Album O' The Week : Victim of Nirvana

I think, fairly or unfairly, that when we think of the decline in popularity of our metal, we usually point to Nirvana as the ones to blame.  To be honest, I never saw what all the Nirvana fuss was about...and to this day content that the greatest thing to come from Nirvana was the Foo Fighters.  Indeed, I understand the desire to attribute "your" generation a "spokesperson" and certainly for grunge that "spokesperson" was Kurt Cobain.

As much as I don't agree with the appointment of Cobain as "voice" of the early 90's (as much as I identify with the 80's, I was still a sophomore in high school in 1990) I do agree that the band Lynzee has one of the most laugh out loud titles and cover art for it's 1991 release Victim of Nirvana.  As you can see, I've included the album cover on the front page of this site, and if your offended or otherwise miffed, i humbly invite you to A) get a life and then B) get a sense of humor.

Now...to the album.  Richard and I are friends so you would of course predict that I'm gonna give this album a very glowing review.  Right you are.  I personally am a fan of melodic rock (great hooks, roaring choruses, great musicianship...what's not to love?) so Victim of Nirvana is right in my wheelhouse.  The band was the better part of a decade old when this album was released, and you can tell it from the feel of the record.  It's very tight and polished, and that's a credit to the bands of our Metal.  Lineups changed quite a bit during the era, but it was a testament to the music that a band could pick up and still make a record like Victim of Nirvana.

It was interesting for me to read in the liner notes that this material was played live for two years before Lynzee entered the studio to lay them down.  I guess that's why I gravitate toward Mean Business as my favorite track on the album.  It's a track that on CD gets your blood pumping, but at a show would be an absolute headbanging fist pumping anthem.  It's an ode to Lynzee bringing it live, and it captures the essence of the Sunset Strip that Lynzee made their name on.

Edge of the Knife is the opening track from the album, and it really caught my hear.  It's a song about the cutting edge of love (or a love not returned) and the guitar work is phenomenal.  Absolute great way to start off an album, and it sets the stage for the tracks that follow.

The CD I received has two bonus tracks previously unreleased---Modern Man and I Got You/ I Feel Good.  For those of you who think you recognize that second bonus track, you do.  It's a cover of the great James Brown song from the mid 60's.  It's of course a little more electrified in this form, but carries a lot of soul along with it, just as the original did.

Victim of Nirvana is our Album O' The Week.  Check it out and support a fellow MFA Angel.  The album was just re-released on Retrospect Records (who've done just an EXCELLENT job of bringing back some of this great unreleased or forgotten material for a lot of bands) and you can find that album available for order here.  If you are a fan of the Sunset Scene in the mid to late 1980's...you should definitely re acquaint yourself with Lynzee.  Have a good one Angels and I'll see you in a few.