Reviews (page 13 of 16)
Classico del madrido ça fait toujours plaisir même si c’est pas the album c’est toujours cool
Such a classic, always worth a listen
You wanna know a thought I’ve never had? “Hey, I really wanna listen to an acoustic Nirvana album.”
Fantastic album. There isn’t a single bad thing I can say about it, some amazing acoustic songs (I especially like the covers of the man who sold the word and where did you sleep last night) and from a band that is absolutely not known for being acoustic. Unfortunately it just doesn’t have enough of an oomph for me to give it the five stars, but I still loved it. 4.5/5
My fav typa music: sick yet chill, I guess R&B like I can see why they’re popular
The final statement from one of the greatest bands of my generation. It surprised everyone who watched it at the time, perfect in every way. How many bands can take a Bowie standard and practically make it their own.
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.
With man who stile the world cover and lake of fire this is an amazing album showing Nirvanas range.
Excelente! Un placer escucharlo!
Rústico pero es el sonido puro Los temas son Nirvana, no puedo decir nada. Es la expresión de un grunge menos enojado, mas conectado con la nostalgia. Por alguna razón antes me gustaba mas. Son temas como Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam y Plateau te hacen acordar de por qué estos tipos cambiaron tanto el sonido que estaba instalado. Down on memory lane.
Mostly a bunch of songs I don't know and don't care about.
Kinda bored with it. It's special tho.
When taken at face value, it doesn't have the best songs Nirvana has ever written, but the rawness of this album succeeds in bringing to life what made Kurt Cobain (and by extension Nirvana) so incredible.
Altijd een groot fan geweest van die MTV-unplugged-concerten, en ook deze stelt niet teleur. Sterker nog, dit luistert wel erg fijn weg. Ook (of misschien wel: juist) zonder de gillende gitaren komen Kurt en zijn vrienden uitstekend tot zijn recht, en ik zou dit rustig nog wel tien keer kunnen horen.
Ook eens leuk; een elektrisch unplugged album. Nirvana is één van de weinige bands die zich de continue lange klinkers kan veroorloven. Bij nummers als About a Girl is het zelfs versterkend. Toch is het niet altijd raak. Nummers als Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam worden hierdoor verschrikkelijk zeurend. Het geeft mij dezelfde ergernis als de Beatles in hun begin-periode. Daar staat voldoende tegenover om het album hoog te waarderen. Zoals de gouden Bowie-cover. Kom ik toch nog op een 4+.
De rage begin jaren 90: unplugged concerten. MTV wist dat goed te pluggen en er zijn een aantal iconische platen uit voortgekomen. Mijn persoonlijke favoriet is de Alice in Chains versie, waar je duidelijk kan horen hoe goed de harde nummers overeind blijven in een uitgeklede versie. Maar de beroemdste is natuurlijk dit Nirvana concert. En daar geven we lekker de maximale score voor.
One of the great live albums. 5/5
All time great, first of my style.
All time favorite
Love it. Listened many times
Nothing but bangers
Einfach 10/10 Album. Direkt 2 mal gehört.
I like Nirvana best when they're loud, intense and raw, this album doesn't really tick those boxes so I can't say it's my favourite Nirvana album. Good but lacking.
I'm not as wild on it as most seem to be, but it's decent
Great album, the whole vibe is somber, relaxed, and overall legendary.
Chill atmosfera. Nirvana izvodi neke od svojih hitova i covere. Pjesme dobivaju novi sloj. Razgovori između pjesama daju karakter. Cobainovi vokali su čisti, razumljivi, i dalje ugodno hrapavi. Prekrasna izvedba Bowievog The Man Who Sold the World. Unplugged album i dalje zvuči grungy. Dalo bi se još puno reći o ovome albumu, ali sad nemam vremena
Smells like unplugged spirit, nice and ominous.
I think the consensus on this is since Unplugged was so successful that Nirvana likely would have done something for their fourth. I don’t think they would have been an interesting thought. I forgot how many Meat Puppets songs are on this. I had never heard the original songs and I listened to them afterwards. Such a weird choice to turn into basically country songs. Ultimately in 2023 I don’t think I’ll need to keep replaying Unplugged like I did in the early 2000s when I got really into Nirvana. It’s more a curiosity of the Nirvana narrative. It’s also crazy they were only in their mid 20s at this point. The banter in between songs is just kids awkwardly playing to the tv cameras.
A well put together list of songs. Lake Of Fire by the Meat Puppets, one of my favorite bands. Ending with Where Did You Sleep Last Night was perfect.
Fantastic album! One of the best
What a damn classic. I mean if I heard it for the first time today not sure what I’d think but this just smells like my teenage angst years
Alright album Better than prince I liked the country twang Best songs were dumb, plateau and where did you sleep last night
Para mim o melhor disco do Nirvana. As versões acústicas dão um ar totalmente diferente nas melodias. 5 estrelas.
Nirvana. One of the few live compilations on the list. Is this really "unplugged" though? Standouts: About A Girl, Plateau (Meat Puppets), Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold the World (Bowie Song), Dumb, Poly, Something in the Way, All Apologies, Lake of Fire (Meat Puppets) Others: On a Plain, Oh Me (Meat Puppets), Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam (a Vaselines song), Pennyroyal Tea, Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Lead Belly) Rating: 4.5
Ging wel lekker
even though i couldn't stand Kurt ..i like Dave and the songs are awesome
I don't think I knew anyone who didn't have this album growing up. It is the millennial Frampton Comes Alive. It is great. The stripped back Nirvana songs are great, and the Meat Puppets, Vaselines and Bowie covers were essential music education to my teenage self.
One of my all-time favourite albums. Always love re-listening to it.
This album was ubiquitous in the mid 90s. Like, every time I was in the car with my friends, one of these songs was playing. Never my favorite. I always thought it was a bit too depressing. Still do, tbh. Interesting, though, that many of the songs have really poppy melodies overlaid on top of dark lyrics and moody arrangements.
A number of classic songs performed to the highest level though some of the filler was not up to scratch.
Stone cold classic! Nirvana bewijst dat ze muzikanten zijn die gewoon heel goede nummers kunnen maken, en vertolken.
Fire
Great band. Great songs. But I prefer a studio album.
one of the best
Listened to nevermind and half of this. Music that works best playing in the background when cooking etc i think. Rough around the edges . Polly is concerning. Lithium is good. Smells Like Teen Spirit is a classic that i had actually never heard all the way through before. Cant hear for the life of me what they say between tracks on the live album tho.
i just really have never liked nirvana… will i get crucified for that take ?
Really enjoyable. Not into Nirvana but this was a good listen
I played this album all of the time as a teenager. Having not listened to it in decades, it has not held up as well as other Nirvana albums for me. The lack of skill in Cobain's playing and singing, which works just fine for stuff that's noisy and sludgy, just doesn't work for me as an acoustic set any more. That said, the covers in this set I actually do still enjoy somewhat. I love the Bowie song, even if the performance is not the best, and the Meat Puppets section is also still a fun little set of 3 songs.
