroyal Tea” from In Utero –  This is my favorite Nirvana song. When the first chorus kicks in it’s just so heavy. The bridge is so sad and powerful, it always gives me goosebumps. It’s moments like this that made Nirvana an extraordinary band, you can just feel the power and finesse they played with.

9. “Sifting” from Bleach – I think this should have been the last song on Bleach, such a conclusive moment. Something about the verse and chorus give off the vibe of a big “farewell.” It’s really melancholy, and provokes a feeling of fear. Really powerful track, both musically and lyrically.

10. “Verse Chorus Verse” from the Nevermind studio outtakes – I think I like this song slightly better than Old Age, only because the vocals seem a little bit more put together. The really clean guitar and chord progression is unsettling. I think since these songs were only talked about for song long that they carry this creepy vibe, like they are lost tracks or something.

Diez: Ten Midwest bands that broke up before their time

We as music fans hate to see it. When the wheels stop turning and the creative elements stop meshing. All great bands come to an end but it’s truly unfortunate when it happens before it is supposed to. In the Midwest it has been a devastating 5 years. We’ve lost some great bands a mere few years after their formation. We do however have a handful of great albums left over to remember them by, and stemming from them thousands of thoughts of what could have been next.

1. Birth Rites from Iowa City, IA – This was the ultimate party band. If there was ever a show at a house with the word “Bro” or “Party” in the name, these guys were on the bill. The left us with their great debut full length “All Success Stories.” There are a lot of moments on the album that leave you wishing there was a follow up, such as the ultimate party riff in “Beringia” or the perfect verse chorus match up of “Singing to Myself.”

2. Cougar Den from Milwaukee, WI – A great punk band who made great strides and ended too early. Packed with songs of social change, they always delivered a super intense live show. The band departed on the note of their last full length, “Keepondrifter.”

3. Karma With a K from Chicago, IL – This band was a staple of Chicagoland shows when I was growing up in high school. From their energetic live show to their undeniable hooks, this band was always a crowd pleaser. Week after week they’d keep you on the edge of your seat, always wondering what they’d do next.

4. Lautrec from Chicago, IL – I remember first hearing this band’s instrumental demo and doubting they were a screamo band. There is just so much melody. But sure enough when I finally heard the finished tracks it was just right, it seriously worked really well. This band wrote some of the most emotionally provoking screamo songs I’ve ever heard come out of the windy city, such as “Word Problems” and “Caypo.” Try and get a copy of their 8 song LP.

5. Lion of the North from Northwest, IN – I’m pretty sure this band is on most of these lists. They were extremely influential, being a basis for most of the newer screamo bands to come out of the region. If it wasn’t for these guys I probably would not have known much about house shows and the underground punk community as a whole. Be sure and snag “The Compass Calls,” it’s a classic.

6. Mans from Bloomington, IL – This is the ultimate, I think the whole reason I decided to do this list. This band was so ahead of their time, writing post-hardcore songs from the future. There are hardcore, screamo and minimalist elements all across the board, fused up with an incredible sense of timing and melody. Their latter material was only heard live but still sticks with everyone who saw it. Hopefully one day the songs will be recorded. In the meantime checkout their split with Lion of the North to get a taste of what they tapped into before the end.

7. Mountain Asleep from Louisville, KY – While this band was very prolific during their time, they should have seen more of the open road and definitely more recognition. Giving a whole new meaning to the term “melodic-punk rock”, their tricky and quick songs shook basements across the Midwest for years.

8. Oceans from Urbana, IL – My favorite post rock band to come from the Midwest. They definitely had the funnest live set for a post rock band of all time. Huge sing-alongs and plenty of rock out parts that kept crowds moving. Their full length “Nothing Collapses” demonstrates their mastery of melody and dynamic.

9.  Spread Sheets from Chicago, IL – This band only released one EP while they were based in Chicago, but it has four of the catchiest pop songs I’ve ever heard. Had they stayed together they’d be giving Grown Ups and Algernon Cadwallader a run for their money no doubt. Try and track down the “Chicks and Shit” EP.

10. A Suburban Blood Drive from Louisville, KY – I actually never saw this band but I think they were an incredible post-hardcore punk act. Their demo from the fall of 2004 is a no bullshit, 5 straight songs ass kicking. So many hard hitting parts in such a short time. Their full length “Arma-Get-It-On” never saw the light of day but hopefully will one day.

