I'm bored with those who say he couldn't write. His music still resonates with millions of people nearly 20 years after he kicked the bucket. That means the dude could write.
that's being a far bit generous, i'd say - who actually gives a {censored} about nirvana anymore except the old farts who were there nearly 20 years ago? had he not blown his head off at the height of his popularity, i assure you his "legacy" would be far, far less. chris cornell was writing FAR better, by any standard, songs at the same time and he really just sadly comes off as a kind of washed up old guy these days. and cobain couldn't write, say, "4th of july" if he had 100 chances and chris helping.
he just stole some pixies and melvins riffs, threw in some truly awful lyrics and had butch vig and/or steve albini make him rich ... then blew his head off because the media made him into something he knew he wasn't. which i suppose is respectable in some way.
sorry.
please - tell me something he wrote that wasn't stupid and sophomoric. i'll give him credit for "in bloom" ... he at least knew his audience and decency level by that point.