Time Capsule

The majority of this audiobook consists of the chapters published by Azerrad in 1993. Listening to it today is an adjustment since it predates Cobain's passing and finishes with speculation on the coming response to In Utero. After scores of mythologizing biographies and articles over the past 25-years it's refreshing to have a book tackle Nirvana from the perspective of the moment rather than in hindsight. It does feature a thoughtful epilogue narrated by the author dealing with the suicide and outpouring of emotion that followed, but the majority of the book talks about Kurt Cobain and Nirvana in the present tense. A lot of the material is by now well worn from being retold in subsequent books, documentaries, and interviews, but Azerrad is a talented writer who makes band/scene histories compulsively readable (check out his excellent Our Band Could Be Your Life).

Choosing Kurt Loder to do the narration is truly inspired. It's hard to do better than have the book read by the voice of MTV News. Loder broke the news of Cobain's death and guided fans not only through the sadness of April 1994, but the entirety of the band's national rise. Loder's voice and Azerrad's prose work in unison as time capsule that made me feel like I was transported to the early-to-mid 1990s again. Great listening experience all around.

10 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Highly recommend for Nirvana fans.

If you want to know the truth about the band this is the book to get. This book was written when Kurt was still alive so a lot of the info is coming straight from Kurt himself. There is a lot of good info in this book and is worth the read.

4 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

So much better than I expected

Come as You Are is a contemporary rock biography of Nirvana, meaning it was written in their era and not posthumously. I didn’t think it could match Heavier Than Heaven, but the access the writer had to Kurt, Dave, Kris and even Courtney, among others, really brought it to life. I didn’t learn anything I didn’t know from the other biographies and documentaries, but the way it was put together, and the vibrancy of Kurt really had an impact on me. Any Nirvana lover will love this book!

3 personnes ont trouvé cela utile

Think narration was off more than the book.

Story was fine. Too much telling of the different tours. Could have told less about them and more meaty/personal. Narrator was very dry and news anchor-ish. Author narrated last chapter and it was much better. Kurt came across very narcissistic but not sure I would have inferred that given a different narrator.

It’s gripping my read for any Nirvana fan

I caught myself re listening to chapters just so I didn’t miss anything. If I’m honest I’ll probably re listen to it from time to time Nirvana always centers me. Now I’m aware that certain realizations weren’t made yet and I’m gonna go down a rabbit hole. However just the simple fact that he claims to be such a good friend of Kurt’s I just would have left out idea of and term of suicide altogether just my opinion.
(I believe that he was killed just in case anyone’s wondering) regardless good job with the narration thank you to everyone who allowed the book and took the time to make it happen. It’s a very special things to us fans RIP peace love empathy I love you Kurt thank you for saving me.

worst book I've heard yet on audible

this book made me dislike Kurt Cobain. nothing made him seem decent. countless contradictions by Cobain. the writing was hackney and repetitive. loder's narration was awful.

Dry, boring experience

This book didn't do it for me at all. While I love Nirvana, and Kurt Loder, this book fell short. The narration is dry, fast, emotionless. The actual content of the book is similar. It's like someone is reading a newspaper article about the band. It feels uninspired and pointless. The narration is actually irritating and gives me a sense of anxiety. I think because it's just a constant flow of being "talked at", there's no catching your breath. I'm a couple hours in and I can't take listening to it another minute. Unfortunately Audible only allows refunds for premium members. I will add that I'm listening to this audiobook directly after finishing Mark Lanegan's "Sing Backwards and Weep" , which was profound and captivating experience, and a very hard act to follow.

Extended MTV news reel

I wanted to love it…but it’s just ok. Very little continuity. The story often repeats topics and the related details.

As an MTV news with Kurt Loader watcher I felt like the entire book was an extended episode of MTV news…nothing against Loader. His voice and cadence are completely his own but didn’t mesh well with this book. Not sure if it was the content, narrator, or both.

I did discover that increasing the speed to 1.3 - 1.5 helped me complete the book.

Loved This, Done very well although Heartbreaking

Rest Peacefully Kurt
excellent story excellent narrative
Such a Heart Breaking story I got thru this too fast!

I have always loved Nirvana's music

Listening to this story was so compelling, my heart broke for this man. Great