Nirvana's Self-Titled Compilation Album Getting The Vinyl Treatment

On August 28, 2015, Nirvana’s self-titled, double platinum-selling (United States) / 7x platinum-selling (Worldwide) posthumous collection Nirvana (UMe) makes its debut on 45rpm double LP, pressed on 200-gram heavy weight vinyl and packaged in a furnace black gatefold sleeve with liner notes and a digital download card for 96kHz 24-bit HD audio; as well as a 33rpm single LP 150-gram standard weight vinyl edition which will feature a download card for 320kbps MP4 audio. Nirvana will also be released as a Blu-Ray Pure Audio in high resolution 96kHz 24-bit and is available in three stereo audio formats: PCM, DTS-HD Master Audio and Dolby TrueHD stereo.

Originally released in 2002, Nirvana features the rare and previously unreleased studio version of “You Know You’re Right,” the last song the band ever recorded, available exclusively  on this compilation. Also among the 14 classics on Nirvana: 1991’s breakthrough “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” and fellow Nevermind singles “Come As You Are,” and “In Bloom,” In Utero singles “Heart-Shaped Box” and “Pennyroyal Tea,” as well as deep cuts including “About A Girl” from first album Bleach, “Been A Son” from the Blew EP, the non-LP single “Sliver,” and live acoustic versions of “All Apologies” and David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” from the GRAMMY® winning MTV Unplugged In New York.

On Viewing Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck

I decided to make the time to sit down and watch the documentary on Kurt Cobain this week. Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck was an interesting documentary to say the least. And although was good, there were many bizarre moments in the film as well. Early on as I watched the film I thought “This isn’t so great. Am I really going to sit through this thing?” But as the film progressed and once I had seen it entirety it all made sense. As a whole, Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck was an excellent view into the life of rock’s most misunderstood and highly beloved stars, Kurt Cobain.

I still remember when Nirvana made it huge with Nevermind. When “Smells Like Teen Spirit” first came out on MTV (that was still the way we got the bulk of our new music) it struck me like something I had never heard before. That was mostly due to the fact that it was something I had never heard before. Nivana and the bands that followed had created a whole new world of music for me to explore. And while I still loved the glossy metal bands that had ruled my high school years, Nirvana and similar bands were providing me a new outlet. Their music had deeper meaning. Their music had power. Their music let me feel in a way the party songs and power ballads of Poison and Warrant didn’t allow. This wasn’t music about a 24 hour party; this was music about releasing your rage and expressing yourself on a much higher level. And it was absolutely brilliant.

Seeing the old home movies of Kurt as a young child and hearing the stories of how he was kicked from house to house to house to live with relatives for weeks at a time certainly shed a new light on how he ended up the way he did. I have a deeper understanding of why Kurt turned to drugs. I still don’t condone it, and I still think that it was a waste of his brilliant talent, but I do understand it a little better. The peek into his personal journals and the home movies with Courtney Love were an added treat as well. Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck is brilliant in the manner of how the story unfolds. There is no narrator doing a voice over. 90% of the film is old home movies, band videos, interviews, and existing film footage. It was an interesting approach and one that worked well.

There is one scene in the movie where Courtney Love is reading a piece of hate mail from a fan calling her a talentless pig and proclaiming that she is ruining the genius of Kurt Cobain which made me laugh aloud. I remember hating Courtney Love that much. I remember feeling the exact same way about her. I remember calling her the Yoko of our generation and really getting mad when her name came up. Heck I wouldn’t even pay money for her albums, even though I thought it was pretty darned good. I just could not stand her, and that moment in the film took back to the early nineties and the memory of when that was actually deemed important in my life.

