Reviews (page 5 of 15)
I haven't listened to this album in a long time. It is unexpected when you consider it in the context of what Nirvana is known for. They also did a nice job of covers and not playing to the audience. A true work of art.
My heart
Love it.
Very good album. It was really cool to hear Nirvana perform stripped down versions of their songs and several covers. I thought it was ironic that Cobain felt like he was as going to blow it but then crushes it by making Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold The World” his own. It might be the best live album ever.
So much has been written about this album already that there is no point doing any form of deep generic review. So this is a personal reflection on my ~25 years with this record. I think I bought this on CD at the record shop on the upper level of Reading's Broad Street Mall in roughly 2001. I think this was the last Nirvana album I bought, sometime after Incesticide, and was perhaps one of only 20 albums I owned at the time. This music was pivotal for me as it kickstarted my "heavy rock to acoustic" transition period (circa 2001-2004). During that era, this was on heavy rotation alongside my (brand new!) acoustic guitar and the 'playalong' guitar chord book. Listening today, in 2025, there is still so much that makes this album. The cello. The drumming. The layers of guitars. And of course the songs themselves. Something I was never able to do back in the early 2000s was to watch the videos. These are a revelation. Production mysteries are revealed, for example, the 'unplugged' lie; we see the dual pickups on Kurt's guitar which give the distinctive lead guitar sound e.g. on "Man Who Sold the World". What I thought was cello on "Jesus Don't Want me for a Sunbeam" is in fact an accordion. All the musicians look disconcertingly young, full of nervous energy. We see Dave's softly-softly drumming and the lucky people in the audience who perhaps had no idea what they are witnessing. So after all these years, I still love this album. But when it comes to scores, the big question is: Is this album a 5 or a 6? The thing which hangs over the decision for me is Kurt's vocals. Do his breaking high notes (e.g. on "Pennyroyal Tea") and his lazy enunciation ("I'm not that thlum") work in this acoustic setting? Or are they really best suited to layering over distorted guitars and heavy drums, In Utero style? After re-re-listening I think this album works because of, not in spite of, his vocals. If it was George Michael on vox with silky smooth perfection, this wouldn't be half the album it is (with no disrespect to George). No song demonstrates this better, in my opinion, than "On a Plain". Going from the verses to "...Love mySELF" is the key vocal-breaking hook. So it's a clear 6. Maybe 5.8 because Pennyroyal Tea is a bit of a drag. Best tracks (with a * by the ones which I would walk through a house fire to rescue): About a Girl Come as You Are* The Man Who Sold the World* Dumb Something in the Way Lake of Fire* All Apologies Worst tracks: Pennyroyal Tea
depressing
Love this album. Rough, painful vocals juxtaposed with soft acoustics in a beautiful cacophony. No song should be skipped. Has to be one of the best live albums ever recorded. There’s a moment right before the final chorus of the last song. There’s a brief silence where you hear Kurt Cobain take a deep breath like he’s relieved he got through it and it’s the coolest thing ever.
Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam. He wants me for a Nirvana fan.
What can I say about this album that I haven't already said before? Its one of my all time favorite records. I don't know if there is another album more deserving than this one to be on this list. Especially given the fact that Kurt Cobain was certainly never trying to land on any sort of list. I've been listening to since album since I was probably 13 years old. I love every song on it. No skips. Sure, there are songs that I love more than others, but this is one that when I look at the track listings, I get excited for what's next. So often when I listen to this (which is for sure a few times every year) I think to myself "this one is my favorite" and then another songs starts and I have the same thought. What I love is how this so beautifully highlights everything that Nirvana was good at, but it's done in a way that was somewhat outside their typical medium. How does a band from Seattle that is towing the line between Hardcore and coming up with their own genre play a song as beautiful as "Oh Me" and "All Apologies" or as weird as "Plateau" or "Lake of Fire?" What genre is this? Is this even punk? Its acoustic, but it's certainly not folk or is it? Which is why I think this is such a perfect reflection of their range their catalogue. They really were one of the best fusion acts of all time. But in doing so they created something entirely new and unique. Grunge. In some ways this is a perfect double feature of yesterday's Neil Young live album. Its raw, edgy, and grungy. While also being sentimental, emotional, self-reflective (and deprecating) and even a bit humorous. I could listen to this album at any given time and enjoy it. I could start at the end, middle or beginning and I wouldn't skip the next song. This might be a perfect album.
cool
Having previously complained about live albums on this list, Nirvana's Unplugged is pretty much the perfect way to do it. Not just a greatest hits compilation, they chose a set list that suited the occasion and they're incredible renditions. The acoustic versions add something fresh that you don't get just listening to the studio tracks, which makes it a worthwhile live recording. I could listen to this endlessly
I love this album. It's better than any/all of their studio albums, IMHO.
Pros: beautiful performances, incredible set list, all the pure, raw talent of Nirvana—from Kurt’s voice, to Dave’s unbelievable musicianship, from the against-the-grain choices to the dynamics and sensitivity of the individual performances—on vivid, aching display. Just a perfect live album capturing the band in an entirely unexpected, naked way. A breathtaking masterpiece. Cons: not a single thing.
The idea that Nirvana of all artists would deliver the greatest Unplugged performance would seem ludicrous at the time - alt rock noise architects going acoustic?! But that is exactly what happened. Nirvana simultaneously told their origin story and established themselves as the best band of the 90s in this performance, with help from their idols the Meat Puppets. Stick around for the haunting closer, a cover of Leadbelly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. Never was Kurt’s emotional anguish put on display on stage more clearly.
The Man Who Sold The World is such a great song and Kurt's voice is particularly haunting on it. This was a transformational album for many of us who grew up during this time.
It's peoples reactions to this album that really shows its power. For many the acoustic versions of their songs are their favourites. For most the cover songs have become the definitive versions.
Nirvanas “MTV Unplugged in New York” ist ein Meisterwerk, das die rohe Energie und emotionale Tiefe der Band in einem intimen, akustischen Setting einfängt. Aufgenommen am 18. November 1993 in den Sony Music Studios in New York, ist eines der besten Live-Alben aller Zeiten. Die Zusammenarbeit zwischen Nirvana und MTV für die “Unplugged”-Reihe war eine perfekte Symbiose. MTV Unplugged bot Künstlern die Möglichkeit, ihre Musik in einem akustischen Format zu präsentieren, was oft zu überraschenden und tiefgründigen Interpretationen führte. Für Nirvana, bekannt für ihren rauen Grunge-Sound, war dies eine Gelegenheit, ihre musikalische Vielseitigkeit und emotionale Tiefe zu zeigen. Das Album enthält sowohl bekannte Hits wie “Come as You Are” als auch weniger bekannte Stücke und Coverversionen, darunter David Bowies “The Man Who Sold the World” und Leadbellys "Where Did You Sleep Last Night". Besonders bemerkenswert ist die Performance von “All Apologies” und “About a Girl”, die in diesem akustischen Rahmen eine neue, eindringliche Qualität erhalten. Das Album zeigt Nirvana von einer anderen, verletzlicheren Seite und hebt die lyrische und musikalische Tiefe der Band hervor. Die Symbiose zwischen Nirvanas Rockmusik und dem akustischen Konzept von MTV Unplugged schafft ein einzigartiges und unvergessliches Hörerlebnis 😀😀.
Amazing album, lots of great covers. Originals are spot on. Something magical about this performance in the PINES, IN THE PINES!
MTV Unplugged In New York has got to be one of the best live albums i have ever listened to. I find it quite crazy how well Nirvana could translate their heavy, grungy sound into a more acoustic live show. The heaviness was not often there but still could come out at points where it did sound great. The recording quality was also top notch and i think that Kurt Cobain's more deadpan stage presence was a nice change of pace from all the really extravagant performers from other live shows (not that i dislike those) during my time listening to this album, i was gravitating between a 4 or a 5 for this album but with enough thinking, i decided to give this one a 5. Best Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night Worst Song: Plateau
Amazing performance, quite intimate, and an excelent album. Masterpiece ;-)
Best live album ever!
