FILE UNDER: 3G: Geffen gets greedy, again.
CORPORATE LINE: Nirvana changed the course of popular music forever and remains an inspiration to those who have followed. The band’s musical legacy was illuminated further in November 2004 by the release of the 3-CD/1-DVD box set With the Lights Out, the definitive collection of rarities and outtakes. Now the 22-song, single-disc Sliver: The Best of the Box offers fans audio highlights from With the Lights Out with the bonus inclusion of three unreleased tracks: “Spank Thru,” “Sappy,” and a rehearsal recording of “Come as You Are.”
THE MUSIC: The first that comes to mind is; pain. Being a huge Nirvana fan coming close to weeping with the passing of Kurt Cobain this comes as a punch to the mouth. It proves that there are no limits to greed. This isn’t for fans it’s for Geffen and Courtney.
The sad thing is that the “3 previously unreleased tracks” (“Spank Thru,” “Sappy,” & “Come As You Are”) have all been released before! We just haven’t heard these versions. Now that is clever marketing.
At the end of the day songs like “Spank Thru” are painful. This wasn’t put on an album when Kurt was alive for a reason—it’s not good. He knew it and now we know it, too. “Sappy” holds up much better than “Spank Thru.” This was certainly a great track and could have been on an album. This is the one track that made it onto my iPod. The demo “Come As You Are” is awful.
For review sake the best songs are as follows:
“Floyd The Barber” is a great live version. Anyone that doesn’t own the first Nirvana album get it now!
“Ain’t It A Shame” is an usual Nirvana track.
“Old Age” is another classic that never made its way onto an original Nirvana release.
“Heart Shaped Box” doesn’t need explanation. No matter how raw it sounds the greatness shines through.
The weak songs:
This version of “About A Girl” is to raw to enjoy. Sadly we hear what might be the first take of the song as Kurt sings nonsense for the verses.
FRANKLY: These reek of greed. There certainly are some great songs here but all can be had in their former glory if purchased on their proper releases. Geffen and Courtney Love are doing more to tarnish Nirvana’s reputation as music legends. Sadly, Kurt is probably rolling over in his graving knowing his leftovers have been put out for public consumption.
There is no way to articulate what it is like to listen to these demos. It amounts to watching a great film like The Lord of the Rings without any special effects. Who would want to see that? Not me. The best way to consume an artist’s work is the way they released their work. Let’s remember Kurt Cobain the way he wanted us to not the way a record label would have us remember.
+ Rae Gun
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