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MTV Unplugged In New York

Nirvana

1994

Buy At Rough Trade
MTV Unplugged In New York
Album Summary

MTV Unplugged in New York is a live album by American rock band Nirvana, released on November 1, 1994, by DGC Records. It features an acoustic performance recorded at Sony Music Studios in New York City on November 18, 1993, for the television series MTV Unplugged. The show was directed by Beth McCarthy and aired on the cable television network MTV on December 16, 1993. In a break with MTV Unplugged tradition, Nirvana played mainly lesser-known material and covers of songs by the Vaselines, David Bowie, Lead Belly and Meat Puppets. Unlike prior MTV Unplugged performances, which were entirely acoustic, Nirvana used electric amplification and guitar effects during the set. They were joined by rhythm guitarist Pat Smear and cellist Lori Goldston, plus members of Meat Puppets for some songs. MTV Unplugged was released after plans to release the performance as part of a live double-album compilation titled Verse Chorus Verse, were abandoned. It was the first Nirvana release after the death of singer Kurt Cobain seven months prior. It debuted at number one on the US Billboard 200 and was certified eight-times multiplatinum by the RIAA in 2020. It won the Best Alternative Music Performance at the 1996 Grammy Awards, Nirvana's only Grammy Award win, and has since been ranked one of the greatest live albums of all time. The performance was released as a DVD in 2007.

Wikipedia

Rating

4.22

Votes

16142

Genres

  • Rock
  • Grunge

Reviews

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Nov 14 2023
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5

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.

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Mar 24 2023
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1

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

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Mar 07 2021
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5

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!

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May 19 2021
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5

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.

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Dec 07 2021
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2

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.

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Jun 01 2021
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5

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!

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Jun 17 2021
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5

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.

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Mar 23 2021
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5

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.

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Mar 31 2021
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5

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

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Oct 16 2020
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5

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.

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Feb 07 2023
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1

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

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Oct 11 2022
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2

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

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Jan 16 2021
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1

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

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Jun 10 2024
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5

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.

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Jun 07 2024
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5

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

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Oct 25 2023
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5

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.

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Mar 12 2021
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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 😍

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Jun 08 2021
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5

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 😍

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Jul 01 2021
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5

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+

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Jan 14 2021
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5

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

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Jan 18 2021
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5

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

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Jun 03 2024
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5

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

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Apr 23 2024
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5

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.

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Apr 23 2024
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5

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.

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Jan 19 2024
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5

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. He was more of a catalyst, responsible for an unbelievable change of tides (though his role as catalyst is even debatable, given that 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, because of our lack of a shared cultural experience, it might not happen again for others.

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Jan 16 2021
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5

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

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Dec 18 2020
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4

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.

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Dec 13 2022
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2

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

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Jun 11 2023
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1

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.

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Dec 09 2024
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5

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

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Dec 09 2024
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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.

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Jun 17 2024
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5

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.

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Jun 13 2024
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5

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

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Jun 13 2024
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5

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.

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Jun 12 2024
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5

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

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Jun 12 2024
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5

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

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Jun 10 2024
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5

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

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Jun 08 2024
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5

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

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Jun 08 2024
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5

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

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Jun 07 2024
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5

Unplugged was huge in the 90's - started by Paul McCartney and ended here - I mean, who was going to be able to top this? Nirvana's raw power is still felt even during this funereal like renditions of their own tunes and their personal favourites. I still get chills from that last sigh that Cobain gives before the last line of the last song that he ever sang on record. He sounds like he's finally made some decision and the weight of being who he was is something that will soon be in the past. Best Tracks: About a Girl; The Man Who Sold The World; Where Did You Sleep Last night?

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May 14 2021
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5

The gold standard for live acoustic albums and probably my favorite Nirvana album. The cover of ‘Lake of Fire’ is awesome. RIP Kurt.

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May 10 2021
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5

Loving this. Some covers. Some nirvana. All great. Last track "Where did you sleep last night" was Kurt Cobain's last recorded song before his suicide.

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Jul 03 2021
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5

Wow what a great performance. I’m not the biggest Nirvana fan in the world, but this feels like such a slice of time. And the unplugged venue really showcases Cobain’s vocal strengths. This is probably the second best version of Man Who Sold the World. But it’s close.

