Reviews (page 3 of 15)
Greatest live album of all time - 5/5 PN
Album Review 079 MTV Unplugged by Nirvana (1994) Rating 4.5/5 Nirvana proving that grunge can be more than angst and distortion pedals. Highlight for me is the Leadbelly cover that closes the set but this is consistently strong and a landmark album in rock.
How many times have you listened to this?
Great almbum, one of my favorite
Just great! Surely one of the best live albums ever I real high point in the 1001 Album journey
Great album!
I usually give a hard time to live albums (Although I never ding them points for being a live album) in these reviews, but if there were ever a live album to put on the list, it's this one. Culturally significant, curated playlist that avoids being a greatest hits compilation, different format. Amazing. Fantastic performance from Nirvana on this one, with them picking out an amazing tracklist of a few big hits, a handful of deep cuts, and absolutely great covers, particularly the David Bowie track The Man Who Sold the World (Which I honestly preferred over the original). Cobain sounds amazing (Despite him apparently playing through drug withdrawals), love Krist's bass (and accordion!) playing, and of course Grohl holds things down on the drums. Just a very intimate, legendary performance.
WWW
This was such a cultural juggernaut at the time that if you weren't there for it you may not quite "get" it. This is the band that destroyed the bubblegum pop era of the late 80s and early 90s and here they were stripped down with that Cobain cry that dripped with pain. Not every song works, but as a whole this was such a moment, and some of these tracks play better unplugged than their original release.
Nice
This is possibly my most favorite album of all time. I can listen to this album on repeat and never get tired of it. A perfect album
already listened, 9/10, will relisten at night. best tracks man who sold the world where did you sleep last night? dumb pennyroyal tea
Definitivamente lo volvería a escuchar
Just amazing in so many different ways….a national music treasure 🎸
I miss Kurt man
Phenomenal. Sublime. Incredible. Any positive adjective you want to use here to describe this masterpiece is ok with me. Best Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Rating: 10/10 Stars: 5/5
I adore this album. I already loved Nirvana before this album, and I truly respected the MTV Unplugged series. But when those two things came together, it was magic for me.
A classic - very cool set of songs and great alternative takes on their own stuff, as well as some off the beaten track covers.
The greatest live album of my lifetime
Such a powerful album. I remember wishing they would just release the CD already after the Unplugged aired. I always felt that Kurt was on the verge of doing a reverse Dylan, making folk music more popular. What would have that next album been? So happy that this album was mostly covers a less popular songs from Nirvana’s catalog. A must live album!
Heard before love it!
the best!
The only album that is a concert/compilation that can compete with Nevermind.
That one album which people try to play on the guitar, who never has it in their hands. 5/5 Iconic and legendary event and theese tracks absolutely perfect.
Skulle ønske eg var der!
Watched the full actual performance in place of just listening to the album. One moment that will haunt me forever now: Finale of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." Kurt's voice is and has always been pretty amazing -- harsh, powerful, but always musical. We lose that here. "I'm going where the cold wind blows. In the pines, in the pines, where the sun don't shine. I'd shiver..." It's tortured, guttural, and frankly hard to listen to. He looks lost somewhere inside himself. Clearly what he's doing with his voice is unhealthy and unsustainable, but obviously that's not the point. He squeezes out "the whole," and suddenly comes to. I don't know what to make of the look in his eyes in that moment. Is it scared? Primal? Enlightened? Furious? Then he finishes. Going where the cold wind blows: in the pines, where he'll shiver the whole night through. Maybe he saw something for himself, or about himself. I don't know. What a way to go out. Better to burn out than to fade away. Side note: Dave Grohl is freaking precious here. The blue turtleneck, the ponytail with the red hair tie, the meek drumming with the Promark Hot Rods. Love this guy.
One of my favorite live albums! Huge fan of Nirvana and have listened to this many times, so I kind of know it like the back of my hand. Love hearing Kurt's voice and the parts in between songs. Cover your hair and your eyes! 'kay, this is called 'Oh Me' "Would you like to hear my voice, sprinkled with emotion?" “What else should I say? Everyone is gay”
No album can bring me back to a time and place more than Unplugged in New York, late at night in my childhood bedroom in 1995, listening to Kurt over and over. Even today, 31 years later, listening to it on the train home from work, I could have easily cried. A true masterpiece, quite simply the greatest live recording ever released. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is the single greatest performance in music history. I will go to my grave believing that. 9.7/10
I mean, come on.
A classic, sets the standard for live unplugged music from the Grunge era. I'm from Seattle, has to be a 5.
this is so perfect i don't know. it's my favorite group. i don't want to hear anything hahaha
Those who watched Nirvana in New York are making me jealous. "MTV Unplugged in New York" is the perfect live album. I love Nirvana's mix of originals and covers. Who even cares about "Smells Like Teen Spirit" after listening to "MTV Unplugged in New York"? Nirvana managed to make three songs from an album I didn't like sound brilliant. 5 stars for "MTV Unplugged in New York".
I always feel like, to some degree, live albums are essentially just greatest hits albums, but this one distinguishes itself with some really great covers and a nice mix of original songs. The energy and music are great, it's easy to see how this one became a hit.
heart soothing
Epic
Sem dúvida o álbum mais ouvido da minha adolescência
Há poucas live performances mais icónicas, e traz (pelo menos alguma) closure ao percurso deles como banda. A voz do Kurt a quebrar na última frase: "I'd shiver the whole night through" é das que fica para sempre na memória.
CLASSIC. Not one single skippable song.
Kurt all over my Cobain. Imo the best nirvana album all of the covers are amazing especially lake of fire which i think is the best cover song ever. 5 Stars Very Strong 9 out of 10
A masterpiece. What a performance. My favourite piece of work from Nirvana. These covers truly showcase Cobain's brilliance. So so good. Favourites - Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, Plateau, Lake of fire, The Man Who Sold The World
This one isn't new to me, but it is magnificent, as is the tv broadcast. It's really impressive how well the unplugged format shows off the strength of the songwriting underneath Nirvana's usual loud-soft dynamics. There are a lot of interesting and well-chosen covers in the set list too. Pennyroyal Tea is the weak link (although it scores points for being just Cobain by himself performing) , but The Man Who Sold The World and Where Did You Sleep Last Night are spinechilling.
Another album integral to my teenage years, so pretty hard to be objective about. But, I think the whole thing stands up, showcasing Kurt Cobain's fantastic songwriting, enticingly vulnerable voice, and excellent taste, exemplified by the cover choices. Love that all the fluffs and between-song faff have been kept in there - keeps a level of honesty, perhaps? But, why oh why must American audiences whoop and clap when they recognise a song?
Possibly the best unplugged album
Gonna need more stars over here
it has a lot of importance and context, the why this concert it's so revered and regarded. but, at the same time, i find it very mood-dependent and far from what you would expect from Nirvana. That said, it still has some of the most interesting and brilliant performances of some songs. I still have "Where you did sleep last night" as a chills-inducing song. And that speaks by itself
Ben blij dat dit bestaat. De Bowie cover is mijn favoriet hier. Maar ook de eigen songs krijgen een andere draai door de setting. 9/10
Absolutely incredible, one of the best live albums ever. Nirvana really shines through an acoustic arrangement like in Unplugged. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is hauntingly beautiful, so glad I got this album today.
I was not a Nirvana fan back in the day. I actively avoided them, writing them off as popular and therefore bad. Now, decades later, my stance toward Nirvana has softened considerably. I cannot see this as anything other than iconic and completely of it's time. One of the easier 5 stars I've given here.
4.5/5 Stars Top Songs: Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold the World, Something In The Way
An Unplugged classic
En favoritskiva sen jag var liten pojk och snodde cdn av min 10 äldre bror. Den börjar lite lite trevande men blommar ut till ett mästerverk. Alla låtar från in Utero är definitivt bättre än studioversionerna. Detsamma gäller nog something in the way. Meat puppets, vaselines och Bowie i all ära men alla covers blir till Nirvanas egna. Alltid gås ner till stjärtskåran av Where did you sleep last night. Inte minst för att den där vansinniga sånginsatsen blir kurts sista. 5a.
