MTV Unplugged In New York

Best live rock album of all time.

Album #194 Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York Nirvana are a band that, by all measures, should be stuck in the 90s; their sound, attitude, and aesthetic are all so stuck in time that it is a miracle that they are still as relevant and popular as ever. However, there are reasons why Nirvana still appeals to so many people even today; I myself wasn’t even born until almost ten years after Kurt Cobain took a trip to his shed, yet I still can’t refuse some Nirvana every now and then. Kurt Cobain is the quintessential relatable songwriter for almost every kid who ever felt different, and though the collective obsession with Nirvana proves that we really are all the same, what makes us so similar is our panging isolation. The ‘grunge’ sound that Nirvana played was almost an afterthought to Cobain himself; he could have been playing any sort of counter-culture music, and Nirvana would have been successful all the same, because what is so endearing about them isn’t the music, it’s the vibe. MTV Unplugged was the inevitable culmination of what Nirvana had been doing up to that point, because below the facade of electric guitars and distortion, there was really just a sentimental, sappy songwriter who wanted to share his pain with the world; Kurt Cobain has more similarity with Elliott Smith than he ever did with Eddie Vedder. It’s funny how the debate amongst Nirvana fans was always whether the clean Butch Vig production of Nevermind, or the raw Steve Albini production of In Utero was better, when in reality, you could literally just send the band out there with some acoustic guitars, and they would remain just as compelling and captivating as ever. In the mythos that is Nirvana, MTV Unplugged represents the epilogue, where Nevermind is the climax and In Utero the comedown; it is a teaser as to what was to come, and leaves us longing for what never was. The covers are the standouts here, because even though Cobain was a great songwriter in his own right, what was really special about him was his true love for music, which absolutely shines through while he gives his all into performing songs from his favourite artists. That being said, as a massive David Bowie glazer, I need to state that the original is better, though both versions are excellent. I’m not even a huge Nirvana fan, but I can’t deny that the band is utterly fascinating, and considering this might be my favourite album of theirs, I’m quite disappointed we never got to see what came next. Best Songs: The Man Who Sold The World, Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, About a Girl Worst Song: Polly Score out of 10: 9

4.6 2x best live album?

While I appreciate this performance , and I’ve said this in previous reviews, I do not think live albums should be on this list.

Easiest 5 Stars I've given.

Pues bueno, Nirvana, esta bien.

yeah... I don't think Nirvana is for me. I like some of the instrumentals but I don't really like Kurt's voice and a lot of the songs are too stripped down for me. Ultimately pretty bored by this one.

This has left me a little deflated. Not because of the album but because of the reputation this album has. I’ve seen and been told this is one of the greatest live albums of all time. But it really didn’t do much for me. I loved The Man Who Stole The Earth but I like Nirvana when they’re rocking.

im sorry i just think theyre soooooo overrated somethings in my ass mmmmmmmmm

Classic. I’ve heard every song a million times but still a classic

Massive! Enjoy some of these versions versus the studio versions more

I like the guitar again not my cup of tea but it’s definitely better than the sad country music nirvana is a good band

Like most folks I'm fairly aware of this performance and album. Just crazy to see how effortless it all is but just so audibly enthralling. Very cool album, not one single skippable song, and it's also nice to get little human moments from someone we all presently know well (Dave Grohl) and someone we didn't get the chance to know more of (Kurt Cobain). Highly suggest you just watch the concert on YouTube when this comes around on your list.

A great live album. I also didn't realise 'Something in the Way' was by Nirvana.

I enjoyed listing to this. It's a nice live album

The covers are my favorite part of this album, which is astounding given how good the renditions of their original songs are. One of my favorite things about music (and one of my key motivations behind undertaking this listening project in the first place) is discovering the influences behind my favorite artists. Kurt Cobain (and the rest of the band) present such a rich tapestry of the musicians and genres that have inspired them across this set. The genuine appreciation for artists ranging from Bowie to American folk musicians to their own contemporaries is balanced by an artistry that still manages to make each track their own.

Favs : About a girl The man who sold the world Polly Oh me Apologies Where did you sleep last night HM : Lake of fire & Dumb

Nirvana Unplugged: 2/5 I don't want to ever listen to this again, but it wasn't painful to listen to. Up until Something in the Way, I was waiting for the album to be over. Really felt like I was tapping my foot and staring at my watch. Building a fence probably isn't the right way to listen to this though, unless you hate your job. It's a very subdued album that mostly blends together and sounds the same, but that's probably just due to the unplugged live nature of it. Feels like edible music, like I'm not supposed to be listening to it sober. It's just not music I want to be listening all that intently to. I need to be on some sort of downer to appreciate it, but I don't go for weed or heroin, so it's just not going to be for me. But Something in the Way was great. Very somber. This is definitely music from a guy who killed himself. I bet this is one of his last recordings and that's why it's on the list. If I knew more of the emotional context, maybe I'd have the appreciation for it, but I don't. It was okay though.

This tonally perfect blend of original material and covers makes for an indispensable addition to their catalog. Leaves you sadly wondering what the band could grown into as they further matured.

Solid album. So many classic songs I've heard a bunch of times over the years. Love the acoustic vibe too. Great listen. (5)

This album has the historical sin of making the lame concept of an unplugged set look cool. Despite that, it is quite enjoyable although the best tracks are not theirs (the Bowie's song alone give it a +1)

Nothing crazy not bad tho

Very good for a live album

There is a lot to say about this one for a ton of reasons. Being one of the most popular live records? Being the most popular live recording from the 1990's that I know of? Being the record that I learned to read guitar tabs with? Being when it was, and one of the last times we all got to see kurt? The music? This is definitely one of those really special ones where everything lines up right. I think to me, this is the idea of a perfect ten album. All around everything has this magic to it that you can't really get elsewhere. It's got ups and downs, but at the end of the day even the tracks I don't like like Pennyroyal Tea belong on this album. I'm glad they're there and they are definitely good. Favorite Song: Where did you sleep last night Least Favorite Song: Pennyroyal Tea Album rating 10/10 Familiarity: 8/10 Would I listen to again: Absolutely. I've listened to this one a whole lot, will listen again, it's kind of a give in at this point, heh.

An enjoyable time. Some familiar favourites, and some covers. The covers strike me as somewhat weird choices though, and kind of break me out of the music. That said, Cobain's vocals are incredible.

Pre-Listening thoughts: First live album from Nirvana, recorded just a few months before Kurt killed himself. I'm familiar with the album, I think my brother owned it. Nirvana was a great act, and this was their final real performance. When it was recorded it wasn't meant as their final word, but ended up being it. I've listened to this a lot, but it's been nearly 30 years since I listened a lot. This is a concert, not an album, so it's kinda… different. About a Girl: Acoustic really helps Nirvana. I think they are much easier to understand, and hear the talent in the performance. Great track to start the performance. Come As You Are: And now onto Nevermind, good to get something in here quickly. As good as the other two albums are, this is what got them famous, Bleach was only popular AFTER the fact. And any music hipsters can bite me, unless you were in Seattle, you weren't listening to Bleach until after Nevermind. Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam: Now, to fill out the setlist, a cover of a Vasolines song. I love the accordion! This works well with Kurt and Dave's vocals. The Man Who Sold the World: Another cover, this time of David Bowie! At least Kurt was open about screwing up, as it's a challenging song. He's doing a great cover here. Honestly, I think I prefer this over the original. Pennyroyal Tea: Into the final album for a couple tracks. Kurt solo on guitar and vocals, This is really a great sound. And show just how damn talented he is. (Even if I really prefer Dave's voice, Kurt's voice was the sound for Nirvana) Dumb: The second (of three) In Utero tracks, the cello is a great sound that comes clear in this, and was just what this needed to add some depth with it being unplugged. Polly: And back to Nevermind for another three tracks. It's interesting that they went with deeper tracks rather than the ones you'd expect like Lithium of In Bloom. All are great tracks, so no complaints, but still it's interesting. On a Plain: This gets into why I'm not a massive fan of Nirvana, the music is very repetitive… this is just… filler in my book. Something In the Way: And the last Nevermind song in the show. I genuinely like it. Like all their stuff, it just is a bit sad… But that's grunge for ya. That cello is pronounced again, really nice. Plateau: Hey time for three covers of the Meat Puppets, all from their second album. Featuring Curt and Cris Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets. It's a good take, and Kurt is doing interesting vocals, pushing higher than he normally does. Oh, Me: This shows some real range musically, just a bit country rock, and some delicious guitar Lake of Fire: This is great cover, such interesting strained vocals from Kurt, but musically it's very fun. All three of the Meat Puppet covers are wonderful listens, and a highlight of the concert. All Apologies: One final track from In Utero. A GREAT close out for the band's music. One of my favorite tracks from Nirvana. Just a great track. Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Wrapping the show with another cover, this time a traditional piece, one that Kurt had guested on for Mark Lanegan's debut album. Kurt was crediting it to Lead Belly, but he didn't write it. This is a very Nirvana cover, and sounds amazing, Overall Thoughts: A great finale for Kurt Cobain, showing his lighter side, his funny side, and his talent. I can get why this was so hard to work on after recording for Dave and Krist. It was a great concert, a lot of fun, and VERY much a cultural moment from my senior year in high school. (Yes I'm dating myself, HUSH!) The recording/performance was in November 1993, was broadcast on MTV a month later, then Kurt died in April of 94, and this was released in November of 94. The album ended there, but MTVs producers had been arguing with Kurt because they wanted an encore, Kurt refused, he thought the show couldn't be topped. Favorite Song: Oh, Me Least Favorite Song: On A Plain Album rating: 7 Familiarity: 9 Would I listen to again: Eh… being honest the answer is yes, but I'd not seek it out anymore.