Diez: Ten Great Driving Songs

Being on the road most of the year, we listen to a lot of music and often use the term “that’s a great driving song.” You know those songs in the mid-tempo range with upbeat, clean picked guitar melodies? The serve as great daytime driving songs. At the same time though, epic, sad songs make great night time driving songs. They’re the kind of songs you “wouldn’t mind dying to.” Anyway I’ve compiled a list of ten good examples, and I’ll split it up into day and night so you can better get the picture.

Day: 

1. American Analog Set “Like Foxes Through Fences” – The simple drum beat and repeating instrumentation just keeps you going. The whole song is in the pocket, right where it needs to be. The great pace will accompany you on those super long highway drives.

2. Worker Bee “Drenched in Cycles” – This one is on every driving mix. Once the rim/bass drum pattern breaks through, being quickly followed by a great flowing guitar melody you know you’re locked in. California drivin’.

3. By the End of Tonight “4′s, 5′s, and the Piano That Never Made it Home” – If there was ever a long movie sequence with a band driving on a desert highway, this would be the soundtrack, hands down. That guitar melody is perfect, paints the picture of the sun being on the horizon at dawn.

4. Lymbyc Systym “…So We Can Sleep” – A catchy acoustic melody, simple electric piano  and finally super-driven percussion. When the drums fade in with the mid-tempo snare/hi-hat rhythm sequence, you’re drumming along on the steering wheel.

5. Maritime “Tearing Up The Oxygen” – Maritime should have named this album “Songs to Drive your Van to.” Simple percussion, catchy guitar parts and soothing vocals. Sounds like summer tour all year round.

Night:

6. Giants “Swiftly It Comes, Swiftly They Flee” – “Seriously if we were to die in a huge explosion right now, it would be fine.” The huge swelling sample. The unbelievably sad lead melody. The perfectly placed bass notes. It’s epic, and it’s perfect for a pitch-black highway drive.

7. Paucity “No Sin on Church Floor” – The tasteful electric piano part at the beginning will suck you in from the get go, and the basic but tricky percussion sets a good pace for you to bob your head to.

8. Mazzy Star “Fade Into You” – My friend Ed and I love to put this on when we’re at the wheel. Feels like a late night after show drive in Texas. Hope Sandoval’s voice is so haunting it fills the van as if she’s in the backseat singing it live.

9. Midwest Product “Motivator” – Electronic music is a good, safe bet for a long night drive. This song has a lot of catchy elements that keep your attention and then an amazing second verse/chorus sing-along. Just wait for it, you’ll have it on repeat.

10. Mylo “Sunworshipper” – The low-fi smooth-electric piano sample matched up with the 808 bass drum-hi-hat work will put your mind at ease, while the vocal sample will give you something to listen for every measure. It’s dangerously catchy and will find it’s way onto all your night-driving mixes.

Diez: Ten Great Albums Never Pressed on Vinyl

Vinyl records. Replaced by cassette tapes. Replaced by CDs. Replaced by Mp3s. Mp3s lose more and more audio quality as they are uploaded, downloaded and reproduced all over the world. Listeners go back to the best sounding alternative. Vinyl. While it is still very much the underdog of the format battlefront, it is making an undeniable comeback. I mean why not? Super warm, lossless audio quality. Huge artwork. And not to mention NOTHING replaces the actual physical act of listening to music, meaning having the artwork in your hands and watching your record spin. It’s a great experience, really gives a new dynamic to your listening experience.

But two vinyl collectors face two challenges. One, pressing an album on vinyl is very expensive, and often too expensive for independent bands. Because of this factor many albums never see the vinyl treatment and therefore are never heard in their prime.  Secondly, there was a “dark-age” of music formatting, where vinyl was “out-dated” and therefore everything was only pressed on CD. I’m thinking it was the late 90s through the early 2000s. While a lot of underground bands still sought out the outdated, many bands missed the memo and pressed thousands of jewel-cased CDs, many of which are sitting in the warehouses of distributors across the globe.

As my collection grows by the week, there are a few albums that I really wish I could add to my list, but just never made cut (pun intended). Here are ten or so of them.

