Top 5 favorite Mellencamp songs

[buckeye242424]

Nirvana had some catchy tunes. However once a popular rock star dies they are glorified and their music ascends higher than it should in most cases. I guess it would be easier to just say Nirvana wasnt really all that.

It's a shame Alice in Chains did not receive the same publicity. Once Layne Staley OD'ed, one of the greatest Rock N' Roll band ever died. However, "chains'" will never be viewed as the musicians Nirvana once was....which is ludicrous. Like NJ Hawk stated in so many words, Nirvana went out on top and their music is viewed as iconic. I don't see it.

[NJHAWK]

Nirvana is credited with the pioneering of "grunge" music. Deserved credit or not, I dunno. They came along in the early 90's and transitioned people from the typical "hair bands" of the 80's into a new form of music. Although bands like Pearl Jam and STP existed before Nirvana, they blew up MTV when videos were still played and thus, mainstreamed into pop culture. Couple that with Kurt Cobain's drug addiction, the "Jim Morrison" syndrome, and he was immediately viewed as some kind of icon and musical genius because it was music people weren't used to hearing. I like Nirvana's music, but the true genius, and still is, was Dave Grohl. The drummer for Nirvana, Grohl went on to Foo Fighters which have produced a number of terrific albums where Grohl sings and plays guitar. Dude can do it all musically...

They didnt pioneer grunge music. They didnt even pioneer the seattle scene. There were several bands there for years that didnt get credit because mtv hit that scene late and Nirvana had the right song, right video and the "dumb luck" of mtv timing with smells like teen spirit. Seattle bands like Green River, Malfunkshun, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, AIC and other were what started that scene. However grass roots rock like Neil Young for instance were playing stuff like that for years. The " grunge" bands who lightened up their sound like Nirvana and "put together" bands like Pearl Jam were the ones who blew up big time with a combo of altered " softer" sound and timing. If you listen to Nirvana before teen spirit they are a true grunge band but that sound didnt sell much so no matter what anyone says they lightened up to sell records and it worked big time. Same thing with bands like Bad Radio and Green River forming softer bands like MLB and later Pearl Jam.

[buckeye242424]

They didnt pioneer grunge music. They didnt even pioneer the seattle scene. There were several bands there for years that didnt get credit because mtv hit that scene late and Nirvana had the right song, right video and the "dumb luck" of mtv timing with smells like teen spirit. Seattle bands like Green River, Malfunkshun, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, AIC and other were what started that scene. However grass roots rock like Neil Young for instance were playing stuff like that for years. The " grunge" bands who lightened up their sound like Nirvana and "put together" bands like Pearl Jam were the ones who blew up big time with a combo of altered " softer" sound and timing. If you listen to Nirvana before teen spirit they are a true grunge band but that sound didnt sell much so no matter what anyone says they lightened up to sell records and it worked big time. Same thing with bands like Bad Radio and Green River forming softer bands like MLB and later Pearl Jam.

True. They didn't "pioneer" it, but they are given credit for doing so. When people suggest "grunge" music, Nirvana is always in the discussion because MTV and society planted that seed in our minds.

[AHF]

Nirvana's hit SMTS put grunge in the mainstream so that even 40 year olds knew what it was. They weren't the starters of the movement, they were the ones carrying the flag for it into the mainstream. They should get credit for that but that doesn't make them legends.

I agree that Alice In Chains was a better band, for example.

Also, calling the Doors average is selling them short but I agree that the Doors & Morrison, Janis Joplin, and many others have had their reputations greatly inflated due to their deaths.

[Plainview1981]

Your really gonna lay the blame on Nirvana for Teenage angst and aggression? I take it you've never listened to Slipknot,Silverchair, Chilli Peppers(Maybe the best band of all-time, they've been around for 3 decades and still top the charts),etc. I take it you also blame Marilyn Manson for those kids that shot up the school in CO about 10 years back.

To quote the great Rehab "Blowin up a K-Mart and blame it all on Mozart".