It’s hard to have grown up in the Pacific Northwest in the 90s and not have heard of Nirvana. At the time they were active, most of the music I was hearing was country, of all things (please note: Neither of my parents listens to country anymore. They both quit when they divorced almost three decades ago. As I understand it, they didn’t *start* until after they were married. I don’t know what to make of that.) so this band came and went without my having been familiar with their music; my entire exposure consisted of Weird Al’s “Smells Like Nirvana” and that told me what they sounded like I guess? And then, of course, Kurt Cobain’s death was all over the news. I’ve heard more of their music on the radio more recently, but never really put the effort into, like… digging in. I’m not sure this album really helps with that, but I can absolutely appreciate what I’m hearing. And I appreciate it a lot. It’s hard to judge an acoustic live album when I’m not especially familiar with the band’s studio sound on a lot of these songs. I mean, leaving aside the Grateful Dead where you’re arguably doing it wrong if you’re not listening to live, you’re getting something vastly different from the norm. Even so, the musical talent on display here is anything but hidden. The sound I expect from what I’ve heard of Nirvana previously is here, stripped down to its essence, and the set, with its mix of Nirvana originals (but not their big hits for the most part) and covers, lets the band show its range. It’s a fascinating way get my first exposure to many of these songs, and makes me wish I’d encountered this album far sooner in my life. Now, all that said, I find myself kind of wishing I was watching this concert rather than just listening; I’m forced to imagine what the band members are talking about when they banter between the songs. Alas, I’m only listening. Still, this is absolutely an album that’s going in my list of all-timers. I can see myself listening to this one more than a few times just on its own. … And I was mostly done writing all this out and then “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” came on. Cobain belting out on the second half? That cinched it. No wonder that was the closing song, I’m imagining that even with three cups of tea, that did something to his throat akin to what “Twist and Shout” did to John Lennon at the end of recording *Please Please Me*. Brilliant way to close the set. 10/10, easy.

Dit is echt niks voor mij.... Het is zo zeurderig en de gitaarsolo's zijn prima maar gewoon niet mijn vibe

Super grungy and fun, expressive vocal performance from Kurt. The crowd and ad-libs are enjoyable.

classic

The acoustic arrangements of the songs on here sound great, better than I expected. I still mostly prefer the studio versions, tho. I’m not sure how the cover songs hold up compared to the originals, since I’m not familiar with them, except for “The Man Who Sold The World”. I prefer the Bowie version. Still, I really liked the covers. Those three songs after each other by Meat Puppets if I’m correct were amazing. Favourites: Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam, Something In The Way, Plateau

Never been a fan of Nirvana, plus it is a live album, two counts against it going in, still I will listen to it. Actually, I liked the album. I think the acoustical nature made me appreciate the group much more than I had in the past. I had to laugh when Kurt Cobain struggled to reach the notes in a couple of the songs, especially on "Plateau" and "Lake of Fire". All in all, the album made me sad knowing of Kurt's demise.

Really like the live instrumental acoustics Come as you are live acoustic on eletric guitar and bass guitar sound so idk how to describe it.

I had watched the recording of Nirvana’s “MTV Unplugged in New York” live because my girlfriend at the time was a huge Nirvana fan. Back then, MTV had a series of unplugged concerts where well-known bands showcased their talent with a stripped-down lineup, and some of them were pretty impressive. That wasn’t the case with Nirvana, though, because that band didn’t have much to offer technically. As a result, the songs - admittedly strong songs - sounded relatively choppy, and the performance struck me more as a group of mediocre street musicians who had stumbled into the MTV studio by accident. For many, it was the ultimate revelation, but even back then I felt - and still do today when I listen to it - that Nirvana shouldn’t have played that concert. For me, it remains the ultimate symbol of the commercial sellout of this band, which had actually started out under very different circumstances.

Truth be told, no song from this album is a favorite of mine, but the WHOLE record is. Fantastic mood.

Perfect. No notes.

Lots of fillers don't mask the lack of finished songs.

One of the first albums I ever listened to, and one of my first cds Amazing Live album but Alice In chains just ever so slightly beats theres

The covers are incredible. I can’t help but think about the decade of grungy butt-rock Nirvana inspired. This stuff feels so genuine

lo tengo en cd, me gustó pero es como que muy chill para mi gusto, igual nirvana le mete mucho y es un buen álbum

Culte.

Easiest 5 stars I’ve given so far, I can’t pick any flaws with this album, probably one of my favourite live album.

Stunning album - Kurt’s vocals are just too good in this

Formative.

My favorite part of this right now is Kurt Cobain indulging his love of the meat puppets and insisting everyone else hear them too.

The bits and pieces of mythology about Nirvana's Unplugged have almost, *almost* eclipsed the album itself at this point. And, admittedly, there's a lot of mythology there. Between the fact that the performance almost never happened, the 6 covers (all of which have eclipsed the originals in popularity, honestly to a kind of obnoxious extent), and weird little things like how Cobain was offered Lead Belly's guitar (in exchange for US Dollars) prior to the performance, or little pieces of now bafflingly iconic, ultra casual stage banter. It feels like you can know everything about this performance without actually listening to the damn thing. But please listen to it, because it is very, very good. Stripping Nirvana's sound down to a skeleton very transparently reveals the band to be a vehicle for Cobain as a singer-songwriter. And even though most people kind of knew this prior, it is thrust directly into the spotlight here. It also reveals how Cobain may have the shakiest, most fragile voice of anyone who has ever scored a pop ultra-hit, and I mean this as a good thing. The pain and deep sadness that's pretty much ever-present in Nirvana's music is unignorable here. It's the kind of thing that can make the band's whole discography feel different. I'd mention that all the songs here are fantastic, but you know that, it's a selection of Nirvana's quieter songs, and they all translate beautifully into acoustic arrangements. I'd like to make specific mention of Something In The Way, a very sad song made even sadder. And All Apologies and Pennyroyal Tea are also incredible, but *honestly* everything here is incredible. I'd like to take a minute to discuss the covers as well, because they are really important to Unplugged's DNA, and delve pretty deep into the Nirvana's (and Cobain's) influences. Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam (by The Vaselines) is a great, kind of cynical twist on a Christian hymn, but not *quite* as legendary as the other covers here. The Man Who Sold The World (by David Bowie) is considered by many to be the definitive rendition of the song, and while I'm not sure I agree, it is an incredible, iconic cover, that really brings something new out of the song. The trio of Plateau, Oh Me, and Lake Of Fire, all by Meat Puppets, all from their second album (just titled II, really great album, go listen to it) is a kind of odd aside in the track list, but they manage to make total sense in the broader context of this album with their raw songwriting and striking lyrics. And lastly, Where Did You Sleep Last Night (also called In The Pines, by Lead Belly) is a hell of a finale here. Cobain Brings his own, unmistakable intensity to an undeniably classic blues song, and honestly, I think this performance did a lot to put Lead Belly in the eyes of the modern listener too, which is really cool. The whole of Unplugged is one of the best live albums ever, and it brings something heart wrenching and brutally honest out of some very familiar Nirvana songs. Unplugged is an undeniably iconic performance and deserves to be celebrated to this day.

I was working at the record store and someone ran in to breathlessly tell us Kurt was dead. I called my friend Jerry and his response was "Box set." (ouch). We sold a shitload of this album when this came out, which was very predictable given both its timing and the generally tamer sound. I felt like they anticipated the attention they would be getting for this performance and deliberately used their 15 minutes of fame to shine a light on tragically underappreciated Meat Puppets and The Vaselines, which was very cool of them. Plus a great cover of The Man Who Sold The World.