1. Antilles “Beholder Destroyer” – This is one I think about often. For those of you  who have missed the boat and not heard this Ohio-based band, you need to change that right now. These boys have created some of the saddest screamo songs you’ll ever hear. This release draws a lot of influence from the 1990s San Diego post hardcore scene, but they have a great ear for emotionally provoking note choices. Songs like “Plagiarized, Rehashed” and “A Means To End” will leave you feeling like someone punched you in the stomach, broke up with you and forever ruined your ability to love someone. Why the album never met wax is beyond me, but I’ve often fascinated about doing it myself.

2. Boards of Canada “BoC Maxima” – This one is a deeper cut. Many electronic fans don’t know if its existence, but it really helped shape the Scotland-based duo into IDM gods they became. It was pressed briefly on CD and cassette, but never vinyl. Much of the material was reused on “Twoism” and “Music Has the Right to Children,” but buried tracks like “Whitewater” will never see the light of day.

3. Ghosts and Vodka “Addicts and Drunks” – Being from Chicago, this is one that comes up in conversation a lot. The one “Kinsella-related” project that never saw much of the of day, probably because there was actually no Kinsellas in it. Nonetheless this “comp-CD” is brilliant and probably could benefit from the wax treatment. Imagine hearing the low-end driven “It’s All About Right Then” through your home stereo system.

4. In The Face of War “We Make Our Own Luck” – This one is for Indiana hardcore natives. This band was legendary in the Midwest hardcore scene, having outlasted their contemporaries and many of their predecessors. This album may have never been pressed on anything but CD, but it did get the attention of a few high school senior boys and open their eyes to the world of raw, intensity driven punk music we all call hardcore.

5. Jeremy Enigk “World Waits” – While “The Return of The Frog Queen” is what put his solo project on the map, this album is what crowned him the king of the sad song. Songs like “River to Sea” and the title track “World Waits” will leave you hugging your pillow, balled up on your bed for hours at a time.

6. Kaki King “Legs to Make Us Longer” – This is an album I think for sure would sound amazing remastered for vinyl. The acoustic tones would find a whole new life. “Doing the Wrong Thing” and “Solipsist” would paint the perfect picture of a college freshman studying in his dorm while spinning records.

7. Lone “Lemurian” – You might not know it, but Lone is your new favorite electronic artist. The young man from Nottingham has been treading along for the past few years putting out great EPs and is finally getting some much deserved attention. This full length effort is an amazing display of detuned keyboards, hard backbeats and great melodies. Think of hitting a California beach at sunrise and this is your soundtrack.

8. Midwest Product “Specifics” – Probably the album that made me think of this list in the first place. A great electronic trio from Ann Arbor that suddenly dropped off the face of the Earth one day. This album is full of amazing tracks, like the beautifully orchestrated “Reminder” and “Alternator.” But, none come close to the album closer, “Clarity.” This song might be one of the saddest and at the same time beautiful that I’ve ever heard. Great percussion, just the right note choices, and a decrescendo ending that will surely leave you choked up.

9. Paucity “An Untitled Album” – One time a group of friends and I drove to Grand Rapids to see Maps & Atlases play with Rahim. This band called Paucity opened and stole the show. Even as good as Maps and Rahim were, Paucity made the rest of the show kind of senseless. They instilled a seed, and immediately after we had to track down their album. Months later we all learned to worship this album properly, and years later I wish I had it on vinyl. Instrumental music at its wisest. Tracks like “No Sin on Church Floor” will make your jaw drop, measure by measure.

10. Slowride “C/S” – I talk about this album a lot, and I will continue to until it’s not good anymore, which I don’t see happening. Anyway in case you forgot this album is a great example of the 90s aftermath, with catchy choruses and awesome chord progressions. Listen to “Morals and Dogma” and forget you ever bought “The Colour and The Shape.”

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

Holy Shroud “Ghost Repeaters” – A fine demonstration of the Great White North’s ability to create great post-hardcore. There short-lived career didn’t leave us with much, but songs like “Exit Poll” will leave us enough inspiration to last for years to come.

Pechblende “Collapse” – Great Quebec-based hardcore band. The album opener “Retain” is a great indicator of the well thought out but still intense collection that follows.

