I have been interested in Nirvana bootlegs for years now. I have only recently became serious about collecting them and I have gathered a small number of them from various sources.

What is a bootleg? A bootleg is an unofficial cd release which usually contains a live performance from a band. Some bootlegs are compilations that contain TV appearances and radio recordings. Before the Internet made this kind of material easier to obtain, bootlegs were very popular with hardcore fans. Nirvana are one band that were around during the time when bootleg cds were at their peak and therefore have more bootleg albums in circulation than most bands in history.

I have recently aquired a very special Nirvana bootleg entitled: First Live Show which is exactly that, Nirvana’s first ever live show. The show itself was at a friend’s house party in 1987 and at the time the band were not even called Nirvana. The set list contains tracks from Bleach and Incesticide plus two Led Zeppelin covers: Heartbreaker and How Many More Times. The fact that a recording like this even exists is astonishing, especially as this was recorded long before current technology made recording and sharing easier. Considering the show was just recorded by someone at a house party in 1987, the sound quality is pretty good too. It is cds like this one that make’s collecting bootlegs worth while.

I have dedicated a page on this website to my Nirvana Bootleg Collection. This is mainly for me to keep track of them and to be able to share further details about them.
My Nirvana Bootleg page

If you have visted my website in the past you may remember it looking very different. In fact the entire format has changed a couple of times and it’s even had a name change.

The website started life back in September 2004 during my college days, when the website was originally called Beg To Differ. The website was then moved onto the domain craigrandall.co.uk in March 2005. The website was first used to display song lyrics that I wrote, album reviews and some basic pixel art. It also contained a flash logo mainly due to the fact that it was created around the same time I learnt basic flash. I changed the colour scheme of the website of to green and white after seeing the colour scheme used on a design on csszengarden.com. At one point the website even had a feature that could change the colour scheme of the website with a click of a button.

I changed the format of the website to a blog in August 2006. The original pages were kept on the site, as was the colour scheme and design. The only difference being was that the website was using word press software to power it. For 2 years and a half years I kept the blog going but then unfortunatly had to move hosts and I lost my previous posts. I then decided to redesign the website into it’s current design, but in a static format, but I quickly descovered the format doesn’t really suit the website at all so I went back to using word press and made a few improvements on the design.

Over the next few months I will be gradually adding the older posts back on to the site inbetween my usual blogging.

This must be the third time I have reposted them due to their popularity. So once again here are a couple of Cristina Scabbia wallpapers I pieced together.

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Muse are a band who have changed their style slightly over the last years. From being a riff heavy, effects driven, high tempo alternative band they have slowed down the overal pace and added to the generic bass, drums and guitar. Resistance is good example of the new direction Muse have taken. All the old elements are there and in Unnatural Selection especially you are still treated a fast paced guitar riff which shares a lot of similarities to Origin of Symmetry’s New Born. The album kicks off with the first single from the album, Uprising. The mix of guitar and voice shouting ‘come on’ during this track is definatly the highlight. The rest is what you would expect from Muse, as is the title track, Resistance. What stands out for me on this track is the backing vocals from Chris and Dom. Although at first they may sound a bit cheesy, I think they really work with Matt’s lead vocals and it also seems like the band are communicating with each other through song. You are treated to Matt Bellamy’s piano skills on United States of Urasia and I Belong to You, which the more and more I listen to is quickly becoming my favourite track from the album. Bellamy also showcases more of his musical skills in the beautiful Undesclosed Desires in which he composed the string section but he does not play neither guitar or piano on this track.

The album ends with the three part track, Exogenesis Symphony. I will admit I am not too fond of these three tracks. They certainly wont get much love if they came up on your ipod on shuffle. The three parts do work on their own but you can’t really get the full potential out of them unless they are all played in sync. The tracks themselves are just examples of the way Muse like to branch off from the traditional Guitar, Bass and Drums combo. Although this is nice in small doses throughout the album I think these tracks do let it down a bit.

Verdict: The first 7 tracks are all great Muse tracks in their own way but Exogenesis Symphony is just not for me. The band, Matt Bellamy in particular showcase their many musical talents and it wont disappoint any Muse fan. If you don’t like the album at first, give it a few more listens. It grew on me very quickly and now I find it hard to stop listening.

Well after a brief hiatus, the website is back online and I have gone back to using word press again! I’ve remade my previous theme for word press and improved it slightly at the same time. I will most likely add the old wallpapers over time as they were my most popular posts. I will also be blogging about new things!