I've never actually heard (or watched) this performance before, and it gives me an even greater appreciation for both Kurt Cobain and the band. I'm not sure it's objectively a five-star album, but I see no way *not* to give this the full rating. There's no way to really know if this was the new direction Cobain was hoping for from the band, but every single song--theirs and others'--sounds incredibly natural and right, even if many of their song selections were already largely acoustic pieces in the first place. (And hilarious that Cobain even admits to the audience that "Dumb" and "Polly" really *are* the same song.) Amazingly, there is absolutely no filler on this album, and while a few tracks are even better than the rest--"Come as you are", "Something in the way" (aside from the extra bits at the end as they got the Kirkwood brothers ready), the Meat Puppets cover "Lake of fire" (one of my favorite MP songs), and the stunning Lead-Belly-inspired closer "Where did you sleep last night (in the pines)"--I could easily put this album (or video) on repeat and enjoy it all over again. Sad that this was their swan song, but at least they went out strongly, and even with a little help from some friends.

Brilliant choice of songs. Nirvana understood the assignment!

One of the few live albums that actually deserves to be on this list. Not only does is it an excellent recording with great sound engineering but familiar songs really do get transformed in this stripped down set.

This is a classic for me, it's what made me wanna play guitar as a kid. I saw a YouTube clip of this and was like wow he has so much aura. I'm not good at guitar and I don't have any aura, but the sentiment remains. Stand-outs for me are Plateau and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. I think a lot of the album blurs together otherwise, but not in a bad way. They just have their style and they're consistent with it. I also just really enjoy "In The Pines," so learning Nirvana did a cover of it is really fun. 4/5. Good, I like some songs but I don't think I'll listen through this album regularly.

Også et av mine core memory album! For meg 10/10. masse gode minner til hele albumet

Fantastic live album. Nirvana's songs and Cobain's voice work really well striped down even enhancing some of the songs. I like On a Plain, but I consider it average in terms of Nirvana, but this rendition absolutely blew me away. I didn't particularly care for the Meat Puppets covers towards the end, but they weren't bad just not as good as the rest of the album. It is really hard for me to pick a favorite version of The Man Who Sold the World since I love Bowie so much, but Nirvana's interpretation deserves the hype it gets. Ironically yesterday I got a Bowie album. Favorite Track - The Man Who Sold the World Least Favorite Track - Plateau ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Good overall, but lacked the bite that the studio versions had.

What an album

No value add to being unplugged.

While it's surprising how well Nirvana’s songs stand up in their acoustic form, there is no doubt to me that their music loses some dimension and edge when the distortion and bluster is removed. It is true that the band’s most appealing qualities lie in their melodies but for me there is a smaller but critical component missing from most of these arrangements which limits their impact and presence. Regardless, their material holds up well with the only total flop being the under-rehearsed Pennyroyal Tea. Where I do not agree with fans of this record is on the quality of the cover songs. The Vaselines and David Bowie are battered and bruised by the MTV Unplugged experience, detracting from the overall album. The trio of songs from Meat Puppets II fare much better thanks to the actual Meat Puppets being invited on stage but with the exception of Oh Me their songs don’t suit Cobain’s voice. I’d rather hear the other Curt (who is onstage!) sing them. Though it must be said how amazing it is that Cobain championed more obscure acts, or in the case of Leadbelly, introduced classic acts to a new audience. Nirvana only have four records: MTV Unplugged and the three studio albums. Unplugged and the iconic Nevermind firmly sit on the more accessible side of their catalog. This may be completely unfair, but I can’t help but feel that part of the overwhelmingly positive reception for MTV Unplugged was due to it both being released shortly after Cobain’s death and it being the band’s second accessible record. Fans of Nevermind (which is the largest subset of Nirvana fans) suddenly had a second place to focus their attention in the wake of Cobain’s death. For me it's a good listen, an interesting artifact, but not a classic record or a patch on their studio albums.

Read your review and fair enough but different feelings for me Low 5 on this one, hearing the songwriting stripped back with the emphasis in Kurt’s voice and the bare bones of the songs frequently shows itself to be very worthwhile. The Bowie cover is one of my favourite covers ever and the Meat Puppets section is well done with two of them along for the ride and a welcome addition. I’m not big into my pop culture lore, but for those who are i’m sure thus albums reaches legendary status. For me it’s a unique live album that offers another view of a generational band.

Preferred it as background noise than active listening. Just found it a little slow and dull when really focussing in on it.

Who knew the intimate setting would be so definitive for unplugged and for the band? I am not sure of the timeline here, so looking it up: recorded November '93, aired December '93, Cobain suicide April '94, album of the event released November '94. Terrible. Hard to listen to and harder to watch the brilliant performance without feeling like you're engaging with the loss of a generational talent.

Nevermind is a landmark album, though I stray from the Cobain worship. This is gripping in spots, but difficult to listen to in others. Cobain's rasp is pained, the songs, at first, seem to gain something from the acoustic arrangements, but ultimately, start to lose momentum and I just don't love it.

There's a lot to like here, but it's just not for me. I dig how they pay tribute to their idols, especially by bringing out the Kirkwood brothers for their Meat Puppets covers. But I prefer the covers to the Nirvana originals, except for that first tune, which is pretty dope. But overall, I find this set pretty depressing in a way that doesn't speak to me. I never really connected with these guys, but Kurt was a real champion of indie music, so I respect that.

Back in the 90s I was unaware of Kurt Cobain's mental health struggles until he died. Listening to this is like staring down the shotgun barrel. What great songs and sounds stopped down. I loved this then and was happy anytime I caught it on the MTV rotation. This version of In the Pines (ie, Where Did You Sleep Last Night) is one of the greatest I've heard (and I did a lot of folk fests back in the day)!

MTV unplugged albums are my one and only exception to the "no live albums". This is the best (and my favourite) of all MTV unplugged recordings, and perhaps one of the best live recordings ever. Nirvana hit a home run on this one. I realise it's so much more poignant having been released posthumously, but regardless of its sombre, haunting atmosphere it was still recorded before. Timely release, but expertly delivered by Nirvana.

I enjoyed it!

Harrowing

(7/7) incredible

Joa, geht so. Rock aber Unplugged funktioniert anscheinend für mich nicht so richtig. Ist okay, aber da höre ich lieber nevermind

1. Fascht scho chli langwilig, zu wenig action, lit warschindlich dra das es unplugged isch 2. Iieder vllt sogar bangers aber mega langsam und lislig 3. Letschtes lied sehr guet davor öppe 5 lieder lame af

You cannot really go wrong with Nirvana. I always love it when a band releases an acoustic album. I think that is where they really show their chops as a singer and musician. The album had a nice balance between some of the more popular songs and some lesser known songs.

Oh man, I guess an argument could be made that some of these songs already are on the list between in utero and nevermind, but they do interesting things with the arrangements, have great cover selection (this was my intro to bowie, way back when), and a mini meatpuppets concert slyly and well worked in. All very cool, and there's a lot of pain in that leadbelly/bluegrass cover. You should definitely listen to this album before you die.

6.5/10.

this is my first time listening to a nirvana project in full. maybe its cus i'm so friggin sleepy but i am unimpressed. i hate this guitar tone, so thin and plinky. favorite song so far was a bowie cover. i dont get it

One of the best acoustic albums ever, certainly the best “Unplugged” album. Kurt & Co. waste no time on banter but get right into it. The tracks they selected are excellent for this setting — spare or unadorned, driving and dark songs — and thank god they didn’t cram “Teen Spirit” in there. And the final song is the one that cements the album in the top tier. “…Where Did You Sleep Last Night” has an eerie, deathly edge that builds and builds all the way. And when Kurt erupts into a raw, unearthly shriek on the last verses, his voice cracking and falling at the end, it sounds like an omen of doom. I shiver every time I hear it. Five months later he was dead.

depois de ouvir os 3 albuns do nirvana posso dizer que eles foram sim influentes e bonzudos mesmo. falta realmente uma banda que una todas as tribos assim como foi o norvana.

Well, I am not generally a fan of live albums, but THIS ONE gets a 5. I mean I gave the Van Morrison live, double album a 4! A 4. So… I play this. I do. I play it as an album. Even though it’s a live album. Because…. You know… because. Even though Kurt is high AF. This session was AWESOME. 5 Boolean: TRUE, so True

Nice performance with some classic covers.

Maybe not the best live album

I completely understand why everyone is wearing the nirvana mtv unplugged tshirts now because this was life changing.

It’s nirvana of course it’s good

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.

It almost feels like cheating rating this album on the 1001 albums project. It's essentially a greatest hits album. All the tracks are from the MTV Unplugged episode performed by Nirvana in 1993, a few months before Kurt Cobain's death. Grunge is particularly poingent when played on accoustic instruments (Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam also had really great Unplugged performances), and Nirvana's episode is arguably the best espisode MTV Unplugged ever aired.