First Nirvana album I ever owned(cassette) and first live album as well. Kurt Cobain’s voice, the stripped down sound, the song choices all come together for a perfect album. I listened to my cassette on unending repeat and I could likely do the same now. Truly a must listen for me and influential on my musical taste going forward.
Nothing bad to say
one of my favorite live albums by one of my favorite bands fav tracks: the man who sold the world, pennyroyal tea, dumb, all apologies, where did you sleep last night
I somehow have never listened to this album and it’s entirety and it’s really well known for a reason. Such a quietly beautiful snapshot of a point in time before it all changed.
The best Nirvana album by some distance
# Album Name: MTV Unplugged In New York # Artist: Nirvana # Rating: 5/5 # Comments: Wow, what an album. Back to back amazing acoustic driven songs. The band is so tight on this show. Kurts voice is gritty but powerful. This is such a good acoustic album with several great covers thrown into the mix. Some of the songs actually make the hairs stand on my arm. Unreal. # Top Tunes: all of em. # Would I listen to it again? Definitely. I think ive listened to it 4 times since it popped up on the list.
Even though dozens of these were released only two really held up - Clapton’s (even though it perpetrated the horrendous version of Layla, the rest of it shows how good Eric can be when he puts a bit of effort in) and this one. It’s notable that both of them were really known as electric acts. (There are other good unplugged albums but aren’t really remembered. And a whole host of dire - I think the worst is Kiss, who didn’t even bother to rearrange their hits. They were literally unplugged. Awful.) I don’t worship at the shrine of Cobain. I am about his age, so could see exactly where he was coming from. This is not to deny his talent, but more to express how I didn’t see it as innovative and new in the way that many did. Not that I didn’t think it great. But it was more a return to form for rock music than new and wild. At least for me. Others felt differently. And he genuinely changed the world in a way very few did. This one is excellent. Cobain, never one to do anything near expected picks a group of songs that could have crashed and burned the whole thing. Instead, unusual choices give a pretty stunning performance. Of all the Bowie songs, man who sold the world. Of all the blues songs, where did you sleep last night. And it’s chilling. And compelling. A must hear (three in a row!) and a stone cold classic. 5 well earned and deserved stars
Easy 5. So mesmerising after knowing the recorded versions. To then see the raw, stepped back and stripped back and live versions blew us away. MTVs penance for killing live performance music was to do unplugged and for the young kids at the time it opened a whole new door. Superb in so many ways as a performance - a very precious disc.
One of the top 5 live albums of all time, along with Sam Cooke Live at the Harlem Square Club, Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison & the GOAT Stop Making Sense by Talking Heads…not sure what the fifth would be.
One of the best Unplugged albums released, along with Alice in chains and Neil Young. Not just playing their music on acoustic instruments, but rearrangements, along with some inspired and less well known covers. 5/5
Perfect
5/5
Great!!!
Qué decir de este disco, que es uno de lo que más veces escuché en mí vida?
So good, counter for its time, didn't play the 'hits', covers out the wazoo. Feels like home. A five for all of that.
One of the all time best live albums. The acoustic environment, dialogue from Kurt and the guys, and a setlist that includes unique covers and unexpected songs (and almost no "hits") is so Nirvana. Where Did You Sleep Last Night may even be one of their best songs. My only gripe is the song Pennyroyal Tea which I've never been huge on. Otherwise perfect. 4.8/5 -> 5/5
I am actually already a very big nirvana fan - I have 10 nirvana tattoos! I will still re-listen to this album though :D!!!!! 5/5
Fantastic. I always knew Nirvana were a big deal, so big a lot of people try to distance themselves from liking them because they're too mainstream, I just call those people dumb; Nirvana is well awarded and recognized for a reason, and that reason is that they're fucking good.
. This one is gonna be hard but it is probably a 5/5 but I almost don’t consider this a Nirvana album because its own thing and half the track listing is covers. That being said there are some AMAZING covers here - “Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam” has that beautiful accordion played by Krist Novoselic (Weird Al would be proud) “The Man Who Sold The World” blows the David Bowie original out the water! Same goes for the three Meat Puppets songs “Plateau”, “Oh,Me” , and the winner among these “Lake Of Fire” When I watched the Live video of this album and he played the Nirvana In Utero track “All Apologies” I thought to myself how do you follow that up and end the show. Well To my surprise with this Lead Belly traditional song “Where Did You Sleep Last Night”. The last bit where Kurt starts “scream sing” and holds “I shiver” and takes a moment and finishes the last lines “ The whole… night through” is one of his best Vocals performances hands down. Now all the Nirvana tracks picked for this were obviously the right choices. No big singles or heavy songs like “Smells Like Teen Spirit”, “In Bloom” , “Lithium,”“Heart Shaped Box” etc etc What we get here are some of their more quiet moments or I guess more pop orientated material. “About A Girl” was a crazy move at the time because this was a song of their first album “Bleach”. But it sets the mood and is almost early Beatles in feel (as Kurt was a big Beatles fan). This is a Great opener The next track “Come As You Are” is the closest we get to a BIG nirvana single on here. Now out of all the ones off “Nevermind”to pick , it again is the right choice for this show. “Pennyroyal Tea” on here might even be better than its “In Utero” counterpart. It comes off more heartfelt and longing “DUMB” is my all time FAVOURITE Nirvana song and glad it’s on here. This song is so good and the Cello really ties it together. Next two “Polly” and especially “On A Plain” Lighten the mood at least musically and put a little pep in your step and make it so this isn’t all down and out. “Something In The Way” and as mentioned above “All Apologies” which are both last tracks on their respective albums (Nevermind & In Utero) definitely are two of the best moments of their own material. Again this record is a hard one for me to rate cause on one hand it’s AMAZING. But it’s almost not Nirvana and is this little side thing. Part of me wants this to be all Original material and makes me wonder if Kurt and rest of band didn’t have faith in their material for this kinda event. We can speculate all day. For what it is (It’s own thing) it’ll get a 5/5 Thank You Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, Dave Grohl , and Pat Smear for being one of the greatest 90s BANDS of all time.
Kurt’s voice in this performance is incredible. I love this dude if Nirvana that no one had seen before or even knew was possible. The tone of the songs is perfect. I’ve listened to this album countless times, but I’ve never watched it. I may need to do that.
This album brings me back to my middle school years. These songs are just as good today - raw, emotional and intimate. The album highlights what could have been had Kurt Kobain's tragedy been avoided.
perhaps the most known Nirvana Album and rightfully so
They'll never get any better, they'll never get any worse. There's something magical about this album and all the songs are my favourite.
The MTV Unplugged album series had some absolute belters, and this one is up there near the peak. I think it's only the Alice In Chains one I like more. An easy 5. Fave tracks - "Come As You Are", "The Man Who Sold the World", "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" - really, though, they're all bangers!
Not a massive fan of live albums but this is so raw and intimate. Classy covers rock on
MTV Unplugged in New York is a live album by Nirvana, originally released in 1994. Such a legendary live album. I actually prefer some of these live cuts to their studio counterparts. There was a mad dash in the 90s to get a bunch of grunge bands on Unplugged, and I really respect how Nirvana stood out amongst the other Unplugged performances. While not my favorite (that goes to AIC), this performance stands out so much to me because of the way the band approached it. For one, they differed from Pearl Jam in that they kept the songs quiet. Dave Grohl is typically a loud and powerful drummer yet he keeps it very chill on here. The other is obviously the setlist. Shying away from pretty much all their hits to play mostly covers. What a gutsy move! The covers are great too. All around legendary performance and is required listening.