They played a big enough part. I'm not throwing all the blame on them. It's ashame that a piece of trash like Bret Michaels has now shown back up on TV. With the exception of a few guilty pleasure songs I like hair bands were terrible. Just because they helped get rid of a bad era (which rock possibly would have survived) doesn't mean I'm going to applaud them.

[Plainview1981]

I like Nirvana but totally agree on this. If they would have continued on, there was a definite possibility they could have petered out (in the mainstream of music) like Pearl Jam. They did several good albums but only achieved god-like status because of Cobain's suicide, IMO. Of course, killing yourself or dying young frequently leads to elevated status because people are remembered in their prime and it is kind of assumed they would have continued at that level of productivity over a long career when most careers are arcs of creativity/productivity rather than a steady stream.

And Cobain was not at all a standout guitarist. He was a charismatic singer with an interesting voice but a very pedestrian guitarist.

I also like Mellancamp but not enough that I dig into his stuff beyond the "hit" songs. I don't know why anyone wouldn't like songs like the Authority Song, Paper in Fire, Jack & Diane, Small Town, etc. unless they are just sick of hearing them so many times.

Honestly, I haven't listened to radio regularly in years so I don't get as burned out as easily as some. But I did get burned out on those Chevy commercials. I can't even play that damn song.

[AHF]

Honestly, I haven't listened to radio regularly in years so I don't get as burned out as easily as some. But I did get burned out on those Chevy commercials. I can't even play that damn song.

I rarely listen to the radio anymore either. I do find a good number of interesting bands still, though, through the web. My recent and upcoming purchases of contemporary artists are things like TV on the Radio, Porcupine Tree, The Dear Hunter, the Mars Volta, Girl in a Coma, Pure Reason Revolution, Nightwish, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Fleet Foxes, New Pornographers, Holy F***; The Good, the Bad, and the Queen; Steven Wilson, King's X, Beck, Lacuna Coil, etc. Plenty of non-rock bands that are interesting as well. I liked the recent Portishead, am excited for the new Massive Attack, etc.

Of course, there is also plenty of older material to mine that is fantastic.

[Dsinner]

Honestly, I haven't listened to radio regularly in years so I don't get as burned out as easily as some. But I did get burned out on those Chevy commercials. I can't even play that damn song.

XM FTW!!

[TroyMcClure]

They didnt pioneer grunge music. They didnt even pioneer the seattle scene. There were several bands there for years that didnt get credit because mtv hit that scene late and Nirvana had the right song, right video and the "dumb luck" of mtv timing with smells like teen spirit. Seattle bands like Green River, Malfunkshun, Mudhoney, Soundgarden, AIC and other were what started that scene. However grass roots rock like Neil Young for instance were playing stuff like that for years. The " grunge" bands who lightened up their sound like Nirvana and "put together" bands like Pearl Jam were the ones who blew up big time with a combo of altered " softer" sound and timing. If you listen to Nirvana before teen spirit they are a true grunge band but that sound didnt sell much so no matter what anyone says they lightened up to sell records and it worked big time. Same thing with bands like Bad Radio and Green River forming softer bands like MLB and later Pearl Jam.

You are pretty much right, but Pearl Jam was not a "put together" band, as you say. Andrew Wood overdosed and they no longer had a band. They knew Jack Irons, original RHCP drummer, and he knew Ed. That's how Ed got a tape of most of the songs that would be TEN and penned many of the lyrics and sent the tape back with vocals. That's not "put together", by a record executive. That's dudes who like the same sound getting together. And Bad Radio was in San Diego, and not really much of a band. And there sound was a lot softer than Pearl Jam. Much, much softer.

Also, I owned an LP and a cassette tape of Bleach, and the sound is just about the same as on Nevermind. Just no world class producer at the helm.

This is just my opinion, but it seems people don't actually listen anymore. They hear it, but they don't listen. It's all about the fluff. That's why the suicide matters to people. Nirvana was a lot more complex than many people think, though. Especially on In Utero. That is an exceptional album.

