Reviews (page 12 of 15)
Great album, enjoyable for the hits arranged for an acoustic session as well as some new gems (to me) like the Bowie cover. There were some strong nostalgia vibes here though; listening to it today outside of the 90's MTV Unplugged mania of the time it's a little less vital. Still good, but not sure I'll be going back to it a lot or anything.
Come As You Are is heightened by it being acoustic. The Man Who Sold The World takes on a whole new meaning when Kurt sings it. Something In The Way is a good cut. Never knew Lake Of Fire was a cover, specifically this version coming from a live album.
Un petit attachement sentimental à cet album. Je le répète souvent, mais habituellement je n’aime pas les albums live. Ici on comprends que c’était un événement unique qui revisite les pièces déjà connues d’une autre façon. Le choix des chansons en plus de l’ajout de reprises est bien fait. Ce n’est pas un enregistrement parfait, il y a plusieurs feedbacks et la voix de Kurt en arrache par moment, mais ce dernier point ne parait pas trop pour les habitués et ceux qui aiment ce timbre, comme moi. Ça reste donc un classique qu’il faut effectivement avoir entendu.
Pretty great album. Lots of spirit and the unplugged versions wer an interesting change of pace, I still prefer the electrified version of their hits though
this was great tbh, i really want to get more into nirvana and this was a good intro
listened to again something so real and raw about these performances
An awesome unplugged grunge show only to be rivaled by Alice In Chains. Loved the covers they did.
A classic, but not my favorite of all time.
Such a cool album
Well, that was enjoyable. Still not a fan, in general, but I like this album - probably because it was acoustic versions of their usual. But added, nevertheless.
Huge response to this album, elevating the profile of Nirvana and cementing their reputation as grunge innovators Classic
jesuuuus dont want me for a sunbeammmm
Ah, I don't think I saved my original thoughts so they didn't autopopulate. Basically, while I don't think this is Nirvana's best album there were parts I really liked and Grunge as a whole does suit my tastes quite well (sometimes).
Dumb, Lake of Fire and Where Did You Sleep Last Night are so good
Great live album
Enjoy a bit of raw, live grunge
MTV Unplugged in New York captures an interesting and unique performance in Nirvana's career, with acoustic instruments and a series of covers that fitted the band's repertoire very well. "The Man Who Sold the World", originally by David Bowie, is the album highlight, and gave new light to one of the best songs written by the english musician. The trio of Meat Puppets covers are also very interesting, especially in the way Kurt Cobain's voice sounds in those. Songs like "Come as You Are" and "All Apologies" are very well arranged for this album, as well, and shows a band evolving - a evolution that was cut short, unfortunetely.
Nirvana at its most subdued, stripped down and cool - albeit for MTV. Great live set of crackers and covers, tinged with historic Cobain-related sadness.
In many ways, I used to regard this as the perfect album: a sophisticated wrapper around Nirvana's music that allowed me to access said music much more often and in a much more relaxed manner than The Real Thing®. And in many ways, I still do. ...Yet I have to reserve a tiny bit of a star, because it just seems as if this music, which I would listen to over and over again and again during its first decade upon this earth, just doesn't "do it" to me anymore. At least not to the extent it used to. I do miss that feeling of being lifted by The Man Who Sold the World...
Temones
4/5
Well obvs this is legendary but I wonder to get the full effect you need to visual as well. I did really enjoy it - but its meant to be amazing and I didn't feel moved or amazed. Loved the Bowie cover!
Jamais ete fan de nirvana, peut etre parce que je ny etais pas a ce moment. Cest quand meme de bon albums et celui ci est propablement mon preferee. 4.25
So good
Great album, great riffs, Cobain is still a treasure
This album really highlights the strength of Nirvana’s songs. They hold up under a light acoustic setting just as well as with squalls of guitar and pounding drums. I forgot how they gave the Meat Puppets a huge boost by playing three of their songs from the II album.
MYY GIIIRLL MY GIIRLL
Claaaaassico da MTV acústica
The best thing about this album is that Nirvana used their set to showcase the Meat Puppets, The Vaselines, David Bowie and Lead Belly. Another stand out about this album is it's accessibility. I remember at the time it was released on CD, a person who never would have listened to songs off Bleach commenting to me what an amazing song writer Kurt Cobain was. To be honest, I found watching the Video of this performance to be a bit boring. The pauses between songs drag and the show is visually too subdued. Thankfully on the record the gaps are edited out and you don't have to watch a disinterested Cobain and instead concentrate on the music
Coraz blizej polowy listy, wiec czesciej niz rzadziej zesoly sie powtarzaja, tak jest takze i dzisiaj z zywym krazkiem od Nirvany, ktory jest drugim ich pojawiemien sie na liscie jak do tej pory i jesli mnie zmysly popularnej muzyki nie myla, bedzie ostatnim, bo w mainstreamie nirvana, to glownie nevermind i wlasnie ten wystep w MTV unplugged, nagrany w listopadzie 93, a wydany prawie rowno rok pozniej, jako pierwsza plyta juz po Cobainie, jest to chyba jeden z najbardziej charakterystycznych nagran unpluggowych, studio ubrane jak na pogrzeb z bialymi kwiatami, swiecami, kolejnym charakterystycznym elementem jest pan Cobain, dla ktorego to nagranie bylo swoistym pogrzebem, patrzac z perspektywy czasu, jak przystalo na format unplugged zespol sobie gra przez godzine, albo raczej nagrywa godzinny material, bo to jednak telewizja i przerwy moga sobie robic, ale w tym wypadku byla to nieprzerwana godzina, ktorej efektem bylo 14 trakow, z ktorych 6 to covery, w tym the man who sold the world bowiego, kolejnym rzucajacym sie w oczy jest zamykajacy nagranie where did you sleep last night, ktory jest interpretacja folkowej kompozycji Leada Belliego, jesli chodzi o covery, to ostatnim krory wyjatkowo mi spasowal byl jesus doesnt want me for a sunbeam, orginalnie od The Vaselines, reszta coverow to kawalki od meat puppets, ktorych dwoch czlonkow bralo udzial w tym nagraniu, jesli chodzi o nirvanowe kawalki, to nie ma tutaj zbyt wielu topowych bangerow z ktorych znanych jest zespol, moze poza come as you are czy on a plain, nagranie otwiera jedyny utwor z debitanckiego bleacha, z neverminda znalazly sie 4 kawalki, natomiast z utero 3, ktore brzmia inaczej niz ich albumowe odpowiedniki, cala plyta przypomina mi bardziej folka niz grunda, zwlaszcza za sprawa wolanego wystepu Cobaina, ktory brzmi dla mnie prawie jak Neil Young na tonights the night, mam na mysli jak slychac artyste w tym co spiewa, to i moze bardziej akustyczne podejscie do kompozycji i ciekawe dodatkowe instrumentale jak akordeon Novoselica z trzeciego traku nadaja plycie folkowego lub przynajmniej akustyczno rokowego klimatu, o ile tak mozna powiedziec o grungu, plyta brzmi jakby siedzialo sie w tym studio, traki sa polaczone krotkimi przerywnikami co bedzie grane nastepne no i reakcjami publiki, jakos nigdy nie bylem fanem nirvany, ale dobrze sie sluchalo tego lajwa, calkiem inaczej niz neverminda, ciekawe w jaka strone muzycznie by poszli, gdyby Kurt sie nie kopyrtnal, na plejke dodam raczej cos z coverow zeby nie duplikowac trakow, wiec trak jezusowy i czleka co sprzedal swiat
less exiting than i thought, but ... but .... can i say it? .... yes i can .... it´s a classic ;) A classic unplugged album that is
Should live albums be included on a 1001 album list? I am not sure, but certainly some of these live albums are pretty iconic, like this one - I suppose everyone knows it. It is excellent in many ways (the originals, the perfect covers, the production etc). But it also becomes a little bit boring too at some point - not sure if this is because the songs are so well known, or because it does not rock (pick a Violent Femmes (acoustic) record and you know what I mean).
