These are obviously two very different records. Nevermind paved the way for a number of "alternative" artists to achieve mainstream success (knocking Michael Jackson off of the top of the U.S. Billboard 200 in the process). It seems to me that Exile came in as rock music (as well as the Stones themselves) as it was known at the time, was in transition.
I threw in the quotations when describing Nevermind as alternative because I think it's very accessible and quite poppy. Kurt Cobain was known to say that he wanted his songs to be simple, almost like children's songs. It's definitely a collection of very catchy, melodic songs and was the gateway for me to bands like Sonic Youth and The Pixies.
Up until Friday, I had never listened to Exile on Main St. I've now listened to it three times and found it to be thoroughly enjoyable. Personally, seeing the heavy influences of roots music, country blues and gospel as well as the rawness of the finished product makes it a very pleasing album to listen to. My personal favourites were All Down the Line, Sweet Virginia and Ventilator Blues.
So, which do you prefer? Please feel free to add any personal stories linked to the albums or any facts/ memories you might have.
Would also be interested to hear accounts form our very own music analysts out there, particularly for Exile as it's an album I'm a lot less familiar with.
How they line up:
Nevermind----------------------------------------Exile on Main St.
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit________________________________1. Rocks Off
2. In Bloom______________________________________________2. Rip This Joint
3. Come as You Are______________________________________3.Shake Your Hips
4. Breed_________________________________________________4. Casino Boogie
5. Lithium_______________________________________________5. Tumbling Dice
6. Polly__________________________________________________6. Sweet Virginia
7. Territorial Pissings_____________________________________7. Torn and Frayed
8. Drain You_____________________________________________8. Sweet Black Angel
9. Lounge Act____________________________________________9. Loving Cup
10. Stay Away____________________________________________10. Happy
11. On a Plain____________________________________________11. Turd on the Run
12. Something in the Way_________________________________12. Ventilator Blues
__________________________________________________________13. I Just Want to Se His Face
__________________________________________________________14. Let It Loose
__________________________________________________________15. All Down the Line
__________________________________________________________16. Stop Breaking Down
__________________________________________________________17. Shine a Light
__________________________________________________________18. Soul Survivor
If anyone is able and interested in posting links to the albums, please do as I have no idea how to do it :-)
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Comments
Love almost every track but Smells Like Teen Spirit puts it to a level above. Stunning track.
Having said that - Nevermind
Exile was an album that was made in a week and then released and not really noticed. Nevermind was considered a game changer.
So maybe a better comparison would be...
Nevermind v. The Clash's first album?
They also had the edge in hipness and cool due to successful marketing by the likes of Andrew Loog Oldham.
That is not to say they didn't make good albums, they did and I have them all, but they were pretty much hanging on to the Beatles coat-tails.
Even as great an album as Aftermath, has to be considered in the context that it was released the same year as Revolver!!
This follow-the-leader approach probably reached its nadir with Satanic Majesties, released in the wake of Sgt. Pepper.
After Pepper, and certainly after I am the Walrus later that year, Lennon quit LSD and the Beatles ceased their experimentation in Psychedelia and arguably stopped going in directions that their contemporaries felt compelled to follow
At this point the Stones began to really come into their own, starting with the solid gold classic single Jumpin' Jack Flash and followed later in the year by the Beggars Banquet album (a personal favourite of mine).
The following 3 albums defined their sound and their legacy; starting with Let it Bleed, followed by Stick Fingers and arguably peaking with Exile on Main Street.
After Exile I basically believe they has nowhere to go.
Goats Head Soup is okay, but the first signs of generic Stones dial-a-rocker begin to appear (eg Silver Train, Do do do Heartbreaker) and patchy attempts to absorb other influences (eg Van Morrison on songs like Hundred Years Ago and Winter)
The following album, It's only rock'n' roll, is okay judged against contemporary releases; has a couple of stand outs and a lot more generic Stones fayre.
By the next album, Black and Blue, the rot had really set in imo, and they began their slow decline as a major creative force.
Sorry, I have gone way off topic, but the Stones are or were a passion of mine.
I can't give a vote in this one because I have never played Nevermind, although I am obviously familiar with the MTV overkill of the will known tracks.
I fear if I say any more my prejudices will get the better of me
And it was number 1 in the UK and the US so hardly never noticed. The Stones were the biggest band in the world at the time.
Anyway, back to the question.
Exile. It's maybe too long but it has brilliant tracks throughout.
Nevermind was groundbreaking for many but for me after a few songs it gets very samey " here's a loud bit, now here's a quiet bit".
The Stones in period were at their best playing the type of music I love so only one winner for me. Exile.
I'll go with Exile.
(I just missed the boat with nirvana, and got into them about the same time as the stones)
Exile is a classic, one of my all time favourites. So it's the Stones for me.
Well, I agree Rainbow Chaser is a classic.
It's also nuts.
I reckon this round could be swung by age: over-50s going for The Stones, under 50s mainly choosing Nirvana.
Well, I'm going to buck the trend and vote for the album that put grunge on the map and paved the way for some other great bands.
Nevermind.
So, so easy for me - Exile.
(but by the voting so far it looks like I'm backing a loser!)
Not really a massive fan of either band. Nevermind is a fantastic record and for me Exile is a slightly better than average one.
On that Nevermind wins.
Nirvana good, Stones the best (for me). Everything is relative as Albert would say.