Claiming that any of Nirvana’s songs are underrated is a bit of a stretch. However, quite a few songs from the grunge band’s limited discography have been overlooked through the years in favor of hits like “Smells Like Teen Spirit” and “Come As You Are”. Let’s dive into five underrated Nirvana songs that are definitely worth revisiting!
1. “Tourette’s”
Some fans love it, some fans hate it. “Tourette’s” is often considered mid-tier or even lower out of all the songs on In Utero, but we have to disagree with that notion. It’s grunge-y grunge at its very best, with murky instrumentation and visceral lyrics. We’d say it’s one of the most punk songs on that album, too.
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2. “Lounge Act”
This one was a bit hard to place on our list of underrated Nirvana songs. Nevermind’s “Lounge Act” is a notable fan favorite, but one can’t deny that it didn’t hit the charts as hard as “Smells Like Teen Spirit”. This particular track was penned about Tobi Vail of Bikini Kill, who Cobain dated before inevitably getting with Courtney Love.
3. “In Bloom”
Nirvana blew up virtually overnight, and Cobain wasn’t exactly expecting mainstream success with Nirvana. With that fame, the kind of people that Cobain was directly mocking in his music were showing up to his band’s shows en masse.
“In Bloom” was a stiff middle finger to the bullies that forced him into the bad mental headspace and isolation that inspired so much of his music. Outside of its direct criticisms, “In Bloom” is a melodic masterpiece, too.
4. “Aneurysm”
Another song about Tobi Vail, “Aneurysm” takes a less romantic approach to the typical love song. Instead, Cobain sings about being heavily dependent on Vail and siphoning love from her directly into his heart. It’s wild that this one never got an “official” album release, but it’s still a fan favorite.
5. “Very Ape”
This In Utero classic doesn’t get as much attention as it should. It’s a heavy, fuzz-burned wonderland of a song. Even though Cobain sought to do something very different with Nirvana’s third album, “Very Ape” has a notably classic grunge sound that isn’t out of place on that album. Cobain’s vocals on this track are particularly beautiful, too.
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