2 of 5

Write now Article Tools

The great debate of Seattle sound' has always been which of the two major grunge bands, Pearl Jam or Nirvana, were better.

Like all of these types of debate, it comes down to personal preference. But, while I do indeed have a clear favorite, I would like to examine the two a little more closely.

In my opinion I believe both Nirvana's front man Kurt Cobain and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder, are amongst the modern greats in terms of penning emotional lyrics. This talent appears to have been born as a result of the hardship each faced throughout childhood and the fact that both battled depression.

You can see and hear the angst in Vedder as he powers his way through staples Black', Alive', Even Flow', Rearviewmirror' and Jeremy'. Each of his songs are so passionate, so emotive and so heartfelt.

Cobain too was a master at creating an entire novel's worth of story in a four minute song. Smells Like Team Spirit' became as big an anthem for the generation as Alive did, both songs defined the disenchanted youth of the era.

Nirvana's other early hits like Lithium', Come As You Are' and Polly' were all equally passionate and were quickly taken to heart by fans worldwide.

Both bands quickly generated legions of loyal fans and both lead singers were faced with the realities of stardom. It is well known that neither were fond of the degree in which their bands found success. Thrust into the spotlight so rapidly the two greatest musical icons of the 90's began to question their own validity as artists.

For Cobain the only way out was in the most dramatic fashion, he committed suicide. Vedder, on the other hand, countered his suicidal thoughts by fighting. There were much publicized battles with both MTV and Ticketek. Neither of these battles was winnable and both took their toll on the bands popularity.

The end result, however, was that Pearl Jam survived and Nirvana were torn apart. In all fairness, Nirvana were probably never really going to last the long run. The band was less democratic than Pearl Jam and Cobain was well known for his mood swings and temper. The reality is, as Cobain alluded too in his suicide note, Nirvana had reached their peak. From that point on, had Cobain not taken his own life, the band were staring at a rapid decline and potential break up. Kurt felt it was "better to die out than fade away".

It is sad that we never got to see a mature Kurt Cobain, it would be interesting to see how far he could have gone either as lead singer of Nirvana, or as a solo artist. Vedder has grown out of his angst-riddled early persona and is now a champion of all causes just and true.

While both bands have their rightful place in the history of rock assured, only one has endured. When determining the greatness of a band, one must look at longevity, after all, success is a marathon, not a sprint event. Nirvana came in with a bang and went out just as quickly. Pearl Jam have gone on to attract a new generation of loyal fans and now boast eight studio albums, a best of compilation and a plethora of live releases.

Pearl Jam, to this day, remains the greatest band to come out of the Seattle alternative scene. Nirvana are a fantastic side note. Nevermind' will go down in history as one of the best rock/alternative albums ever made. Ten' will be right there beside it, the difference is that Pearl Jam will also be remembered for Verses', Vitalogy' and Yield' too, amongst others. While they had other albums, Nevermind' will forever be Nirvana's signature release.

Learn more about this author, Kiall Rowberry.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Alternative rock: Pearl Jam versus Nirvana?
We want to hear your view. Write now!