Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts

I feel numbed and dazed and strangely refreshed having soaked myself all night in coruscating sounds of some of the best known grunge albums of our times. Nirvana's Nevermind album will un-doubtable go down in the history as one of the defining albums for the late 20th century with an eclectic blend of sounds from grunge, funk, metal to even soothing timbres of new age. Kurt Cobain's vocals are violent, coarse and yet endearing and almost hypnotically persuasive and given that lyrics are at places meaningless and often repetitive, that is strange. With Dave Grohl's inclusion in the band in his capacity as a drummer, this second album of Nirvana was perhaps destined for greatness (Nirvana's germinal Bleach album featured Chad Channing on the drums). Post Nirvana and Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl formed Foo Fighters coming out with their self titled debut album featuring hits like 'Big Me'. The album features Dave on both vocals and on lead guitar and though Dave is no Kurt, the band holds its own .

Next, it was time for grungy élan of The Smashing Pumpkins and their smash act Siamese Twins. The band's front man, singer songwriter Billy Corgan, apparently took over the guitars too on some of the songs on the album ( much to James Iha's consternation I would presume. Billy's dominance might well have led to the band splitting in 2001. Billy actually admits to differences between Iha and him on his web-site ). Whatever be the case, Siamese Twins is an aural high.

I hate to do a top whatever list of songs and albums because my lists tend to change with my moOds and with time. However here are some of the songs that I particular enjoyed listening to yesterday night ( in no particular order ):

Nirvana :
Love Buzz , Breed, Drain You, Stay Away, In Bloom, Lithium, Come as you Are, Lounge Act (*****), Something in the Way, Negative Creep, School

Smashing Pumpkins :
Geek USA (*****), Silver Fuck, Soma, Sweet Sweet, Today, Cherub Rock, Disarm, Luna, Mayonnaise (*****), Quiet (*****) , Rocket (*****), 1979, Tonight Tonight, Zero

Pearl Jam :
Even Flow (*****), Black, Alive, Jeremy, Given to Fly

Radio Head :
Karma Police (****), Idioteque (****), Creep

Offspring :
Self Esteem

Stone Temple Pilots :
Interstate Love Song, Plush

Soundgarden :
Black hole Sun

Foo Fighters :
Monkey Wrench, Everlong, This is a Call, Big Me, Learn to Fly