MTV Unplugged In New York

I've never bought into the "Cobain was the voice of a generation" crap. This surprisingly intimate, honest live album is so much more than just KC, especially viewed in context of the greater music industry. Much of the major label music released after 1993 is extremely overproduced and polished; even stuff that was supposed to be raw and edgy is now sterile and safe. Those of us old enough remember that MTV itself went to shit starting in the mid-90s, moving away from music to TV and "reality" shows. So it's not unreasonable to regard this album (and the live event it captured) as a funeral for rock.

Go ahead and unplug me too while you’re at it.

A bunch of album tracks and half a dozen cover versions doesn't necessarily sound like the recipe for a killer acoustic live album but 'Unplugged In New York' turns out to be something special. The bands material translates wonderfully well into intimate, acoustic arrangements, and their cover versions are often better than the originals. A tantalizing look at what Nirvana might've evolved into, and still a fitting if sad way for the band to go out despite the large shadow Kurt Cobain's death casts over this record.

Nothing like a 5-star record on a Saturday! I love this album so much, and I don't think there is a better album that represents Nirvana's talent more that this set. Beyond cool renditions of their own stuff, which was pretty new at the time, they did an amazing cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World. From beginning to end, they have never sounded better and the gritty Where Did You Sleep Last Night is Cool Whip on top for me. Where would listening to this album be the best?....IN THE PINES, IN THE PINES!

Really cool to have a live album that became so ubiquitous and got serious airplay! I feel if you mention 'unplugged', you're talking about this album...or have to seriously clarify. Love that Nirvana pushed against the hitfactory MTV wanted and was able to make something unique and profound. I'd probably give this a 4 if it was only the music, as some of the tracks aren't my favorite, but the covers, story, guests (this is what intro'd me to the Meat Puppets, rad!) and legacy gotta bump it up to a five for me!

This is a close to a perfect album. In one performance, Nirvana showed the world that they didn't need to scream or play really loudly to completely blow you away. After stripping things down acoustically they revealed how incredible their songs really are. Many of the songs in this performance surpass their album counterparts. Kurt also used this moment to introduce the world to some of his favorite artists by doing inspired renditions of songs like "The man who sold the world", "Lake of Fire" and "Oh Me". This album is still relevant 30 years later and a true testimant to what an amazing band Nirvana was.

I never could understand all the hype about Nirvana and Cobain, but since the band and this album are so highly rated on 1,001 I figured it deserved a good listen. Well, I still don’t get all the hype. I also think you need to be a fan to like hearing them do stripped down versions of their hits because I think the studio versions are better. The best song on this album IMO is The Man Who Sold The World, and that’s Bowie song, so take that for what is worth.

When I was at school if you liked guitar music you were either into Britpop, Grunge, or Metal. The kids of Wyvern weren't having people crossing over and liking different Genres. I had quite a happy childhood so I joined the former bandwagon. Now as a miserable 30 something I can appreciate Nirvana a lot more. I still have no time for metal though. Stripped back these songs actually sound better which is a testamant to the song writing on show. What you are hearing here is a superstar at the absolute peak of his powers. One of, if not the best live album ever made featuring the greatest cover version of all time in Man who sold the world. 5/5

Nirvana was not a good band. I will die on this hill.

I heard this before In Utero or Bleach so these versions are still somehow more familiar to me. Weird. The thing that makes this album great is that they very easily could've just gone out their and played their biggest hits acoustically and called it a day. But they really only played one hit song and really focused on curating a performance that worked best for that setting and created a certain mood.

There are a few of the Unplugged series that will go down in music history. This is one of them. Who would have guessed that these Nirvana songs and covers would translate so well into acoustic gems to make an amazing album. Performances are top-notch and memorable, and you only want to revisit this concert again and again.

Where did you sleep last night completely blew me away. A truly powerful performance

Amazing album, lots of great covers. Originals are spot on. Kurt messes up a few times but the band is pretty spot on. Something magical about this performance maybe it's nostalgia.