Without a doubt, Nirvana changed the face of music forever. The running joke will always be that they killed hair metal and those of us who love glam rock and heavy metal should hate grunge, but that’s simply not true. Glam rock had its moment in the sun and life was a luxurious party. But when Nirvana and grunge came on the scene, life became more. It had a deeper meaning. I could spend hours listening to Nevermind, dissecting the lyrics and interpreting their meanings. And the music was much more complex as well. With Poison or Cinderella the dissection was relatively simple. This song is about getting laid. That song is about trying to get back together with your girl. And those songs were great, when I was high in school. As I grew into a college student with a lot of questions about life, Nirvana arrived with Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam right behind them. They all appeared at the right moment in my life and made a huge influence on me musically.

For whatever reason, I either forgot, or did not know, that Kurt Cobain attempted to commit suicide via pills a month before he actually committed suicide. He was in a coma due to an overdose of Rohypnols. He had ingested 67 of them and was in a coma for days. He miraculously survived that meeting with death, but it would not matter. One month later he was found dead in his Seattle home. The little girl that he loved, the one that would go on to make this documentary about him, was left without a father. And the fans were left without one of the most brilliant musicians of our time. And even though I have a much better understanding of the life he led and the challenges he was going through, I still don’t understand why he would commit suicide.

Kurt was a musician who had everything a hard working musician could want. Fame. Fortune. Talent. A band that got along with no egos. He had it all. This is what most anyone who picked up a guitar, or played music, would kill for. And Kurt was overwhelmed by it all. And then he got saddened. And once he had the means, the drugs were aplenty, with heroin being the drug of choice. It would ultimately lead to his early departure.

Years ago I read Heavier Than Heaven by Charles R. Cross. It was a magnificent introspective biography of Kurt Cobain where the author had actual access to Courtney Love. Montage Of Heck had a similar feel. The documentary was a real introspective look into the life of a genius, just as the book was years before. And both provoked the same response from me: disappointment. Not in the material or the finished product, but the subject matter. I still don’t fully understand how someone could take their own lives, especially when they have everything they ever wanted. To me it just seems selfish.

I’ve always been curious about what would have happened if Kurt were still alive today. Would Nirvana have stayed together? Perhaps they would be doing reunion shows after a long hiatus? Would Foo Fighters have ever existed if Kurt still lived? Would he still be making brilliant music? I think the answer to that last question is a resounding yes. Kurt Cobain was one of the most gifted musicians I ever had the pleasure to listen to and I think he would have continued making music for as long as he was able.

If you get the chance, check out Kurt Cobain: Montage Of Heck. It’s currently airing on HBO and will be available on Blu Ray and DVD this September with additional footage.

New Fall Music Releases - 2011

Like it or not, autumn has arrived. And while the weather may not be warm and enjoyable, and the cold grip of winter may be closer than we would like, autumn does bring some enjoyable moments. There’s the changing color of the leaves, football, and of course, new music releases. Listed below are some of this autumn’s upcoming albums that I am most excited about.

September

Pearl Jam – 20 Soundtrack – September 20th
While not really a new release, Pearl Jam is going to put out an album in September that coincides with the Cameron Crowe documentary being released in theaters that same month. The album contains notable live tracks recorded during Pearl Jam’s twenty year history. Rare tracks and B-sides are also included. This two disc set will be available on September 20th and is highly recommended for die-hard fans and newcomers alike.

Superheavy – Superheavy – September 20th
Mick Jagger. Dave Stewart. Joss Stone. One great super group. Their debut album drops on September 20th and fans can expect an incredible collection of beautiful sound. What started in 2009 as a bunch of friends jamming in the studio, eventually led to this debut release. Dave Stewart and Mick Jagger have worked together before and have great chemistry. With the addition of other famous band members, expectations are high. The world will know in September if Superheavy can live up to the hype. My money says that they can.

Blink 182 – Neighborhoods – September 27th
With their first release of new music in over eight years, Blink 182 is marking their triumphant comeback. After a long reunion tour last year, the band got together and went into the studio to record Neighborhoods. First single, “Up All Night,” has been gotten a lot of airplay in anticipation of the disc. The song is all right, but I am hopeful that the rest of the record will have more of that classic Blink 182 sound that made me fall in love with the band.