Piglet “Lavaland” – Another album that I think would really benefit sonically from a vinyl release. So many tones would sound way more crisp and alive.

Oceans “Nothing Collapses” – Another Chicagoland great. Post-rock with a lot of heart and meaning. Some super sad moments exist in the mix, especially the ending of “Terrified of What We Might Become.”

Various artists “The Life Aquatic soundtrack” – This one might be hard to pull off, but I think the Mark Mothersbaugh originals would sound awesome on vinyl.

Worker Bee “Tangler” – The bay-area quartet I just wrote about. Great album, would really be perfect for a vinyl press. So much fusion of so many good things, don’t sleep on it.

 

Diez: Ten examples of great bass tone

So being a musician, I’m always listening for tone, especially bass tone. Something about low end enhances every listening experience  for me, and when there’s that mid-range definition I’m sold. Lately I’ve been thinking about how I want my tone to sound on our next record, so I’ve been compiling examples of my favorite bass tones. I thought I’d take 1o of them and share with you.

1. Nirvana “Lounge Act” – Ok this is the ultimate. Krist Novoselic’s bass tone on this album is a pinnacle all bass players should strive for. The bass intro to this track really showcases it. Such definition, but yet so much character and fullness. It’s perfectly rounded, sounds like a million bucks. You’ve got to love those old Gibsons.

2. American Analog Set “Gone to Earth” – Not only is the bass playing extremely tasteful in this song, the tone is incredible. A lot of mid range but dipping towards the lower hertz. Listen to how he completes the organs thoughts, something about the two note progression really sticks with me.

3. Battles “My Machine” – DANG. An all new spectrum of distorted bass. Its super synthy, yet it has the warmth of a traditional bass mixed in. I’d be curious to see what distortion is seen on here, because there’s a very mid-ranged grit with a lot of clarity.

4. Botch “C. Thomas Howell As The Soul Man” – For me, this album is Brian Cook’s greatest demonstration of bass tone. He nails both clean and distorted tones, and this song really showcases it, especially starting at 2:20. So much girth to the distorted tone, and the clean channel is the perfect counterpart.

5. Breather Resist “Loose Lipped Error” – When the bass finally comes in on this song I can all but keep from crying. The most dialed in Ratt pedal I’ve heard in modern day hardcore. This is a great example of what every hardcore bass player should try to do. Throw away your Sansamp and get back to the basics.

6. Broadcast “Unchanging Window” – A little more classic of a tone, kind of like it was sampled off of an old Mo Town 45. When accompanied by all other instruments it sounds like pure lows are pushed, but when it branches out you can tell that there is a subtle presence of the mids and his, enough to give a perfect clarity.

7. Death Cab for Cutie “I Will Possess Your Heart” – This one is pretty predictable. A lot of lows but a really fine-lined brightness that helps the note progressions through the main riff. Sounds like an old Grand Funk album, a really blown out old jazz bass, but accomplished with different tools.

8. Daughters “The Dead Singer” – Huge. The biggest tone I’ve ever heard. Go to 2:28. Enough said.

9. Foo Fighters “My Hero” – Nate Mendel is a tone daddy. This recording really captures that “p-bass with new strings” sound. Just enough brightness to be clear, but still a ton of low-end to help be the perfect backbone.

10. Jesus Lizard “Monkey Trick” – This is a cornerstone of modern-day bass tone, the go-to guide if you will. Jazz bass meets Ratt pedal. Subtle but so punchy, really drives the rest of the instruments.

FURTHER READING:

Rage Against the Machine “Bullet in the Head” – Tim2K is another tone daddy. Everything is so well calculated. The bass in the intro of the song is perfect, the plucked chord almost sounds like a organ. I’ve never heard a bad bass tone on any Rage album, but I figured this was a good example right off the bat.

Smashing Pumpkins “Cherub Rock” – When the bass comes in in the intro, I get pumped. A lot of low end but still some his for the right amount of brightness. It lays great in the cut with the rest of the instruments, but those few moments where it is heard on its own it is a whole new tone.

Sunny Day Real Estate “Theo B” – Great bass intro, great tone. Like I said, Nate Mendel is a tone daddy and here is proof that he’s always been. You’ve got to love new strings on an old P-bass.