Haven't listened to this in a long time, but sung along to every song, so I guess that means something. 5/5
Stripping the songs down does them favors, they sound better with less bells and whistles even if Cobain’s spotty lyrics are as plain as day. But at the same time, he really strains his voice harder than he needed to here. I don’t think I’ll ever get the Nirvana hype. C-
One of the best live albums ever
Sorrý, en þetta unplugged dæmi var bara aldrei málið, þó þessi plata sé kannski best úr þessari seríu. Kurt er tilfinningaríkur söngvari, en grunge raddbeitingin er svo leiðinleg. Lögin eru mörg ágæt og útsetningarnar líka, en þó bestar þegar þarf að svindla á unlplugginu (riffið í MWSTW). Skil svo ekki hvernig einhverjum getur fundist sú útgáfa betri en Bowies.
Couple of good renditions. Prefer loud nirvana
Awesome!!!! 🤩
Fuck yes.
I didn't love 'Nevermind', but I can not stop listening to this. I think this is one of the few live acoustic albums where the original "produced" sound is preserved but the acoustics actually give it depth. Ultimately, this was how it was supposed to be listened...and it worked so well.
B- About a Girl 3 Come as You Are 3 Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam 3 The Man Who Sold the World 4 Pennyroyal Tea 3 Dumb 3 Polly 3 On a Plain 3 Something in the Way 3 Plateau 3 Oh Me 2 Lake of Fire 2 All Apologies 3 Where Did You Sleep Last Night 4 I had massive expectations for this. Confirmed: Nirvana is better in the studio.
Love this album so much. Nirvana was one of the most important bands to me when I was a kid, but as an adult this is the one I go back to the most. So many great songs on this from About a Girl to The Man Who Sold the World to Lake of Fire. The best though is Where Did You Sleep Last Night...Kurt's scream at the end is an iconic moment of the 90s. Definite 5 star from me.
I’ve loved this album for a long time and will continue to do so
One of the greatest albums of all time. Almost every track is a banger which has stood the test of time and remained relevant. I listened to the full album twice today.
RIP Kurt. Amazing performances from all throughout. Nirvana on top form.
HL: "About a Girl", "The Man Who Sold the World", "Pennyroyal Tea", "On a Plain", "Lake of Fire", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" Now I'm not a big fan of Nirvana or anything But it has accordion! And cello! 5* Biggest surprise was how good the Meat Puppets covers were (esp. "Plateau" and "Lake of Fire"). I've heard most of the rest of this album already, in high school October 28, 2023
This was one of my mum's favourite albums when I was growing up, and we listened to it constantly. So, I love it, but its not really possible I think for me to separate the music from childhood nostalgia. I totally forgot about this album though, and now I remember it exists I'll definitely be playing it at least a few times a year.
Yes. This is the first album that made me understand the value of a live album. The studio albums are higher quantity, but there is still usue for this, it's still raw and amazing.
Seminal album by a band who had blown up, and it was great to hear them unplugged and showcase their talent… It real stand out album for me.
Grunge at its best. Cobain as vulnerable as could be. Incredible live acoustic recording.
The Nirvana songs are good; they don’t lose much in translation from the studio versions, and gain a raw, haunting quality, with Cobain’s voice even more at the forefront. But the real stars of this album are the covers. Those Meat Puppets songs are great - I don’t think that gets talked about enough (I’ve since listened to the originals and they don’t compare - Nirvana’s renditions give them so much more depth). The Bowie cover is on point and Where Did You Sleep Last Night is the highlight of the whole thing, especially with the context of Kurt’s mental state at the time. That context has helped put this album on a pedestal that I’m not sure it would’ve reached based on the performance alone, but who knows, maybe it would’ve got close. For a live album to become iconic the performance needs to be special and unique, but it doesn’t hurt if there’s some mythology around it too. 4.5
Don't like nirvana but like this
Elite
Classic
Fun album but would rarely listen to this by choice.
el Album es excelente.
I was very ready to condem this as I honestly don't think the cover of man who sold the world is actually very good. Having said that, I did really enjoy listening to this. I hate the long downtime between each song and think there are some weak tracks on there but come as you are and where did you sleep last night are hauntingly beautiful.
A classic, and obviously a great one
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.
Nirvana released their last studio album, In Utero, 30 years ago. A dark, disturbing, intense album that solidified their legend with much critical and commercial success. MTV Unplugged was the first material released after Kurt Cobein's untimely death, a subdued live performance that was semi-unplugged (amplified acoustic instruments) with a live studio audience that featured stripped down versions of Nirvana songs and numerous covers, including a trio of songs from the Meat Puppets (with the Kirkwood brothers guesting on those songs). At the time of the release, I was getting sick of the mainstream attention the band was attracting and haven't listened to the complete record in one sitting for sometime. Nirvana was a band known for their loud, sloppy, spontaneous energy and amazing live shows and to hear the group in a calm, tightly produced TV studio setting (candles?) and normal looking teens and adults watching the unplugged show was weird. What MTV Unplugged accomplished was it showcased that Cobein wrote great songs and they were quality musicians and performers, but also that their audience was becoming more wide ranging and diverse. In the end, the band stood by their ethics and wrote and performed material they wanted. They weren't the second coming of Elvis, nor were they the "new" Beatles, but somehow a band that only released 3 studio records is celebrated and renowned. Mainstream attention and success, unfortunately was probably the demise of the band and Cobein's life and for whatever reason, Unplugged, Nevermind and maybe In Utero will still be remembered another 30 years from now.
Good rainy day vibes. Not my usual stuff, but still good.
Definitely one of Nirvana's best performances ever. 5/5
Kurt Cobain acoustic but it is the version I've consistently heard
Good, but can it really be better than a plugged in version? Unlikely. Man Who Sold the World is a good cover, but Bowie reigns supreme.
A good live album but not one I would place high in my top 1000 albums. Best song - Plateau
This is a great album but Cobain’s vocal style does not always fit the unplugged format, which can be a little jarring throughout. Other than that, very solid
Great album. Brings me back to highschool
One of the core memories from the 90's, incredible iconic, acoustic album, rounding off the grunge era.
Rating: 9/10 Amazing live album. Raw vocals, some nice orchestral elements were implemented, these songs really fit the unplugged arrangement. Prefer the originals mostly though but still an awesome album. Favorite song: The Man Who Sold the World. Least favorite song: Something in the Way.
plateaux, come as you are album is a 10
One of my alltime favourites... Kurt Cobain announces "The man who sold the world" with "I'll probably screw this up" and then delivers this amazing performance. Epic unplugged session.
Great classic album! It’s cool to hear the guys talking between songs, too.
All time classic
meh
Legendary Fav: where did you sleep last night
Famous & classic, just not my favorite for continuous listening
Took me back to the great end-of-music days on MTV. The biography of Dave Grohl (“This is a Call”) around the week of this taping shows how close to the end the band and Kurt were at that point.
