Collective Soul vs. Nirvana
Collective Soul band logo.
Although I had an incredibly hard time choosing within the Alternative rock genre, I’ve chosen to compare the musical stylings of Collective Soul and Nirvanna for this week. Both complete powerhouses in their own regard, each band has contributed a significant amount to both the music industry and the livelihood of many Americans during the early to mid 1990s, serving as an easy listening outlet for late nights and afternoons swimming in the pool. The beginning wasn’t always as easy for Collective Soul, as lead member Ed Rolland had made several attempts to gain label recognition with two previous bands, eventually leading to a demo band being formed to record “Shine”. Rolland had originally studied musical composition and guitar at the Berkelee College of Music and was able to create incredibly memorable melodies with soothing, powerful lyrics. In the storyteller essence, Roland was able to capture the “alternative spirit” of the early 1990s in both his voice and stule of music, as the band would come to have several hits. Once the demo for “Shine” was sent to the Georgia Music Show in Atlanta, GA, and then sent on to WJRR in Orlando, FL, it soon became the most requested song within the entire station playlist. Atlantic records soon took notice of their rising popularity, and Collective Soul was soon signed to their first recording contract. It’s important to note that Roland’s previous attempt to gain a deal with labels were turned down. This was not his first attempt, and he continued working towards making a band that would gain radio airplay. I personally love this song, and have listened to it since I was a kid. I remember listening to it for the first time, it instantly grabbed me and I was hooked. This is one of the first times I can be remember being “hooked” by a song, and I would listen intently for the radio station to play it again and again, as it was one of my favorite songs. The band went on to release their debut album in 1995, which went Triple Platinum and was certified by the RIAA, an impressive feat from playing in bars and the club scene just four years prior, when Roland had tried to release a solo album that hadn’t shown much success. Nonetheless, this added to his musical ability and experience, leading up to where Collective Soul is today. The band then had a 76 week run on the Billboard 200, spawning singles such as “December” which went to number 1 on the U.S. Rock charts. Although the band has an impressive record in awards and regocnition, it is for their musical value that I hold onto Collective Soul so tightly. I absolutely love their essence, presence, and delivery with their attitude and alternative spirit. The band makes a compelling statement in simply playing their instruments, and the emotional aspect of what’s being said through only sound can easily be felt and heard throughout their collective works. “Shine” is still the most influential track for me, brining back a series of memories and a sense of calm and happiness. Collective Soul has always been a part of the shaping of early 1990s alternative rock.
In contrast, we begin to look at Nirvana. The west coast band from Washington known for their aggressive rock instruments while having a mild and calm vocal tonality overlaying a smooth and easy rhythm. Their style is radically different from most musucians of their day, as the band formed in the late 1980s, amid Arena Rock and bands within their prime, such as Def Leppard and KISS. I’ve always been interested in the difference in musical elements from east to west coasts, and these two bands are no different. Although Nirvana only released three albums within their career of seven years, they are still regarded as one of the most influential bands of the Grunge Rock scene.
Forming in 1987, Nirvana pulls from the mainstream influences of Arena rock and Hair Metal and derives into a new scene that incorporates a smooth and steady drum beat with easy listening rock chords. Kurt Cobain’s voice provides a soothing elements to their sound, and the band ultimately delivers the musical equivalent to euphoric bliss. Their hit single “Smells Like Teen Spirit” delivers one of the best instances of this adaptation and offers the listener a chance to relax and unwind while still enjoying the classical elements of modern rock music within the early 1990s.
Although the band had numerous successes within their career, their first album “Bleach” released for Sub Pop records truly defines the image that the band was heading into during their debut release in 1989. Their sound was much darker and would later influence artists such as Ozzy Osbourne. In describing the sound of the band, only the term “early 1990s” seems to be the most accurate descriptor. With their alternative sound reaching a new level of success, the band skyrocketed with their second album release, “Nevermind”.
Interestingly enough, the band was dissatisfied with the polished sound that mixer Andy Wallace had given the album during its mastering sessions. They felt that the album did not sound true to their image or sonic quality. This is most often overlooked, as the band reached over 7 million album sales in the United States and over 30 million sales worldwide. As the band had become extremely successful and mainstream media began to wildly oversaturate their sound, the band decided to stay out of the spotlight on another tour within the United States and chose to perform at only a handful of events that year.
The band has had one of the most iconic careers in the grunge and alternative rock era. Their most notable album became one that the band had preferred the least, with an over-polished studio sound and an instance of mainstream radio quality. The band felt that this was counter-productive of who they were and their original sound. Their third album retained a much more “natural” sound, and the band went on to become one of the most influential bands within the era, aiding in the forming of several post-Grunge bands.
References:
MTV.com (n.d.) Collective Soul Career. MTV.com. Retrieved on August 28, 2016 from: http://www.mtv.com/artists/collective-soul/biography/
Collective Soul. (n.d.) About – Collective Soul. CollectiveSoul.com. Retrieved on August 27, 2016 from: http://www.collectivesoul.com/about/
WME. (n.d.) Collective Soul | Biography. WME.com. Retrieved on August 27, 2016 from: http://www.wmeclients.com/music/pacs/COLLECTIVE-SOUL
Azzerad, M. (1992). Inside the Heart and Mind of Nirvana. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on August 27, 2016 from: http://web.archive.org/web/20080109140249/http://www.rollingstone.com/artists/nirvana/articles/story/5937982/inside_the_heart_and_mind_of_nirvana
Rolling Stone. (n.d.) Nirvana – Biography. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on August 27, 2016 from: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/artists/nirvana/biography