Nirvana – Nevermind 20th Anniversary Edition – September 27th
Getting the much deserved anniversary treatment is Nirvana’s smash success, Nevermind. With unreleased tracks and a boatload of extras, the Anniversary Edition of Nevermind promises to be a real treat for Nirvana fans. I was surprised to hear about the inclusion of unreleased tracks. I thought they had all been picked clean and added to the box set With The Light’s Out. Apparently there were still a few more treats in the Nirvana vault.

Wilco – The Whole Love – September 27th
As the follow up to one of Wilco’s strongest releases (Wilco (the album)), Wilco will be releasing The Whole Love on September 27th. Anytime a new Wilco album is released, it’s an exciting time for music. Wilco is one of those prolific bands that never quite pushed into the upper stratosphere of fame, yet continually release exceptional albums that music fans will love. If The Whole Love is even half as good as Wilco (The Album) was, then the music world will have a real treat on their hands.

ChickenFoot – ChickenFoot III – September 27th
Another super group has a major release in September. However, this one is the band’s second release. Chickenfoot (consisting of members Sammy Hagar, Michael Anthony, Joe Satriani, and Chad Smith) will be releasing their sophomore effort and the rock world is excited to hear what this excellent band has come up with. Their debut album went Gold, and if they continue to build off the success of their debut, Chickenfoot III has a great chance to go platinum. I personally cannot wait to hear this record. I am sure that it will be amazing.

October

Feist – Metals – October 4th
Feist is a band (singer) that I don’t pay enough attention to. It’s not because they aren’t good, it’s just that some bands slip through the cracks, and Feist is one of them. Their new disc, Metals, will be available on October 4th and I hope to be able to spend some time with it and post a review. Metals will be Feist’s first release since 2007’s The Reminder, which contained the huge hit “1,2,3,4.” Hopefully the new disc will continue in that superb trend and have some exceptional music for all of us to enjoy.

Jane’s Addiction – The Great Escape Artist – October 4th
For their first album in eight years, Jane’s Addiction went through several bass players before finally meshing with Dave Stiek. The Great Escape Artist is an album that fans have waited a while to hear. After the tour behind 2003’s Strays, Jane’s Addiction broke up again and reunited in 2008 with no new record to support. Instead, they went on tour with Nine Inch Nails, to the delight of fans. At the end of that tour, original bassist, Eric Avery, decided that the reunion was enough for him and it was time to move on. Jane’s subsequently drafted Duff McKagan to join the band, but after a few recording sessions, there was a mutual breakup. It will be interesting to hear what this new music from Jane’s Addiction is all about. With Perry Farrell at the helm, you know it’s going to be good.

Ryan Adams – Ashes & Fire – October 11th
After announcing his retirement from music, Ryan Adams took some time off and everyone thought that it may be the last he was ever heard from. Fortunately, music lovers everywhere can rejoice, because Ryan Adams ventured into the studio and will be releasing his first solo album in years, Ashes & Fire. While it’s only been four years since the release of his last Cardinals record (Cardinology), it has been quite a long time since the last solo Adams record was released. It will be interesting to learn what direction his music has moved toward.

Evanescence - Evanescence – October 11th
Evanescence is another band that I enjoy but do not pay nearly enough attention to. Their self titled latest release hits stores on October 11th and if it’s anywhere near as good as their last album (2006’s The Open Door) then fans can rejoice. Evanescence has been silent for a while and I’m curious to know if that time off has helped or hurt the band. Five years is a long time between releases, but sometimes that helps a band come back stronger than ever.