Starkt. För att återkoppla till Axels konstallegori: "Jag ger det här självmordsbrevet fem av fem stjärnor!" Men... Om man ändå ska försöka så kan det här vara världens bästa coveralbum. Helheten med de egna mindre kända låtarna sitter som handen i handsken.
This is one I’ve listened to before, but not heard in a while. What struck me was the rawness and emotion througout the whole performance, and I liked that they kept in all the bits between Kurt and the band and audience. This would have been a great performance to see live, and I’m glad this record exists of it. Favourite tracks: Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold the World, Lake of Fire, Where Did You Sleep Last Night (that last one especially, wow - bumps it up to a 5 for me).
one of my favorite albums of all time omg
I was coming into the album a hater. I don't care for grunge music, the word grunge sounds stinky, and Kurt Cobain ocassionally looks stinky. Needless to say, this was not a grunge album and I am now open to hearing other Nirvana albums now. It was admirable to play mostly deep cuts and covers, and somehow I have heard "The Man who Sold the World" more times from Nirvana and Midge Ure (MGSV) than I have from David Bowie. I don't know much about Nirvana's whole story, but I can tell you that I had this album on loop. I am a reformed Nirvana hater.
It’s one thing to do an unplugged album. It’s another to intentionally not play “the hits” in your unplugged set. It’s another STILL to do a bunch of Meat Puppets covers on your hitless unplugged album. But to do a hitless unplugged Meat-Puppets-cover-saturated album and it be the best goddamn live album ever recorded is a testament to a greatness that is the domain of very few.
OK if my inner teenage fake punk gets to give Green Day 5 stars, my inner teenage angsty whiner gets to give this 5 star.
The only live album that actually deserves to be on this list.
Very good :D love Nirvana
I was never a huge Nirvana fan, but this live performance is superb.
Amazing
This is one of those albums that I’ve loved for a very long time. Twenty years ago my cousin took me to see a screening of this concert at an old theatre downtown Calgary and it was extremely impactful on me. It was my first exposure to Nirvana beyond the usual modern rock radio singles and equally, if not more important, it was my first exposure to the Meat Puppets. I’ve always loved how many covers they decided to include on this set list. Songs from David Bowie, the Vaselines, Leadbelly, and then the number of songs from Meat Puppets II, an album that’s since become one of my favourites. This record is hauntingly beautiful, dynamic, and in my opinion the best live acoustic recording I’ve heard. I think the best example of just how good this record is lies in the cover of the folk standard that’s most commonly attributed to Leadbelly “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” which starts out slow, soft, and pensive. Over the course of the song Kurt’s vocals build and then crescendo in an almost violent storm of emotions that are so powerful it’s really hard to describe in words. You can truly hear the pain in Kurt’s voice in a way that’s so authentic it’s impossible to replicate. My absolute favourite part of this album, though, is the inclusion of Curt and Cris Kirkwood, the brothers responsible for the Meat Puppets. I love the fact they were included in the covers of their own music not just because they deserved the exposure at the time, but because of the fact that their inclusion and subsequent exposure to me personally gave me the opportunity to fall in love with their music. I couldn’t imagine rating this album anything less than perfect.
Oh Nirvana. De mensen die herrie naar de mainstream hebben gebracht. Ik heb hun te danken aan mijn favoriete herrie bandjes waar ik jullier maar al te graag mee lastigval. Kurt Cobain is met recht een savant te noemen. De artiest van een generatie. Nonchalant final boss. White boy of the decade. Een contrarian. Een icoon. "The conspiracy towards success in america is immediacy. To expose in great repetition to the minds of small attention spans. Fast, speedy, now with even more nacho cheese flavor! Here today, gone tomorrow because yesterdays following was nothing more than a tool in every individual’s need for self-importance, entertainment and social rituals. Art that has long-lasting value cannot be appreciated by majorities. only the same small percent will value arts patience as they always have. This is good. the ones who are unaware do not deserve false suggestions in their purchasing duties." - Een entry uit zijn dagboek Mijn bus/vliegreis van Andorra naar de Franse Alpen was het perfecte stadium om even een Kurt Cobain deep-dive te doen. Als je interesse hebt, dit is een leuke (niets verbloemende) video over zijn leven en legacy: https://youtu.be/4rq1qbgQQmI. Ik heb het album in het vliegtuig geluisterd, en later ook de volledige performance op youtube gekeken in de bus. Ik raad deze video sterk aan. De opname vond 5 maanden voor zijn zelfmoord plaats. Kurt had gevraagd om de stage te decoreren als een begrafenis. De opname is spookachtig betoverend. Hoewel Kurt er niet gezond of comfortabel uitziet, leek hij tijdens het spelen wel bezeten door een muzikale geest. Tussen zijn laatste twee uithalen ademt hij even in terwijl er een stilte valt, en dan zie je zijn ogen open schieten alsof die bijna een paniekaanval krijgt, alvorens weer terug in de muziek te vallen en de laatste uithaal te maken. De cello voegt ontzettend veel toe, en de (bijna) akoestische sound geeft een nieuwe kwetsbaarheid aan de bekende Nirvana nummers. Bij de video versie van Something In The Way moest ik een traantje laten. De afsluitende tracks All Apologies en Where Did You Sleep Last Night krijgen extra context als je een docu over zijn leven hebt gekeken. Ik ga dit album zeker nog vaker luisteren, en ik ben blij dat ik het heb leren kennen door deze lijst. Liked songs: Come As You Are The Man Who Sold The World Dumb Polly Something In The Way Plateau Oh Me Lake Of Fire All Apologies
Nirvana changed music. I will forever be disappointed that I can't see them live.
Really great stuff.
They were awesome
Tää levy on ollut jo ilmestymisestään asti omassa levyhyllyssä. Erinomainen ja paras näitä MTV Unplegged levyjä. Tykkään biiseistä, eritoten coverit on rautaa ja niitä on paljon. Olis voinut olla tupla, niin olis mahtunut enemmän omia biisejä. 6/5.
One big the greats!
Real real good
Top 20
I WOULD SHIV-EEEER.... *deep breath* ... the whole... niiiiight throoooouuuugh...
Beautiful performance
90
I think this is great because of many reasons: it's acoustic and shows Cobain's skill, it's very well balanced, it shows the breadth of Cobain's musical influences, and it's raw. Genuine. A great record.
Icónico
nothing to say master piece, emotional roller coaster, where did you sleep last night perfect ending so angry so real loved it.
This album is in my personal top 100 for sure. Back when MTV actually cared about the Music that was originally part of its meaning there were a whole set of Unplugged, acoustic, one off performances and I imagine MTV were delighted with getting Nirvana, a band at the height of their powers. They must have been excited to see how the band might acoustic wise translate their songs. Equally some fans of the energetic, loud grunge super stars might have wondered how those songs might translate and if it would be ruined. What we actually got in my honest opinion was a master class in how an unplugged show should be. There was no lazy translation of smells like teen spirit instead Nirvana songs were carefully chosen that played out brilliantly in the mainly acoustic environment and also careful cover versions (and friends) were added that showcased Nirvanas influences. Standout in those covers were Bowies The “Man Who Sold the World” and Leadbelly's Where Did You Sleep Last Night. The band and friends got the brief and so there were no attempts at Rock God drums or anything. Cobain's voice sounds fragile in places and he uses his vocals to bring out a range of emotions (the Leadbelly song a vocal masterclass). This turned out for me not to be an add on live album but an essential release in itself. It was never meant to be a final statement of the band but unfortunately due to Kurt’s suicide it was. I remember this being played regularly as a memorial in the immediate aftermath and I was slightly worried that it wouldn’t get a release lest people assumed it to be a cash in. This album is a great part of Nirvanas small but brilliant output, showed the range of the band and what might have been in the future, equally they could have ruined it all so as a final Album (not just a normal live release) it stands the test of time. I couldn’t give it anything less than 5 stars
Bangers on bangers, lovely assortment of covers
todos quieren ser kurt cobain pero a ninguno le da la nafta, efectivamente
Just incredible! Heard so much of this before but never all the way through. It just keeps getting better and better. Kurt's vocals are so full of pain and torment and it elevates their sound to another level, with each song so full of heart and emotion. The guitars are so clear and sound amazing. I have to go 5 because this is a cohesive listening experience and sequence and I wouldn't skip or delete a single song. Perfectly executed. Top Songs: About a Girl, Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold the World, Dumb, Lake of Fire
a masterful performance made all the more impressive when you realize cobain was in the throes of heroin addiction (the song pennyroyal tea is pretty haunting if you pay attention to the lyrics). there’s a reason why people say this is one of the best of the mtv unplugged concerts. plenty of quality cover songs too.