Klasicka klasika, toto som pocul tisickrat :-*
Love this album. Gritty and raw. Classic Nirvana
Respect it more than I like it. Nirvana has great riffs and an iconic vibe and all, but I'm not really excited by grunge.
Cool to hear Nirvana live and acoustic. They still sounded great. Sad this was their last go before the end.
Incredible. No skips on this album. The Man Who Sold the World was a stand-out to me, great cover. I can't believe I haven't given this album a chance until now.
One of my favorite live albums of all time. The mtv unplugged series showcased some of the greatest acts of the time. I wish they still did them. What a great performance!
ok.
A perfect moment in time
I've listened to this album at least 100 times and absolutely love it.
Amazing Album. One of the greatest all time performance wise
Top-quality live performance
Dad plays it a lot. Its aight
I find Kurt Cobain’s voice really grating on the ears was my initial impression. It grew on me as I listened though. By the end I was really enjoying it. Great performance.
One of the albums that started my obsession with music
One appreciates the record as a departure from their usual heavy and lethargic mundanity, and it's pretty pleasurable overall. But it feels like another entry in their huge overrating, Was it so hard to go from their catchy but paleo-rock to pretty straighhtforward acoustic? And why didn't they play more of their hits? Was this a bid to be taken even more over-seriously than they already were? Did everyone think the cello would make this all seem that much artier? An honest accounting would suggest that one song catapulted this lot and a bunch of flanneled others in a delusional that may ultimately be remembered as a trend less important (and less enjoyable) than disco. Cobain was a decent vocalist, one supposes, but over-reliant on voice-cracking passion (real or simulated). How many (or few) have been inspired to explore their back catalog based on these renderings? And did the Bowie cut – the most interesting of the lot here – really have to be ID'd as such? What does that say about how Cobain rated his audience's intelligence? And is there anything interesting about the interpretation of the Robert Johnson closer? Though much sounds innocent and naive on the recording, his estimation seems so low as to impugn his brand as a populist. Perhaps some might even cool out regarding his supposed martyrdom to his art, too. As to all these questions and conventional wisdoms, a market correction is in order.
I now know why Cobain is considered one of the greats
Urg. I'm so tired of this album, the song choices are interesting and the execution is fine but I don't get how it is seminal in any way
Excellent album
Et album jeg har hørt meget om, men i dag var første gang jeg lyttede til alle sangene på det. Mange covers og så et par af deres egne. Ligesom mange andre så var jeg vild med coveret af Bowies “the man who sold the World”.
One of the greatest live albums of all time. Shows a distinctly intimate and personal style to Nirvana. This is them right at the precipice...
Wow. Just wow
stunning
Standout tracks- Where did You Sleep Last Night, About a Girl, Lake of Fire, On a Plain
I know most of that music - I like the live version. Great to listen to it from beginning to end.
Brought back Memorias of how good they were.
The best
Hey 1001 Albums App people! Could we take out the short (and poorly written) one-star "reviews" currently wasting useful space at the top of this section? Please? Apart from the very first example currently heading said sectiob (more on that later), it looks like those reviews were written by lazy ignoramuses, who have only listened to around 60 albums from this app to boot. Click on "view authors", you'll see. Besides, given the dates when such "hot takes" were written, it's obvious that those reviewers never finished this project anyway. Which means I'm not even directly offending anyone here when I call them "ignoramuses". Don't get me wrong, I'm all for free speech, it's just that there are ways to say you don't like a record without sounding too obnoxious about it. At the risk of sounding a little like an "elitist", I think that you would ideally need some sort of license to get access to a more mature version of this 1001 albums app thing. It would at least prevent licensed users from wasting their time with so-called " reviews" written by folks venting their rage because they can't like what most other people seem to like (see that 4.2 global score). Which, if you pay attention to my exact phrasing here, is the *exact contrary of elitism*. Not that this phenomenon of edgelords venting their rage against almost-universally- loved music is anything new. You can see the same sort of extremely marginal, hysterically negative reactions for the Beatles' melodies, for instance. Given how much Kurt Cobain was a fan of the latter, he would probably have been flattered by the limited negative attention. Ain't that funny? Likewise, I have a sneaking suspicion Cobain would have found that *first* one-star review in this section amusing--the one I mentioned in passing earlier. Yeah, it's that "Unplug me, I can't bear this album" thing. You can keep that one, 1001 albums app managers. Because that review has been written by someone taking the project seriously, at least (300 reviews, and still writing them). And also because that one reviewer found a sarcastic and objectively smart way to express their subjective distaste of *MTV Unplugged In New York*. "Unplug me". It wouldn"t be that surprising to learn that Kurt Cobain once used the same expression when Nirvana prepared for the album--in keeping with the man's dark sense of humour and the disillusioned sort of banter actually heard between the songs on the album. Cobain used the opportunity MTV gave him to create this live folk masterpiece. But he was also wary of the commodification of his music, even if he actively took advantage of it. So "unplug me" would be an apt way to express his misgivings in a self-deprecatory manner. Obviously, the phrase "unplug me" also suggests Cobain's tragic fate, a ghost that can be sensed everywhere in this record, looming over the proceedings. See that extraordinary version of "Penny Royal Tea" played solo by Kurt, with its barebones instrumentation (guitar + voice), and the maxxed out intensity that comes out of it. Not to mention that eerie modulation from minor to major on the "tonic" A-chord starting each verse. It's a modulation that's absent in *In Utero*'s amplified studio version, by the way. Turns out this acoustic live album is filled with endearing little details like that. Some of them are small changes to the original compositions, just like the example I've just given. Others are small blunders, like that short bum note at the start of "The Man Who Sold The World"'s solo. But *all* of those details, whether the were "planned" or not, give character to what was mostly a promotional exercise at first. The stars aligned for this recording. It sounds authentic, sincere, serious, restrained--even a little austere at times, and yet lush with a beautiful sonic palette. And it took a genius act like Nirvana to associate those words with the MTV brand. The setlist also helps a lot. Naturally, Nirvana chose the most logical songs you could play acoustic versions of from their repertoire. In that realm, the highlights are "About A Girl", "Come As You Are", "Pennyroyal Tea", and that incredibly moving version of "All Apologies" right before the last track (more on it later). Yet what *also* struck minds at the time is the good taste Cobain had for the list of bands he chose to cover: The Vaselines, David Bowie, Meat Puppets (with two of them playing with the band here!) and of course Lead Belly. And those acts provide compositions that are easily transcended by the occasion and Kurt's hearfelt performance. Not a lot people remembered or even knew Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" before the show. It was a shame, and we can all thank Nirvana they changed that state of affairs, just as they did for each tune they covered for this project. Closer "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", especially, comes off as a definitive statement from the band. Cobain's raspy vocals are haunting from start to finish in this LP, but here, for that take on Lead Belly's rendition of an old traditional blues, said vocals go to a whole other level of pouring-your-heart-out-to-the-world-and-see-everyone-break-into-tears-in-result. I remember reading that Cobain chose this song to finish the set because he didn't want to do an encore, and that the New York studio audience would quickly understand that, after that last performance, there was no use calling back the band on stage. Mission accomplished, boys. And girl--don't forget Lori Goldston on cello! My partner often plays this record at home on sundays. It's the sound of us relaxing, but also, I suspect, the sound of her and I reminiscing about our youths (even if we never really talk about it when we play the album). It's very bittersweet. So I would lie if I said nostalgia wasn't involved there somewhere. It's odd, because I'm always pretty defensive about the part played by nostalgia in music, I want to avoid such complacency in my listening habits. But here is a notable exception, I guess. I know this record stood the test of time anyway, that it's objectively good. So why not go nostalgic, just for this one? Nirvana recorded a folk masterpiece for the ages with *Unplugged In New York. And, well... melancholy, heartbreak and nostalgia are always fitting emotions for such a genre, aren't they? Number of albums left to review: 421 Number of albums from the list I find relevant enough to be mandatory listens: 267 (including this one). Albums from the list might* include in mine later on: 142 Albums from the list I won't include in mine (many others are more essential to me): 176
One of the best unplugged performances ever. Long live Kurt
Great live performance, however i feel some songs are better enjoyed with repeat listen.
