With Coachella launching this weekend, the most talked about musical reunion wasn’t that of Outkast or Neutral Milk Hotel, it was that of Nirvana.  Being inducted into the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, an accomplishment in itself, brings with it the  pseudo-obligatory live performance.  The surviving members of Nirvana have rarely played together over the past 20 years.  And when they do, they avoid Nirvana songs.  But at the ceremony, in tribute, they embraced their legacy head on.

Finding a replacement for Kurt Cobain would be practically impossible.  And no, Dave Grohl is not an adequate choice (in that role).  Maybe Mark Arm…maybe Frank Black.  But then you’re battling with whether those singers can put in a respectable performance.  There’s too much judgement.  I liked that they went with all women.  It’s out of the box cool.  Instead of trying to replace Kurt, they took a 90 degree turn and actually re-invented what Nirvana meant in the most awesome way possible.  I loved Joan Jett jamming with them.  I’m not a huge Kim Gordon or Annie Clark fan, but I respect the choices.  Lorde did feel out of place and not because of her pop sensibilities…she just didn’t bring the emotion in the right way.  Not that she was too new (remember when Eddie Vedder fronted the Doors) it just felt the choice was forced; more dictated than selected.  She was certainly worlds better than most of her pop cohorts.  At the end of the day, it was a nice feeling to see the guys jamming together again.  It was a tribute worthy of Kurt’s legacy.

Nirvana is one of those few bands where the surviving members actually like (love) each other.  It’s respectable that they don’t want to trample on the career of Nirvana by carrying on with the band but I would love to see them play together more.  They have great chemistry. They’re super talented in their own right.  I love the Foo Fighters, but damn, do I miss Grohl slamming the skins.  And Krist on bass, plays sludgier and grimier than anyone.  Throw Smear in there, with punk core roots and that’s a bad ass band in need of singer.  Maybe throw Chad Channing on drums…and…?  Coachella…are you listening?

Here are the 11 Best Songs By The Faint:

1. Worked Up So Sexual (Blank-Wave Arcade)
2. Agenda Suicide (Danse Macabre)
3. Call Call (Blank-Wave Arcade)
4. Southern Belles In London Sing (Wet From Birth)
5. Glass Danse (Danse Macabre)
6. Casual Sex (Blank-Wave Arcade)
7. Let The Poison Spill From Your Throat (Danse Macabre)
8. The Geeks Were Right (Fasciination)
9. Sex Is Personal (Blank-Wave Arcade)
10. Mirror Error (Fasciination)
11. Your Retro Career Melted (Danse Macabre)

Buy The Faint’s new album, Doom Abuse…now!!!

Don’t forget to check out our blog’s awesome new book The 111 Best Lists of the 2000s.  Available now! (featuring The Faint)