Don’t have much to say about this one, it’s one of my all times favourites. I don’t have enough time or space in this box to even try to explain how good this is.
Great from start to finish.
Such a good live album
I could listen over and over!
Dit album heeft me onverwacht diep geraakt. Hoewel ik Nirvana altijd kende en een paar nummers onlosmakelijk bij mijn jeugd horen, had ik me nooit echt verdiept in hun werk. Deze unplugged-registratie voelt niet als een concert, maar als een intiem moment waarin alles wordt teruggebracht tot de kern. Kurt Cobain zet een sfeer neer die breekbaar, eerlijk en bijna tijdloos is. De kwetsbaarheid, de stilte tussen de noten en de manier waarop emoties ongefilterd binnenkomen maakten dit tot een intense luisterervaring. Ik ben heel blij dat ik dit album nu, op deze manier, heb ontdekt.
Este disco es uno de los mejores Unplugged de la historia. Y el tono personal que le pone la banda lo hace unico
A rare front to back
Nirvana is a name I’ve always known, but I had never taken the time to listen to their music. I was missing out. This will be an album I return to again and again.
Excellent!
Possibly the best live album ever made.
Absolute peak Nirvana
forgot about this one, I used to love it as a teenager ❤️ i love nostalgia
Favorite Tracks: Come As You Are / The Man Who Sold the World / Polly / Lake of Fire / All Apologies / Where Did You Sleep Last Night Rating: 4.7 Own this on vinyl! I have a very nice 25th Anniversary edition. Incredible that this was performed in a single take. While I was in high school in the 90's and a big indie rock guy generally, I wouldn't necessarily say I'm a massive Nirvana fan. But there's a rawness and realness that comes through this entire performance which is a big part of why it has captured so much attention. The covers are fantastic, and it's clear Kurt and the band really wanted the Nirvana songs to feel a certain way, not just "unplugged" as it were. For me it's impossible to listen to this album and not think about "what could have been" if things had been different just 5 months later. I just listened through my headphones at work, and I'll probably go home tonight and put on the vinyl, which is really warm with a great soundstage...sounds almost like being there. Easy 5 stars for me on this one.
there goes the best live album
I am surprised i haven’t listened to this live album before as i do love live recordings, especially now this one. It brings more cause since Kurt Cobain isn’t here tho us anymore so it feels more special. The covers were so good especially the David Bowie one, i will say this is one of the instances where the cover is better than the original (although the original is very good). And the band itself were playing so well with eachother, they compliment eachother so well it’s fascinating. One of the best unplugged performances, a great first listen, also enjoyed the acoustic version of something in the way. RIP Kurt Cobain
5.0 Fuck it. 945 albums in and the first time I can recall giving a 5.0. Haven't listened to about 18 years since rinsing this to death as a teenager but wow. Unlike a lot of other stuff, listening back has given it a whole new perspective: - the absolute fuck you of eschewing every big hit (other than Come as you are? Possibly even then). No teen spirit, no in bloom, no rape me, no heart shaped box. - suffering bad from withdrawals, apparently on Valium, and absolutely smashing it out of the park - decided to add loads of covers which just get better and better. Jesus is the worst track on the album. Bowie cover is great. And then the three Meat Puppets are phenomenal, so much so that I tried and failed several times to actually get into their album since these version are so much better - on that point, so many songs are made better by these versions. Some are a nice compliment (Polly, On a Plain) to the original, but others are elevated by the sombre, acoustic(ish) mood and the occasional strings - something, dumb, about a girl - ending on Where did you sleep. That became our house song in uni because of this album. What a song. - no encore. Again, fuck you. This was a band effectively going out by cementing their status as so much more than just a grunge band that went mainstream. This and the Reading 92 show are probably in my top 10 "if I had a time machine" gigs.
Have this on vinyl ! Arguably one of nirvana’s best albums. Literally goated
This album is one I was previously familiar with and even just referenced the other day! My preexisting favorites are Polly, Something In The Way, and of course the cover of David Bowie’s The Man Who Sold The World. While I don’t normally seek out live recordings this is recognizably one of the best and I welcomed the opportunity to listen to it in full and dig a little deeper into how the band broke tradition (amplifiers, single take, vocal strain) for their performance. I’ve always said my recipe for what I’d consider a perfect concert or live performance from any artist would be a good mix of hits/throwbacks/ new or lesser known material, a cover song (what artists are important to the artist that’s important to me?), and some interaction with the crowd (tell me a story!) I feel like this recording encompasses all of the above and I enjoyed Cobain’s brief commentary between tracks. It was interesting to read that he was going through withdrawal, nervous about performing an acoustic setlist, and how this album was ultimately released after his death. I think he sounds authentic on the recording which is exactly what I’d want for an in person or unplugged performance.
Starting off strong here, see you tomorrow :) -- Loved this, live albums always hit for me. Can't go wrong with nirvana
banger added to discogs
1995, what a time to be alive. We had this gem to help us memorialize poor Kurt. What a gift he left us. Nary a bad song on the album. Even the songs I was inclined to skip in my younger years sound so great on headphones today. Like a fine wine, this performance has only gotten better.
Always a good album to be reminded of
It's perfect. Great interesting setlist, Where Did You Sleep Last Night has got to be pretty high in my all time list.
Elite album. Listened on vinyl.
Я не знаю как это комментировать. Мега база и классика, слушал миллион раз за жизнь, но песни “Oh me”, “Plateau”, “Come As You Are”, “The man who sold the world” занимают особое место в моем жизни…
I have no ability to be objective about this album. Shout out to my mom who bought this CD for herself and then her eldest daughter cruelly stole it when she went off to college.
One of my favorite albums: raw emotional power, stark contrast to their usual electric sound, and Kurt Cobain's haunting, it's hard to not love this album.
Really enjoyed this, what a talent. Think there's some genius in the running order here, placing the only big hit second and going straight into an accordion accompaniment next is risky but the audience is carried along. An inspiration.
People giving this one star clearly don't have a damn clue, it has nothing to do with personal taste in genres either.
Classic
Undoubtedly a seminal recording and the timing of it, coming as it did mere months before Kurt was discovered dead, along with it's intentional funeral ambience and some retrospectively foreboding song picks that spoke of Kurt's mind state at that point, almost make it a historical document as much as a concert. I first watched this following Kurt's death as BBC2 showed it and I recorded it on VHS and watched it to death. That's not the last time I listened but it has been a while, as I've been more enamoured in the years that followed with both the Alice in Chains and Pearl Jam Unplugged gigs, but I can't deny that culturally this far outweighs either of those and possibly any other for significance. And that's not to belittle the actual performance! What I enjoy most about this, is that the band not only picked some of their less well known tracks rather than trying to de-electricise(?) Teen Spirit; they also introduced a number of covers which are often the highlights and make up close to half of the set. From the bluesy cowpunk of guests The Meat Puppets to the classic covers of Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World and the reworking of Leadbelly's interpretation of the traditional folk song In the Pines into Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, the gut-wrenching closer where Kurt lays all his pain to bear.
