Smells like Old Spirit

When Nevermind was released, I was right the fuck on top of it. The buzz was hot, and it was produced by Madison boy Butch Vig, and I had a steady paycheck, so it was mine right away. A sweet sweet mix of Black Flag and Cheap Trick, I played it incessantly. My favorite memeory was riding in a friend's Porsche, top down, at 100 mph, with "Teen Spirit" blasting....

five months later, Billboard changed the way they judged album sales, and Nirvana was an arena rock band.

And within a couple of years, Kurt Cobain was tabloid fodder and killed himself. Can't say I blame him, actually.

But you know, for me, it's always about the music. The SOUNDS. The NOISE. And Cobain always held simultaneous love for the Beatles, The Meat Puppets, and the Germs. How could I not appreciate that?

But boy howdy, being the focus of media blitzkrieg changes everything. You know, I forgot how great Nevermind is, and the pure punk bliss that is Teen Spirit.

Until I downloaded this cover by Patti Smith. Look, if you don't know who Patti Smith is, you shouldn't be reading this blog.

Utube has embedding disabled because the record companies suck. But hey, fuck that, just go buy the album, cuz Patti is teh shit.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QwpLqrh19Ws

But the cover is unbelievable, and the first or second thing I noticed is that teh song is fucking great.

Cobain was a helluva song writer, and we are always poorer with one less artist among our midst.

And I forget
Just what it takes
And yet I guess it makes me smile
I found it hard
Its hard to find
Oh well, whatever, nevermind

You know, fuck. Meanwhile Newt Gingrich is still drawing air. Who did better?