Reviews (page 13 of 15)
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.
7 / 10
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
There’s no doubt that this is a fantastic, stripped-back, raw performance from Nirvana, that I’m sure at the time was a huge departure from their signature live sound. The mix of hits and back catalogue items is also a welcome addition to the live album that keeps it interesting & flowing. However, for me, as an album listening experience it hits the middle of the road. If I was there in person, in the 90s, it would have been absolutely incredible. But for me, in 2025, sitting on a bus to work, it’s a very solid listen without any major punch or impact.
This is a nice live recording, it truly is but... it's also Nirvana, which makes even the Bowie song sound depressing (and it's not a bad cover, to be honest). Some songs were good, others not that much, the band's own songs sounded more or less the same and, well, it's not my cup of tea, of course, but I thought I would like it more. Because of the more refreshing sounds and "variety" as well as for the covers, I give this album three stars, but it's not an album I would ever highlight (and there are better live albums than this one, I have to say).
A cultural touchstone for sure, it’s one of those albums that kind of defined a time and for that it probably merits being on the list. The performances are pretty good, and the acoustic nature allows the songs (rather than the sound) to be the focus. But, that said, I find it a little boring.
meh
Better and more emotionally charged than I remember. Great re-listen!
Without knowing the band and lead singers history- it’s essentially listening to a raspy pained voice for a while.
I liked this album a lot. Classic had been recorded in an interesting form. No the same as the normal Nirvana, but solid.
Nirvana, like Radiohead, is a bit of a bummer to me. They are both good but both are overrated. Also, live albums should not be part of the 1001. Yes, I am fun at parties. This is a solid album that gets a little tedious midway since it’s pretty mellow throughout. “All Apologies” is definitely the standout track. Top tracks: “All Apologies,” “The Man Who Sold the World,” “Lake of Fire”
Great covers.
hey nirvana is not overrated
One star drop for it not being a studio version
Usually not big on live albums, but this is an exception. Its good and all but the main point of note is Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Best nirvana piece of music.
Favorite song(s): Where Did you Sleep Last Night When would I listen to it: Need a calm and quiet vibey album to play in the background.
Decent live.
This is another album where I had previously heard most of the tracks. Some of them were specifically these recordings, some were the studio versions. I don’t really know how I feel. There’s clearly a lot of passion and emotion in this recording, but I also find that Nirvana tends to overdo it and make songs drone on longer than needed. I didn’t hate the experience, and I’m glad what they did for grunge and associated genres, but this isn’t an album I would probably choose to come back to.
*** 1/2 Nirvana are ok, good unplugged one.
Can't believe I hadn't listened to this before. The video clips of some songs were very prevalent in the 90s and I was kinda captivated by Kurt Cobain's aura - the aura that gets bestowed to rock stars who died young. The songs are good, the performances are beautiful, you can hear the band's onstage banter. But ultimately this is a performance that needs to be experienced as a visual immersion and listening to only the audio is a bit of a non event.
Non avevo mai sentito Lake of fire ed è stata una bella scoperta! P.S. non mi piacciono gli unplugged, preferisco i live dei concerti
I’m very torn by this one. Some of the tracks are 5 stars, no doubt. But I don’t get on with the live album format, generally. Kurt’s voice is amazing and the band sound great. But this isn’t the origin of those songs. That’s what the albums and singles are for. I’m sure this would’ve been great seeing it live, but as a recording, it doesn’t compare to their studio albums for me. That’s where the real creativity and genius lies.
It is a good live album and I do like the additional covers in terms of The Man Who Sold The World and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. However, going unplugged/acoustic lessens what makes Nirvana good so I think I can only go to a 3 star.
We all know the songs, but there’s a certain grit to them played live and recorded so well.
Don’t get me wrong, I love Nirvana and I really liked this album. That being said, I don’t know if this album lived up to its billing as the tenth highest rated on this site. I didn’t really see any benefits from this being acoustic or live. It kinda detracts from the nirvana sound that I love. You can call it a change up pitch for the band, it doesn’t do it the way Nirvana typically does it for me.
Rock, unplugged, 1994 -> 3
Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged strips away the distortion and fury that defined their sound, offering a raw, intimate performance. The setlist highlights their versatility, with standout covers like Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” and the haunting closer “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” While the vulnerability is striking, some moments feel uneven compared to their studio energy, making it less consistent as a whole.