More enjoyable than I expected.
Ook akoestisch prima te pruimen.
listened to it a million times. Great vocals and the classic 'professional amateurs' vibe.
Brilliant and haunting.. RIP I hope Kurt Cobain
Impresionante unplugged, pero un poco lento como para ponerle el 5.
The first live album I have received on this list, and a fantastic one at that. This concert is one I was familiar with and had seen footage of before, but I had never taken the time to listen to the entire performance. Nirvana is obviously beloved and could do no wrong back in the early 90's, but I feel that this outing helped elevate them to that legend status they have today since it is SO good. It says a lot when a band can prove themselves through the Unplugged concept. While they are mainly known for heavy guitars and screaming in their album tracks, they carry this performance with subdued, emotional vocals and tight instrumentals that create a very intimate and special listening experience. I feel this material would be more appealing to a broader audience than their other music in that it has a little something for everyone. While the renditions of songs from their older albums are great (maybe some not as strong as the original recorded versions), the covers are what stand out here the most. The Man Who Sold the World is fantastic and is definitely the most well known cover due to it originally being a Bowie track, but I really enjoyed the stretch of Meat Puppets covers (especially Plateau), and the track Where Did You Sleep Last Night could not be a better closer. The fact that these covers were included gives a great look into Kurt Cobain's inspirations that fueled his creativity, and the intense performances on them makes it sad that we didn't get more music from him after this. While I don't have much negative to say, I will admit that I have to knock this one down a bit just for the fact that it is a live performance rather than an album. I evaluate a setlist/show different than I would a track listing, and I find it much more impressive to compile new, unknown songs in a cohesive manner rather than combining proven hits and covers. As an experience, I would give it a 4.5, but as an album that appears on this list, I give it a little lower. 4/5.
I recorded this show on VHS and rewatched it so often, the magnetic media started to wear down. It is entirely impossible for me to disconnect this album from the experience of finally having access to my favorite band, for an entire show. The memory is made all the more poigniant by it's proximity to Kurt's suicide, where this entire show took on an entirely different palor and tone. Attempting to detach myself from my deep connection to the moment in time, the album itself is still legitimately great music. The pop relatability of the band's music, including their covers, is made plain in every track. Kurts vocals are remarkably stable and smooth, save for when he's growling out a chorus. Throughout it all, there is a tenderness and an intimacy that is common through the early days of the unplugged performances, and for which this album established the watermark. Really, the only reason I don't listen to this album much at this point, is because it hurts a little too much to listen to. Then again, it is better to have loved and lost, than it is to have never loved at all.
Nirvana's and Clapton's unplugged albums are the only two unplugged albums that should not be in a trash pile. The "Let's do an unplugged album" strategy got to be so excessive and such an obvious money grab. The "blame" for this lies squarely with Clapton since he made an amazing unplugged album that deservingly sold a shitload of copies but unfortunately started the trend. MTV was quite happy to enable all the others to jump on the bandwagon. Nirvana's unplugged album allowed a very different take on their songs. Also, when you have such good lyrics, it's nice to be able to decipher them. Pennyroyal tea might have my favourite Nirvana lyrics: "Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld, so I can sigh eternally." I suppose it shouldn't be a great shock that Kurt liked Bowie but who would have guessed they would cover The Man Who Sold The World? This song is one example of another aspect of this album that makes it stand out from all the bandwagon jumpers on - that being the big "Fuck you" to MTV by not playing their big hits and having the Meat Puppets be their special guests. The final part that is special is that this album feels like Kurt's swan song. I think they were on tour when they did this recording and continued to tour afterwards but the accessibility of this concert footage made it feel like the last concert. RIP
I’ve always found Nirvana to be extremely overplayed in the radio world (and this album is guilty of that too). As I get older I appreciate them more though. There are some great songs contained within here. Fave tracks: “Lake of Fire””Pennyroyal Tea” “Dumb”
I was ten when Kurt Cobain died, and I didn't see what all the hubbub was about. Why were people crying about the death of someone they didn't even know. All these years later, I have more of an understanding of why his music was so loved. They'll never be my favourite band, but I can at least appreciate them for completely changing the face of rock radio away from the garbage that gained popularity in the 80's. Also, props to them for not playing Smells Like Teen Spirit.
Great album
Nice acoustic covers. Cobain has a style all his own that you have to like, or not (7/10) FT: Where Did You Sleep Last Night, All Apologies
Enjoyable performance. I often pull this out and listen again.