Young Widows “Old Skin” – Another example of huge tone. The quick notes in the intro are gigantic, like mini earthquakes. The distortion is so gritty that it’s like quicksand, you can get sucked into the many little moving particles.

Feel free to send in your ideas for future 10 lists. 

Diez: Ten songs from 2011 to help keep your chin up – by Adam Pfleider

When Bobby approached me to write a top ten column for his blog, I was excited, but it couldn’t have been at a more depressing time in my life. In one weekend I was fired from my job and the girl I was seeing ended it. I won’t say I’m a religious man, but the first thing I tend to got to for answers in is my iTunes  library. With a year of just one great album after another, it wasn’t hard to find some sort of solace. That’s why we’re all here right? We’re just channeling our aggression, anxiety and happiness through these pieces of art, aren’t we? So here are ten songs from this year with some #realtalk commentary to maybe help you out as they’ve helped me this past month. I will say this, through all the bleak news and strife, there’s always hope and there’s always a reason for things to happen. Like my friends in The Wonder Years told me this year, I’m not a self-help book, I’m just a fucked up kid. More importantly, we’ll come out swinging. We all will if you just continue to fight for your dreams. – love and respect

1. Sainthood Reps’s “Widow” ~ “We drew up plans that remain the same as the color of the walls underneath the paint.”

The guys recently posted what each of their songs were about the other day, and it was eerie how close I got to the perspective and idea of this one. Easily my favorite track of the year thus far, the song really portrays the idea of what a “rut” is in the most abstract of situations. We can sit around and wish and hope for something to happen or we can go out and really fight for our dreams and future accomplishments. We sometimes get caught up in the day to day until something out of left field happens and really wakes us up to get our life in order. If not, we more than likely will continue in our drought of a season.

2. Portugal. The Man’s “Sleep Forever” ~ “I just want to sleep forever / Never see tomorrow / Or lead or follow / I don’t want to work forever / Know what I know / Or beg or borrow“

This band writes some of the most lyrically desperate pop numbers I’ve heard in forever. If you took John Gourley’s lyrics and sped them up into crass hardcore, no one would know the difference. I think what makes it work is that his words are set against this bright timbre to create a definable sound. I think instead of writing songs of hope in a time of crisis or songs of crisis in times of no hope, the band end up just writing in a stream of conscious style that makes it all their own. That delivery is what continues to put them at the forefront of most.

3. Balance and Composure’s “Fade” – “I’m scared of ever finding out all I lived for was a lie. All the worries and the doubt, you don’t even think straight sometimes.”

There are moments in your life when you achieve so much and you just begin to wonder where that fits in the bigger picture. Was there a point in the effort you put out in your work, relationships, loves, etc.? What if you’re just a simple pawn amongst the knights and rooks of the rest of the board? It’s that over-thinking that will end up killing us in the end. I try to keep a mindset of doing things simply to do them. I’m not saying be careless in whatever your art is, I’m just saying don’t think about it too hard when it comes to the bigger picture.

4. Defeater’s “Empty Glass” – “Tell me about the old days.“

I know I’m taking this completely out of context to the descriptive story that is Defeater’s lyrical novelization, but the past year of nostalgia sits like a heavy stone on my mind. Beyond simple memories, I think I’ve reached the epiphany that all my bitching as a small child amounts to a thin thread comparable to the harsh realization of making your dreams after a certain age. A good beer and a few stories about the past is more than a welcomed reminder of just how easy you used to have it and how a timeline becomes unclear with age.

5. Former Thieves’ “The Language That We Speak” – “I’m passing the blame.“

Easily my favorite “heavy” record of the year, it’s also quite savant both instrumentally and lyrically throughout. A lot of issues are called out against the blunt instrumental end, and the last lines of the album tie it all up perfectly. There comes a time in every shitty venture when you’ve exhausted all you can do on your end for the best, and you simply just have to shove it off onto something or someone else. If you’ve finally solved inner issues, then obviously greater outside forces end up being the real problem.

6. Pygmy Lush’s “In a Well” ~ “In the darkest hole, look for a rope that isn’t burning. Start climbing. Start climbing.“

Through all the brush with the bitter mistress of destiny, there’s always a light. At our darkest of moments, we have to keep our eyes clear enough to reach for a way out. I’m unsure if it’s our bodies settling after initial panic or just our faith and diligence coming out swinging. With one of the darkest songs on Pygmy Lush’s absolutely stunning record, the band express the most hope lyrically – whether it comes off as desperate or not.