Less amplification makes Nirvana less abrasive. The highlights of this record for me are the guitar and bass. The last 4 songs are all good but the finale was absolutely killer. 2.7 outta 5
Like but don’t love nirvana. That was pretty cool with it being live but wasnt my favorite
60/1089 a cool, moody live set which was well performed and atmospheric. I had a good time listening to this one, even if i felt a little underwhelmed because i expected a bit more. 3 stars or 61/100 faves: Come As You Are, Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam, All Apologies
I really think my problem is that I didn't grow up with nirvana the way most people here did. I think this is a good acoustic set, but certainly not one of the best ever put to wax. Love the closer but that's really all.
One of the great progenitors of butt rock (this doesn't make them butt rock, just recognizing that we probably wouldn't have butt rock without them)
Albumet føles veldig langt når alle låtene høres helt like ut
It was alright
Mooi, maar niet voor mij.
My VHS recording of this from when it first aired was well worn - by the time the LP version of Unplugged In New York was released, however, I subconsciously avoided it. It was several months after the events of April 5, 1994, but it still seemed a bit too raw for me, a bit too much of a cash-in on Cobain's untimely death. Thirty years on (yikes!) I think I can look at this all a bit more objectively. We'll never know where Cobain might have gone next, but here he wears his influences on his sleeve, and interviews from the time suggest Nirvana would have evolved like his heroes The Beatles and Bowie. Unplugged supports this notion, with the acoustic setting showcasing Kurt's melodic pop sensibilites - I still feel it works better when accompanied by the visuals though, given Cobain was so particular about the dressing and staging of the recording. While I love the music, even after all this time, I still feel there is something slightly cynical about this release as an album - as interesting and enjoyable an epitaph it may be, for me Nirvana's real legacy lies in their studio output.
Starting with the Unplugged album feels an odd first Nirvana album for the generator to throw out, no matter how famous it is. I was pretty much the perfect age to be obsessed with Nirvana in their heyday, but I was fairly unbothered by them, Come As You Are and Heart Shaped Box being the two tracks I actively liked. Of the songs I'd never heard before on this apbum, I liked Plateau a lot. Overall, I liked this, but didn't love it. It's a decent listen, but I don't think it's the album to win over new fans, more an album to give people who are already fans a different experience of the songs they love. 3/5
it was okay! I just think they're okay
6.9 polly and plateau👍🏽
Fine album.
Reminds me of my fav Phoebe bridge's definitely need to do a deeper dive! Love the context surrounding the album and also the covers are really good!
-damnn this was a great performance. everything sounded so Crisp, i felt like i was there -i am finally becoming a sort-of Nirvana fan in the big year of 2025 -i wish they had played some more of my favorite material but this was still quite good. 3.5 stars -Favorites are About A Girl, Something In The Way, and Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Weird - I know this album pretty well, but never knew: a) it was recorded on my 6th birthday b) it was recorded so soon before Kurt died It's pretty great – as if we needed further proof of how strong Cobain's compositions are. They hold up so well to this format, and probably any other you'd care to throw at them. The covers are so well curated too. I was surprised though on this listen how a band so at the peak of their powers can be so sloppy in places? They’re out of their comfort zone sure, and it’s part of the warts-and-all charm of the set, but there are some really pretty dodgy moments here.
Popular group, popular songs. As I already knew some of them, I wasn't excited about this album at all. Although there are great songs, I was bored by the acoustic atmosphere in the whole album. Great songs: Come as You Are, The Man Who Sold The World, Something In the Way I also liked On A Plain
I wish they had adapted the songs for an acoustic set rather than just play them regularly, but on acoustic guitars and drum brush.
Iconic MTV Unplugged set from a band I have always felt were pretty overrated. It's telling that the stand out songs with the most emotional impact and nuance on here are covers, but you can hear Cobain struggling with the complexity of some of the vocals. A good album that, for me, highlights the weakness of Nirvana's own songwriting against better work.
it’s a good live album and it is iconic but not sure if it’s good enough to be on this list…….. still enjoyable to listen to
Pretty sacrilegious
Traue mich kaum, das zu schreiben, aber ich halte Nirvana für überbewertet... Die aufs Akustische abgespeckten Fassungen legen dann aber doch das Songwriting etwas mehr frei, nicht uninteressant.