Might be my Favourite album of them

ага, донт хев е ґан

Toores grunge, aga vast heas mõttes. Mõni lugu on oma originaalist ikka tunduvalt kehvem esitus, aga tegelt on ka mitu sellist, mis hakkasid oma elu elama just selle kontserdiga (nt "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World"). Laivis oleks seda päris põnev kuulata ja vaadata poiste emotsioone ning mulle tõesti imponeerib see, et see on niivõrd erinev tänapäeva muusikast, mis on stuudios perfektsuseni lihvitud ja puhastatud, kõik iseloom on eemaldatud. Siin on kuulda inimlikkust ja emotsiooni. Sp ka 3.9/5, isegi kui kõik lood siin mulle ei meeldi.

Loved the acoustics and listening to songs in a different way

Wow I've heard "The Man Who Sold the World" so many times on the radio and I never knew it was a cover of a David Bowie song. In fact so many of these were played on the radio back in the day. Cobain's really got a hauntingly beautiful voice.

I expected to not care for this so much. I don't have Nirvana nostalgia but do hear all their hits on the radio and enjoy them but rarely see them out. This Unplugged version was great. Enjoyed watching the videos of them, too.

vinyl day! a haunting live album

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.

Pffff chicos, que decir, gran álbum, gran grupo… las canciones en su mayoría me gusta más la versión original que la versión del concierto, pero x simplemente el sonido más distorsionado, y aun así, en este álbum encontraremos mi “The man who sold the world” favorito 🧘🏻‍♀️

Better than I thought it would be.

Fantastic live performance

One of the things I loved about Unplugged was that artists and bands got to show how great their songs are when stripped down and performed in an intimate setting. I would love to see more of these on the list. Nirvana, which was such an in your face band musically, gave a subdued performance that was as compelling as their studio stuff. The acoustic arrangements showed a different side of the band but still had the same intensity and rawness. Great album.

I remember when MTV first launched these intimate concerts with high profile bands in NYC back in the 90’s. Nirvana was one of the better recordings they ever did and I believe it showed the audience, that was in the room as well as at home, a different side of the grunge rock band that had blasted onto the scene just a year or two before. The songs being performed acoustically went over very well and the inconsistencies in the vocals were all a part of who Nirvana was. This was a really good compilation for me and I still enjoy listening to it today.

A classic moment in time album and still a good listen. This doesn’t merit a 5 with so many cover songs and Cobain’s grating vocals, even if that was his intent. Bonus to hear the in-fighting and the way everyone hates each other!

Unplugged has always been a favorite and Nirvana unplugged is easily a top 5 all time unplugged. Kurt shines in this performance, he was best suited for intimate settings and you feel that on this record. Great set, except I need to make a bit of a confession....i don't like Nirvanas version of man who saved the world and it's been played so often it's become grating to me. Phew I said it and feel better. Amazing band, amazing performance.

really good loved the batman song 8/10

love the art

Top tier album on this list. Timeless, breathtaking, eye opening, and a different side to one of the most influential bands of the 20th century

Sounded over the head by this by MTV and radio for years. It just makes me want to hear the studio versions of these songs

7 / 10

So this album is just live music which is cool but most of the songs are slow and reminds me a bit of country 🫠 I do like Lake of Fire though gives me the walking dead vibes lowkey. Don’t get the hype of this band maybe it’s just this album its just not for me

I ADORE THIS ALBUM WITH MY ENTIRE HEART. Kurt Cobain is truly a mastermind, he’s so talented. Fav song is ‘Where Did You Sleep Last Night’.

Listened to it before. Dont really like Nirvana all that much but this was just fabulous

Realmente este unplugged me voló la cabeza

Pretty good album, heard it many times, but not sure why it's on the list!

Great

Classic!

Live albums will almost always be a 'meh' for me.

Aside from a few, I actually prefer the grunge sound to the unplugged version.

What are they tuning, a harp?

Gran acústico,me gusta mas el de pearl jam o alice in chains

Long Live Kurko

Legendary set. Almost perfect.

Generational

The acoustic/minimalist vibe works so well here. It's like this weird alternate Nirvana. The Man Who Sold The World is my favorite.

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

Rating: 9/10 Deservedly acclaimed as one of the best live albums ever. Very cool that Kurt continues his tradition of his distaste for fame and doing things his way even when he's making a record for MTV. The entire set could have been Nirvana mega-hits, even almost entirely with Nevermind, instead the band plays mostly deep cuts and covers (and the covers are so good). This choice clearly gave the album even more of a timeless classic quality that gets to stand out on its own in the Nirvana discography. A great display of the band's playing in a quieter intimate setting. Seeing them live would have been an incredible experience, but you know with all the noise and stuff

Charmingly ragged and cool. Great songs and great vibe, and the live jank added more than it detracted 7.2/10

I would enjoy Nirvana more if there was an accordion in all of their songs

A real Me classic

Not a huge grunge fan but I did grow up during the era so I’m well aware of Nirvana. Plateau and Where did you sleep last night were standouts for me Happy listening all!

eu AMO esse, uma baita referência da série de unplugged

Not a big Nirvana fan. Come as you are is a good song though. Got about 1/2 way through. Review: 5/10

Copying from Letterboxd: Watched the unedited version, from the 2007 DVD release. Cobain lighting up a dart between every other song is a great visual gag, and then when you see Grohl noodling with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth... that's what it's all about. Knew the album very well, but never actually watched the concert. Spectacular, obviously. The greats - The Man Who Sold the World, Come As You Are, All Apologies - are clearly great, but Plateau might be my favourite thing here.

i hated it

One of the best albums of the unplugged genre.

😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨

I will first say that I pulled this album on my final day as a 27 year-old. I found this to be rather amusing. It was a perfect way to celebrate this day. As of tomorrow I will be officially out of any danger to join the club. This album is really important to me. It was the soundtrack of my high school years more than a decade ago. I know it by heart. This time I re-listened to it and sort of reminisced about various moments and It feels like a lifetime ago and yet I stay hopeful. That being said the album is brilliant. It is a contender for the best Nirvana performance and as it goes out you can see Kurt Cobain slowly entering a flow state with the peak arriving during the final song. The way he channels his voice to unleash a plethora of emotions on to the listener is phenomenal. The final chorus of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" is, to me, one of the greatest musical moments captured on camera. There’s a split second where Kurt’s facial expression changes entirely after the sigh, right before ending both the song and one of the most iconic live performances ever recorded. The album is filled with highlights, but besides that performance, I absolutely love "Lake of Fire", "Pennyroyal Tea", and "Something in the Way". This time around, I listened carefully to "Oh Me", and for the first time it truly spoke to me. I believe the whole thing is beyond excellent, and I’m glad it exists.

I do not typically like live albums, but this is definitely an exception. A stellar performance, first of all, with new covers and musical guests make this a cut above the rest. Honestly, live albums rarely can replace the quality of the original studio recordings, so where this album shines is in the amount of covers that can stand on their own. The Meat Puppets section is my favorite. Fav tracks: Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam, The Man Who Sold The World, Plateau, Lake Of Fire

A release that couldn't have been any better than it is. Even outside the timing of the release, it's just perfect

Though I really enjoy Nirvana from time to time, this album really solidified my interest in them. Kurts voice, while not much in range, has a melancholy and haunting baritone that really compliments this acoustic album. The drums aren't overbearing, the base has clean legible tone, the guitar is crisp and eerie. This whole album feels like I'm walking through the woods in a foggy morning, just minutes before the sun comes up. It's strange, fae, reeks of danger, but is also strangely hopeful. I love it. It's an 8/10 on my list.

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

No hyvä settihän tää on, ei siitä mihinkään pääse, mutta ei tuo livetaltiointi tuo tähän silti mitään lisää näin himassa kuunneltuna. Niin annetaan nyt yks miinuspiste ihan sen takia.

Taas mennään liven pariin ja näitä on tullut vähän parjailtua. Sinänsä tässä kun on lyöty sähköt poikki tuvasta, niin se sitten tarjoo mahikset joko onnistua tai munaamaan tuotannon tulkitsemisen suhteen. Kyl mää oon tätä kovasti kuunnellut, mutta ehkä inasen huvittavaa on se, että parhaiten toimii Meat Puppetsin kanssa vedetyt kyseisen pändin biisit. Samoten Vaseliinien ja Bouwin lainat plus tietty levyn päätöskierrätys on ehottomasti sellasia, että tulkinta on eniten reilassa. Kyl täs nyt vitku pahasti kutittelee ja kai sen voi tirvasta, vaikka olosuhteet nyt on mitä on, mut kuitenkin se tapa jolla biisit soi uudella tapaa erilaisessa ympäristössä on säväröivää ja kurDtin tulkintakin on paikoitellen RIIPIVÄÄ. Sit toki aiemmin mainittu plussa noista lainoista ja niiden tekemisistä omanlaisikseen. Vaseliinin ja puppetin saamat rojaltitilitykset ja mainostila varmaan kans ilostutti asianosasia.