November

The Beach Boys – The SMILE Sessions – November 1st
Still around after many years of making music, The Beach Boys are releasing a highly anticipated box set of unreleased material, The Smile Sessions. This set includes tracks that were recorded between 1966 and 1967, when the band was at their peak. This set contains the songs that were meant to be the original Smile album as well as unreleased demos, mixes, and more. This is an album that fans have been eager to hear for more than 40 years, and on November 1st, their patience will finally be rewarded. The only question that remains is whether a 50 year anniversary reunion tour will happen.

Lou Reed and Metallica – LuLu – November 1st
Lou Reed. Metallica. Together they recorded an album. It will be released on November 1st. Do I really need to say anymore? I am extremely curious to see what fruit this collaboration will bear. Metallica has done some ground breaking and risky things during their career, but this latest move is the strangest, yet most alluring, of them all. This could be the most anticipated and interesting record of all the fall releases.

New autumn releases…You rock!

Some Notable 20th Anniversaries Are Coming Up

1991 was a good year for music. A lot of great albums from some amazing bands were released. A few incredible debuts were also released during. Some of those albums are receiving the 20th anniversary deluxe edition treatment. Some of them have already received it (notably, Pearl Jam’s Ten). And then there are some albums that deserve the extended treatment, but probably will not see any anniversary edition released (Red Hot Chili Peppers anyone?).

1991 also brought with it some sad moments in rock and roll history. Both Eric Carr and Freddie Mercury passed away that year. I remember hearing the news for each of their deaths and being devastated. They passed away on the same day, and seeing how they were both members of my favorite bands at the time, it was a horrendous week for me as a fan. To lose the drummer of Kiss was hard enough, but then to find out that Freddie Mercury passed away, well, it was almost more than I could bear. I actually walked around in a depressive state for a while.

1991 was also the year that one of my favorite bands, The Dave Matthews Band, formed and embarked on their first tour. This would become a tradition that lasted until just this year, when the band decided they needed a break from touring and instead headlined a series of festivals (dubbed the DMB Caravan) across the USA.

1991 brought with it a lot of albums that would be added to my seriously growing record collection. By that year, my collection was well in the hundreds, and I couldn’t stop adding to it. Some of the notable records that I bought that year are listed below. All of these albums are celebrating their 20th anniversary this year.

N.W.A. – Niggaz4Life
I bought N.W.A.’s Niggaz4Life shortly after its release and promptly played the hell out of it for the rest of the year. As a senior in high school, I was just starting to really appreciate rap music, hip-hop, and other types of music outside of the hard rock/heavy metal mainstream. Although I was a fan of Public Enemy (and still am), it was N.W.A. that really spoke to me and showed me what hip-hop could be when taken to the level of gangsta rap. I loved Niggaz4Life in a way that I had not loved many albums in a long time. Even to this day, I can remember almost all of the lyrics on the record. And while I don’t necessarily agree with or praise the misogyny and violence that it contained, back when I was 18, it was a pure love affair.

U2 – Achtung Baby
With the release of Achtung Baby, U2 not only provided us with one of their greatest albums ever, they also provided us with one of their greatest songs ever---“One.” This song was a ballad to end all ballads, and to this day, it can still be played numerous times in a row without getting old. However, that wasn’t the only gem on U2’s magnificent Acthung Baby. “The Fly,” “Mysterious Ways,” and the rarely praised (but equally fantastic) “So Cruel” all were included on Achtung Baby. Other than The Joshua Tree, this may have been the band’s greatest release to that point.

Guns N Roses – Use Your Illusion I & II
The epitome of rock and roll was released in 1991 when Guns N Roses gave the world two massive albums --- Use Your Illusion I and Use Your Illusion II. These records were nothing short of perfection, and rivaled albums that even the late greats (like Led Zeppelin) had ever released in their career. If Appetite For Destruction put Guns N Roses on the map, it was Use Your Illusion I & II that launched the band into the untouchable superstardom ionosphere. Never had a band’s album release been so highly anticipated. And when the records came out, they did not disappoint. Each album is a specially crafted work of art and a brilliant beauty. If Guns N Roses hadn’t imploded shortly after the Use Your Illusion Tour, there’s no telling what additional magic they could have made. Thankfully, they left us with two of the greatest rock records to ever be recorded.