7. Touche Amore’s “Sesame” ~ “I need a week’s rest desperately.“

Jeremy Bohlm has written one of the best lyrical outlets of a hardcore record in years with Touche Amore’s second album. The final words to this song hit me the moment it was processed through my nerves. I’m unsure why I went to school for five years to pay for it even more two years after. I’m even more unsure if set paths mean much anymore. I am completely sure that if you want to live a dream or create your own road, the hours in the day extend longer than you would think, and at some point insomnia and lack of qualified rest kick in.

8. True Widow’s “NH” ~ “I know. I have been a liar / And of the curtain call / I know where I’ll go this time.”

Lying to yourself is the quickest way to move backwards. The first time I heard this song and that five-word line, it sent a chill down my spine. We’re all human and we all do it to ourselves. It’s one thing to lie to others, but I think our fates are even more sealed when we’re not honest with ourselves. A great friend told me this year that “there’s no economy for bullshit,” and that might stick with me until the day I die now.

9. Thursday’s “Past and Future Ruins” ~ “Somewhere there must be a better place, and it’s marked with the fountain I’ve seen glowing in my sleep.”

Dreams are weird – especially vivid ones. I think at our most anxious and worried of times our minds never shutdown, so even in our dreams, we tend to create these elaborate situations that seem so real that when we wake up, it just feels like a cut scene in our life. When we have the most vindicating and peaceful of dreams only to wake up to reality, it might be the most bittersweet of experiences in our lives. I think there’s always signs and feeling that we obtain throughout our lives that are trying to tell us something, and I greatly believe that escapism in dreams is one of those recurring times of personal nirvana.

10. Manchester Orchestra’s “Simple Math” ~ “Believe me, all is brilliant.“

I didn’t have much expectation for Manchester Orchestra’s follow-up to Mean Everything to Nothing because of the impact the previous album had on my life when I took my belongings and moved west to Austin. “Simple Math” is the kind of song that with enough listens just sinks into your skin and blankets your soul. When I heard that particular line around the fifth or sixth time this year among all the rubble, it made me realize that sometimes things do happen for a reason, no matter how much you want to harness some sort of control. It’s an uneasy feeling, but it relaxes just a bit of your anxiety into some sort of fruitful understanding. I know this song is about cheating and getting away with it, but I like to think it means just a little bit more.

ABOUT YOUR AUTHOR: Adam Pleider resides in Austin, TX and is an active voice in today’s music scene. He is a staff writer for Absolute Punk and helps book shows in the Austin area. He’s an avid supporter of the underground punk community and is praised for his coverage of the bands involved.

Diez: Ten songs to induce nostalgia

I know I talk about this a lot, but lately I’ve been on a nostalgia kick and have been digging up all of my old CDs and cassettes. The era of my life where I found all the bands that taught me to love music is always fresh in my mind. Memories of walking home from high school and hanging out in my freshly carpeted basement while listening to the likes of Nirvana, Mudhoney, Foo Fighters and even the White Stripes come back to me. The memories are always in the fall, and I can still taste the brisk Indiana air and remember how I felt every time I heard a new song for the first time. Since I’ve been rekindling my love for these bands I’ve decided to compile a list of 10 songs that make me feel a nostalgic kick. (These are not ordered, just alphabetic)

1. Autolux “Sugarless” – The intro and the chorus of this song are the key parts, filled with fuzz and distortion as if it was fresh from Seattle (there’s even a couple feedback solos). It almost seems like it could be a Pixies b-side, maybe from “Doolittle.”  (this one was hard to decide on, this whole album is filled with slightly off hooks that are reminiscent of “The Colour and The Shape” or “Every Good Boy Deserves Fudge”)

2. Boards of Canada “’84 Pontiac Dream” – Mostly had to include this because these two gentlemen are the kings of nostalgia inducing melodies. This song reminds me of commercial jingles from when I was a kid. I couldn’t tell you exactly which, but they just have that feeling.