Onhan tää Nirvanan paras levy. Kivoja sovituksia joiden ansiosta paskat biisit kuulostaa paljon paremmalta. Mulla on ollu tää ihan jopa cd:llä.

Nunca fue mi favorito, pero se ha convertido en un clásico. ¿El mejor unplugged? Desde luego no es un unplugged porque tiene efectos, pedales, elétrica etc etc. ¿Acustico? Hombre... Nebraska, Harvest, Blue, cualquiera de Nick Drake... otros como Clapton, Metallica, Lauryn Hill, Arrested Development (este de gran valor), Willy Deville, Alicia Keys... todos son buenos. No nos pasemos, tampoco lo veo para estar en el listado, pero no es en absoluto un mal disco. Eso sí, no es una celebración, salvo la de un funeral. El ambiente y decoración eran eso, y además su publicación coincide con la muerte de Cobain. Arrasó y dejó una enorme huella. El repertorio sorprende para bien, algún éxito y muchas versiones, la de Bowie es ya un clásico. Talento les sobraba.

Uhhhh FOMO niin suuri FOMO, ja ne viel soitti bowiet...

This is a great record. It showed the quiet emotion of a band. It was always there in the music. I think it’s easy to dislike Nirvana because they became overplayed but hearing the hurt in the vocals on these songs. It showed Jurt was more than just a loud screaming singer. The covers are the highlight here but I also think songs like something in the way feel creepier. Pennyroyal Tea is highlighted. Kurt curated a great acoustic performance

This but not nevermind? Come as you are still slaps, 4

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.

so good i have on cd

I can't listen to this all the way through. I just find his voice too grating! I am part way through Pennyroyal Tea and I have to turn it off. I can listen to some Nirvana but only a couple of songs at a time. I knew I would struggle with this one as soon as I saw it. The guitars sound very 'rich' and woody and I like that. But I can only take a little bit at a time! I don't get the appeal of Kurt Cobain and I never have and I know I'm in the minority but I can't help it.

Todas las chicas estamos familiarizada con este disco y con su video en youtube

An amazing album. A great selection of songs and some wonderful covers.

8 / 10

Yo can that guy who is talking too close to the mic kindly shut the fuck up I wanna hear Kurt not your white fanboying ass.

Probably one of the only albums on here that is inextricable from the moment in time in which it was released; To view this independent of Kurt’s death would be unjust. The feeling of absence is begging to be read into the stripped back acoustic instrumentation and melancholic song choices, which creates an even more unsettling feeling when contrasted to the live audience’s unknowing cheers.

Closer to a 5 than a 3. Really fantastic. Cobain, as the icon.

Not too bad but didnt add any

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.

Quel beau cadeau de fête!! Le meilleur 'album' de Nirvana à mon sens, c'est comme une intégration de toutes les phases, Bleach et le côté raw, Nevermind et le super-stardom quasiment pop, et In Utero le gros fuck you la production léchée et concentrons nous sur la musique. J'adore particulièrement la fin de l'album (All apologies et Where did you sleep last night), on voit comment Cobain aurait pu tourner un excellent musicien blues/folk. Autant je suis ébahi par son talent brut, autant ça me rend triste à chaque fois de constater ça. SVP écoutez le footage video si c'est pas déjà fait, juste l'audio c'est pas l'expérience totale.

Première fois que j’écoute ça! Assez incroyable. Quelle grande voix ce Kurt, juste assez ecorchée. Bien aimé le cover de Bowie ainsi que Pennyroyal tea. Prochaine étape: voir le video!

This is #day651 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… this is my third and final record by Nirvana, and oh me, what a way to cross out this band from the list. Even though I think I prefer Alice in Chains' MTV Unplugged, Nirvana's performance is special in its own right. There's something else between the lines and in the air. The strange, fragile sense of finality, if you will. In a punk rock Nirvana-style, there's, of course, this big "fuck you" to TV rules, with half the setlist being songs by other and/or lesser-known bands and artists. "The Man Who Sold the World" has to be one of the most iconic cover versions out there, the kind that makes you feel like it had always been a Nirvana song. Last, but not least, that screamed verse at the end of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" I'm only wondering what would have been next. This is a 5 out of 5. Looking forward to #day652.

No necesito escuchar este disco para recordar que es de lo mejor que se produjo en los unpluggeds o los 90s.

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.

My favorite live album of the project so far. So raw and vulnerable. Loved the new arrangements and song selection.

Underwhelming

In my top 20 listened to albums of all time

One of my favorite albums growing up. Love how they introduced us to new music and didn't just wear out their hits. Lake of Fire and Where Did You Sleep Last Night stood out. 5/5

Shiver for me. I played this CD 💿 to the point of utter destruction. Shout out to Sony discman for giving little me so much joy. Six of the 14 songs on this album are covers and we, of a certain age, owe a huge debt of gratitude to Kurt Cobain for educating us about The Vaselines, David Bowie, Meat Puppets, and of course Leadbelly. Bonus if you watched this on TV and "the look" changed your fucking brain chemistry.

About a Girl - 5/5 Come as You Are - 5/5 Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam - 4/5 The Man Who Sold the World - 5/5 Pennyroyal Tea - 4/5 Dumb - 5/5 Polly - 5/5 On a Plain - 4/5 Something in the Way - 5/5 Plateau - 4/5 Oh Me - 4/5 Lake of Fire - 5/5 All Apologies - 5/5 Where Did You Sleep Last Night - 5/5 Average score: 4.7/5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ one of the rare instances i listen to a live album and come away loving the live performance of their best tracks just as much as the original recordings. i've avoided listening to this because historically, i haven't cared for live albums. boy have i been missing out all these years i don't really know what's so different this time around to make me enjoy it so much. maybe the acoustic nature made for a more intimate performance than it was. the minimal cheering and hollering from the audience was much appreciated, it aired on the side of respectful and demure rather than obnoxious (like most live concerts nowadays). honestly, maybe it's also the fact that they're Nirvana and they were just that fucking awesome of performers. either way, i thoroughly enjoyed this gem of a live album.

That cover of in the pines is something

no I'm not doing this, fuck you

Not a big fan of live music if I wasn't there, but this was actually ok

Cool but not my favorite

I am not a huge Nirvana fan, nor do I love live CDs. The band sounds great, it just isnt my style

I’ve never gotten into grunge music and have been slow to dive into Nirvana. It was nice to experience this album without all the mythology that fans clearly have projected onto it. Like with lots of Unplugged sets, there’s an intimacy here that really touched me, and it provided satisfying contrast with the brusqueness of Kurt’s voice and lyrics. The covers made it feel all the more like I was getting to know him.

5 stars, no notes

This is so perfect as a coda to Nirvana's run as a band; the comparison I saw somewhere to Nirvana playing Kurt's funeral has always stuck with me. I always wonder what the legacy/reception of this album would be if Nirvana had gone on to have a longer career, but in the words of Kanye West: I guess we'll never know.

3/5

ahhh le secondaire all over agaaaaaain

Great album!

i liked it :)

Nirvana era uma das maiores bandas do mundo quando gravou esse Unplugged e o resultado é estupendo! Redefiniu o gênero. QoA Adonis New.

Great album 4/5

Este concierto lo considero mágico, hay algo diferente en lo que escuchamos con Nirvana antes sus canciones son más melódicas más armoniosas y a pesar de qué hay muchos errores o el sonido no es tan pulido, todo termina de encajar y miramos a un Kurt Cobain bastante sensible, bastante talentoso, que ni él mismo se cree, y es un concierto donde no están grunge , si no es como más tipo blues, realmente es bastante nostálgico el pensar que haya sido una de sus últimas presentaciones. Además, cabe resaltar el buen trabajo que hace el bajista para que las melodías realmente se escuchen bastante sensibles y hermosas.

Simply one of the best musical recordings ever. Sometimes I forget how the tone of certain songs shift when played acoustically. It’s like the pain is amplified through being in such a raw, unfiltered, unedited format, the emotions are just so much more potent. Kurt’s voice, while very raspy and rough, is one of beauty, perfectly depicting the sound of grief and pain. There are so many elements that contribute to why this recording is as iconic as it is. I truly can’t praise this recording enough.