Wow. I haven’t pulled this one out in awhile. Love this album. 2 of my favorite covers ever, one of them of a song in my top ten (The Man Who Sold The World) I don’t know if it’s with the weight of knowing the end of his story that makes me want to read so much into this performance, but Cobain’s comes across rough, almost broken in places. It’s an intimate performance, at a time when we were longing for intimate performances. Even after his death, it feels like we are still right there in that MTV unplugged audience. Very few live albums invoke those feelings. Hell, very few studio albums manage to stir up any feelings. Not the best album ever, but makes this bitter genX FEEL something, and that ain’t nothing.
Great showcase for Nirvana
One of my favorite live albums.
Cobain and the band prove that the strength of their songs are deep in the songs, not dependent on the particulars of recording. The opener has a good amount of harmonic weirdness that comes through extra-clear as presented. But to balance the weirdness, this is one of the more intimate live performances I've heard captured. There's evident theater, but it's the kind between friends and not the above-you variety more common to rock bands. MTV in the title puts a slightly uncanny spin on sincerity, but doesn't hurt the music.
always loved this album and I remember seeing it live on MTV (probably live on tape)
Just incredible, highlights the talent of Nirvana. No fillers, no duff tracks, just one great song after another. Arguably their finest album. Actual score 4.5
Nice
Top quality 1st of 1001. Heard it before but looking forward to a re-visit. I remember Kurt's acoustic sounding phenomenal and his voice being note for note on the money with even more emotion than the studio recorded versions.
so far very good, definitely a solid 4. The main singer adds a lot to the beats, his voice is super unique oh shit that's kurt cobain I can completely understand if someone said Nirvana was their favorite band, they're great Back half is definitely slower than the first half, probably would have helped to be more upbeat
The covers are fantastic, but for the album cuts, I prefer the studio versions.
I'm not the biggest fan of Nirvana but I've heard little of their music, so I'll try to be fair. With "About a Girl", I can already hear a sort of proto-Foo Fighters sound taking shape. I have to wonder if Nirvana would have eventually produced an album like The Color And Shape if Kurt Cobain hadn't died. This album doesn't really change my opinion of Nirvana's music - They have a sound I'm just not interested in - but the artistry and pure human emotion on display is really telling. You can feel the strain on Kurt during the performance and just how much of his soul is going into his music. It's compelling, even to me. And the cover of The Man Who Sold The World may be my favorite ever.
One of my favourite bands from my early teenage years and synonymous with the 90s as a whole. Bleach is still for me Nirvana’s best work, everyone knows Nevermind had the songs that made them famous, however Unplugged is perhaps the album that most people associate with this band. Those people are, of course, dickheads, but nonetheless this is still without doubt a great album and deserving of a place on any list of albums to hear before you die (Perhaps prophetically Kurt recorded it just months before he himself died in a tragic accident with a shotgun). Should the fact that 42% of this album is covers detract from its overall esteem? No, not when they are executed so brilliantly. Indeed the album really catches fire from Plateau onwards and 4 of those last 5 songs are covers. 27 years on this still gives me goosebumps and really is quite brilliant. But I can’t pretend there are not sections of this album that drag and as such I can’t quite bring myself to give it full marks, as much as I wanted to.
Can see why this is a classic, even if it's not entirely my cup of tea.
Monumental live album.
Heard of the second song before Rock Punk
An absolute classic. Been in my DNA since 1994.
Nearly lived up to their hype with this acoustic set. Good set, but still vastly overrated
Lo tuve en CD, me lo compró mi papá en la feria del libro hace mil años <3. Para mí esta es la versión definitiva de The man who sold the world. En esta ocasión vi la grabación por youtube, es bastante triste ver el estado de Kurt, y la atmosfera funeraria. Pero bueno, las versiones son buenisimas para mí.
Blues
Better than I thought it would be. They were a good sounding live band.
Its crazy how similar Kurt's voice sounds live to the recordings.
Good 90s vibes.
Good live album with some decent covers. Nirvana is overrated, but this is a classic performance.
-"Come As You Are," "Lake of Fire," "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," and "Plateau" stood out -Not as good as I thought it would be, I kind of expected more energy out of the setlist, like "School" or "Smells Like Teen Spirit"
Obvious classic.
My favorite versions of "Come as You Are" and "All Apologies" are on this album. Overall, this is a solid live album, especially considering that Nirvana played the whole show on acoustic instruments. Even the selection of tracks shows that the band was trying to do something different but representative of their style of music.
The definitive Nivana album
Many of the Nirvana classics. Good mixing for a live album. Reminded me of how much I miss live shows!
Great album just would rather listen to the full songs
Pretty great album. Good throwback.
I have mixed feelings about live albums being on this list (probably unjustly) but this album really is just really really good. Stripped down, a more approachable kind of angst, solid all the way through.
Best live album up until now, good start
One of my favourite bands from my early teenage years and synonymous with the 90s as a whole. Bleach is still for me Nirvana’s best work, everyone knows Nevermind had the songs that made them famous, however Unplugged is perhaps the album that most people associate with this band. Those people are, of course, dickheads, but nonetheless this is still without doubt a great album and deserving of a place on any list of albums to hear before you die (Perhaps prophetically Kurt recorded it just months before he himself died in a tragic accident with a shotgun). Yes you could argue that they played it a bit safe with the set list - choosing to pad it out with covers rather than rework their own catalogue into acoustic numbers. I mean should the fact that 42% of this album is covers detract from its overall esteem? No, not when they are executed so brilliantly. Indeed the album really catches fire from Plateau onwards, 4 of those last 5 songs are covers which begs the question, could Nirvana have established themselves as the greatest covers band of all time had they not wasted their time on vanity projects such as In Utero? We will never know. What I do know is 27 years on this still gives me goosebumps and really is quite brilliant. But I can’t pretend there are not sections of this album that drag and as such I can’t quite bring myself to give it full marks, as much as I wanted to. 4/5
Pretty good
Interesting - wasn't keen to listen but quite enjoyed it.
4/5 Very good album, with many amazing songs
One of my favorite Nirvana albums. I'm not generally a fan of live albums, but this one is so good
The album that showed another side of the noisy grunge band, and did so extremely well. Particular hits like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Heart-Shaped Box, and Lithium can't be found here because they simply wouldn't work in this "unplugged" setting. Instead, a more carefully-selected setlist is used to great success for a more tender and intimate album. Overall, it's just incredible. You have everything there is to love about Cobain et al. with a whole new vibe that sounds just as good as when they're being loud and large. A must-listen.