Some heavy nostalgia- it’s difficult to be objective here, because this was a formative album for me that introduced me to a lot of other music and down deep music rabbit holes. I guess there’s one song that could be cut (“oh me”), but it’s still a great song. 4.5.
Easily my favourite Nirvana album. I always thought they were the most over rated grunge band gut this works.
Easy 5. This performance was legendary! RIP MTV. Tossup between 'The Man Who Sold The World' and 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night' for faves. Both were excellent.
Obligatorisk femma. Kurts röst så bra
Always on rotation
Extremely biased, because if you asked me even before starting this project what my favorite album is, I'd say this. But I honestly think that, bias aside, this is an incredible performance.
This may be my favorite of Nirvana's catalog. I bought it on vinyl a few years ago, and it is amazing. It makes you nostalgic for what might have been. Five stars.
cant ever go wrong with nirvana. 10/10 definetly reccomend it.
...So. Nirvana. In my opinion, it's one of the best bands out there. I LOVE this album! I love all of the different instruments in it, and I love the lead singer, I mean, it's unique. I love this album and I think that you would too! I highly recommend this album!
Great versions of some of the bands best material. Also some awesome covers.
Amazing! Kurt's voice is the star of this album!
Killer album. It was great when it came out and it has stood the test of time. I also agree with the critic's pick on this one. Great choice from a great band.
Excellent.
Great
Absolute juxtaposition of their punk pop roots. The covers are splendid and the order of songs is so precise.
Als das Album von Nirvana damals auf dem Markt kam, freute ich mich riesig darauf. Ich liebe unplugged. Die Originalsongs werden durch handgemachte Musik aufgewertet. Aber als ich die Trackliste studierte, war ich ziemlich enttäuscht. Nirvana hat nicht seine Hits akustisch serviert, sondern noch viel mehr daraus gemacht. Es ist ein Meisterwerk und ergänzt sich hervorragend zu seinem Gesamtkatalog.
(9.8) ★★★★½
База. Очень хороший лайв альбом. И классно, что песни Нирваны хорошо исполняются только на акустике
It's often scary to go back to albums of your childhood. Records that held a deep place in your heart over a decade ago, what if they lose their magic after all? What if it doesn't *work* the way it used to. Nah, not the case here. MTV Unplugged, you're every bit as powerful and beautiful as the day I've last heard you.
5. Great way to take a break from the day.
FINALLY!
Clean acoustic set Emotionally wrenching Nostalgic album
Intimate grunge, the choice to have the cello and the guitar electric gives it a unique feeling. Cobain really in his element
Great music. Defined a generation.
First time I've listened front to back... what an emotional journey this album is. It offers the listener an introspective lens into Kurt's psyche, and is far and away the band's most intimate live performance. As another reviewer described it - with the 'death' of MTV coming not too long after this performance, and hindsight being what it is, this almost feels like a funeral procession for the network itself. There is a rawness to the sound as a whole that is, IMO, harder to find these days. Dave Grohl may be a cheating spouse, but he understood Nirvana's sound like no other - which is exemplified in his 'less is more' approach to the drumming in this performance. Also, his black turtleneck is legendary.
There is nothing I can say about Nirvana that hasn't already been said. Instead, I'm going to repost my Nirvana tribute from the Nevermind album. -- Once upon a time, there was a man who possessed an incredible talent, and great pain. He lived a remarkable life, cut much too short. He created a world for all of us, to stop by as long as we want. In that world, you can come as you are, as you were, just as he wants you to be. Take a rest, as a friend, as an old memoria. You can listen - with the lights out, it's less dangerous. Here we are now, entertain us. Get away, away, away from your home. We might be afraid, but he is but a ghost. We can visit his world, and while there, we could plant a house, we could build a tree. He's the one who taught us to love ourselves better than you. We're the ones who likes all his pretty songs, and we like to sing along, and we like to shoot our guns. But we know not what he means. We'll forever wonder why he'd rather be dead than cool. So let's light our candles for him, 'cause one day he found God. RIP.
This is one of the best live albums I've heard.
I’ve moaned about live albums being included, but it’s hard to gripe about this one given it is one of the absolute best of all time.
the best MTV unplugged set
Masterpiece. Beautiful, bold, and flawlessly executed. Perfection.
great music
Completely different from the last Nirvana album I reviewed. I really enjoyed this, it was cooled, stripped back, I enjoyed the way banter the band had with the audience and each other, I loved the mix of covers and originals, and the songs were well performed.
I'm a Nirvana fan so I was more than happy to get to listen to this today, and I'll probably watch it as well with my next morning coffee. I'm having a hard time finding the words to describe how this whole performance makes me feel - but it's the same reverent awe that stunned the whole audience to silence after that final song. This is a snippet from a reviewer highlighted on the Wiki page - it's worth watching or rewatching the video of Where Did You Sleep Last Night after reading this. So many goosebumps. "For the final line, "I would shiver the whole night through," Cobain jumps up an octave, forcing him to strain so far he screams and cracks. He hits the word "shiver" so hard that the band stops, as if a fight broke out at a sitcom wedding. Next he howls the word "whole" and then does something very strange in the brief silence that follows, something that's hard to describe: he opens his piercingly blue eyes so suddenly it feels like someone or something else is looking out under the bleached lank fringe, with a strange clarity."
My favorite live album of all time
One of the few amazing live albums. The raw sound really goes with their aesthetic and adds to their authentic sound. Excellent covers in the set list. 4.6 stars
One of the greatest live albums ever
Yeah good enjoyed it, bit overplayed in my book
Best live album ever
- Sicherlich eines der besten MTV Unplugged aller Zeiten - Lange nicht mehr gehört, hat Spaß gemacht Rating: 4,5/5
Brilliant.
Really good, a classic.
This album slaps.
Great album. Very raw.
I used to find this such a grim if compelling listen. Still sort of do but I can also just tap into how elemental and paradoxically life affirming it is the older I get.
It’s Nirvana in sweaters! I always thought it odd that Kurt changed the lyrics to In The Pines. My mom, born of the Southern States, used to sing the song to me as a tot in the 60’s, using the Lead Belly version. Her mother sang it to her in the 30’s, shortly before Belly’s recording. I always knew it as Black Girl, and loved hearing it before bed. Kurt, a fan of LB, changed it to My Girl for this album. Still beautiful and haunting, but even more so using the original lyrics. Wish he had. Anyway…. Courtney Killed Kurt.
Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 🎸🥁🕯️ Produktion: 😲🙂👌 Musik: 🎤🎸✨🎵👏🌀😢💔 Wertung: 🌀🌀🌀🌀(🌀)/5
An intimate show with the band that defined a generation
This album was very important to 16 year old me and is still in my regular rotation.
One of the best bands ever, and probably my favourite live album of all time. If there is space for one live album, this has to be it - I'm still not 100% sure is should be included though!
Great album.
Great!!!
Yeah this album is basically perfect, it deserves a rare 5/5. Loved it all the way through, would listen again any time. Incredible impact. Simple but with touches of elegant instrumentation. Great covers. 90s kid approved. listening notes: This concert was so pivotal, so impactful as a 90s kid. I remember watching parts of it on MTV several times. And the reason I thought "The Man Who Sold The World" was a Nirvana song. As someone who never really dug into their albums too much, I might know this one better than any others. Excited to dig in About a Girl - awesome Come as you are - gosh his voice Jesus Doesnt Want Me For a Sunbeam - don't really remember this one. accordion?? hell yeah. i loved that. The man who sold the world... so cool. that walking bass line. and the guitar riff! Pennyroyal Tea, Dumb, Polly.. On a Plain: love myself! better than you.. Something in the Way: so spooky, good for Halloween today. Plateau - didn't realize how many covers were on this album. another good one. Going into a run of 3 Meat Puppets songs in a row.. interesting. Oh I guess the MP guys actually performed this with them. Oh Me Lake of Fire - more crazy singing All Apologies - great of course Closing it out with a standard Where Did you Sleep Last Night. amazing how they turn this into a Nirvana song.