Raw, a lot of emotion in Kurt’s voice.
This is an important album and deserving of its place on the list. I think my biggest takeaways are (1) these guys were better guitar players than you might have guessed listening to them play grungy power chords; and (2) taken down to its barest essentials, Nirvana is actually just playing the blues (but not in a derivative way). This was a revelation at the time and it's still a really powerful listen. 5/5
Especatular
One of my first CDs and still one of my favorites. The imagery, timing, and performance here is responsible for the corny Kurt as grunge angel thing, but this album itself is untouchable. Stepping back from the loud-quiet-loud super distorted style of their other albums, this performance brings out the quality of Nirvana's songwriting (and their taste in covers). The arrangements - replacing distortion pedals for a cello and adding in a second acoustic guitar, generally quite understated drumming - bring the singing to front and make more space for it to stand out in the mix than usual and Cobain delivers the best rock vocal performance of the 90s. Hoarse and desperate, powerful until it breaks, bleak and vulnerable - his voice is incredible. I've heard it a millions times and it's still magic.
Really good. Already a fan of Nirvana and this featured some great songs. The non-hits were a little tame.
Meh. Never was a big Nirvana fan
All time classic! - First listened to it when I was a teenager. - Introduced me to David Bowie via 'The Man Who Sold the World'
One of the best live albums ever. I remember watching this when it first aired on MTV at the age of 16.
Yes, a watershed moment for grunge. However, I prefer the plugged-in versions of these songs.
I will never understand the rockist obsession with live albums. This is good- it's Nirvana, but its not better as a live album.
an album with an unplugged concept allows a deeper connection with the music, i think. even though there's an audience, i'm able to focus more on the instruments. like, that deep bass line opening "come as you are" hits that sweet spot--or that strong guitar presence of "the man who sold the world." i will say i wasn't very surprised that kurt cobain sneaked in an amp, because the guitar sounds too much for an acoustic type. but i guess nirvana makes up for it by including an accordion?! while i don't know the history of mtv unplugged, the usage of an accordion makes nirvana's unplugged stand out, not to mention the inclusion of a few covers that nirvana made into their own only adds to it. this album deserves its reputation and legacy as being one of the best live albums out there. nirvana created an intimate experience--somehow, the guy periodically asking for which song is next adds to the intimacy (despite the guy being recorded for all of posterity as the annoying guy interrupting kurt cobain, but ok). that connection cobain created isn't anything like the usual concert feeling, and i think that's part of why this album's popularity rightly soared after his death. anyway, respect.
This is arguably the most popular and maybe the most important "MTV Unplugged" album ever recorded. And with good reason. Unplugged albums were often used as a method to just replay hits, but acoustically. There wasn't always a real purpose in these recordings. Nirvana sought to do something different, so they recreate their songs in a way that was befitting of the "Unplugged" style, and the results were an absolute success. You have these songs which are heavy hitting grunge songs, but they've been stripped down. Beyond that, they've been reimagined, and they're not the same songs anymore, not fully. All of their songs in this format are transformed to somewhat of an eerie, alternative, dark folk rock style. The imperfections (Cobain's voice cracks and struggles, mic feedback, and so on) just seem to complement their work here, rather than detract. Cobain adopts a much more melancholy vocal style, and again, it works well here. The pure emotionality of Cobain's lyrics show through in this format. Overall, the band uses this platform to show that folk can be gritty, too. Another joy of this album is Nirvana's outstanding covers of "The Man Who Sold the World" and "Lake of Fire". These are two songs that they managed to breathe new life into and did both of them justice. These songs were never studio recorded by Nirvana, so they finds ways to give these songs an extra shine in this unplugged format. Not only is this album one of the best examples of an "unplugged" album, it's just an outstanding example of a "live" album in general. It's not just a rehash of their work ad nauseam (this is a common complaint of mine for live album inclusions on this project); they try something new here and it pays off. While Cobain wouldn't live to see the success of this album, or to experiment further with this sound in the band, it undoubtedly shaped alternative rock and grunge, just as Nirvana had done with their studio albums.
Not my cup of Pennywhistle. They do have some good songs on this album but they are covers
Strong front to back. Thus 90s grunge voice is much more tolerable on a live recording versus a studio/radio mix.
Emotionally filled. Kurt is just so good.
What a set list... incredible!
I'm not one for live albums, I just find the audience annoying. That being said it does show what bands are actually good and what bands rely on autotune. Nirvana are not one of those that rely on autotune, they're just as good live as on studio albums. Stand out tracks are About A Girl, Come As You Are (One of my fav all time Nirvana songs), The Man Who Sold The World and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. I've always enjoyed the sound of nirvanas music, so this album would always rate highly.
Det är riktigt klassiker. Tycker om att albumet bara är en konsert så man hör mellan snacka osv. Tycker också att deras kändare låtar är väldigt intressanta och banger akustiska som till exempel come as you are och dumb. Favorit: About a girl
Jetebrra
Inte riktigt min stil men dem var duktiga. Favorit: Come as your are
Really good live performance and the song selection was top tier. (78%)
Some of the best there's ever been from Nirvana
I wonder if people who didn't grow up with MTV Unplugged remember how massive and important MTV once was and the calibre of artists that did one of these Unplugged sessions. I will always commend Nirvana for this concert. Even though they were not my favourite grunge band at the time, this concert highly surprised and delighted me. A year earlier Pearl Jam had set the tone for Grunge bands playing the Unplugged concerts, but Nirvana went in a complete different direction. Instead of playing their hits, almost half of their chosen songs were covers or a bit lesser known Nirvana songs that suited the evening a lot better than the louder songs of their repertoire. I also remember being incredibly confused when they said: "We've invited some friends to play with us." And everyone was thinking other huge artists at that time coming on, Mark Lanegan, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or someone. And then the Meat Puppets came out. With especially Lake Of Fire becoming one of the highlights of this album. This was Nirvana at their high point doing something different than their peers and themselves. Great album.
not a fan. introduced to a bowie tune.