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Jun 23 2021
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5

One of the best MTV Unpluggeds ever. Nice memories from back in the day. Plus, for some reason 1001 Albums Generator threw me two Nirvana albums in a row, which is never a bad thing.

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Feb 18 2021
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5

Excellent album. Great to hear a different side of the band and a very upfront and real portrayal of unique covers.

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Feb 23 2021
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5

I like this album. The live aspect wasn't too intrusive. Contained some of Nirvanas best hits.

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Jan 13 2021
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5

Just a classic. Interesting this threw up one I've played a thousand times for my first one, but glad it did! Graham

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Nov 02 2020
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5

Pretty Frickin great. I like the little Meatpuppets suite at the end. This album really demonstrates the strength of Kurt Cobain's songwriting I think.

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Jun 17 2024
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4

Classic have on vinyl. Stand out tracks: -Where did you sleep last night -The man who sold the world -Polly -Something in the way -Plateau

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Apr 19 2024
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4

So as a rock guy, I am fairly familiar with the “Nirvana Unplugged” album, though have never run it all-the-way through… Was actually surprised to find that it was on the 1,001 list, as I didn’t think “live” albums were a part of it… Appears it made it because there were some covers on it, doesn’t really change that criteria for me and I would not have included it, but c’est la vie… #1 – I like the arrangements, and am glad that they used a little amplification as that was part of the secret sauce of the album – so a big plus there… #2 – After a while however, several of the songs started to sound the same the longer the album went on… Especially noticeable from “Something In The Way” (Track 9) through the Meat Puppets covers (Tracks 10, 11, 12)… #3 – As for the covers, didn’t really care for The Vaseline’s “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” – but here are the rest – “Man Who Sold The World” – Bowie – 5-stars out of 7… “Plateau” – Meat Puppets – 4-stars out of 7… “Oh Me” – Meat Puppets – 1-star out of 7… “Lake Of Fire” – Meat Puppets – 5-stars out of 7… “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” – Lead Belly – 5-stars out of 7… #4 – Kurt’s frailty really comes through, and if I had been a band member back then, I would have been VERY concerned about his mental state and overall health, as you can tell that he’s pretty distant at best… Kind of sad that what really made this album popular, was the fact that it was released later in 1994 after Kurt’s death that spring… #5 – The best Nivana songs IMO were – “Come As You Are” – 6-stars out of 7… “Dumb” – 4-stars out of 7… “On A Plain” – 4-stars out of 7… “All Apologies” – 5-stars out of 7… The rest were just filler as far as I’m concerned… Glad I listened to the album in it’s entirety, and that I did it during the month of the 30th Anniversary of Kurt’s death… Given the historic nature of what it captured, plus the fact that there were a number of arrangements that I really enjoyed, “Nirvana Unplugged” clocks in at a solid 4 for me…

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Jul 11 2023
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4

the songwriting is impeccable and this performance just lets that shine

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Jul 08 2023
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4

There are few live albums that really cut through and this is one. It's a gentle and brilliant run across their catalogue and covers that just kind of works.

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May 24 2024
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3

This album was never all that appealing to me, couldn't really understand why everybody fawned over it so much -- part of the appeal to Nirvana, to me, was the noise, the feedback, distortion, Dave Grohl abusing his drum kit. It says something that my favorite song on this is actually a Meat Puppets song. That being said, it is also a fine listen, but nothing spectacular.

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Oct 10 2022
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3

Got the unplugged ball rolling. Love how raw and unedited it is. Will probably never voluntarily listen to it again.

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Nov 18 2021
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3

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 yo let me know what I should think about it. Let's hear it for studio producers. The most underrated people in music.

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Jul 25 2022
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2

Not much going for this. A live set on a TV show. No great shakes. But an event happens and it gets elevated to some crazy status the performance does not merit. The unplugged moniker is simply for the franchise, it is merely the band pared down. Some songs work most do not.