No thank you

An amazing set, and in my opinion the most interesting Nirvana album (Nevermind and In Utero are both great too). This mostly acoustic performance to me showcases the band’s talents, especially Cobain, as much or more as their studio albums. I prefer these renditions over many of their proper studio counterparts, especially the iconic All Apologies take. They arguably best David Fucking Bowie on The Man Who Sold The World, which should be a big enough endorsement for the record all by itself. It’s also very cool that Nirvana, one of the world’s biggest bands at the time, covered songs from Meat Puppets and Vaseline. The Lead Belly cover is also awesome and introduced Lead Belly to a new generation. Cobain’s singing is great and his words are able to stand out more clearly in the mix, making it easier to take in his sad, skeptical, brilliantly cryptic lyrics. His vocal performance on Lead Belly’s Where Did You Sleep Last Night is pretty incredible. It’s not all Kurt though. Novoselic‘s bass sounds great throughout. Dave Grohl adds some nice backing vocals and his restraint on the percussion is noteworthy I think as it shows he understood the assignment. What’s most sad to me is that this showed the world that Nirvana had range that probably could have produced some more amazing music if not for Kurt’s death. I’m not the biggest grunge or even Nirvana fan (although I do love their albums), but this is an all time great live album.

Sometimes I feel like I’m stuck between two worlds. I don’t mean that in the sense that my mind is unraveling or I’m losing my grip on reality. I mean it in the sense that, having been born in 1981, I have memory what the world used to be and the reality of what it has now become. I lived a good portion of my life without the internet or cellphones, I was alive to see the Berlin Wall fall and understand what it meant, was alive for hair metal on MTV, alive when Nirvana changed the world… That’s not to say that I think everything was great then and it’s all shit now. There were shitty things back then and there are shitty things now. Shit is a constant. Maybe I should put it this way: I was 13 in 1994. Primed for rebellion, I was the exact demographic that would benefit from having a band or genre of music that “came out of nowhere” and completely upended the natural order of things, showing that there was a different way of doing things than what you had been told was “normal”. Nirvana blew the doors wide open and with them came an entire world of underground music that might have otherwise been relegated to history. I cannot overstate the impact that had on my life as a bored suburban kid. It was like being shown an alternate reality, except…it actually existed. You could be weird, you could be raw and real, you could record an album in your basement and it could mean something, because even if you didn’t always see them in your everyday life, there were other people who thought like you did. I don’t believe Kurt Cobain to be some kind of rock and roll Jesus Christ, though he was a catalyst, responsible for an unbelievable change of tides (His role as catalyst is even debatable, however. It was at Sonic Youth’s urging that Geffen Records even signed Nirvana in the first place, but that is a debate for another day). For better or worse, he is the face of that change. Maybe it’s part of getting old, thinking about what could’ve been and how things could’ve (or should have) turned out differently and having to square the two in order to make sense of your place in the world. Would I be the person I am today without the alternative rock explosion of the early 90’s? I don’t think so. I certainly don’t think I would be as open to unconventional sounds or ideas as I am now. So, while I’m not the Nirvana fan I once was, the impact of their music on my life is making it hard for me to not rate at least one of their albums a 5. It’s basically a straight line from them to the person I am. That is probably really fucking lame to some of you, but it’s the truth and I fear that because of how fragmented we all are in the internet age and because of our lack of a shared cultural experience, it might not happen again for others.

One of their best performances; the last track is haunting.

I hate Nirvana. I will not listen to this album. Fuck Kurt Cobain.

Nirvana stayed true to their vision and I gotta respect that. Producers wanted more well known songs and guest artists plus an encore, and Nirvana told them to stuff it. They played hidden gems like About A Girl, The Man Who Sold The World, and Oh, Me that I otherwise wouldn’t know nearly as well if at all. I like that they paid tribute to their lesser known musical influences. Even though it’s an “acoustic” set, mostly…Cobain used an amp and effects pedals, there is still an edge to the set especially in Cobain’s vocals. Big props. Mad love.

Some of the instrumentals were nice. But overall I found this terribly boring.