The acoustic side of Nirvana. Kurt shines!
Great album. Apart from that guy who keeps talking to Kurt.
very nice album with some classics. not a fan of the live recording version but still very good music
Have never been a fan of Nirvana, only ever heard their ‘big’ songs, this live album was an excellent intro to them. 4/5
Feels a little too much like Nirvana proving they know more than 3 chords.... they were a lesser band when they weren't raging but still a really enjoyable listen
So good for a live album. 9/10
Couple of a great tracks and recordings for the ages
Es un album increible, tanto que gente a ajena al genero igualmente lo disfrutan. Todo una hazaña del Kurt Cobain. Tiene covers increibles.
ich mag es trotzdem. die uncut aufzeichnung ist ein exzentelles dokument von kaputtheit.
Neben den B-Sides („Incesticide“) meine liebste Nirvana Aufnahme. Die Essenz der Song schlägt durch, ihre Schönheit vorgetragen, traurig ausgestellt, tolle Aufnahme. Ist das vielleicht schon der leise Urknall, der Beginn von quiet is the new loud ? „The man who sold the world“ jagt mir immer noch einen Gänsehautschauer ein. 3.9
4
A surprisingly pleasant look into the personality of Kurt cobain
Classic live album. Gives the songs a much more raw, emotional edge
Classic.
One of the few live albums I like. Cobain at his best. 8/10 1. About a Girl 2. Where Did You Sleep Last Night 3. All Apologies
great album
Sad and happy and sad and magical. It is so casual yet so well produced.
Guitars... emotion
Best Nirvana album, IMHO... such great renditions of classic songs, and love hearing them this way. Highlights: -Come as You Are -The Man Who Sold The World -All Apologies -Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Melhor performance ao vivo do Nirvana. (Não era muito difícil pra eles ter uma performance ao vivo, considerando que a maioria das performances dele ao vivo era uma bosta)
Aw kurt you're so cute
Oh Kurt. Reminds me of listening to this a lot as a teenager. Some of the songs are not as enjoyable in this setting, but there are some moments of brilliance.
Familiarity: 1/10 Notes: Although I've never personally endeavored to listen to a Nirvana Album, or maybe even a Nirvana song, yet I found myself humming and recognizing around half of the tracklist including covers. A rock classic, this band will always find a way to live on. Real Rating: 7/10
These stripped down, acoustic versions of their songs really shows off how fundamentally good a vocalist and songwriter Kurt was. I find it amusing that this is "unplugged" but he still sometimes plays with distortion with his acoustic amp. This Aussie gives it 4 jars of vegemite out of 5.
It's strange but I think my favorite songs on this album were the covers of other songs. Really fun album!
Surprisingly good sound quality for a live album. Reading up on Cobain's death makes this album significantly sadder. 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night', 'Come As You Are' are bangers.
Pretty good! Unsurprisingly
Looking forward to hearing Nevermind again.
Finally, something worth listening to. Brings a layer of maturity to their songs, and some expertly chosen covers - this might ultimately be what they become best remembered for.
Sounds great stripped down and the covers are dope
12/11 Smooth, less aggressive versions of a lot of their records and renditions of other's as well. Like the crowd reactions and band comments, adds to the vibes. Standout Tracks: About A Girl, The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Polly
An excellent summation of the band, their catalog, and sound while still excelling in a different package.
Ovi sigurno ne znaju ko je Midž Uri
If you like unplugged, Nirvana sound great here.
I am not a fan of "live" versions of albums, so this was already on an uphill battle. It wasn't bad, and I enjoyed the tracks "Come as You Are", "Dumb," and "Lake of Fire." But overall, I don't think I would listen to this again or give it another chance.
I never "got" Nirvana. They had some good songs, for sure, but I did not comprehend how they could be such an extraordinary, genre-changing international success. This show didn't do anything to change that for me; other than "All Apologies" (a song I always liked), my favorite songs in this performance were the three Meat Puppets covers. It's a good performance, and Cobain was clearly a passionate singer, but it doesn't blow my mind.
Me gustó mucho más q el anterior
I’m torn. On one hand, the live versions of their songs are just worse than the studio versions. The covers, though, really make this thing worth it. I guess they will have to battle in a duel.
This was cool. I don't listen to Nirvana like that so a live set doesn't do that much for me. My best bet would be to revisit this after having listened to them a bit. Edit: listened more closely and it got worse lol they can't really play in time and Cobain can't really sing and some of the songs sound the same. This floats closer to 2.5 than 3.
A huge change of direction. An atmospheric live recording mainly acoustic. A brave and enjoyable recording.
I mean, it's Nirvana. Singing often sounds like a mouthful of stones was used to create a bit of a mumble. I did think All Apologies was awesome. 3/5
Ita just some other nirvana songs live in one album
it was good, but I feel like its not my style. like nirvana is def talented but I found myself bored while listening like I can't jam out to ts. 3.6/5
6/10 Basicon, es bueno pero no me encanto
Nice listen with a much more intimate version of the band that is very enjoyable. Love Kurt’s voice
Sorry Nirvana, but I just don’t have the ear. I appreciate the music but find myself getting bored.
Listened to the acoustic version, so not a bad.
Good, but not great. Same repetitive hum drum from one song to another.
MEH
I think many point to this as one of the best live albums of all time, but really it’s just for my generation the most influential. I grew up with tracks from this playing the radio every single day, but never listened all the way through. In short, it’s good most of the time, great a select few times. God I love that Lead Belly cover though.
Is this really a show stopping top album of all time? Nevermind should be, and is, on this list but this?
I don't really care for live music albums. It's like yay, give me worse sounding audio than the original. Plateau and Lake Of Fire being sung live was pretty amazing though.
Something in the wayyyy
Really cool record. Made me want to watch it, as I imagine I would appreciate it even more. Bowie cover is cool, Meat Puppets covers are cool. Favorite part of the album is just the moments of Kurt talking I think.
I was dreading another Nirvana album, but this was surprisingly tolerable. Didn't give me a headache either which is always nice
I know a lot of people fell in love with them over this album, but I don't know if it really plays to their strengths like In Utero does. It was a good move for them, pointing to where they might have gone after this, but it's a little one note for me.