Greatest unplugged show ever!!!!
It was OK, sounds like they need to get there band together, tighter 3 stars
I gave it as open minded a listen as possible, but I’m sorry: it was dull then, and it’s still dull now. The best facet of the band from an instrumental perspective is Grohl’s drumming, which isn’t a factor here. The best riffs belong to the Meat Puppets (credited) and Killing Joke (famously not credited). And the best music in general is made by those less interested in becoming a cadaver.
I’m giving it two stars because the band sounded like themselves at least while playing live. That said, I’ve never understood the popularity of this whining and navel gazing. These songs are neither fun nor well written, and certainly not well performed in my opinion.
OK. Calming. Rock.
Not as good as i remembered but still enjoyed it.
This takes me back. One I listened to a lot in the 90s. Such an interesting different sound for Nirvana, and one that made a big impression on me. One of the best in the MTV Unplugged series. Still excellent.
Best live album, shows the rawness of the grunge band
Liked it. Overall good, nothing stood out that much, though.
Hearing it live recording was so good 5/5
I'm not a great fan of the Unplugged series, and what started off as a distinctive idea gave birth to the horrors of Jo Whiley's Live Lounge. But this is the exception that proves the rule - stripping back the noise is completely revelatory. Top covers, great playing and just a sense of the most important band in the world at the time.
Kaikki kuulostaa vetoavammalta MTV unpluggedissa, tai siis onhan biiseissä oltava taitoa, jotta voidaan paljastaa herkkyys livenä. Tässä toimii useimpien biisien kohdalla. Osa on kyllä aika täytettä ja omassa Nirvana-brändissä muhinointia, pinnallisempaa.
Pilkahdus tyylikkäämmästä Nirvanasta. Lisäksi on kiinnostavaa kuulla, mitä biisejä he väittävät fanittavansa.
eterno
nice
Really enjoyed
In Utero - 3/5 **************** Pretty decent stuff here. It would have been nice to throw in one or two more upbeat songs into the mix. It's nice to have the banter in between songs. I felt that Cobain hit the off key, voice cracking gimmick a little too hard. Favorite track: Come As You Are
He's not a very good singer is he
Un al
This is really good. I usually don't like live or acoustic albums but this is a very solid album. I don't think it's quite as good as a lot of others seem to think, but its a fine listen.
Dont shoot yourself in the face with a shotgun or you may end up like Nirvana
Never cared for Nirvana, but these acoustic versions of their music made me view it differently. They won't get much play, but I'm glad I listened to this album.
This is an amazing album for Nirvana enjoyers as it shows the songwriting and vocal talents of Kurt Cobain that was previously hidden under layers of fuzzy guitars and loud drums. I liked most of the songs but thought there was a few too many covers, the Bowie one is great but some of the others are a bit annoying. Ah fuck it I’ll give it a 5.
Epic performance. Some songs sound even better in the unplugged version
Great live album and a nice interpretation of the word "unplugged". Album is good on it's own with some solid covers, but it is placed in a different perspective after Kurt Cobains death.
Nice album, Prinz my fav by Nirvana
Might be my favourite version of quite some Nirvana songs
Best way to enjoy Nirvana
Such a formative album in my youth
The covers are the main highlight here. Seemed forced by mtv, resulting in Kurt pushing back with their particular set list and possibly compromising with the inclusion of 'Come As You Are'. My speculation of course. I've always liked this recording of 'About a Girl'. 'Dumb' also sounds excellent. This album would have been better though if they had performed alternate arrangements of their songs to compliment the "unplugged" concept.
If you haven't listened to this by now ... Go change it. You got to listen
Voice of a generation. Epic.
Such an iconic album. One of the first I ever purchased on my own and really helped me gain a full appreciation for Nirvana. 5/5
The acoustic presentation was well done.
one of the best live albums
Great songs but not sure this is a quality live album.
One of the best live albums capturing a unique and intimate performance of one of the most influential bands mere months before the lead singer / guitarist / songwriter commits suicide. Great covers. Very much 5.
I have loved this since high school and it is still precious to me
Had this one on a burned CD in my car. Highlights: Plateau, man who sold the world, and where did you sleep last night (which is so good, it gives me chills). 4.4/5
Tellement le feu !
Très bon live. J'ai bien aimé les versions lives de celle que je ne connaissais qu'en album studio, j'ai retrouvé avec plaisir The Man who sold the world et Where did you sleep last night.
Top 3 Songs: 1 - Lake of Fire (12) 2 - Something In The Way (9) 3 - The Man Who Sold the World (4)
love this album
I’d consider this one of if not the greatest live album ever recorded. It’s also probably the best Unplugged. Please debate below. Everything Kurt is doing here is genius. He doesn’t play many of the hits and instead relies on covers and deep cuts. A great piece.
i suppose this is one of the more early and formative records of my life i remember ellie nisbet peering past the front row in first year maths to ask me if i'd listened yet thanks ellie
Uuh backflash to my rebellious teen years
Still an amazing album and just as exciting to listen to now as it was when I brought it on its release in the 90s
My personal favorite Nirvana release. That their songs -- originally loud, raucous numbers that would make your parents furrow their brows -- work in an acoustic setting speaks to the quality of the songwriting. Kurt was a big fan of both pop and blues music, and that shines through here, with their beloved covers of songs by artists like Bowie and Lead Belly. It makes you wonder what direction Nirvana may have headed in had things been different.
I’ll preface with I’m not much of a fan of Nirvana. I find most of the time the unplugged guitar tone just didn’t sound very good. Maybe I don’t like unplugged concerts or their tone just wasn’t what I was looking for. I don’t like Cobain’s vocals that much, he also mumbles a good bit which I find frustrating at times. The writing often feels simple to me, simple chords with nothing too special structure-wise as far as I can tell or feel. It didn’t have a great start. The first song sounds like a grungy early Beatles song. There were a couple songs I enjoyed throughout the middle, with catchy guitar hooks of decent melodies. The banter between tracks was funny, especially Cobain’s “shut up”. I think Nirvana just really isn’t for me and this album couldn’t convince me otherwise.
not finished but not bad
Goes without saying. This is like, the Frampton Comes Alive of my generation.
Although I've listened to this album many times, I always enjoy listening again. It's not my favourite unplugged (AIC's is my favourite) but it is a glimpse of where the band was at the time. I just wish we could’ve got more from them.
v cool
I think I have heard just about every track off this album at some point over the years, even seen a bit on video from the actual performance, but never sat down and listened to the whole thing from start to finish. It was a good mix of material, also a showcase that these songs can stand up to a far more sparse arrangement with semi-acoustic instruments being played. I'm glad the Meat Puppets album came up for me a week or so ago, as otherwise I wouldn't have known the three tracks that were played near the end. I remember at the time that everyone was raving over this "new direction" for Nirvana, but it's not quite as ground breaking in retrospect. In fact, many of these songs just seem to work as well, if not better in this format. Not quite a 5-star for me - it's a great performance though and worthy of 4-stars.
