Violet (album) (Cobain Lives)
| Violet | ||||
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| Studio album by Nirvana | ||||
| Released | February 10, 1998 | |||
| Recorded | 1989-1997 | |||
| Studio | Robert Lang Studios, Seattle, Washington, U.S. | |||
| Genre | Alternative rock, anti-folk, acoustic music | |||
| Length | 35:23 | |||
| Label | DGC Records | |||
| Producer | Dave Grohl | |||
| Nirvana chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Violet | ||||
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Violet is the fifth studio album by American rock band Nirvana, released in 1998. Recorded at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle and produced by drummer and vocalist Dave Grohl, Violet demonstrates a more refined and mature sound for the band as they evolved musically. While still incorporating their signature punk and grunge rock style through previously unreleased tracks once again, the album's tracks showcased an expanded range of musical dynamics and showcased Cobain's ever-evolving songwriting. Similar to Nirvana's last album Ashes to Ashes, Nirvana would continue to experiment with anti-folk and continue using a much softer alternative rock sound, once again featuring previously unreleased songs. The band would continue doing this up until their sixth studio album in 2001, which had REM lead vocalist Michael Stipe as the album's co-producer and the band further distance itself from grunge.
With frontman Kurt Cobain's continued contributions to music, the band's fan base eagerly awaited to hear what new sounds and styles Nirvana would incorporate into their music with Violet.
The first single from Violet, "The Man Who Sold the World," a cover of a David Bowie song originally sung by Cobain at Unplugged in 1994 and eventually re-recorded, was released in late 1997 prior to Violet's release to critical praise. The song showcased a more mature, introspective side of the band's famously edgy sound and generated excitement for the album's release.
Upon its release, Violet thrilled audiences and solidified Nirvana's place in the annals of rock history. Cobain's lyrics continued to tackle themes of addiction, mental anguish, and social issues, infused with even more nuance and depth than their previous albums.
Critics praised the album's polished yet raw sound, heralding it as a true tribute to the band's growth and evolution as musicians. Fans and critics alike noted the album's haunting beauty, resonant lyrics, and the palpable passion of Cobain's performances.
In the years since its release, Violet has remained beloved by fans and critics. Shortly after Violet's release, Nirvana would go on their first tour since 1994 to promote their album. Nirvana would tour small venues across Europe, playing mostly acoustic material from their album and material from MTV Unplugged. The tour was a success compared to their In Utero Tour a few years prior, which also saw the band in Europe. The group wouldn't tour again for nearly two decades until 2012 after the release of their album, Rebellion. Nirvana would tour again 10 years later to advertise their latest album Old Age, which saw the band return to their grunge roots.
Background
Nirvana's recording of their fifth album, Violet, at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle saw produced drummer and vocalist Dave Grohl as the producer. He has worked with the band since the early 1990s and recorded some material for their last album, Ashes to Ashes. In an interview in July 1997, when Cobain was asked about the direction of the album, he said "It's all about change, you know? I sort of want a more stripped down Nirvana, I was impressed by our last album but I want to include more acoustic and anti-folk elements. I'm glad that Dave has been adding his own touches to our material, in my opinion." In an interview in August 1997, Grohl stated that "It's the right idea. I think you can hear it in the lyrics of the few songs we've recorded so far. The music is influenced by older material and Kurt himself; we're just trying to make something that's better than our last project." At this point in the group's career, the band's focus was much more clearly towards experimenting with other genres and record sales than in the past.
Legacy
Violet was a major commercial and critical success. Critics praised the album’s raw, unconventional sound and Cobain's lyricism. It reached number three on the US Billboard 200 and UK Albums Chart; "The Man Who Sold the World" and "Here She Comes Now" reached number one on the Billboard Alternative Songs chart. To this day, Violet remains an important and influential album in the alternative rock canon, inspiring countless other artists to follow Nirvana's lead and push the boundaries of what is possible in rock music. Cobain's legacy as a songwriter and musician continues to be celebrated by fans around the world, and Violet is just one example of the profound impact that he and Nirvana have had on the music world and beyond.
Recording
The recording process for Violet was marked by long hours spent in the studio, as the band worked to create an album that was both polished and raw similar to their last album. Dave Grohl's production expertise and Cobain's songwriting talents helped to bring the album to life, with a sound that was more refined and mature than their earlier work. Unlike Ashes to Ashes, Cobain wanted there to be less previously unreleased material and more recent material in a soft and more stripped down style. Violet was recorded shortly after Ashes to Ashes and featured a much more varied sound than their last album, exhibiting a much more defined anti-folk sound and less of the aggressive grunge of their first four albums.
Recording sessions for Violet took place in April 1997 at Robert Lang Studios in Seattle, Washington with production contributions from Dave Grohl and Kurt Cobain. The first track recorded was a studio version of "The Man Who Sold the World", which had previously been released in its live form in 1994 and in its recently recorded studio form in December 1997. The album took nearly a year to record and would be mixed a few weeks prior to its February 1998 release.
Track listing
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "[Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam]" | 3:56 |
| 2. | "[The Man Who Sold the World]" | 4:38 |
| 3. | "Encore" | 4:30 |
| 4. | "[Verse Chorus Verse]" | 3:16 |
| 5. | "Sweet Home Alabama (Acoustic Cover)" | 3:37 |
| 6. | "[Here She Comes Now]" | 4:18 |
| 7. | "Violet" | 2:13 |
| 8. | "[Big Long Now]" | 5:05 |
| 9. | "[They Hung Him On a Cross]" | 1:57 |
| 10. | "Don't You Want Somebody to Love? (Acoustic Cover)" | 3:13 |
| Total length: | 35:23 | |