3.5
so this is one i know very well. its what i call the iPod collection, meaning that window of time where people had more capable music players than phones, this album is on that list of "was on everyone's iPod" bands and albums. idk what other Nirvana albums are on this guy's list, but imo this particular record needs the context of their career to appreciate it. so if this is your first time hearing this group, i think this is mid at best. its beautiful but this comes at a strained point in the singers life, as well as this marks the last thing he would do. while i understand how awesome and amazing this record is, its a chapter in this long story. its really the only Unplugged anyone talks about, let alone Mtv. there are acoustic versions of songs that you are familiar with as well as some covers. its feels very practiced and methodical. as a band, they represent that 90's era of modern rock changing. its mellow but intense in the acoustic delivery, making some songs softer, and others more abrasive. against other bands and records, sure i prefer this over most, but in their own collection, i've never loved it that much. for some songs this format works, mostly for stuff that is new to this performance (shoutout Meat Puppets) like the cover of Lead Belly "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" i'm being a little bias, cuz i do know how loved and respected this piece of music history has been, but i say 3/5. its the culmination of the 90's live houseparty recording of a show.
Pretty good
3/5
Not worth the hype
jo eh
Nirvana but a bit quieter. Still struggled to hear the lyrics.
Some nuggets of gold and some lumps of coal on this record. Cobain’s voice seems to desert him during some songs, and is absolutely stunning during others.
Прикольно, но альбомные версии лучше. Хотя Lake of Fire классная
En líneas generales me ha gustado a pesar de que en ciertas ocasiones la voz de Kurt Cobain se me hace algo pesada. Sin dudas, la interpretación de Come As You Are es la mejor del álbum. La versión de The Man Who Sold The World es buena, pero no llega a la original de Bowie. 3'5/5
nice stuff
The Man Who Sold The World is a treat to listen to, and I acknowledge that this performance is a significant part of music history, but without the appeal of Nirvana and Kurt Cobain (and his recent suicide) attached to the album, it's just kind of whiny grunge.
Hardly unplugged but a good listen, powerful live recordings, pretty heavy going throughout though...
This is pedantic but it isn’t really an album. It is excellent though. Interesting that a band famed for squalling guitar noise did acoustic stuff and still sounded like themselves. Some revealing choices for song covers too.
I think Nirvana made pretty interesting music, but I think this does highlight just how much more interesting Kurt was as a person.
Dude doesn't always hit the right notes but he tried
The Good: Being unplugged in New York… The Bad: As it’s the city that never sleeps, we should have brought along some ac/dc… The Ugly: THE FUCKING CARDIGAN… There are people who will die defending this album, all about the rawness of it all, and that this is the way music should sound… which explains several of the other dreadful albums I’ve had the displeasure of listening to on this journey. The only real positive thing to be said about this performance was when the Meat Puppets joined for three of their songs! Actually, that’s not fair, as several of the tunes performed by Nirvana were not totally ruined by Kurts purposeful false screamin’ which needed work… I lived this period, have many wonderful memories of this time, and I am NOT one to die on the sword defending this album… Straight down the middle on this one 3*
A bit repetitive at times. A great live recording but not my favourite.
It was ok. Nice surprise. Wouldn't listen to again but it was more folk and chill than I thought it would be.
3/5. I don't think this is a great album but I respect the authenticity and the humility to sound worse on songs that he did not need to sound bad on. He changes the key just cause, and then strains his voice. This is a hard record to listen to with the context of his suicide. It seems like he does not want to be there, like his life is just a performance for others. And at the end, he breaks, moving past the bounds of the music and crashes. Like he has realized what he had to do and the concert was his thought process through it. It's a hard listen, and unfortunately doesn't sound good a lot of the time, purposefully and also not on purpose. I think you can really hate this record or really love it and probably for the same reason. Best Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night, The Man Who Sold The World, Pennyroyal Tea
good but let's face it it was a cash-in
I like their approach not just to play their best songs unplugged, but to use that intimate setting to play cover versions of songs that seem important to them, for whatever reason. I liked their songs, but some of the covers weren't my thing.
Heard it before. Some very good live songs especially the cover ones. But it's weak in parts. I don't agree with live albums being on the list. Might as well allow best of albums then
A strange recording for many reasons, not least because a band at the height of the powers would play a live set mainly made of covers, rather than their hits. This is the most R.E.M. Nirvana ever sounded and the most Eddie Vedder Kurt Cobain ever sounded. Potential echoes of a sound they never got to explore. However, a stripped back setting is not really what we go to Nirvana for; we want rock. The set takes a bit of time to get going and it’s actually the covers; where you can hear Kurt straining or struggle or be a bit embarrassed, which really shine in this performance.