Classic live album recorded only 5 months before the death of Kurt Cobain. Captures grunge in its post-public acceptance phase in the form of stripped down acoustic renderings of both Nirvana staples and select covers. About a Girl is a strong start to the album that translates wonderfully to the wireless atmosphere. Cobain's vocals are on point (for the most part) with good mixing. Come as You Are loses a bit in translation, but is still a jam. I miss the vocal effects that the original recording had that gave this song such a ghostly feel. Here Cobain just sounds so much more vulnerable. This gives way to back-to-back covers. Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam is the first cover on the album. Interesting, though perhaps unsurprising, that Nirvana went for deeper cuts into unknown territory on their covers. I don't know the original here, but this is a fine and folksy number. This is backed up by a much more well-known Bowie song. While I love the original, Cobain's version will always have a special place in my heart. Its a much more soulful telling of the tale. Pennyroyal Tea sees Cobain take center stage alone through a sparse guitar + croon arrangement. Doesn't do a ton for me. Dumb is another classic Nirvana song that translates pretty effectively to this arrangement. I like the incorporation of a string accompaniment for depth through the chorus. In all honesty, I prefer this acoustic Polly. On a Plain is fine... not my favorite from them to begin with. Something In The Way is a jam. I prefer the original, but this is still effective. This leads into a triplet of Meat Puppet covers. All of which I love. Oh Me I hadn't heard before, but it is low-key one of my favorites from this album. Great composition and delivery -- such a sweet song. Lake of Fire is probably my favorite here. Always loved the soul in Cobain's voice -- to this day I find myself randomly singing the chorus. All Apologies is probably the best song that they adapted from their catalog. It just fits the setting so well. I'm a 4/5 on this one. Such a well-mixed and composed live album from a band that defined an entire genre of music. Cobain's voice is the center point of the album and holds up well to the interrogation of an acoustic setting. I appreciate the arrangements of the various numbers and the shot selection in terms of covers and hits from their career.
Love me a live album. I've actually never listened to this one despite being recommended it numerous times. Lotsa classics, loved hearing it acoustic. Nirvana is good, but they aren't necessarily my favorite. 4 stars for the gang though.
I think I have heard everyone of these songs at one point but never all at the same time. My favorite line was "I'm on a plane, I can't complain" The Man Who Sold The World is a classic. I will never unhear the feedback in that one part. I know this is an all time classic album and Nirvana is legendary but they for some reason just aren't my cup of tea. But still enjoyed this album
Easy 5 from the bat I love this album and is definitely one of my favorite live albums of all time. The rawness of Cobain's voice adds to it with him straining on a number of songs. Plus the cello adds a nice touch. Hits deep. Adds to it that they didn't really play any major hits which pissed off MTV. Not gonna go into every song, but The Man Who Sold The World might be my favorite cover of all time and I think it far exceeds Bowie's version. Plus he didn't screw it up! Dumb is such an underrated Nirvana song. All of the Meat Puppet's songs are great. Where Did You Sleep Last Night still gives me goosebumps every time I hear it with Cobain's vocal strain. So fucking good. I love every song on this album and the arrangements they have. The cello really adds to some of the songs and love hearing the talks in between. Will continue to listen the rest of me life.
nirvana have grown on me so much in recent years but this album I don't think ever will. I love how On a Plain and Something in the Way sound in this style but everything else is super grating to me. The Man Who Sold the World does sound good but I prefer the Bowie version a lot more. God I wanna like this as much as everyone else
Do not like Nirvana. Dumb was okay
Envers et contre tous
c'est bien parce que j'ai vu la vidéo de seb la frite
1 des meilleurs album en live, no pressure. Vrmt vrmt bon. Plusieurs chansons je connaissais pour avoir entendu à la radio, mais j'aurais pas pu direvles titres. Il est parti vrmt trop tôt, super album. Trop sévère pour l'effet wow du 5, mais 4 bien mérité.
My original thought was that this would would be a flat performance due to a lack of the manic energy of the band's plugged in work. It did, but that didn't detract from the vocal and musical artistry of the act. Very good, and a perfect example of the beauty of MTV's unplugged series.
This album is great because it shows that like the best songs, Nirvana's can be stripped down and still work. Here we see Kurt Cobain's songwriting and knack for melody really shine. I also enjoyed hearing Krist Novoselic's bass lines more front and center. Some of this is surely nostalgia. Nirvana was and remains a formative band for me and their fingerprints are on almost everything that came afterwards.
As someone who's not massively familiar with Nirvana's catalogue this is probably the worst album for to get first. I can tell the performance is good but didn't have the recognition to keep me engaged for an hour of it.
The gateway drug for anyone who somehow didn't get on board with Nevermind or In Utero. Really if no one got the message before they certainly did here: Kurt Cobain was the John Lennon of his generation. And it didn't take an early death to make that clear (although this album being released in the aftermath of Cobain's passing certainly helps). The brilliant part of the setlist is how Nirvana eschewed their own songs (although three classics, Come As You Are, All Apologies and Something In The Way, were included). Cobain takes songs from Bowie and freaking Leadbelly and damn near makes them his own. This was probably always the way it was going to end for Kurt Cobain. But this is a suitable if subdued exclamation point on a brief but brilliant career.
After the grunge albums, Nirvana presented a folk-rock, acoustic live concert and perhaps this could have been the next direction for the band had Cobain not died in 1994. The choice of songs is great, it contains not only Nirvana songs but has also many lesser known covers, by the Vaselines, the Meat Puppets or Bowie. 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night', which closes the album, is a perfect ending of this album. Cobain's voice was powerful and raw, and together with the music it created a special atmosphere on stage. Great album.
Not a huge Nirvana fan, although I like most grunge from the era. This album conveyed greater sincerity than most of their studio content. 4.3/5
Nirvana. So it's always good.
I prefer Nirvana to be plugged but this is still great. The cover choices were good and their own songs played well, specially On a Plain and Something in the Way. Cobain’s dry humour was present here too and that was fun. This is a classic live album. 4 stars
Still amazes me out how raw Kurt sounds in fully fuzzed out Nirvana mode as well as stripped down acoustic mode. What an artist. This record rules and it's been too long since I've listened to it.
Ta bien
Honestly it wouldn’t take much to convince me this is the best Nirvana release there ever was. Kurt’s voice has just the right amount of whine in it and the banter between songs is fun. Very powerful performance on “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.”
Great album,
Obvs 5 star content
I know ever sour note and feedback moment by heart. A great performance that gets better ever time I listen to it.
I miss the early 90s. :)
This is an all timer. My aunt showed me this when I was young and I've never forgotten it. I think I like most of the songs here rather than their studio versions. Those get old these do not. Idk if I've given a 5 star yet but this is one for sure. 5*
Classic. One of the best live albums ever produced.