To me, this is the most perfect live record that has ever been released. While Nirvana is known principally for their roles as pioneers of the grunge movement with their loud, abrasive punk rock roots, this recording shows their sound goes beyond that. There are raw, emotional lyrics (mostly written by late great Kurt Cobain) and beautiful melodies that exist beyond their signature sound. Though Cobain doesn't have the most angelic voice in the game, his power and angst at lead vocal fits like a glove for the songs they write and perform. There is a good mix of stripped-down versions of songs from three of their studio albums, but the most notable tracks from this concert to me are the covers. In a stroke of genius, they didn't cover other over-played rock tracks like a cover band at a dive bar. Rather, Nirvana did a version of the Christian song "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam", a traditional folk song "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", and for me the masterpiece of this record which was a David Bowie cover, "The Man Who Sold The World". A lesser band could've rested on their laurels and simply played only their monster hits like "Smells Like Teen Spirit" (which didn't even make it on the setlist). But this dynamic recording skirted those expectations and it paid off. My favorite artists are always ones that can sound as comfortable in an acoustic setting as they are absolutely shredding, and this album is no exception. This session solidifies their short but iconic reign at the top of the rock landscape, and made them an all-time influential band. 10/10

Am I going to write this review … by myself? Another album I loved as a kid. I will always remember the track teammate who would listen to this on the bus before meets. To get himself hyped? To mellow himself out? I never asked and now I’ll never know. The Nirvana tracks on this are good and several of them improve in this setting (About a Girl, Dumb, Something in the Way), but the covers are the standouts, especially the final track. If you’ve never seen Cobain’s eyes widen before that final “night through,” you need to. I was between a 4 and a 5 coming in, but after I “liked” every song from SITW to the end, I think the nostalgia boost is getting it to a 5. After finishing the album, I watched this video of a trained singer analyzing his vocal performance on where did you sleep last night, and her shock is palpable at the moment with about two minutes left when he shifts his style: https://youtu.be/wSxWhsWnP6o?si=5QCfyzMYvRsOudUn It’s cool to know someone who knows her stuff is also wowed by this.

In the past, I argued that live performances should not feature on best-of lists. MTV Unplugged in New York reminds me I was talking total rubbish. I have a vivid recollection of 5th April 1994. School was out, and I was likely annoying my brothers and playing video games. The landline rang, and my mother frantically called for me. My best friend was on the other end. "Did you hear? Kurt is dead." "Yeah, nice one! Very funny," I scoffed, unable to believe it. "No, seriously. My dad told me." This was a gut punch, a stark realisation that my heroes were mortal. "It is better to burn out than to fade away," Cobain famously quoted Neil Young in his suicide note. But Kurt did neither. Just seven months later, we were given the unexpected gift of MTV Unplugged in New York. This stripped-down performance revealed a more melodic and introspective side of Nirvana, captivating a new audience beyond the grunge scene. The acoustic setting showcased Cobain's songwriting prowess and emotional depth, making their music more accessible to those who found their heavier sound off-putting. Unplugged cemented Nirvana's legacy and lent gravitas to the acoustic format, influencing other artists to embrace more intimate performances. It proved that grunge, often dismissed as raw and abrasive, could possess a profound emotional core. Unplugged could have easily been dismissed as a cynical cash grab by MTV and/or the label, but that overlooks its genuine artistry. The band deliberately eschewed their biggest hits, opting for lesser-known tracks and unexpected covers. This, coupled with the raw emotion captured in the performance, transcends any notion of exploitation. Cobain's vocals, raw and unpolished, often breaking into a strained, emotional tone, create a unique listening experience. The inclusion of the cello added a melancholic depth, and his solo rendition of "Pennyroyal Tea" was particularly poignant. Highlights include "About a Girl," which opens the set with a deceptively light and melodic tone, showcasing Cobain's ability to craft accessible, tuneful songs without sacrificing emotional weight. "Come As You Are," one of their more recognisable hits, is transformed by the acoustic arrangement, bringing a new layer of vulnerability to the track’s already haunting lyrics. "All Apologies," with its gentle strumming and melancholic cello accompaniment, creates a sombre yet beautiful atmosphere, perfectly complementing Cobain's weary, heartfelt vocals. The cover of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" stands out as one of the most memorable moments of the set, so much so that some fans mistook it for a Nirvana original (despite Cobain stating it was a Bowie song at the start!). Cobain’s distinctive voice and the stripped-back instrumentation imbue the song with a raw, eerie quality, making it feel entirely their own. Finally, the haunting rendition of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" provides a fitting and unforgettable conclusion. Cobain's strained, almost primal scream at the end of the performance lingers long after the final note, serving as a chilling reminder of both his talent and his inner turmoil. Did/Do I own this release? Yes, on CD. Does this release belong on the list? Yes. As one of Nirvana's final major performances, Unplugged remains a poignant symbol of the end of an era. Would this release make my personal list? Yes. Will I be listening to it again? Yes.