It’s okay. I like hearing them chat about the songs, I’d have loved to have been there, but as an album it’s not my favorite. Maybe just my bias against this type of record :(
I like the guitar again not my cup of tea but it’s definitely better than the sad country music nirvana is a good band
I enjoyed listing to this. It's a nice live album
Favs : About a girl The man who sold the world Polly Oh me Apologies Where did you sleep last night HM : Lake of fire & Dumb
This album has the historical sin of making the lame concept of an unplugged set look cool. Despite that, it is quite enjoyable although the best tracks are not theirs (the Bowie's song alone give it a +1)
Nothing crazy not bad tho
Really like the live instrumental acoustics Come as you are live acoustic on eletric guitar and bass guitar sound so idk how to describe it.
I had watched the recording of Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged in New York” live because my girlfriend at the time was a huge Nirvana fan. Back then, MTV had a series of unplugged concerts where well-known bands showcased their talent with a stripped-down lineup, and some of them were pretty impressive. That wasn’t the case with Nirvana, though, because that band didn’t have much to offer technically. As a result, the songs - admittedly strong songs - sounded relatively choppy, and the performance struck me more as a group of mediocre street musicians who had stumbled into the MTV studio by accident. For many, it was the ultimate revelation, but even back then I felt - and still do today when I listen to it - that Nirvana shouldn’t have played that concert. For me, it remains the ultimate symbol of the commercial sellout of this band, which had actually started out under very different circumstances.
One of the first albums I ever listened to, and one of my first cds Amazing Live album but Alice In chains just ever so slightly beats theres
Good overall, but lacked the bite that the studio versions had.
No value add to being unplugged.
While it's surprising how well Nirvana’s songs stand up in their acoustic form, there is no doubt to me that their music loses some dimension and edge when the distortion and bluster is removed. It is true that the band’s most appealing qualities lie in their melodies but for me there is a smaller but critical component missing from most of these arrangements which limits their impact and presence. Regardless, their material holds up well with the only total flop being the under-rehearsed Pennyroyal Tea. Where I do not agree with fans of this record is on the quality of the cover songs. The Vaselines and David Bowie are battered and bruised by the MTV Unplugged experience, detracting from the overall album. The trio of songs from Meat Puppets II fare much better thanks to the actual Meat Puppets being invited on stage but with the exception of Oh Me their songs don’t suit Cobain’s voice. I’d rather hear the other Curt (who is onstage!) sing them. Though it must be said how amazing it is that Cobain championed more obscure acts, or in the case of Leadbelly, introduced classic acts to a new audience. Nirvana only have four records: MTV Unplugged and the three studio albums. Unplugged and the iconic Nevermind firmly sit on the more accessible side of their catalog. This may be completely unfair, but I can’t help but feel that part of the overwhelmingly positive reception for MTV Unplugged was due to it both being released shortly after Cobain’s death and it being the band’s second accessible record. Fans of Nevermind (which is the largest subset of Nirvana fans) suddenly had a second place to focus their attention in the wake of Cobain’s death. For me it's a good listen, an interesting artifact, but not a classic record or a patch on their studio albums.
Nevermind is a landmark album, though I stray from the Cobain worship. This is gripping in spots, but difficult to listen to in others. Cobain's rasp is pained, the songs, at first, seem to gain something from the acoustic arrangements, but ultimately, start to lose momentum and I just don't love it.
There's a lot to like here, but it's just not for me. I dig how they pay tribute to their idols, especially by bringing out the Kirkwood brothers for their Meat Puppets covers. But I prefer the covers to the Nirvana originals, except for that first tune, which is pretty dope. But overall, I find this set pretty depressing in a way that doesn't speak to me. I never really connected with these guys, but Kurt was a real champion of indie music, so I respect that.
6.5/10.
This album is the first one of these that I have heard or I have watched the videos but it has been a while. This album has a legendary status and I think some have said it is the best acoustic album of all time. To me Nevermind is 5/5 album but because of my somewhat hard rating criteria this no only gets 3.
This albums genre is not into my liking unfortunately. But Nirvana members are pretty damn confident in their craft. Especially Kurt's vocals are sick.
Better than I thought it would be.
Realmente este unplugged me voló la cabeza
Great
Live albums will almost always be a 'meh' for me.
Gran acústico,me gusta mas el de pearl jam o alice in chains
very live, very cool. very angsty. very baggy blue jean flannel. i like it! really does just make kurt cobain seem like a cool dude. favorite song is Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Not a big Nirvana fan. Come as you are is a good song though. Got about 1/2 way through. Review: 5/10
Levy joka piti kattoa kuvan kanssa juutuubista. Vaikka näitä livelevyjä tulee arvioitua vähän alakanttiin nin onhan tää aika klassikko ja Dave Grohl näyttää aika nuorelta
I don’t love the whole album. I thought I knew more music on the album but most of it I hadn’t heard before. You can feel the pain in Kurt’s voice with some of the songs.
A bunch of songs that I already have in their original form and covers that aren't better than the original. Honestly if they made me rate one of their actual albums with these songs on i would give higher.
This album was a roller coaster. Kurt is not a particularly skilled vocalist, but his raw voice suited perfectly with the bands music. Some of the songs were a bit to whiney, but some were fantastic Polly, Lake of Fire, and All apologies stood out.
Not a big fan of live music if I wasn't there, but this was actually ok
I am not a huge Nirvana fan, nor do I love live CDs. The band sounds great, it just isnt my style
i liked it :)
Surprisingly melodic - not what I expected given my limited exposure ot Nirvana. Pleasantly surprised!
exactly as expected. they're obviously excellent my rating aside
Please don't yell at me. Nirvana is important, I get it. Hell, a handful of tracks are in my permanent bangerz rotation. BUUUUUUUT... I dunno, man. When they first popped off, I was unfairly biased, viewing the whole grunge revolution as a lane for normies to entertain delusions of being edgy. Just a sea of t-shirts and girls with a particular penchant for sad bois, fully boned up for Kurt. I was in high school, alright? Douche levels were cranked to 11. I grew up and gleaned an appreciation, but considering the sheer volume of flowers thrown at their feet, I stubbornly still think I'm right. That said, MTV Unplugged in New York is a special lil recording. Intimate, haunted, beautifully performed - the kind of live session where the room itself feels like a crucial contributor. Cobain sounds less like he’s singing and more like the songs are leaking out of his pores, and the band is tasteful, restrained, and locked in. There’s the rub: restrained. It’s great, but it’s also Nirvana neutered. I respect the ache, the atmosphere, the cigarette-burn beauty of it all - just not quite enough exposed wiring and dental trauma for my personal sicko tendencies.
Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Gutes Set aber leider unplugged.
7/10, overall this nirvana album is amazing of course, I appreciate the songs for what they are. But taking in account my personal taste, this recording or maybe the song themselves don’t really fit it for me. It is calming, but a little too slow paced I guess.
Good live album featuring only acoustic renditions, which I’ve heard a bunch growing up. Decent tracks. Kurt’s voice strain and is a bit painful to listen to. But that adds to the genuineness of it I suppose. 3.3/5.0
I’m not sure this actually belongs on this list. Is it a good album? Certainly. But what type of record is it really? A bunch of cover songs with a few Nirvana originals performed acoustically. I’m not denying that those originals are transformed in this setting, particularly About A Girl and Pennyroyal Tea which benefit from the odd but inspired choice to play an acoustic guitar through an amplifier with effects pedals. This results in a semi-electric experience that created the tone impacting a number of the songs. The lack of hit songs and attention to lesser known tracks was also inspired because it highlighted how well written those songs actually were - the setting highlights the quality of the lyrics particularly on songs like Something in the Way and Polly. The Meat Puppets guest roles are, for me, genius as Kurt’s vocals with the Kirkwoods playing gives those tunes a vibrancy not found on Meat Oupoets II from which they were all derived. Overall a very good album with some interesting choices. 3.5/5
imo prob need to plug those instruments back in. not bad but they sound better on the other albums tbh.
Songs were nice, but after half of the album they started to bore me, they lack energy of electric guitar playing.
didn’t know i needed a nirvana unplugged till now
Not a huge Nirvana fan but this was a cool way to experience them
7/10
This was a pretty good live album however I’m not the biggest fan of live albums because it’s a lot of their popular songs combined with other covers. A 3 to me is appropriate.
Nice in the background.
Okay, acoustic versions of nirvana songs and some covers. Mhm. This piece is a very important part of music history, and last 3 decades of culture, but I am rating those albums on the enjoyment itself.
It's OK, I prefer them unplugged, but some poor songs on here.
April 15 2026 Wednesday Good listen, not the biggest nirvana guy but still enjoyed Need to listen to an actual album in full again Always saw this album in Barnes and noble and now finally listening
It's perhaps difficult to separate this album from the context surrounding Nirvana, and for many that only serves to enhance the experience. For me, as someone who has no strong feelings either way about the band, this is a fine, albeit seemingly mundane, live performance; though the comments from Kurt and others do give it a sense of life.
*No doubt that this was an important recording/concert in music history. *I don't overly love acoustic versions of rock songs, but Kurt's performance is fantastic.
Simply not as aligned with this one as I'd like to be but it has plenty of strong moments.
Jst not really my thing but good
Never been that keen on the outpourings of grief for Kurt which always colours my opinion of the music. This was a bit better than I expected to start with but tailed off as time went on.
I don’t really like love albums but this one was good
The album starts off grisly and growly and not a lot of full on singing. It evolves into a mellow grunge. My favorite song was the man who sold the world. The acoustics add a very cool feel to it
actually a pleasant listen
I love Nirvana but this one was a dreary, plodding slog. Really liked The Man Who Sold The World. Will not be revisiting this album.
I normally don’t like live albums; or unplugged. But nirvana is good. 2.75
I don't like live, but this was pretty clean.. I might just not like nirvana, or maybe I just heard it so much I'm over it
Nice concert 3 stars
like the instruments and also the context of the album
cool covers of well know songs :)
Every song that Nirvana chose in this live performance is great, I know some songs from movies (czs im a movie sucker) like Come as You Are, Something in the Way, and The Man Who Sold the World. I try to expand my art's library beyond visual art, and this is one of the recommendation.
Easy listening Nirvana. Those songs and covers is what I remember from MTV being reprised over and over again, the songs did get more easy to process but, gor me, it just sayd how much the band has sold themselves out at this point. They claimed to be rebels but were shaking hands with the music industrybon the background. As for the music, the instrumental is ok but it is a big meh 3 for me
Lost my notes. Something about this being better than their debut album, but it just doesn't do much for me.
Not as good as I was hoping for
Overrated
I have listened it while doing my homework and realised that this was kind of bad idea: my brain had simply forgotten most of the songs. I will give this album second chance someday, but right now I have no desire to listen it again. Sorry, Nirvana :(((
Standout Track: Something In The Way
Iconic and a bit grating at times
This was all good but I just never connected with grunge the way people like ten years older than me did
J’vais probablement en choquer certains, mais pour moi c’est un album sans plus. On retrouve des classiques du groupes, mais je trouve que la version live dénature complètement les morceaux. Certains apprécient l’esthétique, moi pas trop. Ce sera 3, parce qu’il y a quand même des sacrés morceaux.
ALBUM DE ANIVERSARIO \O/ FAVS (top 3): jesus doesnt want me for a sunbeam, the man who sold me the world, something in the way mençoes honrosas: come as you are, pennyroyal tea, plateau, oh me é um album ao vivo... cantam bem, eu curti nota final: 3.5/5
my most unpopular opinion ever is probably that I dont really care for Nirvana a few songs were cool though
In retrospect, this performance is more valuable as a cultural touchstone than an actual Unplugged appearance. There's some absolutely all-time performances including Kurt breaking out About a Girl to a national audience. But other songs just don't pack the same punch without the punch of the Jazzmaster and the thick layers of fuzz. It's important but not their best, and while it's crucial to listen to it, only a few songs will stick.
Haven't met a live album that deserved to be on here yet
Enjoyed it more than I thought I would
Could only get into a few songs.
Interesting album, but top 1000?
good but not my fav!!
I remember being really underwhelmed by the amount of obscure covers and lack of, uhm, Nirvana songs when this aired on MTV. But somehow I owned this CD as did my other three freshman roommates. I don't know man. It's definitely got its moments and I appreciate the early 90s time capsule moments of the banter between songs. But this is not really that great.
