Monday, April 19, 2010

Blog Post 12

Grunge rock, sometimes referred to as the "Seattle Sound", is a version of alternative rock that began taking root in the 1980's around the Seattle area. Grunge is a fusion of elements from indie, heavy metal, and hardcore punk rock. Grunge music is typically categorized by a heavily distorted guitar often with feedback effects. The instrumentation is often quite complex with slower tempos and dissonant harmonies. Another key factor is that the band is typically seen as "dirty" or "unkempt". They are often unconcerned with the theatrics of performance unlike other rock subgenres. The two most famous grunge bands are Nirvana and Pearl Jam, both who emerged in the 90's. Kurt Cobain is an excellent example of the grunge "look". The lyrics are either very angry or apathetic.

Nirvana - Smells Like Teen Spirit (1)
Uploaded by Electric_Eye. - Explore more music videos.

The tempo throughout the song is relatively slow compared to the chorus where it picks up speed (1st example at 58 seconds, at 1:30 it slows back down). At 3:14 you can hear a distorted guitar sound for several seconds. The lyrics seem apathetic and to me don't really make sense. Cobain sings very intensely and almost screams in part. His loudness and the overall loudness along with the guitar distortions are elements of heavy metal.

No comments:

Post a Comment