Nirvana – Nevermind
Often referred to as the band that marched in the grunge explosion (and executed the death of hair metal at the same time) Nirvana released their major label debut, Nevermind in 1991. Nevermind was an album unlike any other. Never before had we heard such magnificent noise emulating from a rock band. From "Smells Like Teen Spirit" to "In Bloom," Nirvana changed the entire culture of music with one small record. The world of rock and roll would never be the same.

Pearl Jam – Ten
One of my favorite bands unleashed their debut album on the world, and ironically enough, I wasn’t even sure I was going to buy it. I felt that Pearl Jam was an overhyped band trying to cash in on the success of Nirvana. Back in 1991 I was more of a Nirvana fan than a Pearl Jam fan, which seems rather comical to me now. When I finally did purchase a copy of Ten, I wasn’t all that impressed. Sure, “Alive” was a great song, and “Black” was a ballad to be remembered forever, but overall, I wasn’t certain about the disc. Thankfully I gave it a chance, and over time it became one of my favorite albums as Pearl Jam became one of my favorite bands.

Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik
Sell outs. That’s how many of their fans labeled the Red Hot Chili Peppers when they released one of their best albums ever (and their greatest album up until that point in their career), Blood, Sugar, Sex, Magik. It wasn’t necessarily the band’s fault that their new sound caught on with such a vengeance. The Red Hot Chili Peppers were searching for a new vibe to take their music to the next level. With producer Rick Rubin, they found that sound and shortly after the record’s release, scores of new fans found the band. With stellar tracks like “Under The Bridge,” “Suck My Kiss” and the title track, The Red Hot Chili Peppers showed the world that they were poised to be the next great thing in rock music.

R.E.M. – Out Of Time
When R.E.M. released their massive single, “Losing My Religion,” it was obvious that this album had to be part of my collection. Here was a song that you couldn’t get away from in 1991. If the radio was turned on, “Losing My Religion” was heard. If MTV was tuned in, “Losing My Religion” was heard. It was a monster hit for a magnificent band and it was the heart to one of their greatest albums. While Document may have brought the band a lot of new fans, and Crush led them into the pop revolution, it was Out Of Time that showed the depth of the band. R.E.M. was more than just a pop hit producing group--- they were a band with soul. That message was delivered on Out Of Time.

Metallica – Metallica (The Black Album)
“Enter Sandman.” “Sad But True.” “Unforgiven.” The list of great songs goes on and on. In 1991, Metallica released an album that went on to become one of the greatest selling records of all time. While the hardcore Metallica fans were somewhat disappointed by the commercialism of the album, there can be no denying how sensational the black album is. Even after all these years, the album holds up and could conquer most records that are being released today. If there is any album that deserves a 20th anniversary edition, it is Metallica’s self-titled disc.

20 years later, the memories of the music are still going strong. There haven’t been many years like 1991 in regards to so much elite music being released. What was your favorite album of 1991? What albums do you think need the 20th anniversary treatment?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Baseball Trade Deadline Edition

As most readers of The Rock And Roll Guru know, your cousin Ryo is a huge baseball fanatic. I can’t even begin to calculate the countless hours of my life that have been spent watching or reading about the game. It has always been my favorite sport and I am certain that it will always continue to be my favorite sport.

This Sunday is a huge day in the world of Major League Baseball---the trading deadline. Sunday, July 31st, is the last day that MLB teams have to trade for players without waivers. It’s the last day that most teams make their big mid-season acquisitions as they push forward into the playoff race. With some surprise teams in the post season hunt this year (Pittsburgh Pirates, Cleveland Indians, New York Mets), it will be interesting to see which General Manager pulls the trigger on a great deal that will put their team into a position to win.

