Nirvana "Smells Like Teen Spirit" Isolated Vocals

Very few artists or bands can change the direction of music but that's exactly what Nirvana did when they burst on the scene in 1991 with "Smells Like Teen Spirit" off of the band's debut album Nevermind (here's a great vinyl reissue).

It's one of the few songs by the band that's actually credited to all three band members as authors, which in this case came about after a number of arrangement changes by bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl to the song that guitarist Curt Cobain brought into rehearsal.

Here are the isolated vocals from that song (which begins at 0:33) as well as what to listen for:

1. The lead vocal has an interesting reverb that sounds more like a long delayed ambience than a typical plate or hall effect. It's delayed and fairly short and dark so it blends into the track well.

2. Take notice that the B-section vocal is doubled and spread out in stereo a little to the left and right. The left vocal is a little drier than the right side, which is pushed back in the mix a very short amount.

3. The last lines of the verses and chorus again feature a doubled lead vocal that's back in the center of the mix.

4. Listen to the sounds of the open mic before the second verse at 1:40.

5. Listen all the way through to the end to hear the ending that didn't make the record.

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"Smells Like Teen Spirit" Isolated Vocals

Today during this post of "Isolated Vocal Week" we'll listen to the vocals on the song that started the grunge trend in music. It's Nirvana's 1991 release "Smells Like Teen Spirit", the opening track from their mega-selling Nevermind album, which has gone on to sell more than 30 million units worldwide. Here are some things to listen for. Take note that the vocal doesn't enter until 38 seconds in.

1) It sure sounds like there are a lot of punches on this vocal track, so much so that I'm not sure that they're all punches at all. The ones that are obvious are on the "Hello" part in the song's B sections. These were obviously just one section that was flown in as needed, with the initial breath being cut off.

2) As with most of the songs that we've listened to this week, there's a nice long reverb on the vocal. In this case it's definitely delayed and the top and bottom end is filtered a bit so it fits nicely into the track without sticking out.

3) Another thing that we've seen before that's also used on "Teen Spirit" is the arrangement technique of using a single lead vocal in the verse, then doubling it in the B sections and choruses.

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Nirvana's "Smells Like Teen Spirit" - Butch Vig Dissection

Here's another clip from the VH1 television program Classic Tracks  featuring Nirvana, this time with producer Butch Vig dissecting the song that kicked off their career - "Smells Like Teen Spirit." Last December I also posted the backing track to this song that gives you a slightly different look at it, if you want to check that out as well.

Even though Nevermind (the album that Teen Spirit came from) was recorded by Butch, he didn't mix it. The excellent mixer Andy Wallace was brought in, some say at the behest of the record label and others say secretly by the band. Although Andy did lend his great ears to polish it, you can tell by listening to these videos that he had a lot to work with as the tracks were pretty well put together.

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Nirvana's "In Bloom" Dissection By Butch Vig

Here's a dissection of a big song Nirvana's massive Nevermind record called "In Bloom" by producer Butch Vig. I believe it's from their Behind The Music or VH1 Classics programs, but I like it because you hear about it from Butch's perspective.

The great unsung mixer Andy Wallace mixed the record, and reportedly the band hated it because he made it too polished, but to me it's a big reason for the band's initial success. Yes, they had some great songs and great tracks, but at the point of impact when a band just breaks, they can't be too raw or they'll be inaccessible. Regardless, this clip is short and is a lot of fun.

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"Smells Like Teen Spirit" Backing Track

Here's the backing track to Nirvana's 90's hit "Smells Like Teen Spirit". This was the song that launched a whole new musical trend so it's significant from an historical perspective, but it's also a great example of dynamics and how a song is taken to another level by a great drummer. This video contains all the tracks except guitars so it's another perfect example of rhythm section production to study.

As famous jazz drummer Buddy Rich once said (most likely referring to himself), "You can't have a great band without a great drummer," and he was certainly right. EVERY great band has a great drummer and to be even more precise, the perfect drummer for the band. Dave Grohl was certainly the right guy to hold down the drum chair for Nirvana, and this track proves it. The drum track is punchy, in-time, dynamic and aggressive.

Speaking of dynamics, that was one of Nirvana's strong points and Teen Spirit is the perfect example. Listen to how the tension is built by going from the steady but less intense verse to the fury of the chorus. If you want to learn how to play dynamically, that's how it's done.

There's no picture on this video other than the album cover, but the audio's well worth a listen.

Clear Channel Puts Another Nail In Radio's Coffin

As if radio couldn't get any lamer, radio conglomerate Clear Channel is about to implement national playlists for all its formats on all its stations. This means that there will be one playlist that every station of that particular format of music will use across the country.

Why is this so bad? Radio is a local medium. People listen for local news and weather, as well as announcements for social events. But musical tastes are local as well and through the years that's proven to be the force behind many of the musical trends that started locally and eventually grew nationally and internationally. With a single national playlist, local music is strangled at birth with no chance of even getting heard. In fact, a study last year found that 82% of the music played on radio was from major labels. Where's the diversity in that?

As an example of how music grows from a local scene, note the following:

• Elvis broke out of Memphis and the South before signing with RCA

• James Brown broke out of Atlanta and Cincinnati

• Al Green, Otis Redding, Sam & Dave and all the Stax/Volt artists broke out of Memphis

• The world-wide hits from The Romantics started in Ohio first

• Aerosmith broke out of Baltimore (although they were from Boston)

• REM and the B-52's broke out of Athens, Georgia

• Nirvana and the whole Grunge movement broke out of Seattle

New music needs local radio more than ever. Homogenized radio that conglomerates like Clear Channel offer has been the cause of radio falling further and further into irrelevance. Nationalizing the playlists only causes traditional, terrestrial radio to slip closer and closer to death.