Reputedly recorded in just an hour, standalone single “Sliver” (which Cobain later told Michal Azerrad was “fast and raw and perfect”) was Nirvana’s final release for Sub Pop, before they signed with Geffen. Captured prior to Dave Grohl joining the band, the song features Mudhoney’s Dan Peters on drums and it was released before Nirvana set out on their second European tour, during the autumn of 1990. Featuring a seemingly autobiographical Cobain lyric about being left with his grandparents for the day, “Sliver”’s inherent power emerges after a few listens. The other songs we tracked pretty quick – once we were set up, had the sounds and everything, they nailed everything in one or two, three takes tops.
Opening with the line “Underneath the bridge, tarp has sprung a leak,” Kurt Cobain narrates the dark story of the homelessness he experienced in his youth. “The animals I’ve trapped have all become my pets, and I’m living off of grass,” he reveals. The chorus’ repeated phrase, “something in the way,” signifies Cobain’s emotional turmoil. Although he’s seeking to find a way out of his bleak situation, he’s held back by something blocking his way. It’s inevitable that “Smells Like Teen Spirit” would top this list of the best Nirvana songs, but even now the dust has long since settled, it’s hard not to marvel at this remarkable track.
If you’re a fan of Nirvana’s hauntingly beautiful track “Something in the Way,” you may be on the lookout for other songs that evoke a similar feeling of melancholy and introspection. While there’s no denying the unique sound of Kurt Cobain’s vocals and the raw emotion in the lyrics, there are certainly other tracks out there that capture that same sense of brooding intensity.
In their own distinct ways, all three of these artists have covered “Something in the Way,” telling a story not only about the song, but themselves. Based on Patrick Suskind’s novel Perfume—a story about an orphan blessed with a keen sense of smell and no aroma of his own, a combination that leads him to murder victims to create fragrances based on their essence—“Scentless Apprentice” bludgeons listeners into submission. Dave Grohl’s drumming has never sounded more like rolling thunder, Kurt Cobain’s web of guitars melt into a singular weapon, and Krist Novoselic’s bass provides ballast. Arriving after the teasing “Serve The Servants” on In Utero, its positioning on the album feels designed to alienate any fair-weather travelers, yet on its own it stands as a singularly powerful piece of rock and roll. The apotheosis of the self-lacerating grunge on Bleach, “Negative Creep” finds Kurt Cobain spitting out vitriol aimed squarely at himself. Growling and twisting his lyrics so they no longer resemble recognizable words, Cobain sounds unhinged, as if he’s barely hanging onto the perception of reality; when he screams before the bridge, it’s not catharsis, it’s the wail of being trapped in a situation with no escape route.
“Nirvana made extremely loud statements every opportunity they could get,” writes Shaun Scott in his book A Cultural History Of The U.S From 1982-Present. “Bassist Krist Novoselic began Territorial Pissings with a satirical citation of the Youngbloods’ baby boomer anthem Get Together… Novoselic’s interpretation of [that] is the most important part of the song. He distorts the song to make it sound like a piece of bullshit idealism – a hopeless dream, as hippie parents sold out and went corporate just like everyone before and after them. I think the band was saying the carefree times of the 60s are gone, and have left those growing up in the 90s in its wake. ‘Maybe some baby boomers will hear that and wonder what happened to those ideals,’ said Novoselic.” “Come As You Are” circles around a riff akin to both Killing Joke’s “Eighties” and The Damned’s “Life’s Goes On,” but that’s where the similarities end.
“Something in the Way,” “Come As You Are,” “In Bloom,” “Smells Like Teen Spirit” — these works are cultural public domain. They have pervaded the public consciousness long enough to transcend time, yet we keep looking back, smothering fuzzy memories with the pillow of nostalgia. One of the few songs credited as a co-write between Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl, “Aneurysm” does indeed sound like the work of a collective organism that expands and contracts on instinct. Swinging between chaos and a bone-deep heavy groove, “Aneurysm” has no deep meaning apart from its sheer force, a sound that offers transcendence through its submersion in grime. Kurt Cobain started writing “Dumb” in the aftermath of Bleach and the song certainly has connective tissue to “About A Girl.” Like that early masterwork, “Dumb” floats to a considered minor key melody that somehow skirts the edge of sadness; it plays not like sorrow but like a long exhaled sigh.
“I was trying to write the ultimate pop song,” Cobain told Rolling Stone in a January 1994 interview. Arguably In Utero’s pinnacle, its lead single, “Heart-Shaped Box,” was initially inspired by a box of a similar design given to Kurt Cobain by his wife, Courtney Love. The Nirvana frontman later told biographer Michael Azerrad that the song’s visceral lyric was also influenced by documentaries about children suffering from cancer, but rumors persist that it’s really a love song (albeit an obscure one) from Kurt to his high-profile spouse. All speculation aside, “Heart-Shaped Box” is an absolute tour de force and its striking Anton Corbijn-directed promotional video won two awards, including Best Alternative Video, at the 1994 MTV Video Music Awards.
Songs with a Similar Vibe
While it’s hard to find a song that perfectly replicates the ethereal quality of “Something in the Way,” there are a few tracks that come close in terms of mood and atmosphere. Some songs worth checking out include:
- “Hurt” by Nine Inch Nails – This haunting ballad is filled with raw emotion and introspective lyrics, much like “Something in the Way.”
- “Black” by Pearl Jam – With its somber tone and poignant lyrics, this track shares a similar sense of melancholy with Nirvana’s classic.
- “Street Spirit (Fade Out)” by Radiohead – Known for their introspective and atmospheric music, Radiohead’s track captures a similar feeling of despair and longing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are there any newer artists who have a similar sound to Nirvana?
While Nirvana’s sound is undoubtedly iconic, there are some newer artists who draw inspiration from their raw, grunge style. Bands like Nothing But Thieves and Greta Van Fleet have been known to incorporate elements of Nirvana’s sound into their music.
What makes “Something in the Way” so special?
Many fans and critics alike point to the haunting simplicity of the song as one of its defining features. The stripped-down arrangement, combined with Cobain’s emotive vocals, creates a sense of intimacy and vulnerability that resonates with listeners on a deep level.