Enjoyed hearing the songs in a live environment and witnessing how great the vocals are even without tuning. Enjoy the album versions more but cool perspective nonetheless.
I've thought for a while now that every Nirvana song sounds the exact same and this hasn't convinced me otherwise
Nirvana não é das minhas bandas favoritas, o "Nevermind" nunca me pegou, mas sempre tive carinho pelo "In Utero", o acústico é bem surpreendente, o Cobain se mostra bem versátil e uma ótima escolha de repertório. Uma agradável surpresa
This is a good live album, but I still hold these types of albums should be largely excluded from this list. Half of this is fairly standard versions of Nirvana's own tracks.
I liked it more but I don’t enjoy the singer
Some great tunes on this album. But, damn this band was sloppy. I guess that was part of the appeal.
This was pretty good. I don't usually like live albums, but I think the fact that it's "unplugged" instead of like an arena setting makes it much more palatable. Plus some of the songs are iconic performances.
Enjoyable
A bit dull
Var helt ålreit dette, skjønner ikke helt hypen bak livealbumet da - hørte på det så mulig opplevelsen er litt annerledes hvis man ser videoen i tillegg. 3/5
Ganske bra, liker viben. Men syntes ikke de låtene jeg kjenner igjen blir bedre av at de er "unplugged" da.
I was underwhelmed by this . I actually don't think that Cobain is very good acoustic. Grohl and Novaselic carry the album but can't make up for the poor vocals
Me when my throat hurts
Tem alguns bangers, mas na generalidade é um álbum ok
Meh, I don't listen to nirvana, but this still seems like really generic nirvana 67/100
Nirvana is one of the few bands out of the 90s that I am a fan of (Pearl Jam and Barenaked Ladies are the only others that come to mind). However, I like my Nirvana loud and electric. This live unplugged album was too subdued for me. I’m giving it a 3 because it’s Nirvana, but I’ll take Nevermind over this album any day. I did like the Bowie cover and All Apologies.
Bättre story än musik, stark trea.
Går inte igång på Nirvana så värst men jag gillade dem i det här formatet. Det är intimt, avskalat, emotionellt, soulful. Har lite svårt för Cobains country-klingande sångröst men gillar omväxlingen från att höra skriksången man annars är van vid.
Avklätt, rått och alldeles, alldeles bjäring? Känns som jag borde bli skjuten för kätteri, men ah. Det är rätt överskattat för mig. Bonuspoäng för Curts bakisröst. Otroligt bra och så otroligt sliten.
de e starkt och mörkt och ibland vackert men jag har bara så svårt att ta till mig R.E.M-rösten :(
Very raw emotion put into this, all songs are very good some even better than the original. Excellent album
Absolutely fine.
Pretty fun to hear this live
Great live album, but I don't know if it's one of the "greatest" live albums of all time. There's a lot going on behind the scenes that I think affected the chemistry and energy during the performance. But I live for these covers. Especially "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." I certainly agree that Nirvana was about to reinvent themselves, and that this was a precursor for a new sound. I love their sound stripped bare, which is why "Something in the Way" is always so moving for me.
It's not bad. The recording is surprisingly good for a live album. The covers were interesting enough, too, but I'd rather listen to In Utero or Nevermind.
3.5
liked the last song but overall was just a normal album for me
no tämä on sitä mitä Nirvana on. Paitsi kivaa sanailua bändiläisten kesken myös
Loved the social and personal aspect on some nirvana classics. Loved the covers too
A pirate's egg. Some great some ok.
Objectively, it's a 4/5, but I don't enjoy Nirvana enough, personally. So 3/5 it must be.
Okay, not really a fan of acoustic set.
I'm already familiar of this album, but not FULLY (heard of it) for its live performance. I really liked how they played the melody on "The Man Who Sold the World", the musicians in this band is good at their instruments and vocals served as well. I also enjoyed "Come as You Are", which I have already listened to in the past. However, sometimes I get confused on what he wants to talk about in the music. It's like trying to write a purposeful essay while drunk. I think I prefer the studio version more, because I didn't like how some songs sounded in this. It was like something was missing. LIKED songs: Come as You Are, & The Man Who Sold the World Honorable mentions: Dumb, & Something in the Way RATING: 3/5 Jan. 17, 2026 (10:07 PM)
Sure
I like some of their songs but I was never a huge Nirvana fan, even in my youth.
6.2/10
6/10… grunge / akustik rock / *1994
I prefer Nirvana plugged in but this is alright as 'a radio friendly unit shifter'
The monochrome sound throughout this album got very tiresome. Favourite song: Lake of Fire - live 8/10 Worst song: About a Girl - live 4/10 Rating of album: 6/10
kind of cool to get this right acted ybd meat puppets album like very serendipitous . i’m not a huge nirvana fan but still very very cool
This one disappointed me as their studio albums are just so nice and grunchy.
nirvana was never for me and neither was live albums. studio versions always sounds better and I don't really care what he has to say in between songs. but it's ok ig
Good but I personally burned out on nirvana in 1995.
Ik ben niet zo'n fan van live albums. Staan wel goeie nummers op. Vrij veel ken ik. Als het niet een live album was, zou ik een hogere rating hebben gegeven, want de nummers zelf zijn heel goed
not to ruin my reputation as a live albums hater, but i really do think this is a different beast. 3.5
I liked this a lot more than I thought I would. It was moody but sounded great. Really liked dumb. And surprisingly the later songs, even with some country influence were good. I do feel like it lacks the energy I gravitate towards usually but would listen again.
3,5*
Haven’t really listened to nirvana before I liked the acoustic and heard songs I didn’t realize were nirvana
Album: MTV Unplugged in New York Artists: Nirvana First spin mood: live albums get such a bad rep, but I enjoy watching and listening to live sets. so it’s great that the first album of this passion project is a live album. Nirvana is one of those bands that everyone should know so you pretend to know them as well. I’ve never been a huge listener other than a couple of their hits, but lately I’ve turned a new leaf and decided to listen to albums in its entirety to grasp the experience that the artist tries to take you on. The album really started up for me after plateau, with of course come as you are and man who sold the world are great but something in plateau seemed to change the atmosphere of the album for me. What it stirred in me: curiosity and impatience maybe One lyric or sound that stayed with me: Polly want a cracker lol whaaat haha. The voice in plateau resonated with me Where I was: started listening to this on a road trip from California to Colorado going through a snowstorm on i70 passing vail. What I felt: high expectations, which weren’t met until plateau. Didn’t know that song so it was cool to discover something new.
