While some of their songs don't have the most difficult guitar work or the most complex lyrics, their overall sound was extremely influential and it gave a voice to a whole new generation of music fans that was looking for an identity.
Kurt Cobain's death was a sad moment for many of them, but Cobain's raw emotion and timeless songs about things like alienation and yes, even love will live on for long after his death.
Top Ten Songs by Nirvana
Here are the most memorable songs by the popular grunge band counting down from #10 through the top pick:
10. The Man Who Sold the World-
One of their most popular songs from the MTV Unplugged album, this soothing, acoustic guitar-based rock track is a little less depressing than some of their other songs but still has that same depressing undertone at the same time.
The riff is timeless and catchy and so are the hooks making it one of Nirvana's best songs.
9. In Bloom-
One of many Nirvana songs that feature sometimes subtle, sometimes not-so-subtle drug references (the former for this one), In Bloom features an incredible hook and a borderline pop rock-sound while still maintaining that undercurrent of teenage angst within Cobain's intricate vocal inflections.
8. Aneurysm-
From the opening riff, this song grabs the listener and doesn't let go. It's a bit more aggressive and straight-forward than some other Nirvana songs, careening into some off-key-yet-melodic lyrics that Cobain spits with just an extra bit of panache to add a little bit of extra urgency to a song that still features the same sense of sarcasm and false joy that Nirvana's songs often exude.
Find the best version of this song on Nirvana's "From the Muddy Banks of the Wishkah" live CD.
7. Heart-Shaped Box-
Off of "In Utero," this song is an excellent continuation of the band's "Nevermind" era style while mixng in a good chunk of the smooth, relaxed acoustic style of the Unplugged album. It's a hint at how well the band could have evolved if not for Cobain's unfortunate death.
6. Come as You Are-
"And I swear it, I don't...have a gun." Some of the most haunting lyrics that have ever been uttered in rock music as they foreshadowed Cobain's demise. The video was equally dark and foreboding adding up to one of the band's most atmospheric songs ever.
5. Lithium-
When in doubt, it's never a bad idea to make the chorus of a song "Yeaaaahhhhhhhh!" and Cobain pulls it off better in this song than just about anyone ever has.
Cobain even fools the listener into thinking he's really alright with the way he sings "I love you, I'm not gonna crack" over and over again...but we all know things unfortunately didn't work out that way. It's hauntingly beautiful though.
4. Drain You-
This manic Nirvana classic off of "Nevermind" features some impressive drum work and another epic vocal performance by Cobain. He starts off describing what seems like the makings of a great relationship...but it's hard to take him seriously because of the continued Nirvana theme of alienation and hopelessness.
Sure enough, Cobain goes that route again as he chimes in with "It is now my duty to completely drain you" and it that sense of loneliness hits the listener like a ton of bricks. And yet, it doesn't feel anywhere near as bad as such a feeling would in real life. It actually feels pretty good because it makes the listener feel better about their own problems, as if to say they aren't really that bad.
3. You Know You're Right-
This song, released long after Cobain's death, eerily finds him at his most desperate and in his most hopeless state.
It's about a man who is out of options with the object of his desires, so he finally just gives up and admits that he's not worthy, while promising to "crawl away for good." This is pure grunge at its finest, a song that hit modern rock radio just in time to give a whole new group of rock fans a glimpse of what the genre was all about.
2. All Apologies-
In this Unplugged album song with an unmistakbly simple-yet-beautiful riff, Cobain is crying out for help like never before, basically throwing his hands up in the air and saying "What else do you want from me?" And of course, he nails the vocal tone perfectly and does an amazing job of conveying that feeling a person gets when they realize they've been trying too hard to please everyone else instead of living their own life the way they really want to live it.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit-
Here it is: the song, the riff, and the video that set off an entire movement and set the stage for a whole decade of music. The grunge area doesn't get the same kind of critical acclaim that, say, the 70's classic rock era gets, but 10 years from now or so, the fondness for this song and the era will continue to climb.
This song and video introduced the grating, raw, emotional vocal style and anything-goes fashion sense (or lack thereof) that defined an era.
Top Ten Nirvana Songs Final Thoughts
Nirvana has a lot of similar-sounding songs that all have their own unique nuances that make them special. Arguments can be made for another 10-15 songs or more as being among their top ten songs, but all of the songs on this top ten list are there because they hold special relevance to the development of the genre or Nirvana's style. Plus, most of them have that special something that just grabs the listener from the beginning.
As with any top ten list from a great band, there are no right or wrong answers.