This is not my first time listening to this album. This will not be my last time, either. Nirvana is one of my favorite bands, therefore, this review will be in their favor. Let me just start off by saying that this album is amazing. Although all the songs are live recordings, that doesn't damage their value. If anything, it makes them better. You can hear the raw emotion in Kurt's voice. Every imperfection is dazzling. In this album, there is a variety of songs. Some are from Bleach, In Utero, and Nevermind, while others aren't even Nirvana original songs. These covers are what make the album, especially The Man Who Sold The World and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. They are very powerful to listen to. This album is truly an essential listen. 5/5

As probably predicted this is ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. A concert that will still be talked long after we are gone (although I’d argue Alice in Chains unplugged is a better set for the unplugged format) it cruises to a five on the strength of the covers alone - Lake of Fire but especially Where did you sleep last night which just gave me goosebumps for the trillionth time this morning 😍

This is an easy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ for me. A concert that will still be talked long after we are gone (although I’d argue Alice in Chains unplugged is a better set for the unplugged format) it cruises to a five on the strength of the covers alone - Lake of Fire but especially Where did you sleep last night which just gave me goosebumps for the trillionth time this morning 😍

This album can’t be denied. It makes me ask, was Nirvana potentially a better acoustic band? Is this their most iconic album? Was this the catalyst for Indy Rock? It’s close, but I think Nevermind is still the most iconic and evidence that their just as good as rockers. This album is so good though, so many perfect covers chosen from an eclectic swath of artists. Also had great renditions of original songs. Kurt’s scratchy voice, the acoustic guitars with electric pickups, the cello, the pump organ, the acoustic bass, the banter and KURTS SWEATER, maybe it’s because I’ve listened to it so many times, but it just feels nearly perfect, especially considering I generally hate live albums and would always prefer an album recorded on the studio. A+

A few days ago (at the time of this writing), Nirvana reunited for a benefit show for the people affected by the 2025 LA fires. In place of Kurt Cobain was a lineup of female vocalists, including St Vincent, Kim Gordon and Joan Jett. It's universally accepted that Cobain would have loved that. The performce on MTV's Unplugged holds up as an amazing album, three decades on. The MTV show itself was largely forgettable, apart from this show. Big name bands playing to a small audience (if I remember correctly, most music industry people) acoustic (more or less) versions of all of their hits. Nothing wrong with it, aside from being a bit gimmicky. Nirvana didn't really belong on the show, but they were massively popular at the time and it was a no-brainer for the network's programming department. High energy noisy grunge stripped down to its bare bones would surely have gotten viewers. But Nirvana weren't ones to follow the formulas. The producers were completely confused by the lack of well-known singles. No "Smells Like Teen Spirit", no "Heart Shaped Box". Aside from "Come As You Are" and "All Apologies", all but the most devoted fans might have scratched their heads at the song selection. The room was staged to resemble a funeral, in sharp contrast to the usual lively enviroment there. Add in some obscure covers as well. Even the David Bowie one was a fairly deep cut (later to be made famous again by this very performance). Further frustrating MTV executives was the choice of guest stars. Given their fame, most artists would have leapt at the chance to perform with Cobain and company for a live television performance. Instead, Cobain used the opportunity to sneak his obscure friends the Meat Puppets onto a prime time show. "Unplugged" more than any other album, really showed the potential that Nirvana had. If Kurt Cobain was still around, we can only imagine where his music might have gone next, but we get a very good hint here. There's a narrative of increasingly noisy grunge and experimental rock from "Bleach" through "In Utero". But the real punk spirit isn't about being loud and fast. It's about subverting expectations and avoiding marketability when it starts to feel too predictable. There were clearly a lot of interesting ideas floating around Cobain's head. Unfortunately, there were also too many dark ones which would eventually win out. Even this performance nearly didn't happen, as he'd been suffering from bounds of depression and had recently been in too difficult a space to perform. But he did, and it ended up being a final gift to fans, that showed just what he was capable of. If only he'd stayed with us longer to see what was next.

