Nirvana “Smells Like Teen Spirit”: What Went into Writing an Anthem of a Generation

Kurt Cobain is a songwriter with a very distinct personal style. What he didn’t know was how many people would resonate with what he was expressing. Whether it’s a blessing or a curse, when you create a highly expressive piece of art, one that crystalizes and sharply evokes a focused …

22 Albums That Changed My Life (Part 2)

This is a series walking back the time line in my journey as a music fan.  The previous post covered the teenage years — now we’re getting to my 20s. — U2 Achtung Baby Like everyone else, I was just blown away by the transformation.  The Edge’s guitars were so distorted and …

Songwriting Analysis: Nirvana “About a Girl”

This early stand-out track from Nirvana’s debut album Bleach already has ample showcases of the songwriting genius that was Kurt Cobain. Experiment with wild key changes that may sound odd at first but may sound distinct when listened to a few times. Explore triadic melodies — put the chord tones on strong …