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Mar 31 2021
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1

MTV unplugged also, Perle der Hochkultur die uns auch 25 Jahre später noch Meisterwerke wie Marius Müller Westernhagens Greatest Fails präsentiert, neu arrangiert und mit grotesk prätentiösem Wagenrad auf dem Kopf. Um den Hals hätte ich auch gut gefunden, als Analogie zu dem dicken Nagel den dieses „Konzert“ hier in Kurt Cobains Sarg geschlagen hat. Die Seuche der massenfabrizierten sogenannten Authentizität brach Anfang der 90er über die Welt, und „MTV Unplugged“ war der erste große Fieberschub. Gar nichts war da handgemacht und weniger noch von Herzen, das war und ist fucking Marketing, Kerzenschein aus Halogen und Verstärker im Souffleusenkasten. Konsequent nur, dass es ab da immer schneller immer weiter abwärts ging. MTV Real World, RTL Big Brother, die DFB National MANNSCHAFT powered by Coca Cola, Michael Wendler, Marc Zuckerberg und Donald Trump. Es. Ist. Nicht. Auszuhalten. Suizid wegen Kein Bock mehr auf all die Phonies, Speichellecker und Arschgeigen turned Grungeionistas. So sitzt Kurt nun da in diesem Sony-Studio, depressiv, auf Entzug und dann auch noch Ärger wegen Meat Puppets. Singt seine Lieder und klagt sie, schön, dringlich, unheimlich sogar und zeigt dieser ganzen Welt, was er von ihr hält: nichts. Sie tut ihm weh, er hält es nicht mehr aus, und Schuld sind die ganzen Wixer von MTV und von Sony. Die ihm hier diese vorgezogene Begräbnisfeier hingestellt haben, garniert mit weißen Lilien und schwarzen Kerzen auf dass sich die Platte achtfach Platin verkaufe; mit irgendwelchen Claqueuren im „Publikum“ deren hohle Ergriffenheit ja selbst auf Platte kaum auszuhalten ist. Die Idee, einer dreckigen Punkband aus Sellout-Gründen die Verzerrer wegzunehmen ist keinen Deut besser als eine Metalband die sich für Wagner hält und ein Symphonieorchester auf die Bühne holt. Und kann natürlich auch keinen Zehntelpunkt mehr bekommen, egal wie beeindruckend die Band das tatsächlich umsetzt. Here‘s to you, Reality Bites.

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Dec 21 2024
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5

MTV Unplugged In New York has got to be one of the best live albums i have ever listened to. I find it quite crazy how well Nirvana could translate their heavy, grungy sound into a more acoustic live show. The heaviness was not often there but still could come out at points where it did sound great. The recording quality was also top notch and i think that Kurt Cobain's more deadpan stage presence was a nice change of pace from all the really extravagant performers from other live shows (not that i dislike those) during my time listening to this album, i was gravitating between a 4 or a 5 for this album but with enough thinking, i decided to give this one a 5. Best Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night Worst Song: Plateau

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Dec 20 2024
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5

Amazing performance, quite intimate, and an excelent album. Masterpiece ;-)

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Dec 19 2024
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5

First Nirvana album I ever owned(cassette) and first live album as well. Kurt Cobain’s voice, the stripped down sound, the song choices all come together for a perfect album. I listened to my cassette on unending repeat and I could likely do the same now. Truly a must listen for me and influential on my musical taste going forward.

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Dec 18 2024
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5

one of my favorite live albums by one of my favorite bands fav tracks: the man who sold the world, pennyroyal tea, dumb, all apologies, where did you sleep last night

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Dec 17 2024
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5

I somehow have never listened to this album and it’s entirety and it’s really well known for a reason. Such a quietly beautiful snapshot of a point in time before it all changed.

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Dec 17 2024
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5

The best Nirvana album by some distance

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Dec 13 2024
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5

# Album Name: MTV Unplugged In New York # Artist: Nirvana # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Wow, what an album. Back to back amazing acoustic driven songs. The band is so tight on this show. Kurts voice is gritty but powerful. This is such a good acoustic album with several great covers thrown into the mix. Some of the songs actually make the hairs stand on my arm. Unreal. # Top Tunes: all of em. # Would I listen to it again? Definitely. I think ive listened to it 4 times since it popped up on the list.