I had this album on cassette back in 1996. Not an official cassette release, but one I recorded from my best friends CD onto a blank tape. Still holds up as one of their best.

Surprisingly melodic - not what I expected given my limited exposure ot Nirvana. Pleasantly surprised!

it’s not that great

escucharlo fuera de su contexto quizás lo desmerece un poco, pero mola ver en un directo la emoción tan desnuda que se enseña aquí

This is nothing short of a classic. I listened to this on repeat during my youth. The haunting performances were made even more visceral after the months afterwards. A great collection of covers and originals, including a collaboration with Meat Puppets. Definitely must listen material.

We had some "every home should have one" albums in the olden days. I'd put this in the modern "every home should have one" category.

Highlights: The Man Who Sold the World, Dumb, Something in the Way, Lake of Fire Meh. I like the album versions better. But to me it seems as if there was more effort put into this unplugged than any other I know of.

Its Big album

For the music I'd give a four. There are, as with Nirvana in general, some tracks I truly like, some I dont. The five star rating eventually comes due to what this album represents for music history. What MTV was then, and how they went against it. And the honesty and intimacy, simply wow!

Now there are some good acoustic covers, there are also some good live song versions, but the double whammy of both here mostly leaves me thinking I'd rather listen to the actual albums. It's still good though, it's Nirvana, and cool historically.

Znaš da je nešto posebno kad je bendu najbolji album uživo i akustika. +epski Balkan momenat kad Kristo opali po harmonici.

Good stuff. I prefer loud, but this is how the songs were originally written (per Dave Grohl's book), so great it made the list.

Nirvana unplugged's quietly intimate setting captures the band's authenticity. Admirably, Nirvana avoid the familiar traps of other unplugged guests by playing a curated set of covers rather than an over-polished series of rock hits on acoustic guitars. The result is a set that feels curated with genuine artistic intent rather than commercial obligation. And they pull it off brilliantly; their features and song choice make this live album one of their best, and one of the best live albums of all time. Cobain's screeching vocals on blues standard "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" is a particular highlight. Through unplugged, Nirvana prove once again that they are no mere grunge act, but deeply versatile and emotionally sincere.

I'll bet the MTV execs were fellating one another with how lucky they got here. Not just Nirvana's (arguably) best album, but they get to slap their name on the front of it?? Man Who Sold The World goes up there with Johnny Cash's Hurt and Hendrix's All Along the Watchtower in the pantheon of "songs that belong to the cover artist now". And it might not even be the best track on the album. They're not all bangers, believe me, but it comes together in such a chill vibe. It's acoustic lightning in a bottle. They even got Dave Grohl to chill the fuck out, come on man.

This will probably be the only album here I’ve already listened to fully beforehand… I got lucky today

exactly as expected. they're obviously excellent my rating aside

I wonder if this show is one of the reasons that Nirvana is such an iconic band. A lot of their studio albums are too rough for most people. But this performance showed what they sound like when you strip everything down. Even the mistakes make it feel more personal.

Classic time piece, last ever release after Kurt’s death. So many interesting stories and anecdotes about how this recording came about….

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.

Road trippin with a gaggle of Gen Xers and Millennials? Toss this one on and you've got a crowd pleaser. The live album emphasizes their authenticity, stage presence and Kurt's glowing grungey star power. It's pretty easy to listen to, fun crowd interactions. I dig it.

This is a great live performance! I loved reading about how they played this straight through in one take like a real concert unlike other unplugged sessions. The choice of songs are really exquisite as well. In this format, hearing these songs played in these mellower versions really lets the songs shine highlighting the great songwriting by all involved. Even though Kurt was a drug addict going through withdrawl and nervousness this recording does show the great talent that he had with his songwriting and singing. Unfortunately it means that we’re once again left wondering what could have been and the tragic fates of addiction issues.

Absolutely incredible

This is the perfect 301 Nirvana course once you've done your homework with Nevermind & In Utero because you get a more intimate perspective of the music and you can very clearly hear how the band members communicate with each other - both in between the songs but also while they play. We really lost something special when we lost MTV Unplugged but hey this will have to do. Highlights: On A Plain, Pennyroyal Tea

I wasn't really into it at first but the more it went, the more I got into it. Liked the acoustic chill vibe. Maybe I'll check out more, see what studio stuff's like. 4/5

Ethereal.

There is a bittersweetness I feel when listening to this album. No, it's not because Kurt Cobain took his own life shortly after its recording, as tragic as that was. But it's because this really is a document of a bygone era, when popular music championed more than just lowest-common-denominator-flavor-of-the-week stuff and there was a sense of legacy building and intention behind everything. MTV was a big part of that, and the Unplugged series one its most obvious example. This is rightfully the most famous show of the series, and as an album it holds up extremely well, too. Nirvana deliver a setlist that forgoes some of their greatest hits in favor of songs that work best within the acoustic context. One would wonder if this was the direction the band would go in had they not come to such an abrupt end. Key tracks: The Man Who Sold the World On a Plain Plateau All Apologies

Peak

Incredible. Have never truly listened to it back to back - knew it to be iconic. Now that I am no longer a teenager and the 'hype' of Nirvana from my youth is not just teenage dirt bag. I got to see the true band listening to this album and it blew me away. Artists.

One of the most popular and iconic live performances of all time from one of the most popular and iconic bands of all time, featuring everything but their biggest hits at the time (besides come as you are) with an acoustic style added, along with covers of artists who shaped Kurt Cobain's sound, spanning from Meat Puppets, the Vaselines, Lead Belly, and most notably David Bowie with the cover of The Man Who Sold The World,

excited about this one! i went through a 90's rock phase in high school and really loved nirvana and this album so i'm happy to revist. truly such a iconic album full of talent and heart.

Was great to hear the classics in a live setting. I rated this a four at first, having the perspective of what was to come brings this up to a five easily. There's a reason it's one of the classics.

Zuhause, Gerstetten, Deutschland. Gutes Set aber leider unplugged.

I’ve heard many of these songs many a time on the radio. Remarkably they are still great. Curt had a way of lazily singing and working through songs but still conveying so much passion. Call it a gift, it’s incredible nonetheless.

One of my favorite albums, very raw and emotional, it puts me in a very emotional state. I've been listening to it for many years and it always hits. The stripped-down, acoustic sound makes everything feel more intimate, like there’s nothing between you and the emotion being expressed. Kurt Cobain’s voice carries a kind of fragile intensity that makes every song feel heavier, almost like a confession rather than a performance. The whole album feels haunting and deeply human, and even after so many listens, it never loses that impact it’s the kind of record you don’t just hear, you feel.

5/5 no notes

Невероятно чистый альбом. Если убрать крики толпы, то можно подумать, что это новый альбом группы. И как не странно, каждая песня в акустической версии звучит прекрасно. Определённо лучший концертный альбом за все время.

I always forget how good this is, especially for a live album.

Yeah, I was in middle school too, like any one else. But with 20 years to reflect I can confidently say this album sucks shit. The whole reason I listened to Nirvana was for the hard rock noise that would soon become the staple of classic rock stations. Not for folky cover songs.

Really good, sad, nostalgic, memorable....just short of being a 5. Not every Cobain song moves me.

Though it clearly reflects the 90s bias in the 1001 albums list, it's hard to argue against the inclusion of this entertaining, low-key performance by a band that is one of the signature acts of the decade. I remember the uneasy smell of cashing in on Cobain's death that came with the original release of this, and how we all kind of got over it because to hear these pared down versions of some Nirvana tracks, plus the unexpected covers thoughtfully explored, was to once again understand the genius of both the man and the band. "The Man Who Sold the World" could arguably be placed on a list of top ten covers of the rock era.

아름다운 멜로디와 반복을 가지고 있음.

God album, favourite part was always when Kurt explained it was a Bowie song, but new one is when Kurt (on the rehearsal tells Ian to alter the sound, yes I am a child of the 70's called Ian

Love this from front to back. One of my favourite albums of all time.

It took me awhile to come around to this album in my youth. There was the initial disappointment of "they didn't play the hits," of course, but even after I got past that, I felt like ... if I was in the mood for Nirvana I wasn't really in the mood for THIS. Despite that, it was the only acoustic album that I owned. So I put it on a lot as background music. And that's the niche that it occupied in my head for many years. Maturity eventually showed me the error of my assessment and, listening to it today, I can definitely appreciate it for the gem that it is. Even the Meat Puppets section, which seemed so weird at the time, comes across as a stroke of brilliance now. It's a welcome break from the somberness of the rest of the performance, and it fits in perfectly.

I remember watching this on MTV the first time and, even then, knowing it was an amazing show. It has aged perhaps better than anything else MTV did. So many amazing arrangements of so many great songs. And the covers. Dang. Just a brilliant album.