This week, I have been watching the trade news like a metal head waiting to see the latest festival lineup. It brings me pure joy to watch teams wheel and deal as we learn the fate of some big name players. It’s always interesting to see what team they end up on and how well they help that team perform down the stretch. I expect that this weekend, I will be paying more attention to baseball than to music, and for me, that’s saying a lot. Add in the fact that I am attending both games of Saturday’s Yankees/Orioles doubleheader and you can see that it is going to be a fantastic weekend of baseball.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Gene Simmons Pops The Question
Hmmm, this reeks of a marketing ploy. Does he really propose? Does long time girlfriend Shannon Tweed say yes? It’s been a very hokey few months for Mr. Simmons. I just have to state that this seems to be a big ratings gimmick. Let’s hope that it doesn’t affect the next Kiss album.

A New Addition To The “27” Club
With the sad passing of Amy Winehouse this week, Billboard looks back on all of the significant musicians who passed away at age 27. It’s a shame that most of them could have lived much longer. While I was never a huge Winehouse fan, there is no denying her talent and ability. It’s sad to see the way her life ended.

Nirvana’s 20th Anniversary Edition Of Nevermind Coming on September 27th
New details have emerged regarding the 20th anniversary edition of Nirvana’s Nevermind. The different versions arriving include more unreleased tracks, a special 4-disc edition (with a DVD), and a deluxe 2-disc version. The 4-disc version will have the original Butch Vig mix of the album as well as some other special treats. Personally, I’m surprised, because I didn’t think that there was any more unreleased Nirvana material left. Grunge fans rejoice on September 27th!

Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 205
Albums Remaining: 1,848

For more news, reviews, rants, raves, half thoughts, and other crazy musings, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Rush Live At The Garden Edition

This Sunday night, I am going to see Rush in concert for the third time in my life. I will be attending their concert at Madison Square Garden with my cousin and my uncle, who have attended each Rush concert I’ve ever seen with me. I am looking forward to seeing the band again. They are still on the Time Machine tour and they are still playing Moving Pictures in its entirety. It will be nice to hear that whole album live once again.

In other news, there is a big announcement coming to The Rock And Roll Guru this Monday (April 11th). Be sure to check the home page on Monday morning. It will contain all the information you need to know about the future of The Rock And Roll Guru. I am excited about this announcement and I hope that you will be as well.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Our Fascination With Bad Music
Florind Metalla takes a closer look at why so many people love bad music. Personally I think all of the views are coming from teen hipsters who are trying to stay cool with the “it” songs of the moment. They certainly can’t be coming from anyone with musical taste.

A Touching Tribute To Kurt Cobain
It is so hard for me to believe that it has been 17 years since Kurt Cobain’s suicide. I was a big fan of Nirvana and I’ve often wondered where the band would have evolved to if Cobain were still alive. Over at Blogs N Roses, there is a touching tribute that speaks to the reality of Cobain’s suicide.

Rest In Peace Scott Columbus
There is some sad news from the Manowar camp. Former drummer, Scott Columbus, passed away on Monday. The Guru’s thoughts and prayers go out to his friends and family during this tragic, difficult time.

Record Store Day Is Next Week
And finally, we end this edition of Friday’s Rockin’ Roundup with a reminder that Record Store Day is coming. Next Saturday, April 16th. Be sure to get out and support your independent dealers. They are becoming harder and harder to find. It’s a shame to think that one day we may not have a physical store to walk into and talk music with fellow passionate fans. That’s why Record Store Day is such a great day. To find a participating store near you, click on the link above.

For more news, reviews, concert updates, Record Store Day awareness, and other things that only music lovers can relate to, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Halloween Edition

This Sunday is Halloween here in the US. It’s a time when people dress in costumes, kids walk around to earn free candy, and people try to scare one another. It’s also a time when some people attempt to dress up their pets in costume.