Probably the most famous MTV unplugged performance that exists. Still a bucket list of mine to go back and watch all of these as there are many other famous performances and artists, but I do not recall many others talked about aside from this.
Irreverent in its capture of the zeitgeist of an angst-ridden era. Crack a fucking smile gents.
One of my favourite live albums ever.
Day723 - the unplugged series was amazing but this album stood out above all the others. as we’re about to say goodbye to mtv we can all look back and agree that this was one of the top performances in the forty plus years.
Easy 5 stars. Really like Nirvana and also very much like that it is MTV Unplugged
Ever since I caught a few clips of this show on YouTube 15+ years ago, Ive been obsessed with it. After I learn more context of Cobain’s crew/influence at the time (e.g. Meat Puppets, Bowie, ), I can say that my affinity for this album continues to grow. Nothing against their studio albums, this showcases the bands range without losing its edge. Apparently Grohl had never played with brushes before this? Lol Plugging more unplugged: I also love Alice In Chains’ show (which I know this group overwhelmingly hated their albums). Layne Staley is near the end (just like Cobain here) and the band comes together to deliver an amazing performance. The crowd is seeing a totally strung out and depleted singer muster up the strength to deliver one more.
Live compilation albums feel a little like cheating on this list, but I think this one deserves an exception. When I was very young and first learning guitar, I had some adolescent snobbery about acoustic guitarists and music being better than electric - my thinking was that acoustic guitars and harder to play and more electric guitarists hide behind effects. Back then, Frank probably would have shoved me into a locker (plastered with Led Zeppelin stickers). Thankfully my tastes evolved, but I still think there is something special about songs being stripped down, like they did here - really shows off Cobain’s chops as a song writer.
me gusta
Probably my all-time favorite live recording. There's not a song on here that I could listen to daily and get sick of. Kurt delivers his best vocal performance during the tracks, ending with his all-time great cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Between songs, his personality really shines through as he banters and cracks jokes with the audience. Overall just an incredible performance that has stood the test of time.
무슨 말이 필요할까?
I mean this and the AiC unplugged are two of my all time favorites.... listened to this a million times and never skip a song. Easy 5
Brilliant!!
masterpiece
“In the pines, in the pines Where the sun don’t ever shine I would shiver the whole night through” MTV Unplugged was a really fun and interesting concept that gave us reimaginings of some all time classic tracks. Nirvana’s set became the standard to which all other bands were held and it’s easy to see why. Some of the songs here are actually my preferred versions. The opener “About A Girl” is a prime example of this. It works so well as a slow, gentler number and allows you to pick up on the subtler emotions that Kurt Cobain was so good at expressing when you strip Nirvana’s songs back. There’s also room on Unplugged for a good number of covers. The highlights are David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” and a truly haunting rendition of Lead Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. Both of these again demonstrate Cobain’s talent for making you feel a certain way without being vocally gifted on a technical level. There are some brilliant choices in terms of instrumentation which help boost certain moments. Having a live cellist in order to retain the strings on the choruses of “Dumb” and “Something In The Way” was definitely needed and works perfectly. There are a few moments of interaction between Cobain and the audience in between songs and he comes across as quite shy but charming. You certainly get the feeling that the crowd can tell they’re witnessing something special. They go completely quiet during each song but burst into rapturous applause as soon as they are certain they won’t be clapping over the music. Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged set feels like a snapshot in time. Even the staging and the clothing has gone down as iconic and it’s really hard not to get swept up in it as Cobain belts out the final lyrics of “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” to close the album. An incredible crescendo that gives the performance a well deserved and satisfying ending. This show will no doubt provide many with their abiding image of Kurt Cobain in his grey cardigan with an acoustic guitar resting on his lap. I know that is what I see in my head whenever I think of him. It is tragic that he would pass away so soon after this gig, the same age that I am as I sit here writing this. His performance here cements him as one of the all time greatest front men in rock music despite how short his career ended up being.
Masterpiece. 10/10.
Best of Nirvana?! ya, it's very good.
Great live album. Every song is awesome.
Automatic 5d. Arguably one of the best live albums of all time. Great stripped down versions of their originals, and fantastic covers. Not even gonna pick favorites cause they're all favorites.
So good that Courtney had to kill Kurt shortly after recording this
Still a melancholy listen after all this time. But to have a band like Nirvana largely avoid their own massive hits to expose their fans to some great music that influenced them, all delivered by one one of the most recognizable frontmen ever, this album hasn’t lost any of its power or awesomeness.
Iconic performance. Classic songs.
A week ago, I heard a man say that he hated Nirvana. He said that aside from Dave Grohl, they were all talentless and that they did irreparable damage to the music industry because they made people believe that they could be “bad” at music and still successful. When he said this I rolled my eyes and thought— that can’t be right. But I honestly hadn’t listened to too much Nirvana, so I was in no place to argue effectively. The one thing I did know, is that he fundamentally misunderstands music as an art form. This album was intimate and raw and every little conversation, every voice crack, every lyric, every cheer or chuckle from the audience proved what I’ve always known. Music can’t be bad as long as the artist has something to say or something they want the audience to feel. Anyway, my favorite track was Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam. And that guy was an idiot.
Not heard it for years, brought back memories
It feels like this album started the 90s trend for MTV Unplugged sessions. I can see why, the audience interaction from the enigmatic Kurt Cobain makes this album feel personal and a bit raw.
raw, poignant, charming. still holds up. last song is haunting in context.
One of the best love performances ever. Flawless 5/5
This is a 5 all day every day
Þessi nýtur góðs af nostalgíunni. Kurt Cobain nýtur sín síðan vel svona á rólegu nótunum. Ég naut þess að hlusta og finna tilfinninguna og tregann í lögunum.
🥞
This album can do no wrong in my eyes. From the opening quip about most people not owning Bleach, to the closing screams of Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, these tracks take me on a journey back to my 20s.
Ich erinnere mich an meinen Bruder und seinen Geburtstag, als er das Album als Geschenk bekam.
I'm not a huge Nirvana fan per se but this album is one that I listen to often and really enjoy,
Unreal. One of the best unplugged ever.
kind of the opposite of what you think of when you think nirvana, this album is acoustic, fragile, depressed. especially poignant because it was released after kurt's death, which i think gives it an added layer of melancholy. but it is a great performance, and it's nice to hear how versatile nirvana was as a band, as they take the "unplugged" format and really make it work with their music.
Watched the whole special while bombed last night - upsetting!!! Watching a dead man perform such a somber set almost distracts from the fact that this is the height of an excellent live band playing a truly psychotic setlist so well it hurts. Lead Belly x Meat Puppets x Vasolines covers are just incredible, and the actual Nirvana songs they play work. Praise be to Kurt’s little hidden amp
This brings back so many memories. I remember watching it live on tv, it was so different from anything I’ve heard from nirvana then. Kurt didn’t care to play the hits, he wanted to expose people to artists he loved, and have fun.
This is the first live album I’ve ever listened to. It also happens to be one of the best ever live albums, per everyone ever. This album is so peak. I love Nirvana so much, and hearing people 30 years ago in the live audience love the music as much as I do is so special. Everyone performance is so good. God I love Kurt so much, rest in paradise. But I also love Krist and Dave’s performance on this live show. Perfect album, the live renditions of the songs are different from the studio album recordings, but still they’re super special. I’m pretty sure this was the best ever live album for me to start with, and I’m glad I did. 10/10 perfection.
There is zero way I can be unbiased about this album. I grew up listening to Nirvana in the 90s in Seattle after Cobain died. Anything less then 5 stars would be an insult to younger me.
classic, no bad songs.