This is a rare album where I hear the premise and I think, "this is a terrible idea," and I'm totally wrong. His voice is a lot better than most people thought, including me - this is a one take record. They picked the right songs of theirs to play, and pick some really interesting covers. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is the heart of the record. What an incredible version.

This was an easy one. I don't especially like the idea of unplugged performances, especially when the band is so fantastic when plugged in. But man, this is great. I've already cited All Apologies as one of my all-time favorites, and the version here is maybe the best, ramping up the song's sense of guilt and longing to a pitch that's almost unbearable, especially when you think about where Kurt was and where he would be going. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is amazing too. Other favorites: About a Girl and Come As You Are. But it's all great.

5/5 - Era-defining live album. You've heard it dozens of times. It's great.

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

Really good and I like the live feature

Difficult to rate. I know how enthusiastic people are about nirvana and this album, but it just doesn't resonate with me. I kind of liked it but I wouldnt listen to the whole album again. The highlight however is the last song, which pushes the rating up a bit

Very good

raw, rough, pretty fuckin iconic. sonic quality pretty top notch, but boring

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

Killer. Surprisingly intimate and the songs work surprisingly well for an acoustic set.

Nothing special

Ok fine, you caught me. This is an incredible live album. Nirvana is grunge; loud, electric, and powerful. The fact that they still bring powerful without the rest. His way is so rough and unique. Where Did You Sleep Last Night has been on my favorite songs list for 20 years.

It is impossible to talk about Nirvana’s Unplugged album without mentioning Kurt Cobain’s death. The album was recorded at Sony Music Studios in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, on 18 November 1993. Less than six months later, on 8 April 1994, Cobain’s body was found. He had presumably shot himself in the head three days earlier. Six months after that, in November 1994, the album was finally released, although excerpts from the concert had already been broadcast on MTV's heavy rotation, including 'All Apologies' and the David Bowie cover 'The Man Who Sold the World'. Six of the 14 tracks are cover versions, whereas only one of their own hits, 'Come as You Are', was included in the setlist. Cobain and his band clearly did not want to follow the series' usual format, eschewing a 'best of' live set of acoustic versions in favour of obscure tracks from their catalogue and songs that had influenced them. The album also symbolises the turning point that came with Cobain’s death: grunge was dead, and its unwitting messiah had taken his own life. The movement that had sought to change so much in music and art imploded. The remnants were commercialised, and the focus soon shifted to entirely different genres. Of course, you can hear the band’s musical limitations. The guitars are far from cleanly played (and are perhaps even a little out of tune), and Cobain’s vocals aren’t always in tune. But that was virtually part and parcel of Nirvana’s musical identity. It wasn't about perfection, but about immediacy, spontaneity and authenticity. Never before or since has anyone sounded so raw, unpolished and unrefined on an MTV Unplugged performance. I would have loved to hear more from Cobain, one of the most talented songwriters of his generation. It would have been great to see him break away from grunge and develop musically. As it stands, 'MTV Unplugged in New York' is the only album on which he was able to present himself in a different context.

If you’d asked me if I liked Nirvana, I would have said no. But this album, it’s different. The stripped down, un-produced music with Kurt speaking between songs, sounding like a person, it was really really good. The cover of “where did you sleep last night” was magnificent, which led me down a whole Leadbelly listening trip. Do I like nirvana now? Still probably not, but I did really enjoy this album. By the end, I found myself mourning a man I didn’t know

mostly bangers

la verdad es que tambien debería escuchar más nirvana. había escuchado las más conocidas de este concierto, pero algunas me gustaron mucho. no sabía que tocaban something in the way (Thursday, October 31st. The city streets are crowded for the holiday. Even with the rain.) y where did you sleep last night. también me llamó la atención que el público suena super claro y tbh eso me gusto. creeeo que 3.5 pero voy a bump it up a 4.

Не, ну это кайфово

Ну тут вообще вопросов нет, возможно самый известный лайв в истории. Тут сказались и культовость группы, и необычный для них формат, который при этом был великолепно исполнен, и тот факт, что это оказалось последним выступлением группы. С удовольствием переслушал и убедился, что этот концерт вообще не надоедает. Хотелось бы конечно и пересмотреть, на видео прям бросается в глаза, насколько они простые ребята. Как Курт свободно шутит с аудиторией. Даже как они одеты, особенно смешно со свитера Дэйва. Ну и эти свечки, просто кайф. Ну и сами песни именно в этом исполнении ушли в народ. Про кавер на Боуи я уже ранее вспоминал как один из примеров, когда оригинал просто забывается из-за того, насколько успешен кавер. Каверы на The Vaselines и Meat Puppets, которые повлияли на Нирвану и в целом на альтернативный рок, помогли этим группам получить внимание и признание от более широкой аудитории. В Guitar Hero есть песня About A Girl, и они взяли не студийную версию, а именно исполнение с этого концерта, что вообще-то было нестандартно для формата такой игры. Тоже показатель. Ну и крик Кобейна в конце финальной песни концерта, зная, что он с собой сделает через несколько месяцев, добавляет дополнительный мрачный слой к этому исполнению. Легендарная запись и абсолютно по делу.

Live альбомы это немного чит, ведь на концертах поют обычно хитяры либо прикольные каверы. В целом мило, но не фанат.

Норм как материал Нирваны, но именно как лайв нейтральные ощущения у меня оставляет

Не самый большой фанат гранжа в целом, но это конечно база. Something in my ass, aahhhhh©️куртка бейн

любимая unplugged запись, люблю и переслушиваю, все в ней хорошо, достойна 4.5

One of the greatest albums of all time. The emotion in Cobain's voice....

There are a few excellent tracks on here - but call me unsophisticated, I just prefer the original versions in most cases. It's good as far as a live album goes, I'd just always rather either (a) witness the performance in person, or failing that (b) hear the originals. Still worth a 4/5.

My #3 Nirvana album. His voice on Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Amazing. About A Girl is probably the only song that isn't improved on. When this happened it was completely unexpected and I loved it.

Such an iconic album that I’ve heard so many things about, but never took the chance to actually listen to the full thing. I’m really glad I did.

super cool

This was too enormous when it debuted. The Unplugged show was usually pretty interesting, but this was a sensation. Easily their best record. They were on the verge of something new here. 5/5

all around great recording, miss the albums' production though

imo prob need to plug those instruments back in. not bad but they sound better on the other albums tbh.

Where Did You Sleep Last Night, one of the best songs I’ve heard by nirvana. Also liked On A Plain. Good grimey grungey dirty tunes.

Rad guitar, some solid playlist worthy songs. Middle of album got a bit slow, but not much to complain about, great album.

just peak isnt it cheeky bowie cameo 8.8/10

I mean it is really good, but isn't entirely my thing, I do like the acoustic-ness thought, really lets you hear Cobain's voice better, which is peak.

Quintessential 90s grunge. I've been lucky enough to see The Nirvana exhibit at MoPop and this takes me right into that space. Such a loss with Kurt Cobain. I understand why this album is on the list--the live version of Nirvana's music is intimate and raw. Cobain was actually known for being somewhat shy--I feel like that comes out through this recording. Definitely worth additional listen-throughs in the future.

Love the Meat Puppets covers, Man Who Sold the World and the rawness of this Pennyroyal Tea. Vaselines cover was cool too. Interesting laid back takes on some of the other tracks but I’m reaching for Nevermind or In Utero over this any day.

All of these songs are so good at their core that even when you take the grunge palate away from them they hold up. In some cases they shine even more.

One of the best live records of all time imo. This really shows off how good Kurt Cobain was in his craft. The band is really tight as well and knows how to serve the songs. This is my favourite Nirvana record above, Nevermind, In Utero and Bleach etc.

slightly scared to admit this is the first time i’ve listened to nirvana on purpose and i loved it. beautiful and haunting and full of talent. listening to it gave me chills, which isn’t the usual nirvana reaction. i think in this format i could appreciate the songwriting and cohesion of the band, but i doubt i’d feel as emotionally invested on a regular nirvana record.

