Category: 6 Music
Date: 02.10.2005
Printable version
Nevermind, the 1991 album that established Nirvana as a worldwide sensation and propelled grunge music into the mainstream, has won the dubious accolade of being voted the most overrated album of all time by 91Èȱ¬ 6 Music listeners.
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Tracks like Smells Like Teen Spirit and Lithium were embraced enthusiastically by angst-ridden teenagers, disaffected by the bland pop and rock dominating the airwaves, and the album went on to sell in excess of ten million copies.
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But whilst many still consider Nevermind a ground-breaking opus magnus, others argue that by 1991 Nirvana had already experienced their heyday and the band sold out when they moved from Seattle's independent Sub Pop label to bigger player, Geffen Records.
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One listener, who originally nominated the album, preferred 1993's In Utero: "Don't get me wrong - Nevermind had its place. It saved us from the backlog of dirgey crap from the Eighties... but when you compare it to their other material it seems shallow, cold and weak."
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The debate began on air on Wednesday 7 September and generated hundreds of suggestions by email and online.
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Nominations embraced all musical genres, from Michael Jackson's Thriller to Dark Side of the Moon by Pink Floyd, Jeff Buckley's Grace and the Kaiser Chief's Employment, but they were narrowed down to a shortlist of ten and voting began in earnest on Monday 19 September.
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The network received thousands of votes and the results were announced, reluctantly, by Nirvana fan Andrew Collins in Saturday's 6 Music Chart.
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Andrew says: "I love Nevermind, deeply and profoundly, and I think everyone who voted for it is mad."
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The final results were:
1 Nirvana - Nevermind
2 Coldplay - X&Y
3 The Libertines - The Libertines
4 Oasis - Definitely Maybe
5 U2 - Joshua Tree
6 Radiohead - OK Computer
7 The Beatles - Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band
8 The Beach Boys - Pet Sounds
9 Sex Pistols - Never Mind The Bollocks
10 The Smiths - The Queen Is Dead
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Ric Blaxill, Head of Programmes at 91Èȱ¬ 6 Music, comments: "I'm surprised to see Coldplay's X&Y at number two - it's the biggest-selling album of the year so far and they've had to extend their UK tour to meet demand!
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"The presence of two relative newcomers - Coldplay and The Libertines - in the top three, perhaps illustrates the influence of extensive media coverage.
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"Recently, Pete Doherty's personal life has dominated the gossip pages and completely overshadowed his musical achievements.
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"This poll has given our listeners the opportunity to address the hyperbole and tell us what they really think.
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"People feel passionately about music - it can be a divisive force - and these results may upset Nirvana's legion of loyal fans.
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"But it goes without saying that one person's overrated album will be another's firm favourite - we've thoroughly enjoyed the debate."
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Notes to Editors
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The result of the poll was announced on Saturday 1 October by Andrew Collins in the weekly 6 Music Chart, which champions the very best in new music (4.00-6.00pm).