Incredible
Don't think this format adds much to the previously released material, but the broken yowling on 'Where Did You Sleep' almost makes up for an otherwise redundant release.
Love Nirvana. I must have missed the magic of this one. 3/5
This is one of the best live recordings of all time. Haunting, intimate, and beautiful all at the same time. The songs fit the acoustic Unplugged style perfectly and the chosen covers take the performances to another level. An absolute classic, then and now.
The song choices for this performance are incredible. Krist plays the accordion. Kurt solos Pennyroyal Tea and his voice sounds amazing throughout the whole record.
I love this album. But, as I've been clear and consistent about it before, live albums are essentially a collection of other songs from other albums, in which case, "The Best of ..." deserves consideration for this list of albums. The rating is not a reflection of the quality of artists or the music.
The most amazing of albums. Nirvana is already impressive, and this stripped down version of their songs not only is the most passionate and evocative rendition of those songs but they've chosen an amazing set of covers that introduce them in a way that is engaging in this forum. One of the strongest 5's in the book.
You can always learn a lot about a band based on the covers they play and this set showcases not only some of Nirvanas best songs but also some of their best influences. It’s also a treat to hear the mild banter of the group and Kurt Cobain’s surprising sense of humor. Hearing these songs played acoustic also gives them new life and feeling, and reveals a lot about the songwriting depth of Cobain. This album is like the inverse of Bringing it All Back Home and I don’t think such a heavy band has ever sounded so good stripped down.
the songwriting is impeccable and this performance just lets that shine
Qué discazo por favor. Hace un tiempo pensaba que eventualmente iba a dejar de gustarme y la verdad es que nunca pasa. Uno de los mejores MTV Unplugged y uno de los mejores discos de la década
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.
This album gets 5 stars from its consistency alone. Not one song falls flat or is forgettable. The guitar and bass tone are to die for and I feel that's what creates the ominous ambience throughout. And while in some songs like Plateau and Lake of Fire Kurt sounds like he is struggling vocally there are songs like Where Did You Sleep Last Night that prove he's the star of the show. There were some wise arrangement choices throughout like downtuning the guitars on Something in The Way and the use of strings throughout. A landmark album for Nirvana that arguably puts some of their studio work to shame.
Kurt Cobain’s final artistic say in music encapsulated everything that made him who he was. The barebones of the struggling artist was put on display.
I'm at odds here. I've never been crazy about this record, but I do love the fact that they shied away from the big hits and played some unknown covers, turning them into hits. They also transform some of their songs into nice acoustic versions. But there are lulls, and some songs don't particularly work. Favorite tracks: "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?", "All Apologies"
Best live album of all time? Probably. Yeah.
the man who sold the hwordl aalbum!
For some people of course, Nirvana were absolutely *IT*. Perhaps a little too young, but never quite achieved that legendary status personally. Can't deny the power of Kurt's voice and the stripped back choons here though.
De cover van The Man Who Sold The World is echt wel de grootste reden om dit te luisteren. Ik merk dat ik heel nerveus wordt van Cobain die lang semi-hoge noten aanhoudt, omdat hij klinkt alsof ie ieder moment super vals kan gaan zingen, ook al gebeurt dat uiteindelijk nooit. Ik denk dat ik liever naar Nevermind luister dan naar deze. Akoestische On A Plain voel ik wel.
I think this is the last pure nirvana I get on this album and I’m glad I get to go out with this one since it’s a perfect cap to nirvana as a band as well. It’s a perfect selection of songs that combine excellent covers like man who sold the world with thematically fitting originals like all apologies and something in the way. They arranged and performed a flawless set list that mirrored Kurt’s headspace at that point along with the feelings the band had toward their status in the music world. This is either at or slightly below nevermind for me.
No necesitaría escucharlo para saber que es una puta maravilla(PSP)
I enjoyed this, didn’t love it. Funnily enough, i already have a version of the last song downloaded from this project lol. 3/5
Good
Yeah, I get it... It's "Nirvana"! But if you just asked some random person who had never heard of them, you'd probably find that they'd think this album was "meh" at best. Aside from all the tragedy and sadness of Kirk Cobain's life, the music was OK except for the main hits, and his voice really doesn't do much for me. He's like the grunge version of Rod Stewart - everyone knows he can't sing his way out of a paper bag, but he wins on "style points". He's better when he's "plugged".
Good album with some good songs
Incredible recording. Love their own songs and the covers here. The cover of The man who sold the world is phenomenal
Very chill album and great way to enjoy another side of Nirvana. The chatter in between songs is charming and hearing more of the vocals in the acoustic set helps to convey more meaning than previously gleaned before. It’s a more sleepy album though, so if you’re used to a more energized Nirvana sound, this may not be up your alley.
Nice to end the week strong. Easy 5 stars.
Straight back to high school
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.
An absolute highlight on this list and an album I've listened to many times before in the past. While I'm usually not very appreciative of live albums (worse-sounding versions of familiar songs), this one is definitely special. Instead of worse versions, these are just entirely different versions of familiar Nirvana songs and the intimate setting allows for great sound quality (although the spoken bits could definitely be louder). I also love that this is not a re-hash of Nirvana's greatest hits but a blend of own material and some of Kurt Cobain's greatest influences. I've always loved Nirvana. But funny enough, the highlights of this great album are not Nirvana songs. The rendition of Where Did You Sleep Last Night in particular is fantastic. The Man Who Sold The World and Plateau are not that far behind though.
Alright! Most songs I felt like I'd rather hear the full version. The Bowie cover was great though.
Wow, a superb live album, quintessential Nirvana, About A Girl, Come As You Are and All Apologies are highlights
I didn't love it but I didn't hate it. I didn't have time to finish it but I did not care one bit. That was incredibly boring and monotonous. Kurt Cobain's vocals are utterly rubbish. Good background music for philately. I don't agree with the inclusion of live albums from the album era on this list, to be honest. I could understand a live album from the 1950s, but Nirvana and Metallica don't need live albums here. 4.5/10.
Really enjoyed this album at first but it started to sound like it was too predictable and therefore became a bit dull.
The number of times I've listened to this one... This is a flawless record. A band at their peak and a man at the bottom.
absolutely raw performance. loved some of the covers on this. he died not too long after this so it’s an emotional listen. rip to the legend
awesome, just as good as the og
Pretty good album. I remember when this came out pennyroyal tea is one of my favorite songs.
I mean, yeah, it's not ACTUALLY unplugged, I get it. That's a problem, sure. Okay. But, effects and amp aside, the songs really DO sound different with an acoustic guitar. There's something about that slight change that compliments Cobain's deep, melancholic insecurity at the time. It's a definite vibe. Detractors like to say that this only hit #1 because Cobain was recently deceased and people were seeing the band through rose-colored glasses. I disagree... but only in part. I think this album hit #1 because it felt like a worthy and fitting capstone to the band's legacy. It feels darker and more somber than previous releases. There's a seriousness here that's unique for Nirvana It feels like the end and, with the death of Cobain, it was. THAT is why it was so huge, I think. So, yeah, it's big because Cobain bit the dust. But not because of some misplaced sense of "he's gone and now I think he's a genius!" It's big because it feels like a fitting goodbye. And it still feels like that, all these years later.