Some history for the kids…Unplugged was a show on MTV… okay back up, MTV was a TV channel…back a little further?…okay a TV was like a big tablet that you put on a wall in your house…. Anyway in the before time, Unplugged had a moment as sort a cultural force in popular music. A simple concept of having contemporary and classic artists from various genres perform acoustic sets that took off like wildfire. From the humble early episodes that usually involved no more than a couple of acoustic guitars and a singer, the show became almost instantly successful. Viewers thrilled at seeing familiar bands playing familiar songs in an unfamiliar setting. The format was so successful that “bigger” acts, by acclaim and actual number of personnel, became enticed by this chance to reinvent themselves. Soon the quality of the performances increased and the production values to match. With popularity rising, some genius named Paul McCartney thought it might be a good idea to release his performance as a (bootleg) album. Eric Clapton did the same and won 6 Grammys in 1992. Wasn’t long before everyone was milking this cash cow. Which leads us to grunge superstars, Nirvana, sitting down to record an acoustic set in 1993. It was a moment in time. We didn’t know that they had already released all the studio music they would ever produce and Kurt would be dead in less than six months. This performance would become their coda. They were at the absolute height of their power having recently released the dark masterpiece In Utero. I was a fan. Of them and the show. So when this premiered my friends and I huddled around the TV, programmed the VCR to record it at the same time so we could watch it repeatedly (history lesson on some other time), and watched excitedly as they took the stage, eager to see what they did with the opportunity. To be honest at the time I was disappointed. The set was about a third covers of songs I’d never heard (including Man Who Sold The World which I didn’t know) that seemed designed, especially those in the latter half of the set, to challenge the lay listener’s expectations of Nirvana. The originals they chose were pretty obvious, mostly down tempo songs that didn’t have to be altered much to be performed acoustic like Polly and Something In The Way. Visually they seemed pretty spent or tired or fucked up or something and I remember feeling sorry or sad for Cobain because he was clearly struggling at times. The “Unplugged” banner became more and more a brand and not really an edict by which the artists had to abide and this performance really stretches the bounds of what could be considered “Unplugged”. Dave plays a full drum kit which wasn’t really de rigueur for the show. Chris has chorus on his “acoustic” bass that is definitely running into an amp somewhere. There are all kinds of effects, including distortion, on the guitars in parts, and they’re mic’d so hot they’re often overdriven. To me there was none of the anticipated reimagining of their formula or revelations to be had in the performance. The whole affair smacked of sellout. This listen proved that my feelings have mellowed somewhat in the intervening years. I’m not as connected to the source material so it’s just nice to hear some Nirvana tunes. I remembered it as sloppy, but the performance is tighter than I gave it credit for especially I think when divorced from the visuals. I like the sort of raw overdriven acoustic guitar sound. They found a way to “Nirvana-ify” the Unplugged format, and now I don’t mind the liberties they took. Many of the unfamiliar covers have slipped into the zeitgeist because of this recording like Lake Of Fire, and I still love this version of Bowie’s song almost as much or more than the fantastic original maybe because I heard theirs first. It’s hard for me to consider a live album more than just a collection of songs or a good set, but ironically the mildly enforced format ties this one together into something a bit more.

Exceptionally good. Cobain’s voice hits hard on this record. Bonus: as a teen, this was my first encounter with Bowie’s Man Who Sold the World.

One of the few live albums that I’ve spent time listening to. Amazing performance.

I really like the Meat Puppets ones and that David Bowie cover.

Songs were nice, but after half of the album they started to bore me, they lack energy of electric guitar playing.

Their version of Man Who Sold the World changed something in my brain chemistry.

didn’t know i needed a nirvana unplugged till now

Cool, I think nirvana were at their best when they *were* plugged so to speaker but this is a cool show of the bands musicianship with some highlight tracks.

Histórico

Vaya tracks, tú. Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Lake Of Fire... On a Plain me ha gustado bastante

Not a huge Nirvana fan but this was a cool way to experience them

A live album that breaks all the rules. Everything feels intimate and close, like they're just playing right in front of you, just for you. Yeah, the crowd is there, but they're out on the sides. Kurt is playing FOR YOU. It's beautiful. The songs feel so warm and personal. My Rating: 5/5

Best nirvana album, one of the best live albums of all time, the last bit of where did you sleep last night is crazy

I should really listen to more Nirvana; great album, but they definitely have a style which works in a 'less is more' kinda way.

7/10

one of my fav albums of all time it was such a treat to listen to it again :) my fav is dumb

maraviilosooooo

already listened to this one so nun special great

top 3 live albums of all time

Truly one of the greatest all-time albums. I think it is my favorite Nirvana album. For someone who didn't live through the phenomenon, it's the easiest way to understand the lavish devotion to Kurt as an icon (whether he wanted that, or obviously didn't). The little interludes and the bare production to me show the warmth and humanity of Nirvana as the genre's standard-bearer.

The (mostly) Unplugged album is a classic. This is a great album. It's really a cover/live album. It's not an album in the traditional sense - but still great. Pitchfork: 9.5 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #279 Best Songs Come As You Are The Man Who Sold The World (Bowie cover) Polly Something In The Way Lake Of Fire (Meat Puppets) All Apologies Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Lead Belly)

I love that Dave Grohl chirps at Kurt so much...these Unplugged performances do feel like someone singing at their own funeral though.

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.

Let's put it clear: one of the best or simply the best life recordings ever. The climate, atmosphere, the audience and a few talented musicians with their great songs. What else would you need? Oh yes, one thing: I wish I could have been there...

🩵

Not listened to this in an age. Forgotten how brilliant it really is, especially "Something in the way". Great start

Just a perfect live album, may be the greatest live album ever.

not my style

Nice in the background.

me gusto mucho y el hecho que no sea unplugged es más divertido

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.

A truly miserable experience. Slow songs accompanied by pretty woeful vocals. Some potentially good songs but I can't get past the voice.

MTV Unplugged. An interesting program, for sure. The idea was simple. Get some popular music artist to perform pared-down versions of their songs for an hour and air it on MTV. It's a neat idea that resulted in a variety of performances. Some of these shows are among the most iconic and acclaimed TV performances in music history... others are the Lauryn Hill performance. But of all the MTV Unplugged shows out there, one stands on top of the pyramid as the pinnacle of what the program was set to do. That show, of course, is the Nirvana performance. Nirvana needs no introduction, obviously. I've talked about them twice already for the Nevermind and In Utero reviews. By late 1993, Nirvana had become the most popular band of the time, and getting Nirvana on Unplugged was a huge win for MTV. I could talk about more business stuff, but that's not really my wheelhouse at all. No, my wheelhouse is in regards to whether the music that I'm listening to is good, and boy is this music good. Yeah, I'm not going to stall any longer. This thing is fucking spectacular. A lot of Unplugged performances are just kinda "normal performance from the band/artist but with acoustic guitars instead of electric guitars." Nirvana could've just played the big hits with very little change in style and execution, but that's not what they wanted to do. MTV Unplugged in New York is widely seen as Nirvana's grand closing statement of sorts, with this being the first major release to come after Kurt Cobain's death in 1994. This is the kind of show that MTV Unplugged was made for. I think the setlist choices are pretty excellent. The song choices feel quite natural. As far as Nirvana originals go, there's a good selection of more somber tracks that feel right at home in the more intimate setting of a show like this. "About a Girl" is a great opener, I've always thought that "Pennyroyal Tea" is super underrated, and "Something in the Way" might be even better here than on Nevermind. But then you have the covers. Honestly, the covers are what make this live album so great to me. "The Man Who Sold the World" is one of the few instances of someone doing a Bowie song better than Bowie did. The Meat Puppets section near the end of the album is really nice and I love that Nirvana chose these guys to come up on stage and help with the performance. And of course, "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" makes for the perfect end to the performance. It's honestly a little haunting hearing Kurt's screams near the end knowing Nirvana's story nowadays. Uhh, what else? Oh, the sound of the album! I think the band adapted to the Unplugged style very well. Kurt's sounding better for the music than ever, even if his physical and mental conditions were rather low. I really like Dave Grohl's soft drumming on this thing. It just sounds nice. Krist Novoselic and Pat Smear do their backing band stuff pretty well and I really love the addition of Lori Goldston on cello for some of the songs. The sound mixing on the recordings is pretty great. I don't really think I need to say much more. It's Nirvana's Unplugged show, alright? This is, without a doubt, one of the best live album experiences of all time. Is it definitively THE best? No. Not quite. Hell, it might not even be the best Unplugged show from a grunge band. Have you heard anything from the Alice in Chains show? But, there's no denying the impact of this one right here. It's excellent. 5/5.

I come back to this album like once a year and always find myself humming something from it for a week after. It’s probably my favorite live album there’s just such a nice quality and I love that all of the in-between chatter is kept in, it feels intimate and makes for a wonderful cover-to-cover listen. Not a single skip here for me. Honestly the run of Meat Puppets covers in this are the highlight, the actual Nirvana songs are cherries on top. If you listen to nothing else, check out Plateau, Oh Me, and Lake of Fire on this thing.

5/5 only 2 mtv unplugged albums hold this title n it ain’t sto sorry to say

Still a bit hit and miss, but when it’s good, it’s very good