Their best live performance but for whatever reason I wasn't in the mood while listening. A few songs stand out and Kurt Cobain does some fun things with his voice. Feel like Nirvana fans would be pissed but 3 stars
>I don't have a gun Erm... Good warm atmosphere. Not the usual Nirvana, but still kind of the same. I both like and dislike it
Epic nostalgia
Overall good. Live version has better mixing with base guitar. Fave song : something in the way
Hard to rate an album that I’ve listened to as many times as I have this one. I think this was a good mostly acoustic set by a band that certainly had something. The flowers and candles set dressing is weird for a posthumous release. I’m not sure why I am so hard on Nirvana. Do I feel like they were forced on me because of their popularity? Am I mad at MTV and the way music is marketed to young people? Am I just disappointed by how my teenage years went, and maybe just life in general? I don’t know, but I’m pretty sure most of my feelings about Nirvana are not really about Nirvana. This is not a bad album that I know backwards and forwards and never listen to. I can agree that everyone should hear it.
I never quite got the hype around Nirvana. Sure, some songs are good, but then there are some outright dogshit ones too. This album is not an exception.
Fine
While Nirvana broke alot of ground in the grunge scene, I am not sold myself on the album.
Necesito escucharlo otra vez, porque me produjo poco y nada mientras trabajaba. Un setlist un poco alejado de lo que esperaba. Nota: 2.5
Artistin nimen tiesin, mutta tuotantoa en juurikaan. Mutta tämä oli aika tasalaatuista, ja alkoi toistaa itseään.
A good performance, short and to the point, but I always come away feeling like "i don't get it" with Nirvana. The fact that the songs that I enjoyed the most are covers also kind of sells the point to myself. These are perfectly acceptable pop songs, performed decently well in an intimate setting, but they lack that special spark that excites me about some pop songs over others.
I guess if we are to have live albums on the list, this one is a must. Nirvana's (semi) Unplugged shows they are more than just a grunge band. Acoustic versions of the hits work and even the covers are better than originals. Cobain brings raw emotion and the band carries it well. Timing of the release shortly after his death for sure vaulted this up the charts but it deserves praise. Certainly one of the better from the live list...2.9.
Yeah it's just not my thing, sorry team.
Wouldnt be my go to, and may not return to it, but in no way a bad album.
Very weird to hear Nirvana being nice boys while on stage, not the myth I've been sold!
I dont like Live alblums
On paper, Nirvana should be my shit, but it just never clicked for me. Kurt's voice is not my favorite here, so this being my first album on this project isn't helping their cause.
actually good
A piece of music history. The Nirvana songs on the album are more pedestrian, but what stands out to me, and what makes this a classic is the interesting choice of covers - Bowie, the Vaselines, Meat Puppets (x2!!), and Lead Belly. One listen, and it’s difficult to restrain from humming “all and all is all we are” the rest of the day.
This was a breath of fresh air for me. I love Rock infused music. Is this worth a 5*? No, mainly because I prefer studio recorded albums where the music is arguably in its best form, but after dealing with a dying man and then blues/soul music this was a welcome reprieve. *Update - I wrote this after listening to the first half of the album and then got bored in the 2nd half. Acoustic covers are great but I think their appeal wears off after a while which is what happened to me. If a 1/2 star was allowed I'd give this a 3.5. But alas, 3* is as high as I will go.
The songs sound similar but overall there is a "different" vibe to anything I've heard before. A punky but melodic tune for each song, and surprisingly good vocals
***A good album, many tracks sound similar, but all easy listening.
7/10
se não fosse acustico eram 4 estrelas infelizmente eu odeio acústico
acho o cabelo do kurt nas gravações desse bonito demais. ensebadaço e com um formato bacaninha. aprecio que eles usaram o espaço acustico pra fazer COVER. uma bela homenagem aos artistas de boteco. dito isso, PASMEM até que é bom. perdeu uma estrela meramente por ser acustico.
I prefer them plugged
Paar mooie nummers ma nie echt mijn smaak.
The sadness that comes through these songs is palpable and leaves a heavy residue. Kurt committed suicide just 4 months later.
This is a nice album, it had a few very popular songs but I am surprised that it didn't sound bad for a live performance. Overall, it was alright having it in the background and I enjoyed the songs that I knew.
Yeah it's pretty good though not that hyped on it honestly maybe because I've listened to these songs so many times
Ok. Not as good as Nevermind, or maybe I just wasn’t in the Nirvana mood yesterday.
This is such an interesting concept to do a live album on the 1001... i def think it's a good idea for it. kinda iconic for them not to do their hits, though as someone who's not too into nirvana, i wish there kinda were. nevertheless, nice work !!
