“So beautiful”: Nirvana believed The Knack perfected the pop song
One of the most inspiring things about Nirvana is that, when considering their roots, few of their favourites really seem like the kinds of acts you might expect a grunge outfit to look up to. However, this also makes complete sense, considering how the Kurt Cobain-fronted group rarely stayed in their respective lane, sonically and lyrically, pulling from different corners to make it work.
In fact, despite the ambiguity surrounding the word, Nirvana were one of the more progressive bands out there, emerging from the grittiness of punk rock with something that felt sluggish and considered in demeanour, though rooted in the same kinds of disillusionment and despair that made many want to shout out about their displeasures in the first place. Only this time, Cobain’s demons were spotlighted with a resigned fatigue, giving the music a different sense of urgency.
At the same time, they knew how to blend different facets to keep the sounds and structures interesting, unafraid to enhance melodic charm or catchy hooks to pull you in. Perhaps this is why many of their peers regard them as one of the most important outfits of the era—because they knew how to remain authentic without becoming too inaccessible, blending different sensibilities without seeming like they were pandering to commercial standards.
After all, doing so was never Cobain’s intention, as he never really felt the need to fit the boxes others did so neatly. From day one, he knew he was an outlier, so his music reflected this individualistic position, both in the stories he told and the ways he said them. When discussing his own influences, therefore, it’s no surprise that these barely reflected the countless rock outfits many held dear during the 1990s to maintain relevance.
“I’ll be the first to admit that we’re the ’90s version of Cheap Trick or the Knack,” Cobain argued in the liner notes for Incesticide. While they admired many pop acts of the 1960s and 1970s, including Cobain’s all-time favourite, The Beatles, The Knack evoked a similar charm not just with quintessential pop hooks but the energy they made possible, the kind that emanated with ease, drawing you in without any purpose other than to entertain.
“Love The Knack,” Cobain said during an interview with Hard N Heavy in 1991. Krist Novoselic added, “The first pop song with verse, chorus, verse, bridge, chorus… If it’s done right, it’s just so beautiful. It’s so right on.” Nirvana spearheaded the new chapter of hard rock, loyal to all the aspects that gained it the name in the first place, but this was often underscored by a more radio-friendly charm that they borrowed from earlier heroes, ensuring the new sound remained fresh and relevant.
However, what was always intriguing about their craft was that it never felt lighthearted, even when the melodies or hooks came to the forefront. Maybe this was because the words came from an inherently troubled mind, or emerged from a scene that beckoned darker evaluations about life and existence. But, above all, it signalled a band unafraid to be whatever it wanted, free from the egotistical desire to remain boxed in, with an explosion of sounds that painted a true picture of all of life’s complexities.