You know what, I thought this would be good, but it was better.

NORVANA

Heard it a million times and it's pretty good... but I gotta say AIC and PJ did the unplugged albums better. 10 points to Cobain for making the setlist mostly deep cuts though. and the bowie cover is really goodl. 4/5.

This album is the embodiment of why I'll never pick live music over "produced". Yes, it is clear that there's a huge amount of talent there, but you know what? Producers are talented too, and they make music sound better. I don't need or want to hear people whooping appreciatively and cheering - I can enjoy the music without a live studio audience to let me know what I should think about it. Let's hear it for studio producers. The most underrated people in music.

i went into this album thinking that i didn’t like nirvana. i came out of this album only liking one song, which was a david bowie cover. just not my thing

I don’t get the Nirvana hype; this is just background music to me and I can’t stand his voice on this album. I was begging for this to end. Begging for mercy. The 30 seconds of clapping at the end of each song still echoes through my ears like a terrible memory. Because having to listen to Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged in New York IS a terrible memory.

Plateau is weird.

holy meat puppets

Love it

4.5/5

One of my favourite albums ever.

Absolutely incredible. One of my favorite live albums of all time.

Really good, cover to cover. Great, even. Incredible songwriting, great melodies and harmonies, and the live and unplugged feel just works. Really liked basically every track on this album, but the standouts for me were About A Girl, The Man Who Sold The World, Plateau, and Lake Of Fire. 9/10, five stars.

I don't usually listen to albums recorded live casually but there is no question that this is masterfully done. It felt intimate and comforting. Overall very enjoyable experience - might even come back to a few tracks, after all. Favorites: Jesus Doesn't Want..., The Man Who Sold..., Pennyroyal Tea, Plateau.

I remember thinking this album was so unexpectedly good. I’d been a big fan of Nirvana but had thought that meant the grungy guitars, grohl’s soul inflected drumming, and cobain’s plaintive screaming/moaning. I think I didn’t think they had the chops to do acoustic. And I was wrong. There’s a lot of great songs on here, but their cover of In the Pines/Where Did You Sleep Last Night may be among my favorite songs of the 90s.

5/5. Obviously this was not intended to be Nirvanas farewell, but even so it feels very fitting as one. Front to Back this is just a fantastic live set and I love how Kurt used it as an opportunity to platform music and artists he loved with all the covers instead of just playing Nirvana’s hits. I especially love their renditions of The Man who sold the world and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. The latter specifically has probably my favorite vocal performance by Kurt.

Easily one of my favorite lps ever. The setting, the performance, the history around it. So hauntingly beautiful.

One of the greatest live albums ever recorded in my opinion. It's just a shame that we couldn't have gotten more music like this before Cobain died.

Phenomenal live album that, sadly, was the last one from the band. So many things to love about this one but I especially love the covers of other artists. The two that most stand out are "The Man Who Sold the World" and "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", both brilliant. The version of "All Apologies" is stunning. The guests, including the cello player and members of the Meat Puppets, add greatly. The sad thing is, from this album, you can see the direction they would have gone if they made more records. The MTV Unplugged format was a perfect showcase for the band to display the full range of their gifts.

I've loved this one for a very long time, always good to revisit. I think it just proves that Nirvana made fantastically structured songs - yeah, the thrashy grunge enhanced a lot of them, but they never needed it to be a great band. I also love that at the height of the band's fame, Cobain chose to highlight a lot of the work of other artists that he loved, rather than just play the hits. I think that shows what kind of a person he was - a humble music fan and artist who never cared about celebrity. The covers are my favorite part of this, especially the harrowing Where Did You Sleep Last Night as closer

Really good live album. 5 stars or A-.

Absolute stunner of an album. I love the raw emotion that Cobain portrays multiple times throughout the set and the way that you get to see how talented they all are when the electric guitars and screaming are all gone. This album has a way bringing me immense amounts of peace while also making me feel like I can jump up and dance or throw a chair at my wall.

