Okay, I’m really angry right now. I got my reasons and I’m going to stick by them, but what is really getting my goat at the moment is the news that Converse is releasing a limited edition series of “Kurt Cobian Converse” that will feature his signature and selected passages and images from his journals plastered on the sides and even in the soles of them. You can read more (and see vomit-inducing pics of the monstrosities) here. And before you ask, yes Courtney was involved.

Sigh…I don’t even know where to begin.

I don’t consider Kurt a saint or some heavenly figure that is beyond reproach or anything like that, but this is fucked up. How do you, with a clear conscience, exploit and commercialize someone who spent his entire life not wanting to be exploited or commercialized? I don’t have a problem with Nirvana songs being used in movies or video games – but this crosses the line into poor taste. How does Courtney justify this move in her fucked-up overly medicated shitstorm of a mind.

Secondly, the idea of plastering them with writings from Kurt’s journals is just a real dick move. I was against the publication of those journals when they were first released and this just pisses me off more. Kurt was an intensely private individual and would not want to see people sporting his personal writings as hip fashion statements.

Also the whole “punk rock is freedom” thing is something Kurt wrote a very long time ago (I know this from reading Heavier Than Heaven – a good but not great book about Kurt) and it was something he later recanted as he became upset with the punk rock community’s inability to embrace anything new.

Since Converse (and Courtney) are so willing to let the world view Kurt’s inner-pain and deepest feelings in the form of shoes, why don’t they make a model off of this pair:

I can imagine the ad copy now, “Converse’s Cobain Collection continues with the extra-limited edition Suicide Black Edition! Each pair comes with dirt and bloodstains as well as the faint smell of gunpowder and rotting flesh!”

I also want to mention that ever since Converse was bought by Nike their shoes suck.

But you probably didn’t come here to read my rantings and ravings about a capitalist society gone amuck and the raping of our culture did you? You came here for the music. Well, you’re still not going to escape Nirvana because everything today is by them. These tracks are from a large variety of sources, including official imports and singles, compilation albums and bootlegs (mainly the Outcesticide series). I didn’t include anything that is easily available though. Nor did I select anything that was on the With The Lights Out box set.

Do You Love Me?
This was originally on a Kiss tribute album called Hard To Believe. Krist sings on this one and after about 20 seconds of hearing it you’ll understand why they never let the lanky bastard sing again. I had a friend who had this track and he played it so much one day that his mom grounded him – it annoyed her that much.

Return Of The Rat
This was originally recorded by The Wipers and released on a Wipers tribute album. It was eventually put out on the With The Lights Out box set, but that version was remixed and tweaked. This is the original version that appeared on the tribute album.

Lithium (Alternate Version “Mix Six”)
This recording of slightly subpar quality is an early version of Lithium. It’s much shorter than the final one.

The Money Will Roll Right In
Not a Nirvana original. I don’t know where this recording was originally from or who recorded it first.

Untitled Home Demo
This is frequently called “Bambi Kill'” or “Bambi Slaughter” by bootleggers. But that’s an entirely different tune. Odds are this doesn’t even have a name.

Asking For It
A Hole song. This early version features Kurt on backup vocals though. He pops in at the end.

Blew (Live)
Been A Son (Live)
Stain (Live)
These three live tracks are taken off of a vinyl 45 bootleg called “Alive II”. I can’t find my physical copy right now, but I remember it mentioning that they were recorded at The Blind Pig in Ann Arbor.

Moist Vagina
A demo version of this insanely creepy tune was on the With The Lights Out box set but oddly enough the final studio version was left off. It was previously released on the All Apologies CD single.

Spank Thru (1985 Fecal Matter Recording)
Sappy (1990 Studio Demo)
Come As You Are (Boom Box Version)
These three demos and home recordings are from the “Sliver: Best Of The Box” release. Courtney put these three tracks that weren’t on the box set on this single CD release to gyp completists out there into buying both. Smooth move there bitch. You think the sales of the massive box set would’ve given the whore enough money, but I guess those drugs aren’t cheap.

Spank Thru
As far as I know this is the studio version of the ode to masturbation that was originally on Sub Pop 200. I could be wrong though. I do know that the studio version was inexplicably left off of the With The Lights Out box set.

Random Bullshit
This untitled track was a bonus to freaks like me who picked up “From The Muddy Banks Of The Wishkah.” It’s not a song but rather a collection of funny things Kurt, Dave and Krist said on stage. This caused a temporary catch phrase between my friends and I after we first heard it; “You called me a vagina? How dare you?”

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