I really like live albums, but I felt like too much of this record was dull. I'm definitely missing the hype somewhere but at the end of the day I can't force myself to rate it high just because
Not really my music Taste
Killer acoustics (style: garage), certains très bons morceaux (Come as you are, Dumb, Oh me), une autre moitié de morceaux moins bons
Easy listening, harmless.
It’s ok
Liked about half the songs. Great voices and instrumentals a touch repetitive. Favourite song Dumb.
Kinda chill laid back listen; the song that I feel like had the most raw emotion would be "Where Did You Sleep Last Night", banger.
It was okay
Pretty good
Not my favorite album, it's fine but pretty same-y. Not a fan of the jokes between songs
Good album, not my favorite cause the voice of Kurt
its good but i dont really fw live versions
not generally my taste in music but really great and raw performances that i will happily listen to! favs! - about a girl - the man who sold the world - polly
bof...sounds like amateurs
Its pretty good i kinda like it
- all in one take (wtf) how does this sound so good - super raw - i want Kurt’s sweater collection
I like how they played every song after one another without having to tune in between :) pretty cool :)
2/3. Some really good songs on here, especially Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam, Man Who Sold the World, and Plateau. Cool to hear live versions of hits like Come As You Are and All Apologies too. Interesting to hear so many covers, gives an idea of the kind of music they were into. Kurt's singing is a bit hard to understand sometimes (mumbling), but his voice sounds good and he the covers let him show some range. Fun album, would recommend.
I don't personally care for Nirvana's sound, but I can respect them as artists and the role they played in music history. Enjoyed listening to this album from a historical perspective.
Kurt cobain is funny
i don't like listening to live music, so that's a bummer for this album. definitely a bummer recording of something in the way. still a solid listen, impressive vocals and great throughlines. favorite song: the Man Who Sold the World
As a Nirvana album, it’s probably in the top 3 live albums for me but doesn’t rank higher than live at Reading. The thing I hate about this album, although having nothing to do with the album itself, is the reason why I don’t listen to it. 15 years ago when it was introduced to me, or even just now on the internet, you couldn’t mention this album without being told that this is the best MTV unplugged album and that the Bowie cover is better than the original. It pisses me off to no end because it should be a music fan’s gateway to other unplugged albums or to Bowie’s early albums. But no, I have to be lectured by 13 years olds that Nirvana is the best at everything when they’re either regurgitating what they read online or can’t be bothered listening to other albums. Well how about this? The Alice in Chains unplugged album is a much better album and the Bowie cover is shit compared to the original track. This album gets boring just as Sunbeam starts.
I like the batman song
The background is really interesting, and its crazy to watch the live recording and see how young they all were. Not my cup of tea though, droning and very same-y.
6/10
Nirvana without the depth of electric sound doesn't work as well for me as for some others.
No individual song that really jumped off the page for me (Sunbeam probably closest to that) but Cobain’s a great vocalist and I like the bass enough to have this on the 3/4 border
Get that downtuned acoustic guitar, man! *vocal fry for days* I can see how "I'm going where the cold wind blows" could be an epic 'last lyric" to perform on an album, if Kurt Cobain had intended it to end that way... Pretty good stuff though
Another live album. Oh joy. Oh day of great mirth and whatever the smart sounding antonym of lamentation is. Celebration I suppose. That’s not that old-timey sounding. If “Kool and the Gang” have said it, it probably doesn’t appear in “Paradise Lost.” Well these reviews might not be Paradise, but they’re certainly a lost cause. Unplug that amp and let’s get pretentious. About a Girl - “most people don’t have this album.” Classic. Only thing more pretentious than being at this acoustic Nirvana concert in New York is the singer himself. What a guy. Decent song, but we’re missing the amps so far. Come as You Are - I’m pretty sure there is an amp there pal. And I can play this one! What a talent. What a dynamo of musical expression I am. We still need distortion and a touch o’ chaos. Still a good riff, good song, but I’m missing something here. As late comedian John Pinette said about gluten-free food, “needs gluten.” Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For a Sunbeam - Is this a reference to the Vaselines? Oh yes I wrote that before I heard the intro. Hell yeah. This is cool. Vaselines are an interesting group and this works in the live setting. The Man Who Sold the World - I think this is the most popular song they ever released. Which uhh means it’s not that good. Thanks D Bow. Pennyroyal Tea - Hmm. This tea is kinda flavourless. Dumb - Always liked this song and I enjoy the strings and whatnot here. Sounds stripped back, cool, still punk and whatever. Polly - One of the first Nirvana songs I got into. Remains hard hitting. Something in the Way - Riddle me this Bat man, what has a broom and flies? A janitor… with a PLANE ticket. *Uproarious Laughter.” Plateau - Geographical structure music. Foothills mentioned. Surprisingly enjoyable little track. I suppose whenever geography is afoot, I’m going to have a ball. Oh Me - Another floater. Lake of Fire - Not quite Nocturnus, but I’ve always liked this song as well. Quick, aggressive, fun. All Apologies - I kind of miss the Meat Puppets here. Where Did You Sleep Last Night - A beautifully sombre song. Love the original and the cover does a good job. I really love when bands honour their influences. I presume there were a lot of people there that had only heard “Smells Like Teen Spirit,” who were summarily exposed to the Vaselines, the Meat Puppets and Leadbelly over the course of this record. The unfortunate thing is that so much of the edge was missing from this thing. It’s a wonderful sounding concert, the tones are great, the artistic vision is there, but I am missing something from this. Nirvana hasn’t quite been achieved here. I believe that’s still to come, either on Nevermind or In Utero. I await those days with a few extra stars to hand out. 3.5 HIGHLIGHTS: Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For a Sunbeam, Dumb, Polly, Lake of Fire, Where Did You Sleep Last Night
a bitaccoustic for a nirvana album (disappointing?). had already listened to this but still njoyable
It's not bad but I feel like I'd appreciate it more if I was alive at the time or more into nirvana