Putting to words what this album is a little difficult for me, but I’ll try anyway. To me, this album is a moment in time; a last glimpse of rock as a dominant mainstream genre within the music industry. Back when the M in MTV meant music and not… whatever the fuck it’s supposed to mean now. A moment of authenticity through a live album that stays away from the greatest hits (for the most parts) and opts for covers, such as a then unknown David Bowie song and three Meat Puppets songs in a row. Kurt Cobain’s raspy-vocals fits really well with the pseudo-acoustic sound from his band mates. As a result, some of these songs are the best versions of themselves. Unplugged About A Girl feels more natural than Bleach About A Girl, and Dumb and On A Plain sound just as good as their original album counterparts. And I didn’t know The Man Who Sold The World was David Bowie. It’s more Nirvana’s now than Nine Inch Nail’s Hurt is to Johnny Cash. But this album is more than a live album; it’s a sense of finality. The world wouldn’t see the likes of a performance that has no hint of Smells Like Teen Spirit or many heavy-hitters. It’s a showcase of a band using their platform as a homage to their roots. A display of a band doomed to die at its prime, released months after Kurt Cobain’s passing. It’s perhaps the last gasp of rock as a mainstream force before the end of the century. It’s is, in essence, a moment. Favorite track: About A Girl Other hits: The Man Who Sold The World, On A Plain, Come As You Are, All Apologies, Dumb
amazing album, nirvana is on another level and remain unmatched
Kobain simply embodies grunge in this - vocals are more about effect than strict technique, sort of elitist but down to earth? Excellent song choices and performances on a basically perfect live album!
Unplugged to say the least. Great mix of covers and originals. Contains the best version of Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World"
Track 1: About a Girl (10/10) The definitive version. So beautiful and perfectly adapted to an acoustic setting, especially thanks to Dave's restrained performance on drums. Track 2: Come as You Are (8/10) One of my least favourite Nirvana songs, but it's one again made better by being acoustic. Track 3: Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam (10/10) I want to approach live albums by watching the performances if they're available so I'm watching this one. I started this song giggling at how goofy Krist looks with the accordion and ended it with tears in my eyes. No matter how many times I watch this unplugged I get emotional thinking about all the what-ifs surrounding Kurt. Absolutely beautiful rendition here. Track 4: The Man Who Sold the World (10/10) I can't even put in to words how much I love this song. It's up there with Hendrix's "All Along the Watchtower" and Cash's "Hurt" as one of the best covers of all time. I might actually need a break cause I'm getting extra emotional this time lol Track 5: Pennyroyal Tea (10/10) I'm a mess right now. Kurt going solo on this one was genius. Track 6: Dumb (10/10) This performance would already be perfect, but you add in that cello and it brings it to a whole other level. So hauntingly gorgeous. Track 7: Polly (9/10) I won't write it down here, but this song is incredibly dark if you know the story behind it. Great performance, love the harmonies. Track 8: On a Plain (10/10) Incredible. Dave going lower on his harmonies gives it a different feel than the studio version that I love. Track 9: Something in the Way (9/10) That cello, man! I feel like a broken record but this song is beautiful lol Track 10: Plateau (8/10) Another solid cover. I've heard these songs a million times and I still haven't listened to the original Meat Puppets versions besides Lake of Fire, and I'm saving them until it pops up here. Love the lyrics. Track 11: Oh Me (9/10) Love Kurt's vocals, I think he benefitted from not playing guitar on these songs. Track 12: Lake of Fire (10/10) This song is so hard to sing, you could tell Kurt was straining his vocal chords but it was so worth it! Probably my favourite performance from him in the entire show. Track 13: All Apologies (10/10) Once upon a time, I tried to convince an old girlfriend to make this "our song" (I was in highschool) lol she actually hated Nirvana so I knew we weren't meant to be...this is still one of my favourite Nirvana songs and this performance is wonderful. Track 14: Where Did You Sleep Last Night (10/10) Goosebumps. When he starts to scream you can feel every emotion he was feeling. Masterful, powerful, all the hyperbole you can think of. Overall: 10/10 Nirvana was an important band when it came to the development of my music taste. I fell in love with the emotion, the aggression, the punk rock attitude. It wasn't until I got older that I was truly able to appreciate how important these guys were to the entire landscape of music, and regardless of how overplayed or overhyped they might be, I think they're one of the most important acts in all of music history and there will never be another band like them. Kurt died before I was born, and now I'm the same age he was when he died. He's such an important figure in my life and the lives of so many other people that I know, and I hope that if there is an afterlife that he knows just how much he means to the world. Also his songs in acoustic are banging oh my lord Fav Song: The Man Who Sold the World Least Fav Song: Come as You Are
Is this over rated die to it being the last thing Nirvana did or is a classic? Lets see. There is undeniably a cultural significance to this record. It was peak MTV which came in and out like a tidal wave in the 90's, covering everything and then disappearing as quickly. Kurts death soon after made the world stand up and take notice of his talent, bringing them to a much wider audience than their original fan base. This was accessible, brilliantly done and allowed everyone to share in the sadness of his passing. The album itself is raw but beautifully done. Its a showcase of kurts surprisingly beautiful voice, the delicate songwriting and their excellent playing and arraging. It is a signpost to what late era kurt could have been, like Jonny Cashs reinvention, it could have been so much. A verifiable classic.
I loved it. Some absolute classic Nirvana songs and all time covers. I don't know why people don't talk about the man who sold the world cover more.
Classic
Listened to it a bunch of times in my life
Nothing like live grunt music, in a chill setting! Rip KC!
That's an easy one. Everything is close to perfect with this album: it's an excellent live record, full of surprises (very good covers), it's nice to hear an electric band unplugged (and it's probably the first prominent example of the genre), Cobain voice is poingant. I'll never get tired of this.
I liked this unplugged version way more than I like their plugged in versions! great version on man who sold the world
this is the second nirvana record that changed my life.
One of my favorite Nirvana albums. Something magical about this performance, although maybe it's my nostalgia. The stripped down sound of acoustic Nirvana and the raw, intimate emotion of Kurt Cobain’s voice throughout really singles this out. Nirvana would never again achieve this level of artistry, and we are all better off for the fact that it was captured as a moment in time. For my money, this is the definitive version of The Man Who Sold the World. They out-Bowied Bowie. 5⭐️
It’s nirvana
the only flaw with this is that it's missing some genuinely hilarious cobain bits on the video version.
I already know this one backwards and forwards!
Awesome album. I’ve always loved the three Meat Puppets covers on here and was disappointed the Meat Puppets themselves weren’t as good as the cover versions. In fact it’s all the cover versions that are the best stuff on this album - making up half of the songs on it. And then supporting that you’ve got all these great Nirvana songs. “In the pines” is incredible… just great.
It’s one of the highest rated albums on the site, everyone knows it’s good.
I bought this as soon as it was released, and it still holds up
Ich war und bin nie ein Nirvana Fan gewesen. Meiner Meinung nach, wurde sie sehr uberschätzt. Aber siehe da, dieses MTV Unplugged Konzert konnte und kann sich hören lassen. Musikalisch vom Feinsten. Spannend wäre wohl gewesen, wie die "Hits" geklungen hätten. Mal ehrlich, völlig egal, das hier ist einfach gut. Vielleicht deswegen.
such and ending. Suena muy crudo y natural y la voz de Cobain es hipnótica
I watched the video of this album in a packed theatre at MoPop in Seattle on the 30th anniversary of Kurt Cobain's passing. It seems obvious that Kurt is aware that he is a shell of himself, hollowed out by heroin. In light of what we know now, I cannot name a more visceral musical expression of passion and pain.