This is such a great album, and what every live album should aspire to be. We should all be grateful that this album was recorded before it was too late.

It's all going to be ok and you don't need that shotgun.

One of my all time favorite

Genius. So sad

I think this is their best album. Fantastic.

no me gusta nirvana, o al menos nunca le di la oportunidad para q me guste y creo q es algo curioso para q justamente el primer álbum generado sea de esta banda. Espero cambiar de idea cuando lo termine!!! Lo terminé, por que re carajos no me gustaba nirvana????????

Listening session: january 16th, while commuting to internship Listened to before: yes Thoughts: I love MTV Plugged albums but there are few that can top the rawness of this one Favourite tracks: The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Plateau

Even without the context of this being one of the last Kurt Cobain performances we'd ever get. This is one of the greatest live albums of all time. Its up for debate between this, James Brown at the Apollo, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison, The Who at Leeds, and MC5's Kick out the jams. What's not for debate however, is that this forever cemented Kurt as the voice of a generation. Not a voice of a genre that rose, fell and nearly died in a 3 year span. The way this band almost gives these rock songs a new layer of awesomeness and depth with the accoustic setting, is a bar that is almost impossible to reach for future artists (especially in rock). No questions, no debates. This is a 5/5 album

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One of the best live albums of all time. Closes with a Leadbelly cover, superb.

MTV Unplugged in New York I had it on official cassette, but not sure why I bought it, as I don’t know if I was really into them, it was kind of in that funny period before I got fully into British bands when I had some cherry red Doc Martins. Anyhow I do remember liking it at the time, listening on my walkman in the car on the way to my grandparents, and it is of course still excellent today. Although it stretches the definition of unplugged, it does show how great Kurt’s songwriting was that the original songs all work brilliantly in stripped back form, carried by superb vocals and excellent almost jazz like softness to Grohl’s drumming. And the choice of covers is superb too, the three Meat Puppets songs, in particular Lake of Fire and Plateau are excellent and I love Jesus Don’t Want Me For a Sunbeam, the accordion is superb, giving the song a lovely swell. It’s hard to pick a favourite song, and there is not a weak track at all, but All Apologies and Dumb are both particularly mesmeric to me, as on In Utero the plaintiveness of the cello is so good. Easy 5. 🔌🔌🔌🔌🔌 Playlist submission: All Apologies

I saw this "live" on MTV when it happened. I was not a HUGE fan of Nirvana, I liked them OK but was also into a dozen other bands at the time so... Anyhow, when I saw this show I was blown away. It still remains one of the best live performances I ever saw (even though I was watching it on TV). In fact I can't imagine if I was a part of that audience how I would feel? I suppose I would be a super fan girl of Nirvana. As it is I gained a sort of mad respect and still think this performance is unbelievable. It is intimate and personal and just so "real." It is flawed and fractured and sometimes feels chaotic and thrown together... it is everything an "unplugged" performance ought to be. It is one of the best things ever to come out of the MTV universe.

An artist encapsulated in amber as he be, so he was. Generation defining performance.

The Man That Sold The World is a 5/5.

They played there back catalog as well as some great unknown covers. Well done and set the standard for MTV Unplugged.

absolutely I am rating this as high as possible. This album is still just as amazing now as it was back when it came out. Something that shouldn’t have worked, a loud band like Nirvana, playing acoustic. The covers were amazing. Kurt’s voice is incredible here. Perfect performance. Perfect live album.

Always enjoyed this beast

This is a great album, top to bottom. Feels like they are putting on a show in someone's living room just hanging out having a decent time.

This is always going to be one of my all time favourite albums. It introduced me as an impressionable young person to a variety of different music through exploring the covers done, which helped for a wide taste in music. Nirvana was an extremely influential band, and pushed the envelope when it came to their music, and by doing this performance without playing only their "hits" was a bold choice that worked perfectly

This is one of my favorite albums of all time. It’s not just nirvana but every cover is amazing

This is truly an album everyone should listen at least once in their lives

Certified gold. Minds were blown. The vibe is immaculate.

Best live album of all time.

A perfect, heartbreaking haunting. Kurt providing the soundtrack for his own departure from this life. This record HURTS.