For those of you who weren’t aware, your cousin Ryo is the proud owner of multiple cats. I’ve always wanted to dress my cats in some cool costumes. The thought of seeing them prance around in KISS outfits to the sounds of Love Gun is an immensely pleasing fantasy to me. Of course, Mrs. Vie, my wiser half, never lets me actually go through with it.

I’m hoping that one year, I can sneak the kitties into costume when she’s not around. If I get to pull it off this weekend, you can guarantee that you will see pictures. However, I think that the cats are safe until next year. I’m just not sure that I have the time to put the costumes together.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Bon Jovi Announces 2011 Tour
Did you miss Bon Jovi during their summer outing? Do you want to see them in an arena environment? Well, this spring, in North America, you will get that chance. The band just announced 2011 tour dates that included 2 nights at Madison Square Garden and a summer trip to Europe. It’s good to be a rock star!

Pearl Jam Radio Is On Sirius/XM
The best thing I ever did was to get satellite radio. And now, Pearl Jam has their very own station that plays nothing but Pearl Jam 24/7. From full concerts, to rare b-sides, to the classics that we’ve come to know and love, it’s all on the radio, all the time. It is a die-hard fan’s dream come true.

To Walkman No More
I didn’t even realize that the cassette walkman was still even being made. So, to hear that Sony was going to stop making it greeted me with mixed reactions. On the one hand, it’s sad to see a classic go and take a part of my childhood with it. On the other hand, who knew that they were still selling the Walkman?

Krist Novoselic To Play Bass On The Next Foo Fighters Album
This is interesting news. Novoselic will only be guesting on bass, and it’s not certain how many tracks he will play on, but it’s still pretty darned cool to see Dave Grohl and Krist making music together again. I wonder if they have any old, unreleased tracks of Kurt’s vocals that they could add to a song?

For more fun, games, trivia, nonsense, and deep, mindful, music insight, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday's Rockin' RoundUp - The Official End of the Summer Edition

Summer officially ends this weekend. Technically, it’s been over a couple of week s (since Labor Day), but this weekend marks the official ending of summer and the start of autumn. Here in North New Jersey, the air is already chilled at night and in a couple of more weeks I have a feeling we’ll be seeing the first frost. Brrr. I am definitely not ready for that.

Fall is a nice, pretty season, but it comes at a price. Admitting that another summer is over and another prime concert season has come to an end. I didn’t attend a lot of concerts this summer, and I didn’t get to any festivals. That’s going to change next year, and I’ll have all winter to decide which festival(s) to attend.

And while I was getting ready to change out my summer wardrobe, swapping T-shirts for sweaters, here’s what rocked this week:

The use of Kurt Cobain’s Image in Guitar Hero 5 has irritated a few people
This week kicked off with a bang when a clip of the upcoming Guitar Hero 5 came out. Not only was Courtney outraged, but so were the former members of Nirvana.

The final Nine Inch Nails concert ever (for now)
Here’s a review on the final NIN concert ever. I say “for now,” because we all know how farewell tours end up.

U2 remastering, reissuing, and re-releasing The Unforgettable Fire
Following in the footsteps of their re-released The Joshua Tree, U2 is giving The Unforgettable Fire similar treatment for its 25th anniversary. How many more bands are going to do this? I know it’s the hot new trend to remaster and re-rerelease classic albums with deluxe this and extra that, and I know this is a classic U2 album, but enough already. How many times are we going to buy the same album?

Hiatus for Springsteen & The E-Street Band?
OK, I have to admit, this post really bothered me. Not because the band may be taking a year or two off, but because it’s an obvious ploy to sell tickets that aren’t selling. Hinting that this may be your final tour ever, when you know damned well it isn’t, is a cheap tactic. Hey, guys! If you want to sell out stadiums, lower your ticket prices!

Jones latest CD due November 17th
Norah Jones is releasing her latest, The Fall, this fall. On November 17th, Jones will release her fourth album. I’m hoping that this one does not continue the trend of downward sliding. Each release since her debut has been a little worse than the one before. I’m hoping that The Fall will blow me away.