My favourite live album ever. Every track is superbly done, The Man Who Sold the World and Pennyroyal Tea are particular highlights. I do love this one!
One of my favorite albums love it
This performance is extremely good and drenched in personality that few other albums can achieve. The originals are good. The covers are very good. Lots of standouts. This is a vulnerable side and shows off the range of the band and Cobain's vocal style. This thing is tremendous and in context carries a lot of emotional power that the musical content absolutely lives up to.
This is a classic 90's album that everyone had in their big CD bible in their car at the time. I don't know if it deserves the reverence it gets, but it is really surprising how well these songs translate from the original versions in to acoustic ones. Some are obviously going to be fine (About a girl, Come As You are, Something in the Way) and others less so (Pennyroyal Tea, On a Plain), but they all manage to work in their own way. The covers are great, especially The Man Who Sold The World and Lake of Fire. Since this is effectively a live album and Kurt was always a shitty guitarist (technically, certainly not musically) it's funny to hear the random mistakes and mis-hits occasionally. The recording quality is good, and as it should be because this is a "quiet" set, and the production/mastering is good too. Not a lot to complain about here. I'd rather hear the original versions most of the time but there is something endearing about some exec deciding to just rip out all the distortion from these songs for kicks and them all still working and sounding great.
Real classic here. I remember what a big deal this was when it happened. You have the softer more introspective sides of one of the most influential bands of the 90's. Great stuff.
Massive talent. Perhaps it's unfair that most of the youtube version of this album is accompanied by the video of the session, but to see how relaxed and unassuming they were, yet knowing the struggles and the behind the scenes fighting to control their art and share the session with the MeatPuppets. I really enjoyed this one.
Almost back to back Nirvana records. I'm a fan of Nirvana. Or at least I was way back then. It's hard to be excited for a band after they don't exist anymore. But these records bring back a lot of great memories. This is one of my favourite Cobain performances ever. The emotion in his voice during Where Did You Sleep Last Night gives me goosebumps. The set list was appropriate for an u plugged setting. A lot of covers. But they make them sound like Nirvana songs. Even the Davie Bowie cover. I get that this is supposed to be an unplugged record... But it's definitely not unplugged. It's just acoustic. The cello during Something In The Way is haunting and beautiful. The Meat Puppets covers are some of my favorite Nirvana played songs. Love this record. Wish I could get an opportunity to see a band that I love in an intimate setting like this.
Hervorragend.
Yes
Huge Nirvana phase in high school but probably hadn't listened to the whole album in a decade. Great album, enjoy every track.
MTV has done a lot of stupid over the years. But the unplugged series was absolute genius. And this is one of the gems.
Fascinating that this was only a few months before his death. I enjoy the stripped-down style as much—or maybe even more—than their default electric grunge sound.
A beauty.
Great
Perfect and iconic album :)
Fantastic album, the arangements are very delicate and stripped down and Cobains voice really shines through. On the covers it feels pretty clear that Cobain was trying to experiment with a new kind of sound that we unfortunately never got to hear him develop Standouts The Man Who Sold The World Come As You Are Dumb Pennyroyal tea 5/5
A beautifully execute album. It’s not just a live greatest hits complication, there’s cover versions (about six I think) and some pleasant banter mixed in with a good mix of Nirvana tracks across the back catalogue. A worthy listen.
This album is iconic for so many gen xer’s
Classic and easy listen
Have never heard this as a whole, only some songs. This version of Dumb was on my constant rotation back in high school. Went to YT to get the full experience. This album really showcases the voice Kurt Cobain had, with all its flawed pitches and roughness. Easy 5* I like how the wiki says these are "lesser known" songs, where they are all iconic/well-known songs now. Highlights: about a girl, come as you are, the man who sold the world, dumb, polly, on a plain, all apologies
I mean is there even a question here? Anybody who doesn't give this a 5 is just kidding themselves. Great fucking album, an all time classic, easily the best live album of all time! I frequently say that every Dylan cover is better than any of his originals. I usually say the exact opposite about Bowie songs, this is the exception. Who would have thought that a punk band could cover Bowie at all, let alone in an acoustic format that they were unfamiliar with and be better. Just magical! An all time great album from an all time great band. For it to essentially be released as a posthumous tribute album is tragically beautiful.
Loved this album. Very talented guys. Ended too soon
One of my all-time favorites.
This album is undeniable. I have read so much about it, listened to it so many times. They did an incredible job, they had the right amount of originals and covers. Everyone did their parts well. I liked the banter.
563 albums reviewed, and now I get my first Nirvana album. I own a copy of their greatest hits on CD, and honestly, I don't remember why I bought it. I have nothing against Nirvana, but I wouldn't call myself a fan. I do like Dave Grohl though, and I went through a big Foo Fighters phase in my late teens and early twenties (his memoir is fantastic by the way). A couple of years ago, my wife and I went with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law on a trip to Ireland, and we brought along our daughter who was seven months old at the time (it was a wonderful trip, but if you're ever wondering if you should take a seven month on a trip from Texas to Ireland, I'd say proceed with caution, especially if you're going through Heathrow). As we drove across Ireland, we'd often use the version of "The Man Who Sold The World" off of this album to soothe my daughter to sleep. It didn't always work, but it worked often enough that I heard that song probably ten times a day during that trip. I recognize a few other songs on this album, and I'm very curious to hear the Meat Puppets covers, since I've already reviewed Meat Puppets II. Enough reminiscing I suppose, let's get on with the (acoustic) show. I haven't really loved any of the live albums I've reviewed so far, and I was really skeptical as to why this album has such a high average rating. After listening to it though, I get it. Out of all the live albums on this list, this is the first one that I've encountered that has a really great mood and atmosphere to it. I was really shocked how well Nirvana's music translated to an unplugged set, but everything sounded great, and it gave me a new appreciation for Kurt's songwriting abilities and and his skill at arranging music. I was really struck by the cello playing on this album too; it adds so much to the mood of the songs and really bolsters the unplugged sound. Hearing these songs in an unplugged set gave me a new appreciation for them, but "All Apologies" really takes home the crown as my favorite of the bunch. Kurt's wailing of "buried, married," contrasts so well with the acoustic sound. The covers on this album are great too, and it was a really big treat to hear Kurt sings songs by Meat Puppets. Listening to the original versions of those songs, it's incredibly evident how influential they were on Kurt as a songwriter and performer, and hearing him pay homage to them was fantastic. Using "Where Did You Sleep Last Night" as the album's closing song was a great choice. Kurt's unique touch makes this song feel like it belongs in the nineties. Knowing what we know now about Kurt's relationship with fame adds another complex layer to this album's feel. His remarks before opening the set with "About a Girl," might be seen as a dig at the audience, but I think it's more Kurt coming to grips with how far his star had risen in the last few years. I really enjoyed listening to this album, and I think it's worthy of its reputation. The sound is beautiful, and these songs all get a unique life in this acoustic set. The producers and engineers deserve some love for their work on this album too; the sound is incredibly clean, and the audience noises pop up at all the right moments. My only beef with this album is that "Lithium" isn't in the setlist (now that I think of it, "Lithium" might have been what lead me to buy their greatest hits album), but that's the gamble of live music I suppose.
Brutal
Intimate rendition of some of their biggest songs and somehow making it the better version. Wonderful.
The gold standard of MTV Unplugged.