I listened to this a fair few times as part of the classics canon. I remember it very fondly, but also only remember a few songs. Man Who Sold the World and Where Did You Sleep Last Night are both great, even if I still prefer the originals. More than I enjoy the album itself, I appreciate it as a music discovery source. Kurt had really interesting taste, and his covering artists turned me onto, or made me revisit people I really enjoy. I don't think any of the Nirvana songs are improved by being unplugged though. One day I will watch the actual recorded set, and I imagine that will give it an extra star. Album cover: (B)
It's been a while since we had a live album so I'm looking forward to this. Nirvana is not something I like to hear at just any moment, they are very location and mood specific for me. I am not entering this listen in the right place or mood, so that may affect my reviews. The first song I'm really liking is "The Man Who Sold The World". Kurt's vocals on it are nice. I learned at the end it's a Bowie song, so maybe I still don't really like Nirvana. I'm enjoying "On A Plain". This album lacks the awesome crowd connection and engagement that I've heard from other live albums on this list. They aren't really bringing a lot of energy to the performance? The sound quality is great, but there's not much to this album's live performance other than that an audience claps at the end of songs. I don't really love Nirvana, and I was expecting this to be a super hardcore live album which brought energy I couldn't appreciate from my office chair. Instead it was a quiet and slow performance which was appropriate for my office chair, but boring. I guess that's the point of an unplugged album, but without the intensity they bring to their recorded electrical stuff, they don't have much left to offer me. 5/10
I actually dislike this album even though I was a huge Nirvana fan at 14. This album was flogged to death after Kurt’s suicide and for as interesting as it is, it suffers by not being the full force of the band. Some great covers here
Notably better than their normal grunge. I still don't like Cobain's voice, though
Interesting to go unplugged, and good showcase of some of KC's favourite songs, but comes across as a time capsule more than an album.
it was alright
I absolutely disliked the MTV Unplugged series when it was going. I really only liked Nirvana's and Alice in Chains's Unplugged albums. This one has a wide range of their own material and covers (Meat Puppets, David Bowie, yayyyy!). It's fine, I do like the version of All Apologies off of this than the studio version from In Utero. 3.4/5 so it's a 3.
Solid. Guitar work really nice and the compositions sound great but Kurt’s voice never quite did it for me. Definitely warm up to the style by the end of the album. Would listen again
Average
more curiosity than album . bowie cover is good .
Didn’t blow me away but enjoyed some songs
Not really sure stuff like this should be on the list. Proves their songs were pretty versatile though. All Apologies a personal favourite
Some of them yes some of them no. Liked it more than I thought I would. Would probably relisten.
I enjoyed listening to this, as I've heard it before and enjoyed it. I'd relisten.
This is fine. I think the fact that my favorite Nirvana songs are the covers on this album is pretty telling.
Going to go against the grain here and say It's just good. I think I prefer when they're plugged
simplemente nirvana. me gusto pero no diria que me encanto
I can’t help but wonder if the reason for this album being considered essential is partly due to the tragedy that befell Kurt Cobain only a few months later. I do enjoy this album, it’s a nice stripped back version of a lot of great Nirvana songs, but I think I’d still pick the studio recorded versions every time. There are definitely occasions where bands sound better on live albums than the studio versions, but this is not one of those times. Again, it’s still a nice listen, but I’m not quite sure what makes this an essential listen.
It's quite a statement. A live album with minimal production. Even to a casual listener, it's interesting to hear the slick versions of those songs. I still prefer the studio versions tho.
MTV Unplugged by so many bands, especially Nirvana, was so overplayed back in the day. I'm still recovering.
good set with a couple standout tracks but i’m not the biggest fan of nirvana
It’s ok! Some songs are absolute gems.
I like some of Nirvana's work and I think they might be better unplugged than plugged. There's a couple really good tunes on here, but much of Cobain's vocals sound like a man whining painfully - not as bad as Radiohead's lead, but kind of annoying at times.
Iconic album. One of the first unplugged session on MTV, but not sure it necessarily makes it a classic even if it is a reasonably good album
Decent set.
Another underwhelming one for me, despite the clear influence the band had at the time. Some charismatic moments in the recording and I enjoyed many of the tracks (Plateau was a highlight for me). Overall, though, I found the muted sound and Cobain's apathetic delivery a bit of a drag. Maybe one for enjoying in the right mood.
It’s good. Not a big fan of the covers, I don’t think the live recordings add much compared to the recorded, in general just feels like a Nirvana greatest hits album.