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Dec 11 2024
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5

Even though dozens of these were released only two really held up - Clapton’s (even though it perpetrated the horrendous version of Layla, the rest of it shows how good Eric can be when he puts a bit of effort in) and this one. It’s notable that both of them were really known as electric acts. (There are other good unplugged albums but aren’t really remembered. And a whole host of dire - I think the worst is Kiss, who didn’t even bother to rearrange their hits. They were literally unplugged. Awful.) I don’t worship at the shrine of Cobain. I am about his age, so could see exactly where he was coming from. This is not to deny his talent, but more to express how I didn’t see it as innovative and new in the way that many did. Not that I didn’t think it great. But it was more a return to form for rock music than new and wild. At least for me. Others felt differently. And he genuinely changed the world in a way very few did. This one is excellent. Cobain, never one to do anything near expected picks a group of songs that could have crashed and burned the whole thing. Instead, unusual choices give a pretty stunning performance. Of all the Bowie songs, man who sold the world. Of all the blues songs, where did you sleep last night. And it’s chilling. And compelling. A must hear (three in a row!) and a stone cold classic. 5 well earned and deserved stars

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Dec 11 2024
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5

Easy 5. So mesmerising after knowing the recorded versions. To then see the raw, stepped back and stripped back and live versions blew us away. MTVs penance for killing live performance music was to do unplugged and for the young kids at the time it opened a whole new door. Superb in so many ways as a performance - a very precious disc.

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Dec 09 2024
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5

One of the top 5 live albums of all time, along with Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison & the GOAT Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads…not sure what the fifth would be.

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Dec 08 2024
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5

One of the best Unplugged albums released, along with Alice in chains and Neil Young. Not just playing their music on acoustic instruments, but rearrangements, along with some inspired and less well known covers. 5/5

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Dec 06 2024
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5

Qué decir de este disco, que es uno de lo que más veces escuché en mí vida?

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Dec 03 2024
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5

So good, counter for its time, didn't play the 'hits', covers out the wazoo. Feels like home. A five for all of that.

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Dec 03 2024
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5

One of the all time best live albums. The acoustic environment, dialogue from Kurt and the guys, and a setlist that includes unique covers and unexpected songs (and almost no "hits") is so Nirvana. Where Did You Sleep Last Night may even be one of their best songs. My only gripe is the song Pennyroyal Tea which I've never been huge on. Otherwise perfect. 4.8/5 -> 5/5

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Dec 02 2024
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5

I am actually already a very big nirvana fan - I have 10 nirvana tattoos! I will still re-listen to this album though :D!!!!! 5/5

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Dec 01 2024
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5

Fantastic. I always knew Nirvana were a big deal, so big a lot of people try to distance themselves from liking them because they're too mainstream, I just call those people dumb; Nirvana is well awarded and recognized for a reason, and that reason is that they're fucking good.

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Dec 01 2024
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5

. This one is gonna be hard but it is probably a 5/5 but I almost don’t consider this a Nirvana album because its own thing and half the track listing is covers. That being said there are some AMAZING covers here - “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” has that beautiful accordion played by Krist Novoselic (Weird Al would be proud) “The Man Who Sold The World” blows the David Bowie original out the water! Same goes for the three Meat Puppets songs “Plateau”, “Oh,Me” , and the winner among these “Lake Of Fire” When I watched the Live video of this album and he played the Nirvana In Utero track “All Apologies” I thought to myself how do you follow that up and end the show. Well To my surprise with this Lead Belly traditional song “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. The last bit where Kurt starts “scream sing” and holds “I shiver” and takes a moment and finishes the last lines “ The whole… night through” is one of his best Vocals performances hands down. Now all the Nirvana tracks picked for this were obviously the right choices. No big singles or heavy songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom” , “Lithium,”“Heart Shaped Box” etc etc What we get here are some of their more quiet moments or I guess more pop orientated material. “About A Girl” was a crazy move at the time because this was a song of their first album “Bleach”. But it sets the mood and is almost early Beatles in feel (as Kurt was a big Beatles fan). This is a Great opener The next track “Come As You Are” is the closest we get to a BIG nirvana single on here. Now out of all the ones off “Nevermind”to pick , it again is the right choice for this show. “Pennyroyal Tea” on here might even be better than its “In Utero” counterpart. It comes off more heartfelt and longing “DUMB” is my all time FAVOURITE Nirvana song and glad it’s on here. This song is so good and the Cello really ties it together. Next two “Polly” and especially “On A Plain” Lighten the mood at least musically and put a little pep in your step and make it so this isn’t all down and out. “Something In The Way” and as mentioned above “All Apologies” which are both last tracks on their respective albums (Nevermind & In Utero) definitely are two of the best moments of their own material. Again this record is a hard one for me to rate cause on one hand it’s AMAZING. But it’s almost not Nirvana and is this little side thing. Part of me wants this to be all Original material and makes me wonder if Kurt and rest of band didn’t have faith in their material for this kinda event. We can speculate all day. For what it is (It’s own thing) it’ll get a 5/5 Thank You Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl , and Pat Smear for being one of the greatest 90s BANDS of all time.