There’s not much to say that hasn’t already been said. Fantastic. Amazing. Sometimes I really have to remember how groundbreaking MTV Unplugged was and how amazing and special this performance was in the history of the show. I don’t even love live albums that much, but this is perfection. The covers are iconic, and the performances of their own songs live up to and often elevate the studio versions. “The Man Who Sold The World,” nothing can top that.
Ik mag graag zeuren over live-albums, maar de MTV Unplugged serie is wel een geval apart: Geketende Ellis, Parel Confituur en Nirwana hebben onder deze noemer dikke klassiekers afgeleverd. Dit album is voor mij, en voor vele anderen neem ik aan, geen onbekende. Een paar bijzondere versies van een aantal hits (maar niet die ene hit) en een lading covers, regelmatig wat vals gezongen door Ome Kurt die min of meer z'n eigen begrafenis aan het roleplayen is. Het album is zeker geholpen doordat Cobain even later de pijp aan Maarten gaf, dat is lastig te ontkennen. Naar huidige maatstaven is dit album eigenlijk niet goed genoeg. Het is vals, af en toe kraakt of piept er iets, het is niet super strak; het is niet perfect. Op de LP laat de audio normalisatie ook wat te wensen over. Eigenlijk is het ook niet eens unplugged (de gitaar bij The Man Who Sold The World bijvoorbeeld). Maar toch is het legendarisch en steengoed, met die Loodbuikje cover als perfecte afsluiter. Duidelijke 5.
One of the best live albums ever!
This is one of the best live albums I have ever heard. This is Kurt Cobain at his best. Absolutely incredible performance. Not to mention the best version of The Man Who Sold The World I’ve ever heard. 10/10. No other score to give it.
This is one of my favourites. I’m so grateful that this album exists. I loved nirvana and I am old enough to remember this concert taking place and every cough and little bit of chat feels really precious because we have so little of their work now. The covers are bold choices for the time and stand as beautiful nirvana songs nowadays, because these versions are just so good. I could go on and on. I love it.
One of my favorite albums of all time. I even had the guitar tab book and learned every song back in the day. Love this classic album.
this was an amazing live album, kurt is like a top 5 vocalist ever
Phenomenal album that reworks old classics and adds some new ones in the form of cover versions. Top tier album.
Is it controversial to say this is the best Nirvana album?
I hadn’t listened to this all the way through in one sitting, I wish I had before. It was exceptional and an album I will listen to again and again.
Unplugged is not just one of the greatest live albums ever recorded — it’s a raw, intimate portrait of a band stripped down to its emotional core. Recorded just months before Kurt Cobain’s death, the performance carries an eerie, fragile weight that only deepened with time. Unlike other Unplugged sessions, Nirvana didn’t lean on their biggest hits or crowd-pleasers — instead, they curated a somber, haunting setlist that felt more like a wake than a concert. Tracks like “Something in the Way,” “Dumb,” “Polly,” and “On a Plain” take on a new vulnerability in the acoustic setting, each note soaked in quiet desperation and quiet strength. Their cover of David Bowie’s “The Man Who Sold the World” is unforgettable — reverent yet completely reimagined, with Cobain’s voice hovering between detachment and revelation. But the true apex is the closing track, Lead Belly’s “Where Did You Sleep Last Night.” Cobain’s final, guttural scream is less a performance and more a primal exorcism — chilling, cathartic, and final. It’s the perfect, devastating end to a performance that feels more like a confessional than a concert. Unpolished, unguarded, and unforgettable — Unplugged isn’t just a career highlight. It’s a requiem.
9/10
Der er ikke rigtig noget ved Nirvanas katalog der ville få mig til at tænke at de var perfekte til et unplugged live album, men af en eller anden grund er de fleste af de her sange bedre her end de er på pladen, og nogen af de her covers er også total all timers. Ret skør setlist, vildt nok valg at have tre sange i streg fra Meat Puppets II.
Virkelig en "reference" plade for hvad en unplugged session kan gøre. Der er valgt sådan nogle gode numre, som bliver leveret på så vanvittig personlig en måde, at det bare understreger hvor dygtig Cobain og co var. Selv deres egne sange i unplugged fungerer så godt!
im really not a huge listener and fan of live albums but this one is the best showcase of what a live album should be! Truly perfect toe me and easily listenable and with tha footage already watched def a great freaking album! 5.0/5.0
Not just one of the greatest Nirvana performances of all time. Simply one the greatest performances by ANYONE EVER!
Overall, this album was a terrific surprise. I had heard Nirvana previously but this live, "unplugged" album presents them in a whole different light. This will be an album worth keeping handy for a few listens in the future.
Pure unadulterated nostalgia. I don't know if it makes me a bit of arriviste to say that I probably love this as much as In Utero or even Nevermind, but I don't care. I think the format let's you really feel the emotion and pain in Kurt - not just in his voice but in his playing style. And that's all offset by the lovely little interchanges between the band. Just very moving stuff. Also, the last three songs are an incredible way to end, any one of them could have been my fave.
One of the best, if not the best, unplugged albums. You can really hear the hurt in the songs when they are presented this way.
amazing
First live album I rate here, it's excellent
This was the most important album in my life when I was 14. It was one of the first CDs that I owned, and I loved it to death. Some of these songs still get played on the radio. But admittedly, I had not stopped to absorb the entire album as a single piece in many, many years. This time through, for a little different experience, I watched the 2007 video release of the album. It runs the same songs through the same order, but includes additional banter between the songs that was trimmed for the original album release. Everything is still in place, just as I remembered it. I still knew all of the banter from the album by heart. It was a real treat to get the little bit of extra context from the video version. The music is ubiquitous at this point. There's not really much left to say about it. I don't reach for this album often at all. But I'll never get rid of my copy. The song selection is astounding, if counter-intuitive at the time. It's very interesting that for their big MTV Unplugged performance, of the 14 songs they chose to perform, only two of them had previously been Nirvana singles. Six of the songs are covers. The rest are deeper cuts from the three proper studio albums. It all works; and it makes for a live album that is an essential piece of the band's catalog.
Classic masterpiece. Requires a certain mood though. Rated "Love it but played so many times I don't really want to listen to it anymore".
Amazing sound. Instruments and vocals aren't muddy or meshed. Kurt is one of a kind
The album is a contrary between an excellent accoustic performance, and the powerful voice of Kurt Cobain.
It smells like Teen Spirit
Possibly the BEST MTV Live session ever. So many Nirvana hits as well as a phenomenal cover of Man Who Sold The World.
Probably the best unplugged recording ever. Crazy, but this is probably Nirvana's best album.
Classic, and more extensive than the social media clips you see. Kurt's humor shines through!
5 - 4.5
im a huge nirvana fan. good vibes, not quite my favourite album but still brillant despite the fact i think their songs sounds less emotional when acoustic
Favourites: Jesus doesn't want me for a sunbeam, Polly, The man who sold the world, Plateau
Jag var aldrig ett fan av Nirvana. Självklart tyckte jag musiken var bra. Men lyssnade inte jättemycket på gruppen. Denna liveskiva är dock extremt bra. Jag tycker inte det finns en enda dålig låt. Även coverversipnerna är mycket bra. Stämningen och versionerna av deras egna låtar är snorbra. Det blir högsta betyg. Kan definitivt se mig själv sätta på detta och låt hela skivan spela utan problem.
Sett denna flera gånger tidigare och alltid tyckt att Nirvana är bättre i det här mer avskalade formatet än på studioalbumen, kanske för att Kurts röst får mer utrymme. Otroligt bra rakt igenom, trots att många av de stora hitsen utelämnats. Grymma covers också, särskilt The man who sold the world och Where did you sleep last night.
An all around brilliant album brimming with emotion.
Easily one of the most iconic live albums ever performed. Not only for its fantastic sound quality, softer alternate versions of existing Nirvana songs, brilliant covers, but also being recorded so closely to Kurt's death. It's a beautiful, yet painful and haunting listen.