Haunting live snapshot of a cultural icon in anguish.
A lot of mythos around this one, and I while the songs are great, I never quite understood all of the hype.
Oh, you wanted “Smells Like Teen Spirit”? Well, here’s “On A Plain” and a bunch of songs by the Meat Puppets that Cobain can barely sing. This unplugged live album is the essence of Nirvana. Heck, it’s not even unplugged. There are glimpses into what Nirvana could have been in the future. Where they were heading. Of course, we’ll never know. All we have is Cobain screaming: “Where Did You Sleep Last Night?” I take some kind of comfort in that.
Probably the peak of MTV Unplugged as a program/concept? Some of the hype was definitely due to the unavoidable reality that Kurt had just died when it dropped and the record company was looking to capitalize, but it's also a legitimately great performance. Some songs gain a totally new atmosphere with this backing; Pennyroyal Tea feels downright menacing as a solo acoustic song, and On a Plain feels much better suited to this environment. It's not perfect. The sound is sometimes muted to the point of sleepiness, there's too much mumbling between songs, and Plateau and Oh Me probably could have been left off the set list without a problem. But the highs are high. It’s a quiet, reflective, soul-baring recording from a legendary band dissolved too soon. Best song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Really love Kurt Cobain's voice, and it is on full display here. Some great covers along with solid versions of popular Nirvana songs.
Great live album from a brilliant band.
A classic. I know there is some distaste for Nirvana, but this album is what makes them special. Stripped down songs and they found it too boring to play their hits, instead opting to play covers and lesser-known Nirvana songs. Great songs can get translated acoustically and rather than play the game of "Here is one of the songs you know, except we are using acoustic instruments" they used it as a showcase for how versatile they could be. The stage banter was fun too! I feel like this album is an example of what made Nirvana special, in that they could have simply shown up, played the hits and left. Instead they managed to bring a cello into their sound and play songs few would expect them to play.
Definitely the album where Kurt and the gang found their sound. Come As You Are was a treat, as always, but I had never heard The Man Who Sold The World and Pennyroyal Tea before, and they were great. Loved the drums, vintage Dave Grohl, and All Apologies was a particularly unexpected jam. All in all, I was so pleased with this, after only expecting a song or two that I'd like. It was really cool "getting to know the band" in a way I didn't expect.
Klassisk liveplatta.
love
Iconic and timeless
I already know this is a banger. It’s so good. First 5 star??? I don’t know, definitely a 9/10, but that’s not 5 stars.
Iconic really, although I'm not the biggest Nirvana fan in general
Divisive thoughts, hate the guy Who's speaking to Kurt between songs, love Nirvana's energy. Overall a good listen, some fantastic covers and unique versions of their own songs
Brzmi jak impreza z ogniskiem millenialsów, którzy zaraz wejdą w kryzys wieku średniego. Nic tylko założyć jesienny sweterek i cieszyć się grzańcem albo whisky z colą, a ten album puścić sobie w tle - niech coś leci. Niesamowite, że nawet Something in the way brzmi tutaj nudno i nijako. Wyróżniają się tylko covery - The man who sold the world (Bowie dalej niedościgniony), Lake of fire i Where did you sleep last night. Meh.
An album where you got more of a feel for Cobain's songwriting mastery. I think it's the best he ever sounded as a player and a singer. As swan songs go, this one is solid.
Dark, cladsic nirvana, great the hear the intermission discussions on stage
It’s a pretty good live album from Nirvana. Great acoustics and great addition of traditional instruments like the cello to nirvana songs. There’s like 2 songs that I didn’t really enjoy but other than that it’s pretty good, although I do prefer the Unplugged album by Alice in Chains. Great first track, truly surprised me. The cover of The Man Who Sold The World is amazing I loved it. Dumb to On A Plain had good performances. Didn’t really like Plateau. Oh Me towards the end was pretty good. The concert ends dramatically with When Did You Sleep Last Night, great ending to such a performance. Honestly, just a surprisingly good performance by Nirvana. Favourite tracks: About A Girl, The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Polly, Something In The Way, Oh Me, All Apologies and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Least favourite: Pennyroyal Tea and Plateau.
I thought it was pretty cool. Last song was a bit of a banger.
they are pretty good wow who knew! but still annoying
Some of the songs are actively bad, some are fantastic and forever embedded in my consciousness.
An absolute masterpiece performance. Honestly might be Nirvana's seminal work.
sonzeira e pa, das antiga
I thought this would be a 4 or 5, but something in the way. I like some of the song choices that were made, especially the Vaselines, but the poor mix, poor vocal performance, poor lyrical dimension all made for a pretty poor album
Acoustic grunge. Not really my thing. 2/5
Great album, acoustic and stripped down, but not lacking at all in Nirvana's trademark slow burning anguish and menace. Surprisingly cover-heavy, which was disappointing to see at first blush, but the Meat Puppets covers work really well here. The Bowie cover is obviously next level. One of the best cover songs ever recorded. Nice to hear the crowd reactions, but there's a bit of a volume problem whenever the band is speaking. I had to crank it up to hear what they were saying. Not perfect, but riveting from start to finish. Fave Songs: All Apologies, The Man Who Sold the World, About a Girl, Dumb, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, On a Plain, Come as You Are
RIP
Highlights the songwriting
One of the first albums i was introduced to when i got high for the first time.
Nirvana is a band that doesn't even deserve to have one album on this list, let alone three. And one of them is this, a live album (because two whole studio albums weren't enough, apparently) that sounds even more boring and lethargic than the studio versions. Some of the covers were okay, but those were written by other people, so I can't give Nirvana credit for them.
For me, this record is definitively the Nineties but not in its production or sound. It doesn't sound like the Nineties. Instead it represents the era by virtue of being an MTV Unplugged session by Nirvana who broke things open for all that college radio stuff way back when it was marketed as "alternative." More insightful people than me will say more insightful things about the lyrics and the performance, but it's still a decent listen though Kurt is as tiresome as he is probably tired. By no means my favorite Nirvana record, but it remains an occasional listen especially for the Meat Puppets and Bowie covers.
The first album was revolutionary. The Unplugged Sessions brought the richness, intimacy and pure talent. 5 stars-after listening to this 3 times.
It's Live, It's a Greatest Hits album (basically). Of course it's going to be good. Standouts: Where Did You Sleep Last Night, Something in the Way, All Apologies, The Man Who Sold the World, Plateau, Oh Me, Pennyroyal Tea, Dumb, Poly, Come as You Are, About a Girl, Lake of Fire Some of the best songs on the album are the covers (non-Nirvana) songs. Rating: 3.5/5
They set the standard for Unplugged. Shows how talented they were.
Masterpiece. Next question.