Category: Commentary, Critique, and Response

WHY NIRVANA “WORKED”. 😉
Well, yes. Fleetwood mac pioneered “recording loud” Punk added the “loud-soft-loud” strategy. Nirvana applied this strategy to the entire composition using the combination:
Loud-Soft (composition)
Distortion-Clear (guitars)
Melody Following – Melody contasting (drums)
Simple Melodies in Minor Keys (angst, vocals)
Melodic Variation particularly in choruses (vocals)
Vocal Range and Texture (vocals)
Lyrics with beats matching the melody

If you interpret this as contrasts that cause both consistency (lyrics, melody) and novelty (varying everything else) you end up with what is effectively ‘interesting’ and not ‘boring’ pop music for grownups. ;).

I won’t go into how beethoven did this in his era with his tools but the same thing occurs: evolution of complexity using some foundation for consistency.

Cheers
CD

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