Teenage angst has paid off well / Now I'm bored and POLLed: The ILM Nirvana poll results thread (Poll #69)

Was also curious about what other tracks from In Utero would have been singles and had videos - I always assumed 'Dumb' was a definite contender.

According to Wikipedia, other than 'Heart-Shaped Box,' these indeed were released:

"All Apologies" / "Rape Me"
Released: December 6, 1993
"Pennyroyal Tea"
Released: April 1994 (cancelled)
April 19, 2014 (re-released)

Discogs only lists the 'Pennyroyal Tea', however. I wonder if videos were planned, and then maybe cancelled?

Really enjoying this countdown, wish I'd known about it to vote

which are the 4 different versions of Sappy referred to upthread plz?

I know, I only know of two.

1986 - 1988 Cobain residence Kurt Cobain Montage of Heck: The Home Recordings (2015)
January, 1990 Reciprocal Recording Jack Endino Sliver: The Best of the Box (2005)
April, 1990 Smart Studios Butch Vig Nevermind (deluxe) (2011)
May, 1991 Sound City Studios Butch Vig Unreleased
February, 1993 Pachyderm Studio Steve Albini No Alternative (1993), With the Lights Out (2004), In Utero (deluxe) (2013)

I think it was understood that the unplugged "All Apologies" was In Utero's 2nd video, and they had no plans to shoot another.

I mean, it sold less than half of what Nevermind sold, right?

Makes sense to me. About half of Nevermind's sales were bought by people who probably only listened to the singles. aka not really fans.

was it a New Jersey then? i'm sure someone's asked this already on the NJ thread.

no. everyone remembers "Heart-Shaped Box"

http://i.imgur.com/30rTHJM.jpg

15. School
474 points, 23 votes

urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
urine pie pool again
URINE PIE POOL AGAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIN
NO RECESS

really should have voted in this but oh well nevermind

http://i.imgur.com/lokuKSY.jpg

14. Sliver
477 points, 18 votes, 2 #1 votes

damn i was really rooting for "Sliver" to be like top 5

Can't stand this song but I guess it was too much to hope it wouldn't show up. Question though: does he kill his toe or his toad? I always thought it was toad, but internet lyrics sites all seem to say toe.

it's really fun to hear Dan Peters drum on "Sliver," hearing all those Mudhoney-type fills. Grohl Nirvana is imo the best possible Nirvana, but Nevermind with Peters on drums would've been great too.

YES! I'm so glad to see 'School' place this high!

Peters is awesome, it is true. That reminds me of this old graphic from an old issue of spin:

http://40.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_l885q25kxM1qba23ho1_500.jpg

As for 'Sliver', I like it plenty but it's never really been all all-time favourite or anything.

I love Sliver, think it makes for a great halfway house between the Bleach sound and the Nevermind sound.

Idk, I feel like Sliver's concept is stronger than the song. Chorus kind of grates on my nerves. Been a Son (my #1) is a way better example of Kurt in indie pop mode imo

http://i.imgur.com/lzNGzDG.jpg

13. Dumb
520 points, 23 votes, 1 #1 vote

"sliver" was my #1, the 1990 7" was the first Nirvana record I ever bought. Also the only tune of theirs I've done at karaoke, if you wanna really talk "grates on my nerves."

whoa, only one #1 vote for dumb? that was me

Morbs, how'd you learn about in 1990 – local play??

Dumb is basically the In Utero equivalent of Polly but it's a far better song I think.

no. everyone remembers "Heart-Shaped Box"

People remember "Bad Medicine" too but tbh I didn't really buy the New Jersey concept in the end.

The ILM concept of what a New Jersey. I totally buy into the 1988 Bon Jovi album and the elaborate concepts behind it.

I always felt that 'Dumb' had melodic similarities to 'On a Plain', although I think 'Dumb' is the superior song. The cello makes this track - take it out of the mix and it makes a hell of a lot of difference.

yup - that cello is so beautiful

"Dumb" is awesome btw. Agree with the "On a Plain" comparison. Also, both songs make explicit reference to drug abuse. The lyrics are pretty juvenile on one hand but there's something affecting in their nakedness?

the lyrics to Dumb are brilliant. nursery rhyme simple and heartbreakingly beautiful. "my heart is broke / but i have some glue / help me inhale / and mend it with you / we'll float around / and hang out on clouds / then we'll come down / and have a hangover"

nursery rhyme simple and heartbreakingly beautiful.

Sort of agree with this, actually.

Yeah, the second verse ("my heart is broke/but I have some glue" etc.) look juvenile on paper, but the way Kurt sings it kinda pulls it slightly back away from that and gives the lyric this kinda weird, dreamy quality.

http://i.imgur.com/LjZ0n9s.jpg

12. Breed
532 points, 25 votes, 1 #1 vote

"We could plant a house/We could build a tree"

every lyric in Dumb is great. "i'm not like them / but i can pretend / the sun is gone / but i have a light / the day is done / but i'm having fun / i think i'm dumb / or maybe just happy." perfectly melancholy

I put on about half of Unplugged last night, for the first time in years, to try to put together what I was saying about the playing. "Pennyroyal Tea" is the one that really stands out as poor to me, for the reasons that thewufs and Master of Treacle gave, but also because the execution is noticeably messy at many points. There an example around 2:57; it's the sort of thing that I think any non-guitarist could hear. I'm usually not that fussy about little flubs but the part is so simple and bare that it really stands out for me. Otherwise, I might have been a little harsh but I just don't think most of the songs benefit from the acoustic arrangements. The sort of strumming that KC did worked with the sustain and resonance of a distorted electric instrument, and when accompanied by a loud rhythm section, but the songs can to feel a bit anemic for me when he did the same thing on an acoustic. (No way would Peter Buck just strum like that for a whole album.) There are plenty of people out there who enjoy listening to acoustic Bob Dylan records too, though, so ymmv.

otoh i have been trying to find a way to articulate my feels abt "where did you sleep" since it showed up here and i still can't do it.

but a more skilled guitar player would not improve that performance imo

There are plenty of people out there who enjoy listening to acoustic Bob Dylan records too, though, so ymmv.

yes listen to this terrible strumming
https://vimeo.com/39267368

I didn't get to "Where Did You Sleep..." but that is the one that stands out as the keeper from Unplugged. (I like "About a Girl" too.)
xp

Was trolling; will check out the Dylan video later today.

xxp: I really like that flub at 2:57! But then, I used to own and enjoy the Sublime acoustic record, so yeah, my mileage probably varies. I really get a kick out of flubs.

Ha, did not know Sublime did an acoustic record.

Ending today's run of one-word song titles...

http://i.imgur.com/8iJKxuN.jpg

About a Girl
534 points, 24 votes (incl. 1 vote for the MTV Unplugged version)

With one exception everything else should be In Utero or Nevermind. Fingers crossed for a non-hits top 5.

That should be 11. About a Girl of course.

did anyone else put If You Must, Spank Thru, Endless Nameless, Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Thru the Strip, The Other Improv, or Beeswax on their ballots? all of my songs have placed except Heart Shaped Box, Drain You, and On a Plain...

One "Spank Thru" here.