The best live album on this list so far and it's not even close. All the tracks stripped down to bare acoustic fits so well that it's easy to forget that they weren't originally recorded this way. The live aspect accents the recording rather than detracting. You get small glimpses into the personality and humanity of each band member in between tracks. Tons of emotion, incredible artistry.
Iconic
A cultural classic.
So well known and well thought of. Love the 3 songs with the meat puppets, incredibly odd collab. Sometimes the story behind something and the aftermath just add to the legacy so it’s a 5
Totally mellow / exceptional songs
Nostalgi. Men selv uden den velkendte faktor er det et virkelig godt album.
I didn't need to listen to this to review it. I listened to this because I wanted to. This is, in my mind, the best of the unplugged albums. The fact that it was done in one take speaks to the quality of the band. This is the easiest five stars that I've given so far
It's just so good
Grunge meets folk! Kurt's voice was made for this style of music, it is very haunting. Nirvana selected great songs to use for this show, one of the greatest live albums of all time
This is a top 20 album for me. Plateau on repeat
Yeah, it's perfect music.
Stripped down mostly acoustic set that is just genuinely pheonomenal. All the Nirvana live stuff is great, this is no exception and it's mostly just Cobain playing covers of songs he really likes. It's a great switch up. Releasing it shortly after Cobain's suicide gives the album this haunting quality since the energy that's present in their albums and dring thier usually rambunctous live shows is consciously absent. I think there was generally a sense that Cobain wanted to move away from the harder rock elements after In Utero and MTV Unplugged is a good glimpse into what that project may have looked like. It looked awesome. Favorite Tracks: About A Girl, Dumb, Plateau, Lake of Fire, On a Plain
Landmark stuff; an easy 5 stars. This is our first time hitting Nirvana, 339 albums in... even as we've finished full trios from Arcade Fire, Roxy Music, The Beastie Boys, Nick Drake, and possibly others. I'll be looking forward to hitting them again. Favorites here: "About a Girl," "Come as You Are," "Lake of Fire," "All Apologies," "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," and the one I especially love - the cover of Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World." For a stretch in my pre-teen years mom had settled on our local alternative station in the car, and that track got some play there (probably some other Unplugged stuff too - believe that's the only way I could know "Lake of Fire"). So there's nostalgia at play here, even though most of this is new to me. (A little weird now to think of my mom choosing "Z104.5 the Edge" on the radio dial... we're getting close to one year since she passed, and I miss her.)
Sometimes it’s impossible to separate an album from its legendary status or the icy grip of nostalgia… this is one of those albums for me, 5 stars with a grain of salt.
The sound of a ghost sitting across from you with an acoustic guitar. Rating: ★★★★★ 5/5 Short Review: Stripped down, unguarded, painfully human. This isn’t grunge unplugged — it’s Kurt Cobain quietly dissolving the barrier between performer and person. Every song feels like it’s being whispered from the edge of something dark and tender. The covers (“The Man Who Sold the World,” “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”) are so raw they basically become his songs. It’s not a concert. It’s a confession. Favorite Track: “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” — the final scream still feels like an emotional MRI. You hear a man opening up too far, too fast, and you don’t blink because it’s beautiful.
Excellent listen
I already know exactly what this scores. One of my all time favourite albums of the last 40 years. Magic.
Jane is stinky
yeah yeahhhhh
No private session used for Spotify. An acoustic performance by a band known for their loud heavy music, it shouldn't work but it does. A tribute to the talent of the band and a sad reminder of incredible music Cobain would have made if he lived past 27. It's great hearing some of the overplayed Nirvana songs in redone by the creators and fun to hear their take on the covers.
wow
it was okay :3
This is the album where you get to truly u stand Cobain as a vocalist and lyricist. The covers show the creative possibility of the band if they had more time. The cultural significance of this album would make it a 5…only hard piece is the repetitive one trick of his music…means every song of his is the same. The covers more than make up for it.
Great performance from start to finish. The Bowie cover is amazing and the stripped back versions of No Apologies and Something in the Way are great. Kurt’s voice shines; it’s just so sad to think what might have been if he could have tamed his demons.
One of favorite albums of all times
What a classic album. Soulful voice with so much emotion, great lyrics, and music stripped down to it’s simplest
Заслужено культовий запис
Тут особливо нічого і сказати
I recently listened to this album and gave it five stars. I suspect when I listen to it again I will want to give six stars. And so on. It’s sooo good.
It’s Nirvana. Of course it’s going to be amazing. Honestly, The Man Who Sold the World might be better than the Bowie version. TBD.
(5) I love it because its authenticity bleeds through the recording. Curt does have a grating voice and I can see why some might not like it; but it has emotional rawness, which if smoothed out would lose its power, and its grit; it wouldn’t be Nirvana. David Bowle’s song “the man who sold the world” becomes uniquely emotional compared to the original which was catchy and beyond feeling; Both versions stand on their own merits.
That was the Meat Puppets. My favorite live album ever. One of those where you wish you could just SMASH that mf 5 star as soon as it generates. Where Did You Sleep Last Night is so fucking haunting.
All time favorite
Arrancamos la semana con éste discazo, lleno de un halo de tristeza por ser póstumo a Kurt Cobain. Álbum bellísimo, sigue tan vigente como cuando se grabó. ¿Quién sería la figura homóloga de Kurt Cobain o de Nirvana en estos momentos? ¿O no tiene sentido pensar en ello porque estamos en otro momento histórico? Mil gracias por el recuerdo y nos vemos mañana, con más preguntas que certezas.
One of my favourite bands ever. Of course, it’s 5 stars. Listened to this epic album countless times and always gives me super vibes. Love Nirvana. RIP Kurt !!
Amazing from start to finish
Where Did You Sleep Last Night still gives me chills.
COME ON NOW. Such a haunting and intimate performance, I wanna cry and riot simultaneously
👩🍳 💋
Wow,this is a real treat.I used to hear this from my multiplayed cassette with one of my cousins back in the days. Mtv wasn't available in Greece excerpt if a Greek channel played some of the videos or the unplugged full performances late at night and at selected days, and only if you had a good signal.Not me. After couple of years only,i managed to see this live through a Tv and i was gobsmacked. Nowdays if you go and hear it choose the video version and if you do, choose the unedited to get the full experience-it's on Nirvana's YouTube-as it contains some bonus rehearsal videos from a few songs plus some comments from the band,not always technical.You can also see Cobain's perfectionism throughout. This is a classic album,i feel like i have to review Doors debut again.I mean this is a highly influential album,one of the best unplugged albums in the world.Someone once said that you can understand if an album is timeless only if you play it with an orchestra,or play it fully organically unplugged and only if it sounds as a country album.Not sure about the latter but you know what i mean.And here is definately that case.I also must say that 6 of the 14 songs in this unplugged were covers but Nirvana made them their own,which empasizes what a great band they were,again.Also there was a celo and accordion included in the session. My favourites now(let's go song by song including all): About A Girl Come As You Are,equally beautiful and powerfull although unplugged,it's Kurt's vocals or maybe his electro-acoustic guitar.. Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam,is a cover of the Vaselines who also covered the original that was actually a Christian song.That shows their influences but also their diversity.Accordion cleverly involved here but i don't know yet if the Vaselines had one in their version. The Man Who Sold The World,a Bowie cover,shows their awe to him and their respect,executed their way and fairly made it their own.Bowie said he was blown away and that he was surprised that Cobain liked his work.He also said he wanted to talk to him but tragically he had passed away at the time. Pennyroyal Tea,is a stellar difficult solo performance from Kurt Cobain which shows he could be a standalone feature as well. Dumb,the cello shines here,this is a favourite of mine a bit more than the others,Cobain says before starting this one that On A Plain was also in the same key but they had to play another one that was in a different key for television purposes.He also says it was better this way because they were like the same song. Polly is also a huge favourite of mine.again slightly more than the others,like with Dumb, i have a thing for the moody ones. On A Plain,the unplugged version has something of the Beatles in it.Fantastic.Also a favourite. Something In The Way,along with the cello here for the first time,Kurt is not shouting,at all,and it feels great. Plateau is the first from the All The Meat Puppets cover trilogy.I still don't know this band,maybe it will pop up on the list.But here Kurt is inviting those two members on stage to play their 3 songs together,and he actually says that Nirvana are big fans of them.While tuning,sort of,they play Sweet Home Alabama intro,fun stuff!The guitars here are magical.Vocals not so much,sorry. Oh Me,the second cover is better,great lyrics,great song,the vocals perfect,i can see why Nirvana were fans. Lake Of Fire is the last cover of the trilogy,great guitars,the vocals-don't crusify me-could be better at times.At the end Kurt's suggests playing In Bloom but that was impossible unplugged. All Apologies,great song but not one of my favourites,it feels like Come as you Are at times but not equally that good.The crowd were yelling some requests and one yeld for Rape Me but Cobain said that ''MTV won't let us play that one''. Where Did You Sleep Last Night,again is a traditional cover that Cobain came up with for the end.Great cover,took me years to find out this one wasn't theirs. The unedited video version showed me how fluid their playlist was 'till the very end of the session,maybe because most of their songs couldn't be played unplugged and that's why they did so many covers that night and turned down audience's requests.It gave me a new perspective of this album but still remains a favourite and a timeless classic.Too bad MTV is closing cause their unplugged series, and not only,were legendary,and this album wouldn't existed. 5/5
I've listened to this so much, it's a treat and I'm looking for reasons why it shouldn't be a 5 and finding none. Everything is rendered with emotion.
