I’ve been getting pretty excited by the upcoming Nirvana box set, to be released on November 23. Some will see this as Geffen Records and perhaps the rest of the band exploiting what’s left in the vaults to try to wring another few million out of the coffers. But maybe not. My guess is that it will be spotty at best, but still a good set to have. I mean, there’s a cover of Led Zeppelin’s “Heartbreaker.” What young, crappy band doesn’t give “Heartbreaker” a stab? So I’m expecting a lot of shitty stuff, but isn’t that what made Nirvana so good? Their ability to make a mess sound good? We’ll see.

The DVD, which comes with the set, is video footage during the late ’80s, shot at bassist Kris Noveselic’s mother’s house. I hope people aren’t expecting anything big from that – other than what I anticipate to be a good dose of comedy. In reality, it’s some teens practicing punk rock at their mom’s house.

Which leads me to last night. I was driving home and Pavement’s “Two States” came on the IPod. That’s probably my favorite Pavement song. It got me to thinking that when I do a 3×3 comparison between Pavement and Nirvana….

Nirvana:

Bleach

Nevermind

In Utero

Pavement:

Slanted and Enchanted

Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain

Wowee Zowee

…..I think I might choose the Pavement records. All six listed are pretty solid listens, but Pavement’s messy brilliance might be worth more to me than Nirvana’s. I happen to agree wholeheartedly with Cobain’s admission that Nirvana is simply the Cheap Trick of the 1990’s. Interesting to consider.

Other tidbits:

– Up in Canada, the lack of NHL hockey must really be driving people crazy. They’re starting to care about the Canadian Football League.

– Let’s hope the dog doesn’t hire Tupac or B.I.G.’s bodyguards, right?

– Oh, I can see it now! He jumps out of the ambulance in a leopard-skin spandex one-piece, does the splits in the air, flips his hair and then saves my life.

Song now playing: Mark Lanegan – “Hit The City”