Nickel
Самый охуенный лайв альбом в истории музыки. Вы тоже знаете, как Курт Кобейн хотел себе гитару его ("их", вообще-то) любимого артиста, которая стоит 500к? Теперь ещё я понимаю, как группа The Vaselines живет. Лучшая песня - Where Did You Sleep Last Night.
A timeless deconstruction of some seminal grunge records with a handful of great covers thrown in. What's not to love?
Amazing
LOVE it! Listened twice!
Live is the only bad thing about this. Very raw and honest sound though
Right from the get-go this album starts out on the back foot by being a live album and generally I don't enjoy those a whole lot. There's a lot of great tracks on here though 'Come As You Are' is fantastic, and the 'The Man Who Sold The World' cover is pretty much legendary. I find that I quite like how Nirvana sounds unplugged possibly even more than I do when they are "plugged". Kurt's skill and raw passionate sound really comes through when stripped bare like this. It's a shame he would end up leaving us shortly after this was recorded Standouts Come As You Are The Man Who Sold The World Pennyroyal Tea 5/5
Haha nirvana... Like the band
While Nirvana has some great moments here performing their own songs, I think everyone comes here for the immaculate covers. The Man Who Sold the World, Where Did You Sleep Last Night, the whole Meat Puppets section, they are all amazing covers and fantastic songs in general that Kurt Cobain especially makes his own, and really allows this album to shine. This album not only has a tinge of humor thrown in (only exemplified watching it) but Dave Grohl feels especially into the whole act. You can tell the passion is truly there from the whole band, and the inclusion of any other musician gives this album a weird effect where it feels like being a love letter to itself. I think Kurt Cobain's death happening between recording and musical release really makes it so every song feels special, as if they are the essentials in Nirvana's canon, even if some of their biggest hits here. This album, being unlike a good chunk of their discography, feels like it is truly them musically, and just getting the chance to listen to a truly great musician on the verge of meltdown is almost awe-inspiring, not touched by another live performance save for Alice In Chains' just a few years later. This album may have a song or two that I'd prefer the studio cut of, but this album just feels right, and it is a shame seeing a band flowing with still so much creativity getting snuffed out, but at least they parted with such an amazing gift. All I'm saying is that there is a reason many think The Man Who Sold the World is a Nirvana track, even if it isn't a good reason, the album is full of moments like that that trample over everything, and you could almost twist it in to something worse. All of these songs are now more famous because of Nirvana, and I somehow guess Kurt Cobain wouldn't have wanted it that way, and that gives the album that hint of extra tragedy. It is just such a fantastic record, I can't help but give it nearly full marks. Just cut a couple of the renditions and we're golden. Then again, I'm sure that misses the point of this track listing, too...
I’m biased since I grew up listening to Nirvana and have a lot of nostalgia tied to the band, their songs, and specifically, this unplugged show. I watched it a ton! Having said that, hearing all the hits together, live, just reminds me how great they were! Excellent album.
Album 483 of 1001 Nirvana - MTV Unplugged In New York Rating : 5 / 5 Just an awesome album. Such a wonderful and near perfect performance. A mixture of originals and some great covers. Easily the best "Unplugged" album, in my opinion and gets a place in the Top 25 of best ever...again...in my opinion.
I remember the MTV Unplugged series and this was probably the best broadcast. It was a real songwriting test. Would the songs and band still sound good stripped down to the bare bones of the songs and performances? In this case, it's a definite yes! It's interesting to see.Cobain so humble and vulnerable. The songs and performances still hold up.
This might be the most personal album I've ever listened to. Live albums usually make me feel "wow they sound pretty good live thats cool", but Nirvana puts such a cool spin on the live performance that I wasn't expecting. The unplugged medium really adds a ton to the emotion of their music too. Favorites were The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, All Apologies, and Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Perhaps the best live album ever. The imperfection is what makes this so great.
Used to watch this all the time in college, it was very influential on my memory. Will always give this 5 stars.
Partly heard before Saved 14/14 Top track: Where Did You Sleep Last Night
This one encapsulates the band's crossroads with culture. The edges are smoothed, Kurt has given in somewhat to the fame, and it is very much a performance of the moment for MTV. It's the statling coda no one saw coming and offers some of the cold comfort to cling to in the Aftermath. Saved songs: Dumb Come As You Are Jesus Don't Want Me For A Sunbeam Lake of Fire All Appologies Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Electric
Absolutely brilliant, emotional, Kurt’s voice just pours out with sadness and grit. Love it
Classic
What to me is one of the greatest unplugged albums ever if not the top 1, I kind of feel its cheating cause it a live amd they select somgs from all albums. Fortunately they chose an amazing set list that suits the unplugged performance. The fact that the recording is clear and not sloppy as they were makes you appreciate the subtleness in his voice and how good it could be when used as the main vehicle in their music. Being able to see how kirst and dave interacted as a band on stage when they were doing something they knew was more important than just playing for teens and altered mind stated people fucked up out of their minds is awesome and there was chemestry even when you can tell Kurt was the leader of the group. Really good album and a cover that is better than the original in Man who sold the world. Playlist was chosen very carefully to make the best out of each song and the acoustic arrangements for some were even better than their recording session version. Overall this is a masterpiece as an album.
This album is soooo good that I don't even really consider it a live album (if that makes any sense). If Stop Making Sense didn't exist this would be my uncontested favorite live album and it wouldn't even be close. Such a depressing and intimate performance, and a great setlist. But it is the covers that really sell me on this album. They take every cover and make it 10x better than the original. I recommend watching the performance on youtube if you don't have a copy of it, you can find a playlist of every song on their channel Easy 5
No doubts with this one. A great collection of covers and originals. Each one stripped back and brilliantly conveying the musical identity of Nirvana.
Love this album. One of the greats
👍
Always had a complicated relationship with this album. Watched the performance on 9/MTV and initially felt a bit meh. Ignored it as just more Nirvana hype for a long time. But gradually began to appreciate it as you could look back at the journey I think everyone was taking over those 3-4 years. It's a significant document of wanting to be allowed to change but being pretty sure the world isn't going to let you. So maybe your life as such is completed?
Almost all better than originals
So Good.
Pretty much perfect. Kurt didn't screw it up did he?
:)
Iconic gig
One of the greats.
One of my top 5 albums of all time. Acoustic songs that are simple and raw, You can feel the piano in his voice.
The best album so far, I don't know if anything will beat it Just song after song of unbelievable music Meant to be that it fell on a Friday, I listened to it 3 times over the weekend
Iconic. What a great show and fun throwback to MTV in its prime.
I may be biased on this one. I remember being a kid buying this cassette tape with my allowance and listening to it over and over. It's the reason I asked for an acoustic guitar soon there after. This album is packed with gem after gem. There are many notable covers that make good use of Kurt's howlin' and raspsy vocals. Tracks like The Man Who Sold the World, Lake of Fire, and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. There is also enough original Nirvana tracks to satisfy any day one fanatic such as Come As You Are, Dumb, Polly, Something In the Way, and All Apologies. This is a solid album.
Not a bad album in live format, 5/5
Well I’ve heard this a million times. What I didn’t know was that they released a handful of rehearsal songs from this in 2019 and it’s haunting to hear today.