[buckeye242424]

You are pretty much right, but Pearl Jam was not a "put together" band, as you say. Andrew Wood overdosed and they no longer had a band. They knew Jack Irons, original RHCP drummer, and he knew Ed. That's how Ed got a tape of most of the songs that would be TEN and penned many of the lyrics and sent the tape back with vocals. That's not "put together", by a record executive. That's dudes who like the same sound getting together. And Bad Radio was in San Diego, and not really much of a band. And there sound was a lot softer than Pearl Jam. Much, much softer.

Also, I owned an LP and a cassette tape of Bleach, and the sound is just about the same as on Nevermind. Just no world class producer at the helm.

This is just my opinion, but it seems people don't actually listen anymore. They hear it, but they don't listen. It's all about the fluff. That's why the suicide matters to people. Nirvana was a lot more complex than many people think, though. Especially on In Utero. That is an exceptional album.

Just like Billy Hoyle in "White Men Can't Jump" listening to Jimi...

[crimedog]

Just like Billy Hoyle in "White Men Can't Jump" listening to Jimi...

Haha, yeah. Troy switched it up on us.

[Diesel]

Dude has loads of good songs so it might be tough for some to decide. For me it would be:

1.Rain on the Scarecrow

2.Jackie Brown

3.Paper in Fire

4.Pink Houses

5.Peaceful World

So many to choose from, but right now I go with these.

Jack and Diane.

[shock]

Cherry Bomb is by far my favorite JCM song. And R.O.C.K in the U.S.A is a great one for 4th of July parties.

As far as Nirvana goes, I think Randy "The Ram" Robinson said it best.

[coachx]

What bugs me more than anything though is how some guitar/rock magazines would have Kurt down as one of the greatest guitar players of all time in some surveys or however the hell they compile these occasional rankings for solos or guitarists.

What bugs me with Nirvana was the simplicity of the music. It is the easiest rock music to play. Their big hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is nothing but a couple of bar cords (the easiest thing to play). When I gave guitar lessons that would be the rift I taught 9 year olds on their very first lesson. "Come As You Are" was for lesson #2.

My favorite part of Nirvana was them "Unplugged" on MTV back in the day. Back when MTV used to pretend they were about the music. Their cover of that David Bowie ( The Man Who Saved The World ) song was great ! Granted it was very easy to play on the guitar, but everything they ever did was easy to play.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=209ArurxVG4

Now from a lyrical standpoint Cobain was talented. From a musical stand point he was a horrible guitar player.

Back to Mellencamp............I like his oldies:

Pink Houses

Hurt So Good

Crumblin Down

Small Town

Jack & Diane

What was the name of that song he came out with in the mid 90's that had a bald black chick playing a cool bass rift................I have the bass rift in my head but can't remember the lyrics.

His cover of Van Morrison's "Wild Night" is fav' of mine too !

Edited April 7, 2009 by coachx

[coachx]

Their big hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is nothing but a couple of bar cords (the easiest thing to play).

typo

should have been power cords

[HamHawk]

He was a horrible quitarist, but not a horrible musician. He wrote extremely simple songs that were not difficult to play, but had great lyrics that snagged the attention of a changing generation just like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash or Elvis. Now I am not saying Cobain was even in the same ballpark as Dylan/Cash/Elvis (not even close to the same league), but you can't hate him for writing simple guitar songs that people loved. Tugging on the heart strings or angered minds of people is how artists are remembered by entire generations, good guitarist or not.

[DrReality]

The Mellencamp song I couldn't think of the name is Minutes to Memories. Went back and listened to it. Cool story about an old man. He is a good story teller.

[Plainview1981]

He was a horrible quitarist, but not a horrible musician. He wrote extremely simple songs that were not difficult to play, but had great lyrics that snagged the attention of a changing generation just like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash or Elvis. Now I am not saying Cobain was even in the same ballpark as Dylan/Cash/Elvis (not even close to the same league), but you can't hate him for writing simple guitar songs that people loved. Tugging on the heart strings or angered minds of people is how artists are remembered by entire generations, good guitarist or not.

To me, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden are the best grudge bands.

[AHF]

To me, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden are the best grudge bands.

People have different definitions for grunge, but if you include Alice in Chains they are definitely my pick.