It’s Ozk
Perhaps not the greatest way to revisit Nirvana. Interesting covers. Enjoyed 'On A Plain'. 'Pennyroyal Tea' pretty woeful though. Not something I've ever gone to the trouble of listening to, and probably never will again despite being a youthful enthusiast first time around.
This was fine.
The live unplugged format has both benefits and drawbacks for Nirvana. On the one hand, it makes them sound super-creepy, which I think is part of their appeal. Songs like "Come As You Are" (better in this rendition than on the record), "Man Who Sold The World" and the intense closer "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" just convey an especially uneasy feeling with this lighter sound and intimate delivery, removed from the massive over-production of "Nevermind". On the other hand, Cobain is really not a good singer, and that massive over-production was the only thing that got him to sound passable. Live acoustic just renders all of Cobain's limitations in startling clarity, along with all the other notes they play. That's how it works! And that's why producers (and listeners with pop sensibility) tend to like massive over-production. Those limitations are obvious within a few minutes of starting the CD. The best comp for this is "Jar Of Flies", which I hope makes the list. "Jar of Flies" is also a creepy, largely acoustic grunge CD, but on every conceivable dimension it blows this out of the water. The singers are better, the songs are deeper, the depth of sound and recording quality are better. Not to say "Unplugged" is bad - in a list of 1001, not everyone can be first. But even for this approach, it's not best-in-class. And this is the killer - it misses the thing that makes "Nevermind" so enduring and so captivating, which is the insane raw emotion in every track. So much of that comes through the palpable anger in their electrified delivery, and it's just lost here. Even at that though, there's only so bad a Nirvana greatest-hits CD can get.
i dont know if this is a controversial rating, but i like the studio recordings way more, and i think this album was boring
Overall, it was good for a live album, but not great.
fet musikk, generelt ganske kjipe tekster, man who sold the world evig favoritt
About a Girl 8/10 - Guitar tone is subdued but sooo sick. Kurt sounds like he's trying too. The mixing is actually really good. Come as You Are 6/10 - The clapping is so polite lmao. Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam 4.5/10 The man who sold the world still one of the best songs ever, and this rendition might be my second favorite next to Midge Ure's. 9.5/10 Pennyroyal Tee 8.5/10 Leonard Cohen reference lol Dumb 3/10 Polly 5/10 On A Plain 6/10 Something in the way 7/10 LOOOL Plateau 7/10 - very pretty Oh Me 8/10 - Songwriting is great Lake of Fire 8.5/10 - These covers are really nice sounding god All Apologies 5/10 - Not the biggest fan tbh Where Did You Sleep Last Night 7/10 - OG is goated
I’m
I think that I can see the appeal of Nirvana by listening to this album. It’s not bad and it stays entertaining but did not seem too amazing.
Slightly as I expected, the best songs on this are the ones Nirvana didn't come up with - it's all a bit too mawkish, up itself not quite rock and I'm just not here for it - sorry Kurt, it's a solid "meh" from me. Faves: The Man Who Sold the World
This didn't feel all that unplugged imo
Listened to all non unplugged songs on this album and a few unplugged. It was nice to listen to it all together. Cobains vocals are so raw I love the contrast from what they usually sound like.
Another fucking live album?
I don't think their songs translates that well to an acoustic setting, although some of the covers are great. 3.5 stars
I like depressing rock music so this was fun.
Nirvana vs the cult of cobin, separate the sound from the myth, this is actually good
There are some seriously good songs on this album, but most of them come straight from Nevermind and In Utero. I liked listening to this album, but there's absolutely no reason for it to be included on this list instead of some other album.
I've never been sure why the Unplugged MTV thing was conceived - was it a view that noisy rockers couldn't play instruments without being plugged in? Whatever, it usually offers a new view of a band. In this case I think Nirvana took the chance to play several cover versions, and in fact my favourite track here is the Bowie cover (The Man Who Sold The World). Oh, and the Leadbelly cover is good too. The album's OK, but not being particularly keen on Nirvana, I can take it or leave it.
I'm coming back to Nirvana after years of avoiding listening to them. I ended up really enjoying their early studio albums, and of course I remember when this live album was recorded. It was just played everywhere. I'm not a huge fan of the unplugged series of albums. I think this was pretty good but I'm going with a 3 on this one, not super inspiring to me.
Went on a bit
Iconic but never been really into it. Also -1 for being a live-album
Not a bad album, not something I would normally listen to, I liked some songs better than others, Where Did You Sleep Last Night was very good, the fact that it's live is incredible. His voice is so powerful and clear, I can't even believe it