Nirvana “Nirvana” Geffen
Records
A lot of fuss has been made about Nirvana’s previously
unreleased swan song “You Know You’re Right,”
which kicks off the band’s 14-track compilation. However,
aside from being Kurt Cobain’s final recording, the song
offers little to warrant an entire compilation. “You Know
You’re Right” disappointingly adheres to the basic
Nirvana formula of lulling verses followed by drummer Dave
Grohl’s attempts to detonate both the drums sitting in front
of him and the ones located in the listener’s ears. With that
said, “Nirvana” refrains from stuffing itself with
“Nevermind” tracks, giving equal attention to the
underrated “In Utero.” Both albums contribute four
songs, ranging from the obvious “Smells Like Teen
Spirit” to the surprising “Pennyroyal Tea.”
However, only one song, “About a Girl,” is offered from
the band’s debut, “Bleach.” The nostalgia
concludes with live tracks “All Apologies” and the
David Bowie cover “The Man Who Sold the World,” from
“MTV Unplugged.” The acoustic performances mark the
zenith of the record, as well as the band’s popularity.
-David Chang
Tori Amos “Scarlet’s Walk” Epic
Records
Tori Amos is an acquired taste. But if you’ve acquired the
taste, “Scarlet’s Walk” will satisfy. After
“Strange Little Girls,” an album composed of a barrage
of covers from The Beatles to Eminem, Amos returns with some
original material. But the album itself is not a return to the
performer known as Tori Amos. With “Walk,” Amos
channels an alter-ego, Scarlet, who is on a road trip across the
United States. There is less piano than is generally expected from
an Amos effort, while the tunes themselves and orchestration are
somewhat straightforward and not a great departure for Scarlet. In
fact, the liner notes to the album include colored routes across
the United States that correspond with particular songs. The
familiar “a sorta fairytale” follows the Pacific Coast
Highway down California, before meandering east into Arizona and
New Mexico. The title song begins in southern Virginia before
venturing into the Carolinas. Even Alaska and Hawaii are included
in the odyssey, captured in “Amber Waves” and
“another girl’s paradise.” The challenge for
listeners is in the attempt to understand what Scarlet is about.
With the complexity of Amos’s lyrics, this is no easy feat.
Weighing in at almost 74 minutes, “Scarlet’s
Walk” is a mammoth album. For those interested or already
into Amos, make sure to take it along on the next road trip. Fire
down below, baby.
-Christopher Cobb