3. The Cranberries “Linger” – I think the first time I actually heard this song was on tour in Arizona a couple years ago. It has everything, the production, the tones, and the hooky chorus. Sounds like it would be played on the “light listening” radio stations you’d hear in the dentist office as a kid.

4. Foo Fighters “New Way Home” – Although this album is bleeding with hit singles, this is the song that always stuck with me. Something about that big build at the end and the lyrics.

5. Helms Alee “Music Box” – This song is breath-taking, a beautiful piece of music. The gentle singing and note choice is reminiscent of that 90s Seattle sound (coincidently the band is from Seattle). One of my favorite bands I’ve heard in the past year.

6. Mudhoney “Pokin’ Around” – Same feeling as “New Way Home,” something about the instrumentation and chorus always stuck with me.

7. My Bloody Valentine “Sometimes” – The underlying melody combined with the distorted acoustic guitar could seriously be the soundtrack of my high school days.

8. Nirvana “You Know You’re Right” – When this song came out I was in 8th grade and it was a very big deal. I’d stay up every night for 10 at 10 on the radio just to hear this song placed at number 1, even though I had it on CD and mp3.

9. Pixies “Here Comes Your Man” – I like other Pixies songs a lot more, but for some reason this one is most reminiscent of walking through the freezing cold of winter to my local CD store to buy “Come On Pilgrim.”

10. Smashing Pumpkins “Cherub Rock” – When I first bought “Siamese Dream,” this track shattered my realm from the get go. It was the heaviest thing I had heard to that point and really ignited my flame for fuzzed out alternative rock.

HONORABLE MENTIONS (Not everything could make the list but these tracks have the same nostalgic kick)

Amusement Parks on Fire “Venus In Cancer” – Something about the note choice in this chorus reminds me of something on the self-titled Foo Fighters album, so it takes me back.

Balance and Composure “Void” – The key this song is in has 1990s alternative written all over it. Same feel, but presented in a modern day body.

Cast Spells “Pioneer Scalps” (NOTE: this video is mislabeled)- The tones in this song and the production reminds me of the first time I heard vinyl, my dad playing an old 45 in the living room of my old house.

Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass “Memories of Madrid” – Might be a bit outdated but this song is my first memory of music, from a mixtape my father made when I was in elementary school.

Jose Gonzalez “Instrumental” – The second layer of guitar combined with the soft brass in the background sounds like a autumn day walk home from school.

Mazzy Star “Fade Into You” – Slide guitar and haunting vocals reminiscent to the sad country songs my mom used to listen to on the way home from the grocery store.

Slowride “Rust Killer” – I just recommended this band the other day, but this song seriously could have been a b-side from “The Colour and the Shape,” exactly the feeling I’m trying to convey with this list.

True Widow “Flat Black” – Chord progression says it all, just the right note choice. Could be a Nirvana b-side just judging from the intro.

Feel free to disagree or send in tracks that make you feel this way. I’m interested if anyone else feels the same way I do.

Diez: Top 10 Nirvana Recordings You’ve Never Heard

Yes, this may be a bold statement. Several of you very well may have heard the songs on this list. But, the fact remains that many Nirvana fans are not aware of the scores of b-sides and session outtakes, as well as EPs and 7″s that exist in the bands back catalog of recording history.  Some effort has been made over the years to organize these recordings for release. Late 2004 saw the release of “With The Lights Out,” a three CD box set of session outtakes and demos. In reality though, most of these records (with the exception of some major mythical figures in the band’s time line like the Nevermind session outtakes) have existed on the internet for years. But if you didn’t know what to look for, you’d never know these existed.

This list is in no way supposed to be the final word, just a mere opinion of some quality recordings in the band’s past that I think are generally overlooked.

10. “Even In His Youth” from the Hormoaning EP – I’m hesitant to start with this song because the EP actually did quite well worldwide. But thinking back to my high school days when I was listening to the band religiously, a lot of my fellow listeners had no idea that any material existed besides their LP releases. This song is a glimpse into the past for the band, bridging the material from “Bleach” and “Nevermind” with distorted excellence.

9. “Curmudgeon” from the Lithium single - Even though it was on a successful single, I think this b-side was highly missed. There’s a wild phaser like effect on the guitar throughout the entirety, but the feel is very comparable to “Even With His Youth” and other material that was written during this era.