Brand new Pearl Jam out on Sunday
Pearl Jam’s latest, Backspacer, comes out on Sunday via Target. I will be there first thing in the morning to get my hands (and ears) on this beauty. It’s been too long since we’ve had some new Pearl Jam.

Gene talks Sonic Boom
While this post is nice and all, what I really want to know is whether Gene and the gang will make every Kiss fan in the world happy by dusting off a lost classic like Sweet Pain.

Kurt & Courtney: A Film By Nick Broomfield

This 1998 documentary by director Nick Broomfield is an attempt to look at the controversial and questionable events that led to the death of Kurt Cobain. There are still many people who believe that Kurt Cobain did not commit suicide on April 5, 1994; they believe he was murdered. Broomfield does his best to figure out whether there is any truth to the conspiracy theory.

Hounded by Courtney Love and her legal camp the entire time he was making this film, Broomfield mentions that the film was on shaky ground with financial backing from the beginning. He actually films the phone call when the partners of MTV take away funding and back out of the deal. He mentions that Courtney Love threatened legal action with several people and that she never gives permission to use any of Kurt’s music.

The documentary involves interviews with some interesting, yet shady, characters. There is a woman who claims to have been good friends with Kurt and Courtney, yet she never materializes proof. There is a man who claims to have been offered $50,000 by Courtney Love to murder Kurt Cobain, yet he couldn’t say that it was to be a staged suicide until Broomfield led him down that path. He died during the making of the documentary in a mysterious way, struck by a train and killed instantly.

Dylan Carson, Kurt Cobain’s closest friend during his later years in life, is also interviewed for this film. During the entire interview he is near incoherent and apparently high. He mumbles, speaks too softly, and it is hard to determine what he is saying. Most of what he has to say isn’t worth hearing anyway, so nothing is missed.

Broomfield’s interviewing skills are questionable; his ability is average at best. He constantly cuts people off, talks over them, and does not allow them to finish their statements. At one point, one of his interview subjects claims to know who killed Kurt Cobain. Broomfield completely ignores him and moves onto his next question. Either Nick did not hear him, or did not care at all about whom this man thought killed Kurt Cobain.

There is an interesting interview with Courtney Love’s father who is obviously a publicity hound. He is screaming from the rooftops about the conspiracy theory and has even written two books about it. He makes sure that his latest book gets plenty of camera time during his interview. The man has an estranged relationship with his daughter and has nothing of value to add at all, but he is great for comic relief. If Broomfield intended to keep this man’s footage in the film strictly for that purpose, then he is a filmmaking genius.

The best parts of Kurt & Courtney are the beginning and the end. The film opens with an interview of the woman that Kurt lived with before he met Courtney. She has a few of Kurt’s paintings from their time together, and it is obvious that he was a talented artist as well as a talented musician. Seeing these treasures is worth the price of renting the film. Seeing his former girlfriend is a treat as well. She is a huge contrast from Courtney Love.

The ending is the best part of the film. Nick Broomfield, who had been chasing down Love during the entire documentary, finally got his chance to face her. He didn’t pull any punches and even challenged her onstage during her speech to the ACLU. That ultimately got him tossed from the awards show and put him on Courtney’s legal radar map.

Kurt & Courtney is a decent documentary made by an average director. Because the subject matter is so interesting, it is easy to get around Broomfield’s shoddy work. The film does raise some questions about Kurt’s death and does lead one to think that maybe, just maybe, it is possible that Kurt Cobain did not commit suicide. Although Broomfield completely disregards this theory by the end of the film, it does allow the viewer to think for themselves and draw their own conclusions. Was Kurt murdered? This is a mystery that may never be solved.

Ryo’s Rating: C+
For more information regarding the mystery surrounding Kurt death, visit: http://www.justiceforkurt.com/



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