It's hard to imagine, if not impossible, to wonder what Kurt Cobain would be doing today. When I first got word on April 7, 1994 that the singer, who was well on his way to reluctantly becoming a rock icon, was found dead in his Seattle home, I was in utter disbelief. For any person who grew up during the '90s, Cobain's suicide moved the needle in a way that's still impacts the world. With the Internet not what it is today, his death was something that didn't break instantaneously, but instead, trickled out through reports and via nightly news. There was something simpler about that era, which seems impossible to fathom in the world of Twitter. Many mark April 5 as the day to remember Cobain, which is true, but I mark April 7, since no one can really pinpoint the day he actually killed himself. Over the weekend, Muse and St. Vincent paid their respects by playing Nirvana covers at their respective shows. Though I highly doubt any of you would want to hear me sing, I'll pay my respect the best way I can: by celebrating Nirvana's most underrated songs.
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5. You Know You're Right: Released in 2003 as part of the greatest hits package, this is the last known Nirvana song to be recorded and offers a potential glimpse into Cobain's songwriting mindset before the band went on tour in 1994. It's dark, brooding and heavy–and it makes you wonder what might have been.
4. Polly: Lyrics about rape was something that was reflected in a bunch of Nirvana's songs, but this is the darkest of them all, with apologies to “Rape Me.” If the graphic nature of Cobain's words doesn't horrify you, then, well, you're a stronger person than I.
3. Breed: Explosive and dynamic are the only words you can describe this fireball of a track. There isn't a moment to catch your breath before the machine gun fire of Cobain's guitar, the tenacity of Dave Grohl's drumming and Krist Novoselic's thunderous bass lines kick into gear. The song was never a single, but remains one the band's best.
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2. Sappy: Originally a secret track at the end of the No Alternative compilation, the song quickly became one of the most popular in the band's catalog. Fans would frequently request the song also known as “Verse Chorus Verse” at their shows. The song was recorded a number of times, so there's quite a few version floating around of it. Cobain was never satisfied with the way it sounded when recorded. No matter what he may have thought, each version was pretty damn good in its own right.
1. Aneurysm: Featuring Cobain's trademark howl, the song was featured on the haphazardly put together compilation Incesticide, which featured a number of Nirvana gems that have flown under the radar since its release.
See also
10 Punk Albums to Listen to Before You Die
10 Goriest Album Covers
10 Most Satanic Metal Bands
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Daniel Kohn is a writer based in Southern California. With bylines in an assortment of outlets, Kohn primarily specializes in music with other interests ranging from sports to food. As a transplant, Kohn loves the beautiful weather and is glad he no longer has to deal with brutal winters. If you see him, say hi and of course, he’s always willing to down a beer or two…if you’re paying.