I got fairly obsessed with Nirvana right around when I really, really started to get into music. This was about six months after Kurt Cobain killed himself, right around the time this came out. It's impossible for me to grade this without that context (and, probably, for anyone to assess it without it). Compared to the rest of their work, this is a real curveball, but still feels apiece with it. (The only song here that feels similar to its album cut is "Something in the Way," and it's only improved by the cell.) Everything about this album is well-considered. From the setlist loaded with deep tracks and covers (every one of which is great), to the fact that it's maybe the one time Dave Grohl didn't beat the shit out of his kit, to the strings, and ultimately to the fact that Kurt stayed restrained with his vocals until the very, very end of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" I read the wiki after listening and it noted that the producers tried to get them to do an encore but Kurt refused, believing he couldn't top the last song. It's a great "what if?" but I'm pretty sure he was right. It's haunting, funereal, and an absolute perfect capper to a band and a man that burned out instead of fading away.
I went through a grunge phase in high school and early college, but this one stands apart — it’s not about distortion or rebellion so much as the raw power of the songs themselves. I’ve always loved when artists reinterpret their own work and let the song shine stripped to its core. That’s exactly what happens here. “All Apologies,” “Come As You Are,” and the covers — especially “The Man Who Sold the World” and “Where Did You Sleep Last Night” — all reveal how meaningful and well-crafted these tunes really were beneath the noise. It’s haunting, intimate, and full of quiet confidence. What’s amazing is how complete it feels in its simplicity — like you’re hearing the essence of Nirvana, unguarded and human. It reminds me that a truly great song can take on new life in almost any form.
9/10 Favourite: The Man Who Sold the World Least Favourite: None
The easy thing to do was do the hits and maybe a cover, Kurt and Co did not do that and showed something that could've been the way onwards if it didn't end like it did with Kurt's demise. I watched the DVD instead of the album, the sweet home alabama bit is hilarious.
5/5
The grooves of this record have been etched into my bones since I was 10 years old. There's no way I can be objective about it.
This album is perfect. It's hard for anyone that didn't live through it how huge Nirvana was and how much Kurt Cobain wanted to just play music without any of the other stuff that came along with being a rock star. This album encapsulates that moment amazingly with its mix of mellow arrangements of some of their lesser known songs along with the introduction of some of Kurt's greatest influences such as the Vaselines and the Meat Puppets (whom joined them in the performance). The last track, a cover of "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" might be the greatest final song on any album and was particularly haunting when it came out as it was released more than 6 months after Kurt's suicide.
Ooh boy been meaning to listen to this Aoty score 91/100 I already know all the songs from my mom so this should be easy to get into Some historic stuff on here, they turned already great existing songs into completely new experiences, along with some covers that really feel like Kurt genuinely loved the originals and performed them phenomally. My score 91/100
I don't really like live concert recordings. They're usually only great if you were there. I didn't understand the unplugged hype either. Give me the best-produced material, the studio album. But here it's different. The unplugged acoustic version works great here. Kurt's voice comes across very well, sometimes better than on studio albums, where it sometimes gets lost in the noise. I know that my reservations about live recordings are wrong. I love Pink Floyd's live recordings. This album shows me that there are also live albums by other bands that are completely independent works of art and not just sentimental memories. This album, which I would not have listened to without this project, will be one of my favorites. 5/5
One of my favorite live albums of all time.
Easily one of my favorite albums of all time
peak
One of the greatest musical performances of all time.
Beautiful and..Well.. Tragic.. RIP Kurt Cobain.
What an incredible album that really showcased the talent of Kurt Cobain. Loved it.
Bin tatsächlich gar kein großer Nirvana Fan (gewesen) aber wusste schon vorm anhören, dass das ein 5 Sterne Album wird. Geil Geil Geil
Absolutely love this album amazing brilliant LOVELY
Classic! Nostalgic and timeless.
One of the classic albums in this series. It is an all time great.
nostalgia induced rounded up 4.5/5
10/10
Iconic. One of the best live albums of all time, if not the best.
I can’t not love this album. It summed up our mini generation and a sensibilities we had as 8/9 gradesrs.
Yeah, hands down, one of the best live albums ever
It always makes me sad listening to this, knowing that we would never get to hear where Nirvana would go next. It’s like the Beatles breaking up after 10 years, only obviously more tragic. Would Cobain have gone the Elliott Smith route and released acoustic songs without a backing band? Would they have embraced the personal orchestration of R. E. M.’s Automatic for the People (whose producer engineered this live album)? We’ll never know, but at least we have this. The performances are studio quality, and the song choices are sublime. Few hits included, making it truly feel like the fourth Nirvana album we never got. Brilliant covers of Bowie and Leadbelly join covers of Cobain’s favorite underground artists like the Vaselines and Meat Puppets (members of which briefly join Cobain and company onstage), introducing a generation of fans to some of the most exciting music ever made. I may be sad that it ended here, but I cannot fathom a more perfect coda for one of the greatest bands and songwriters of all time.
One of the greatest live performances ever recorded. A masterpiece.
One of my favorite albums from one of my favorite bands, which is saying a lot since I'm generally not a fan of live albums. The MTV Unplugged series, though, has produced a lot of great albums. Seeing Nirvana, a band in a genre that is largely defined by its use of electric instruments, translate their work into an acoustic medium is astonishing. Even the covers they do are usually better, in my opinion, than the originals. Cobain's vocal style is even more heartbreaking when laid bare on this album. Favorite tracks: Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam, The Man Who Sold the World, Oh Me
Classic
I can't rate this fairly. I listened to it so much as a teen that every track is imprinted on my memory. There are mistakes, fluffed notes, and Kurt's voice is rough in places, but the rawness is part of the joy. Has to be a low 5 for me, but I can imagine a new listener might not be so approving.
I remember when this came out, it was being played at every bar and party I went to. I listened to it twice today. It's lost nothing
Something about the unplugged version having more soul to it, I prefer it to studio version.
Goated album
I would agree that this album is essential listening. It's very good for a live album and really captures a snapshot of the time. I find Nirvana to be a little inconsistent, but this album does capture some of their best songs. True to form, my favorite track was the Bowie cover. I'm feeling a little generous on this rating, because even if it is far from my favorite album, I think it is a very important one.