Random thoughts: * As a proud gen x-er, this one is up there in the must own category. * I revisit this one ever once in a while and I'm constantly impressed by the yowl, musicality, and fragility of it all. * Some great cover choices here: Bowie, Meat Puppets and Lead Belly ("Where Did You Sleep Last Night"). * The ending with Where Did You Sleep Last Night is masterful. * No notes. Certified classic.

One of the best albums of all time

Definitely my favorite Nirvana album. You can totally picture them as an edgy folk rock trio in the 70s. The intervening years of punk is the difference between them and Bob Dylan. Could Cobain have been the Dylan for the new millennium...maybe? This is a good medium to examine his lyrics. A lot of covers on this album though. Good covers, probably my favorite songs on the album, but covers. Maybe Smells Like Teen Spirit didn't translate, but it's kind of odd they didn't include their biggest hit. This is definitely the best way to listen to Nirvana. Jack White listened to Plateau and decided he was going to be in a band. This is a great live album. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a great closing song and the best song on the album. Lake of Fire, All Apologies and Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a great way to end an album, maybe the best closing songs to an album ever.

Excellent. Such emotion in Kurt’s voice.

Banger album great covers Bowie meet puppets

I think time has been kinder to this album than Nevermind or In Utero. A raw and emotional spin on their original songs and the covers are all bangers. One of the best live albums - truly a Performance and not just a live show running through their hits. Standouts: About a Girl, The Man Who Sold the World, Lake of Fire, Where Did You Sleep Last Night

So good

Top ten albums of the 90s.

The context around this album is obviously really important. Probably the most consequential and famous live album of all time. However, without knowing any of the history here, the songs very much hold up on their own merit. Unapologetic, art-forward, and uniquely their own - this is what music is about.

10/10

Great ol' nostalgia trip. And looking at the dates it released not long after Cobain's death. So this was recorded only a few months before he died. Kinda weird and crazy to think about. The album itself has most of Nirvana's big hits, with one obvious, glaring omission of a song that I'm sure the band would have been sick of playing. But it would have been a mistake to play it, and I'm sure they knew that. Every song here is clearly carefully considered to work in the format. But it also has a variety of excellent covers. Their version of Man who Sold the World is brilliant. I feel a bit weird about greatest hits/live albums on this list but this one is undeniably a classic, and very significant in terms of music history, too. There's a bunch of cool details about the performance here! https://www.theringer.com/2018/11/14/music/nirvana-unplugged-oral-history-kurt-cobain

Obviously y'all know this one. Sad to say, but the first Nirvana album I really appreciated at the time. Impact so substantial that several younger generations know a relatively-obscure Bowie track backwards, and "Meat Puppets II" appears on this list. The performance is pretty good too..

Hell yeah 🤙

Every electric gone acoustic attempt after this album was trying to emulate this effortless performance, and no one has come near. Easy 5*

I was surprised at how much of this album I remembered. Not just the songs, but the feedback, the missed notes, the banter. This was such an epic album for me and a lot of people my age. Really cool to revisit it. Also, Unplugged was such an incredible thing. I would love to see it make a comeback.

I remember watching this on TV in the 90's when I was in high school. It was a big deal and everybody was talking about it back then. I still enjoy hearing it and remembering when I first heard it. This is one that I love enough to actually own.

..... One of the best CDs ever

Incredible live performance, really highlights Kurt’s voice. Loved it

I remember when this album came out, ironically this is the first time I've listened to the whole thing. Total banger. Kurt is the focal point, but all the musicians on this album are killing it. Nirvana was a great band, I wish they would've been around a lot longer.

Amazing album

Very good! Long ish and not my usual genre but I enjoyed the whole thing. One of the better live albums we’ve gotten, also recently i have heard/seen more Kurt Cobain references than usual which is a funny coincidence 9/10

It's pretty crazy how good these guys sound even when they're going for a significantly more mellow sound than what they're known for. Not usually a fan of the live albums on here, but this is really good

My favorite Nirvana album and maybe the best Unplugged performance of the series.

A classic; I watched this special when it aired and it was absolutely formative to my musical tastes.

My glorious youth!!!

The only band that understood the assignment when it came to Unplugged. As essential as any of their studio albums.