Nirvana's Legacy: Ten Years Later

Ten years ago, for reasons still not fully known and from a cause that continues to remain the subject of conspiracy theories, Kurt Cobain's life came to an abrupt and premature end. But while Cobain's suicide also brought Nirvana's career to a close, the band's influence is still felt throughout the music world. The opening chords of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" are as hauntingly familiar as images of Cobain's slightly haggard face, and the iconographic elements of Nirvana have never really left us. But beyond the continuing presence of Nirvana's instantly recognizable hit songs, the band's legacy continues to pervade the sound and hype surrounding nearly every rock-n-roll act since the early '90s.

Arguably the most influential band of the '90s, Nirvana's sound is so inextricably pervasive that it's difficult to pick out specific songs or riffs that most closely resemble those of the Seattle band. For a few bands, though, Nirvana's influence is more explicitly evident. Although notoriously disliked in their native England and critically derided for this very quality, Bush practically lifted their guitar-fueled sound from Nirvana. While Stone Temple Pilots seemed particularly indebted to the grunge scene Nirvana spearheaded, with Scott Weiland's slightly growling voice and their dense guitar riffs, their sound remains slightly more melodic and lush. Even the decidedly non-hard-rock Weezer seemed to have studied under Cobain on their 1994 self-titled debut. Beyond these musical similarities though, what was truly remarkable and influential about Nirvana's work was their ability to integrate highly complex musical compositions and emotive lyrics. Before emo made sensitivity cool--or uncool depending on your perspective--Cobain allowed his tortured emotions to radiate through his songs and vocals, while highlighting the musical abilities of himself and his band mates, a quality that scores of grunge and post-grunge progenitors never really replicated.

Even now, as the media continues to search for the next Nirvana, such acts are either sonically similar (i.e., the Vines) or equally buzzworthy (i.e., the Strokes). But still none seem to be able to replicate Nirvana's massive impact. Emerging into a world polarized by glitzy hard rock of the hair band variety and then pop heavyweights like Michael Jackson, Nirvana completely recast the musical landscape as demonstrated by Nevermind's 1991 triumph over Dangerous atop the Billboard albums chart. Illustrating the slacker-to-success ethos of the early '90s, Nirvana spoke to a generation. But the world is a much different place now, with new emotions and new ideals that have yet to be fully captured in song. We'll never all be disaffected New York hipsters or wannabe rappers of the late '90s rap-rock variety. As much as it was this mass appeal that Cobain expressed distaste for, it's what makes him revered to this day and drives the media to search for the latest manifestation of his talents.