I'm very fortunate to have gotten the three Nirvana albums in the 1001 books in chronological order, because that means I got to enjoy their MTV Unplugged performance with the context of what led up to that night. Sadly, though, the more prominent aspect of this release was that it came out months after singer-songwriter Kurt Cobain's suicide. Originally, the plan was to release a double album called Verse Chorus Verse, which would have comprised various live performances on disc one and the MTV Unplugged performance on disc two. The process of combing through archives proved to be emotionally taxing for surviving members Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic. Thus, only the second disc was released as its own product. As for what we got, the band played stripped-back acoustic renditions of their songs, accompanied by Germs guitarist Pat Smear and cellist Lori Goldstein. Between the intimate arrangements and Kurt's harrowing vocal delivery, these songs are given a fresh perspective, including leaning more into the Beatles influence on "About a Girl" and the solemn renditions of "Dumb" and "Something in the Way". Even more impressive were the multiple covers in this set, with particularly striking takes of David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World", the Meat Puppets' "Lake of Fire", and the traditional "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". New life was breathed into these tracks to the point where one can wonder the sonic direction the band would have gone. Not much else to say here, as Nirvana's MTV Unplugged performance was a truly endearing experience. It was a bittersweet way to end my time with Nirvana on this album journey.
- Honestly I think I like the live unplugged version of their songs here more than the recored ones - Also did not realize they only had 3 albums - definitely would listen to again all the way through (and that's saying something) Likes: - the sound is really raw but I love it especially About a girl and come as you are - also really liked their performance of Lake of Fire Dislikes: - not a huge fan of Pennyroyal Tea
This is such a great record. Could be twisted but this is actually a record i used to enjoy a lot back when i was a little kid. I'm not really into live albums but this is really something.
One of my favorite albums from my youth. I remember listening to this CD in portable CD player in our basement for days and days and days. All the way through. I remember thinking I liked it better than other Nirvana albums but I didn’t know why. Cobain was dead when it was released and that made it more special but also sad (in a way my pre-teen self couldn’t understand). Anyway, I think it’s a top 10 album for me (all time). I love these versions of Nirvana songs, and the Meat Puppets covers, and the other covers. Went with “Lake or Fire” and “All Apologies” for the playlist. Have always loved that back to back.
A frontman going through withdrawals and refusing to play the hits, opting for deeper cuts and relatively obscure covers. An unintentional final statement. A true classic.
A combination of great songs, great acoustic versions, and a moment in history make this album unique
Kurt Cobain they could never make me hate you. life changing set
classic
What a classic album of bangers
Great mix of deep cuts and covers
99/1001 :: Nirvana - MTV Unplugged in New York Heard before? ✅ Would I revisit? ✅ Rating: 10 Listen before you die: YES This is arguably the greatest live album ever. I’m serious. Song choices, order, vibe, the covers, the string work, the recording and all fronted by a man with not much else left to give except this masterpiece. All that said, it’s the gift that keeps on giving. Kurt was not perfect but albums (especially live ones) don’t get much better than this. 11 out of 10. @dead.wax.cafe
Still my favorite Nirvana "album." Tight, but laid back. The acoustic renditions of their songs highlights Kurt's lyrics and musical craftsmanship.
Changed the entire genre of Live albums and flipped it on it's fucking head. Iconic. 9/10
we all know Korn Unplugged is superior, but this one will do…
While listening to this absolute masterpiece, I learned that unlike other bands that had done the UnPlugged series at that time, Nirvana did their entire performance in one take. These guys are gonna go places! Hopefully they can stick with it…
Possibly my favorite live album of all time. It’s absolutely perfect. It’s the exact opposite of KISS’s 1998 misguided attempt at music “Psycho Circus”.
I'm not generally a fan of live albums appearing on lists such as these. But for Nirvana, I'll allow it.
My first year at the University of Kansas was spent at Stephenson Scholarship Hall. In my second year, I moved down the hill off 14th and Vermont streets with two former Stephenson residents. I was as depressed as I would ever be and In Utero was my soundtrack. I probably listened to In Utero the day that I watched Nirvana's Unplugged. No "Heart Shaped Box," but I approved of the inclusion of "Pennyroyal Tea," "All Apologies" and "Dumb." No "Smells Like Teen Spirit," but "Come As You Are" was the Nirvana song that first hooked me. I had watched multiple Unpluggeds at this point in time, so I had no sense of profundity with Nirvana's performance with the exception of "The Man Who Sold The World." I had not heard the Bowie original at that point, but I think Nirvana made the song their own that night. I bought MTV Unplugged In New York when it came out in November of 1994. It is in the one or two percent of albums on this 1001 list that I owned and listened to upon release. I had mostly put Nirvana to the side after Kurt Cobain's death. But MTV Unplugged In New York was a bittersweet reminder of something that was truly great for the briefest of moments.
Not usually a live album enjoyer, but man this was just about as good as a studio recording and had versions of their songs that rival the album versions.
Still holds up. It's not as good as Madvillainy.
This is once again a case of “WHY ARE LIVE ALBUMS ON THIS LIST?!?” This is the best example of how you can’t compare studio albums to live albums, they are just completely different in every way even if they are playing the same music. I think if your an amazing band the live albums always have an edge to them and if you are a bad band than a live albums always exposes that. That being said, and believe me I could go on and on about how live albums DON’T belong on this list, I do have to give this album a review cause it is on the list. This isn’t even a hot take, but this album is probably the greatest contribution that Nirvana gave the music world. It’s basically a greatest hits album while also being an acoustic album. BOTH of those things really add a lot to the emotion and weight behind a lot of the songs. Yah I’m still digging and there’s like nothing I can critique about this album. It’s a perfect tracklist with most of their “best” songs, it has their best performance, and it’s an iconic mtv unplugged. In fact it probably was the biggest since the kiss unplugged. Seriously though, probably one of the top 3 greatest live albums ever.
A masterclass on how to do an unplugged performance. Simply a brilliant album.
Amazing, top 5 live recording all time for me. Absolutely cemented their legacy and music as a whole is different without this album. Hot take: Best Nirvana Album?
5 - for so many reasons 1.) This is a live album and it sounds better than most studio albums, admittedly MTV (unplugged) had a lot of experience recording live 2.) This is acoustic (well . . . mostly, acoustic through an amp) and amazing 3.) Kurt is so put together (considering) - integrating conversations, the Meat Puppets (they were touring with) and random banter with his band and guest Lori Goldston 4.) ONE TAKE. Only two days rehearsal - amazing Considering Kurt's mental state it's just amazing this came together at all and wasn't a disaster.
Oh Kurt. I remember watching this on MTV months before he died then buying the CD when it was released months after. I played it loads and it's something I always go back to. It all works, the stripped down feel and his wonderful voice, full of genuine emotion. Their own songs all work, the covers all work, and on video they looked so damn cool. I love that it opens with 'About A Girl' a genuinely classic track from before they were huge, and a version that for me is better than the recorded version. The same could maybe be said for 'The Man Who Sold The World' too, and that's REALLY saying something. Kurt's voice is is so raw, so genuine. Of course it's drenched in sadness but this captures them at that moment. Who knows what more they, or more accurately he, was capable of.
I think all the best songs of Nirvana is in this one
Smells Like Cheap Cigarettes.
Eins der besten Alben von Nirvana unglaublich geiles unplugged imagine man war da wow Special Mention: plateau Best song: The man who sold the World Rating: 4,7/5 All time Classic eines der besten, wenn nicht das beste Livealbum. Alles hieran ist iconic. 4,6/5
Que des musiques que j'adore + qq découvertes correctes. Le fait d'entendre les gens qui parlent est in peu chiant mais bon c'est le principe d'un album live. Très intéressant d'avoir les transitions entre les musiques avec le live justement. Kurt a une voix exceptionnelle, la guitare est on point que de demander de plus ?