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Nov 30 2024
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5

Kurt’s voice in this performance is incredible. I love this dude if Nirvana that no one had seen before or even knew was possible. The tone of the songs is perfect. I’ve listened to this album countless times, but I’ve never watched it. I may need to do that.

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Nov 29 2024
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5

This album brings me back to my middle school years. These songs are just as good today - raw, emotional and intimate. The album highlights what could have been had Kurt Kobain's tragedy been avoided.

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Nov 29 2024
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5

perhaps the most known Nirvana Album and rightfully so

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Nov 27 2024
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5

They'll never get any better, they'll never get any worse. There's something magical about this album and all the songs are my favourite.

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Nov 27 2024
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5

The MTV Unplugged album series had some absolute belters, and this one is up there near the peak. I think it's only the Alice In Chains one I like more. An easy 5. Fave tracks - "Come As You Are", "The Man Who Sold the World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" - really, though, they're all bangers!

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Nov 26 2024
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5

Not a massive fan of live albums but this is so raw and intimate. Classy covers rock on

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Nov 25 2024
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5

MTV Unplugged in New York is a live album by Nirvana, originally released in 1994. Such a legendary live album. I actually prefer some of these live cuts to their studio counterparts. There was a mad dash in the 90s to get a bunch of grunge bands on Unplugged, and I really respect how Nirvana stood out amongst the other Unplugged performances. While not my favorite (that goes to AIC), this performance stands out so much to me because of the way the band approached it. For one, they differed from Pearl Jam in that they kept the songs quiet. Dave Grohl is typically a loud and powerful drummer yet he keeps it very chill on here. The other is obviously the setlist. Shying away from pretty much all their hits to play mostly covers. What a gutsy move! The covers are great too. All around legendary performance and is required listening.

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Nov 23 2024
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5

Some heavy nostalgia- it’s difficult to be objective here, because this was a formative album for me that introduced me to a lot of other music and down deep music rabbit holes. I guess there’s one song that could be cut (“oh me”), but it’s still a great song. 4.5.

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Nov 19 2024
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5

Easily my favourite Nirvana album. I always thought they were the most over rated grunge band gut this works.

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Nov 19 2024
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5

Easy 5. This performance was legendary! RIP MTV. Tossup between 'The Man Who Sold The World' and 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' for faves. Both were excellent.

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Nov 19 2024
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5

Obligatorisk femma. Kurts röst så bra

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Nov 18 2024
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5

Extremely biased, because if you asked me even before starting this project what my favorite album is, I'd say this. But I honestly think that, bias aside, this is an incredible performance.

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Nov 18 2024
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5

This may be my favorite of Nirvana's catalog. I bought it on vinyl a few years ago, and it is amazing. It makes you nostalgic for what might have been. Five stars.

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Nov 18 2024
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5

cant ever go wrong with nirvana. 10/10 definetly reccomend it.

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Nov 18 2024
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5

...So. Nirvana. In my opinion, it's one of the best bands out there. I LOVE this album! I love all of the different instruments in it, and I love the lead singer, I mean, it's unique. I love this album and I think that you would too! I highly recommend this album!

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