8.”D-7” from the Hormoaning EP – This is a Wipers cover, but really showcases the bands ability to use dynamic. The second half of the track has the trio returning to their punk rock roots, so raw.

7. “Oh The Guilt” from their split with  Jesus Lizard - Ok, how cool is it that Nirvana and Jesus Lizard did a split? That’s right, very cool. Unfortunately this release was super limited and not many copies are floating around today, but both band’s songs are super cool. This song is a bit uncharacteristic for what they were writing at the time (I believe it was during the In Utero era) but contains many of the characteristics that makes Nirvana, well Nirvana.

6. “Here She Comes Now” from their split with Melvins - The same can be said about the band’s early split with Melvins, where both bands did Velvet Underground covers. This track has always been a favorite of mine because they once again play with dynamics, really cranking on the distortion at the end. Cobain strains his vocals in the latter half and really makes the track one of their own, as if it was a b-side from “Bleach.” (Unless you have over $200 to blow, you’re not going to find a copy of this)

5. “Pen Cap Chew” from their first studio session with Jack Endino - This MIGHT be the band’s heaviest track ever, an early studio outtake. You can sense the “Melvins” influence in the riff, which has a super sludgy vibe and is coated in fuzz. Unfortunately this track didn’t make it onto “Bleach” and didn’t even make it onto “Incesticide,” so Nirvana fans had to find it on their own and it was heavily downloaded until the release of the boxset.

4. “If You Must” from their first studio session with Jack Endino – Same recording session as the previous, same vibe. I really wish the band would have explored this avenue a bit more, totally stripped down heavy rock. The chorus riff is a precursor for drone to come.

3. (I had a tie for this one, both of these songs come from comparable backgrounds so I will include them both)
“Spank Thru” from the Sub Pop 200 comp - This song was on a ton of releases, but since it was never on a major release I think a lot of fans missed it. It can be deceiving, starting out with a country western vibe, but sooner than you know it the trio launches into a full on fuzzed out attack.

“Sappy” from the In Utero recording session – This song almost made it, but was removed from “In Utero” last minute and placed on the “No Alternative” comp. The funny part is that the song was placed on the comp as a hidden track but word spread of the band’s appearance and the release sky-rocketed. “Sappy” is reportedly one of the band’s favorite songs, which makes the songs path even more confusing.

amendment: “I Hate Myself and Want to Die” from the Beavis and Butthead Experience - Ok so due to temporary confusion I left this song off the original post but now it’s here. It seems that I thought this song and “Sappy” were the same thing but thanks to some friends I quickly realized my mistake. The problem with this legendary trio was that they loved to have several names for songs at a time, and that is what I thought happened here. This has been corrected, another great b-side in vain of “Sappy.”

2. “Old Age” from the Nevermind recording session – Ok these last 2 might be a bit controversial, but allow me to explain. Being a Nirvana fan during my childhood and teenage years, I was always pretty aware that these studio outtakes existed. They were heavily sought after and talked about in online Nirvana forums, such as Nirvana Club and Live Nirvana, but NO ONE had them. Hell, if I remember correctly we had no idea what songs might be included in the outtakes, but we all hoped that “Old Age” was one of them. We knew “Old Age” existed because of a leaked boombox recording. When the boxset finally came out and this song was present, along with the next, I think it was a huge triumph. But anyway, about this song, there’s just something in the chord progression that really haunts you and captures you. This would have been my number 1 had I not heard the next song, but it’s very close.

1. “Verse Chorus Verse” from the Nevermind recording session - Alright here it is, and I’ll tell you why. To me, this song is very comparable to “Old Age” but seems just a bit more put together. Naturally the distortion isn’t present in either of the tracks because I think they were both scrapped before much production was put into them, but that makes them all the cooler. This song was known about because of an early live recording. Its presence on the boxset was another huge triumph for Nirvana fans, and now we can enjoy what never came to be.

All of these songs are available on “With The Lights Out,” the rarities boxset I’ve been talking about. Nirvana fans waited for this boxset for almost a decade and speaking for myself, I was quite happy with the outcome. It was quite comprehensive and included a lot of tracks that were just mythes back in the early message board days. It’s widely available at stores and I highly recommend picking up a copy.