Normally hate a live album, but thought this was great
The algorithm is being kind - three 5* album in the last week. This is such a great album with a great mix of Nirvana tracks and really well thought out covers. Makes you think how Nirvana could have evolved and matured if Kurt had lived.
The album has been described as 'ragged glory' and that's fitting - there are mistakes, on 'Pennyroyal Tea', 'Man Who Sold the World', 'Where Did You Sleep', but Kurt just works them into the song. I am not surprised to discover it was recorded in one take. A true live album, warts n all. 'About a Girl' is transformed into an acoustic classic. The only other Unplugged I've seen breathe such new life into old songs is the Godfather of Grunge himself. If you've ever seen Puddle of Mudd's cover of 'About a Girl' you'll know that the accented confederate twang against rock-acoustic guitar, can go terribly awry. Man Who Sold the World remains the standout in a setlist of fantastic covers, and superb acoustic interpretations if some of their own best tracks.
Irónicamente esta es la versión de Nirvana que más me gusta en lo que respecta a la experiencia de álbum. Siento que se puede apreciar mucho mejor los tonos melancólicos de la banda y la expresividad de la voz de Kurt Cobain. Disfruto de los temas de sus otros álbumes, pero por momentos me resulta demasiado ruidoso (por supuesto que es el estilo). Además considero que se mezclaron muy bien con la instrumentación acústica. Sorprende que una banda de este estilo se haya mostrado tan cómoda con estos arreglos. No soy muy fan de la voz de Cobain, siento que no suena lo suficientemente profesional, pero fuera de la búsqueda de una perfección técnica, creo que encuentra un amplio rango de expresión, además de ser una voz instantáneamente identificable.
Is this album great in its own right or is it elevated to greatness by Cobain’s imminent passing? Well, two things can be true at the same time. It’s a great, great album either way. Where Did You Sleep is one hell of a way to go out
Nirvana's MTV Unplugged resonates with me. It is one of the handful of albums on this list that I listened to when it came out. The covers stand out, especially a sublime rendition of "The Man Who Sold The World," the Meat Puppets tunes and "Where Did You Sleep Last Night."
Classic
Got to see it live
Love this album.....paid more attention to the song plateau, which I've never really noticed before.
The local radio station in my hometown used to invite bands to do an all acoustic cover of one of their hits, and play it only on our station. These were almost always my favorite version of all of the songs I heard there. This whole album captures that same stripped down, pure feeling. Favorite new track was lake of fire
Generational band. With this performance being their emotional peak, they transform even the known lyrics of another group into another world where we all can visit and quietly reflect on our own life. All time top.
Obvious classic, one of the best live records/concerts ever. I have Laguna nostalgia watching this in their house on their TV.
I’ve talked before about legendary albums, or albums that came to define a band or even a specific sound. This is sort of similar—a band with a specific sound who takes their music and does something completely different in style and presentation. Unplugged sees Nirvana redefine not only their existing catalog in an acoustic style, but presents their take on some classic songs as well. Colbain takes a tender, almost vulnerable approach to these tracks, an opposite sound to the usual grunge flavor Nirvana operates in. It’s interesting to think about what the band could have done with another acoustic album, had the trajectory of Kurt’s life changed in 1994. If it were anything like this, it would be a success.
“What are they tuning, a harp? I thought we were a big rich rock band.” I have to admit that I hadn’t listened to this in full before. If I may be so bold, I think this is the secret sauce that solidified and guaranteed Nirvana’s legacy. ‘Nevermind’ was a monumental success, of course, but this collection of deep cuts, a couple of hits, and a bunch of covers puts their musicianship, ethos, and personality on full display. I would even recommend this to someone who’d never heard a lick of Nirvana before as an entryway. Kurt’s performance is magnetic.
I love this album!! I own this on vinyl. I love Nirvana, and this is my favorite album of theirs.
My favorite live performance of all time 9/10
Can I also give 6 stars?
A performance so beautiful it hurts, and so vulnerable it feels sacred. 😢🖤
Amazing live album maybe one of the best!
Singlehandedly responsible for launching the "unplugged" aka acoustic sets into the stratosphere, and for a very good reason! It's the gold standard.
There wasn't a doubt before listening where this one was going to land but alwayd great to be reminded to listen to Nirvana. Great album with a really interesting mix of originals and covers. I enjoy the banter between songs each time. A definite 5.
This is a 5 just for a definitive, IMO, reading of Man Who Sold The World. The rest is just excellent icing on the cake. Great album all round.
An album to savour. How could this not get 5 stars?
Maybe not the best, but the Nirvana album I come back to the most. Cobain's screaming through "Where did you sleep last night" summaries it for me.
Standouts About a Girl Come as You Are The Man Who Sold the World Dumb Polly Something in the Way Plateau Lake of Fire All Apologies Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Justifiably iconic. Practically perfect.
Awesome!!
There's not much else to say that hasn't been said about this one. I will say that I don't view this record as some massively important recording, but I see it as something relaxing. Hearing a band like Nirvana and a frontman like Kurt tone down the distortion and provide these raw passages is great. While I'm not head over heels for it, I highly respect it. (9/10, 5/5 on this scale)
Kurt not doing Smells Like Teen Spirit is wild, true grunge.
I’ve already heard this before, it’s pretty amazing. Sad, emotional, and interesting choice of songs and coverage to play. But definitely five star album.
Such an intimate performance. Definitely not surprised that this album is included on this list. 4/5
10/10
Whenever I am alone in the house there is a high chance that I will sing the entirety of The Man Who Sold the World with a really exaggerated impression of Mr. Cobain so I think that says something about the cultural impact of this album
Can't listen to this album without hearing it as either a crying out in pain or a farewell. Not looking to be pretentious or to over analyse, and I dont think Kurt Cobain was consciously conveying any message at the time, but its certainly an eerie record. Starts off relatively quiet, casual, mournful perhaps just a bit dark. Then it gradually feels more personal and intimate. The lyrics are all raw and fragile talking about isolation, identity, mortality and existentialism. Then it starts to feel less like a performance and more like a confession. The screaming in the last track, Where Did You Sleep Last Night is a devastating climax. Thats probably my favourite track although I get chills whenever the strings make an appearance. 9/10
Perfection. I have loved this album since i bought a cassette copy whilst visiting my auntie in the summer holidays from school, so its fitting this soundtracked my return from an end of summer holiday trip to Alton Towers. This album showed quite how much more than noisy grunge merchants Nirvana were. In an acoustic setting the beauty of Kurt’s songwriting is even more apparent and my god Kurt’s cracked vocals are perfect both for his own tracks and those carefully selected covers
ALWAYS A GREAT ONE! LOVE!
Probably the greatest live recording of all time. Basically just a compilation of all my favourite Nirvana songs. Incredible. Perfect. Standout Songs: All of them.
Always a classic
Always loved it.
This album showcases exactly why Nirvana - and especially Kurt Cobain - were truly one-of-a-kind. Rather than giving in to pressure to perform their biggest hits or bring on mainstream guest stars, Kurt insisted on doing it his way: dim lighting, funeral flowers, Pat Smear on second guitar, and even the Meat Puppets joining for a few songs. He filled the set with deep cuts and amazing cover choices - from Bowie to Lead Belly - crafting a haunting, stripped-down performance that feels more like a wake than a concert. It’s raw, vulnerable, and unwavering in its vision. That refusal to play the game is part of what makes this album so powerful. Kurt held his ground, and in doing so, gave us something unforgettable.
Masterpiece
its killer
Classic, say what you will about Nirvana but they wrote a lot of catchy songs and captured the masses, here they show more maturity with beautiful "acoustic" covers and renditions of their songs.
Best Ever
Brilliant
Perfección absoluta, uno dentro de mi colección de vinilos. De los mejores directos grabados. "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam" es un tapado de Nirvana que merece mucho mas reconocimiento.