I cannot convey to you how loud—how comically, crushingly, terrifyingly loud—Nirvana’s “Smells Like Teen Spirit” was the first time I heard it. You will assume I’m exaggerating for melodramatic effect, and you will be correct, but no, no, dude, seriously: I’ve gone to probably 1,000 concerts, and spent cumulative decades of my life with overburdened car stereos screaming into my ears and noise-canceling headphones screaming even more directly into my ears, but, no, dude, for sure, I am telling you that Kurt Cobain’s voice will forever be the loudest, most terrifying noise I’ve ever heard