1994, when Grunge was in full steam, Nirvana came and did .... this. An acoustic live album, courtesy of MTV unplugged, with some of the more obscure songs from their catalog, a couple of covers and only one of their big hits (Come As You Are). And it's marvellous. Most will know that Kurt Cobain could write fantastic songs, but here he proves to be an incredible vocalist as well. Prime example: the album closer Where Did You Sleep Last Night, where Cobain is giving the song his all - so much so, in fact, that he declined MTV's request to get back on for an encore, knowing that he would never be able to match the intensity of that performance. Another personal favourite is the cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World, but again, there really isn't any bad song here. This is truly a gem. 5/5
What a great trip down memory lane, still as good as when I first listened on MTV
Definitely a classic. I'm not the biggest on live albums but this one proved Nirvana was more than just noise. The songwriting/singing really translates to a more chill/acoustic sounding vibe. Plus playing with the meat puppets is awesome and ending on a where did you sleep last night cover is awesome.
Þvílíkt band sem Nirvana var. Ég skil vel af hverju þeir urðu svona stórir og þetta eru alveg frábærir tónleikar. Ég fílaði þetta þótt það hafi verið einstaka spjall og svona, mér fannst ég bara vera á tónleikunum. Fullt hús stiga fyrir þessa frammistöðu þótt ég muni seint teljast Nirvana aðdáandi.
It is a crucial, seminal Gen X album. I'm sure I'm not alone in thinking this is the album where Kurt really touched the most people. Nevermind was huge, but this gave an entry point by softening up the grunge. I think even our parents found themselves humming along. It's indispensable and set the stage for other epic acoustic albums like Alice in Chains etc.. An obvious 5.
One of the greatest “what could have been” albums of all time. One of the best albums of all time. Maybe the greatest live album of all time. Nirvana recorded “Unplugged in New York” before Kurt Cobain died, but the album wasn’t released until seven months after his death. As great as “Nevermind” and “In Utero” were, it was “Unplugged” that first gave an indication of what the band could have become if they had the chance. The choice of cover songs revealed diverse influences and their unwavering commitment to their vision for the show regardless of what MTV wanted showed that they were firmly in charge of the direction of their career, not record labels or suits. It was a much more folk-influenced musical direction. Would their next album have followed suit, or was this a one-off? Unfortunately, we’ll never know.
one of the best unplugged episodes...the youtube unedited one is even better with all the chatter in between songs
Forgot how much I like this cover of all apologies
I have somehow never listened to this album from start to finish, even though I own the concert on DVD which is still unopened. What a performance. What else can I say? Personal enjoyment: 5/5 Relevance to this list: 5/5
One of the best live albums ever? Quite possibly.
i shit on nirvana a lot for their stuff being pretty mid but THIS is their magnum opus it's literally perfect
Was very excited for this album! It's a perfect live session to me. Nice following after the Bob Dylan because while I'm not extremely fond of folk, I really love the folk and blues influence on grunge. Great covers, just a fine listen.
I’ve always been a bigger fan of Courtney than Kurt, unquestionably. But, talk about moments in music history that changed everything! Honestly, this Unplugged is all of the Nirvana you need.
LP
Great, Nirvana stamping their mark on history with wonderful cover of Man Who Sold The World. Cementing Grunge as the new Rock.
Great album. One of the best live albums of all time
An iconic moment in music history. I cannot disconnect the audio from the visual when listening to this and still see Kurt onstage in his cardigan, remembering the intimacy of the setting. Something about his essence was just so absorbing. Thinking about it now, it's kind of strange to have this as what has become for me a lasting image of him. Still love the more energetic performances, but this performance, what a gift to have this recording.
This is what comes to mind when I think about MTV unplugged. It was a huge deal when it came out and it aged well. I love it!
Honestly, I’m not a big Nirvana fan. I liked Nevermind and In Utero and I also thought they, and Nirvana as a band, were terribly overrated. This album, however, might be perfect and the heartbreak and melancholy that is infused throughout the album leads one to wonder if Kurt knew he wasn’t much longer for this world.
Really enjoyed
Nirvana… énorme classique
Live albums don't belong on this list - OK I was wrong, THIS live album belongs on the list.
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
tremendous record
all of the unplugged performances are legendary, and this one is no exception. seriously this performance is historical. kurt's iconic tracks get a relaxing, and... well, acoustic take live on MTV's unplugged. the significance paired with every single song being so naturally great in terms of how it's played... it's the kind of live performance where you couldn't believe it was live.
Absolutely amazing. Not much to be said that hasn’t been already, stripped back, raw and emotional. Different in that’s it’s not an acoustic “best of” set, it’s littered with amazing covers, including a couple from lesser known bands such as Meat Puppets. Can almost feel the tense nervousness in Cobain to start with but is a flawless performance which almost feels like a signing off. Highlights are Pennyroyal Tea, Man Who Sold the World, All Apologies and Where Did You Sleep Last Night, really though, every song is amazing. 5/5.
I dont respect the rules
I am glad I saw them live. Nirvana retains high status in the art of my formative years, and this album remains a living elegy for an artist in pain.
It is a masterpiece!
Greatest live album of all time.
This is one I've listened to many, many times. An almost perfect album, and a fitting swan song for Kurt Cobain. Normally I give out about live albums on this list, but I think this is an exception, since they had so few studio albums. There's also some truly iconic covers on here, particularly the Meat Puppets ones. The cello adds a lot here too, and many of the songs on here are better than their studio versions.
Absolutely iconic
Hands down the best of the Unplugged series. Nirvana delivers a mixed set of originals and obscure covers that is truly a heartfelt experience. The emotion in Where Do You Sleep at Night is palpable.
great
One of those albums where you honestly feel like you’re in the crowd
It feels wild to give a live album five stars but there’s just…something about this one. They sound perfect. Kurt’s voice is flawless, Dave and Krist and the guest musicians just float. Not a single note is wrong or placed incorrectly. Kurt keeps saying he’s going to lose his voice or he’s going to have to change keys between songs, and then he just nails it exactly like he’s supposed to. It’s hearing greatness. An amazing band at their absolute peak, in full control of their abilities. It honestly takes my breath away at points, And they don’t even play “Smells Like Teen Spirit.”
Even better than a remember. Fantastic.
This has convinced me you have to love a band to like a live album of theirs. I taped the live radio broadcast of this and figured it would never get an official release. I didn't have MTV but still bathed in this post Kurt death, and again when the LP was released---with two more songs, woo! I love it but it also makes me sad to listen so I can't very often.
Such a classic album.
Classic live album.
Amazing album. How an unplugged set should be done.
It’s always incredible to hear a once in a generation type of talent doing what he loved to do in front of an appreciative audience. Cracking jokes, enjoying himself and putting on a great performance. RIP Kurt Cobain 🙏🏾🕊️
Classic gruge
Obvious masterpiece
Certainly one of the best live albums in history. A must listen for anyone that enjoys the best of the best.
Top Three Songs: 1) Where Did You Sleep Last Night? 2) Lake of Fire 3) Something in the Way Bottom Three Songs: 1) Jesus Doesn’t Want Me for a Sunbeam 2) On a Plane 3) Pennyroyal Tea
Amazing
Okej, de e en av de bästa live-albumen nånsin
an all-timer
Classic live album, toch wel 5/5
Altijd al heerlijk album gevonden, genieten geblazen
Ja klassieker Beste Unplugged album ooit? 5 sterren zonder twijfel
It’s amazing. Some of these versions are more memorable than the polished album. I listened to this in high school and so many verses are seared into my mind. I never listened back to front though, and I don’t love some of the random tracks. That being said it doesn’t take away from the experience so… 5/5
Seems kinda timeless. Very familiar with this one and it’s almost as perfect as it can get… I cannot give it less than 5
Already know I’m glazing this review. I’ve loved this performance since I was a kid. Feels so nonchalant but so beautiful. it’s like seeing another side of nirvana. They’re letting you in on the secret to their success.
A classic and a benchmark for the unplugged series.
Loved this. I was just a little too young to appreciate Nirvana in their heyday so trying to make up for it now.
This has ALWAYS been one of my top 10 favorite albums!
Probably my favorite live album ever. Perfection.
легендарно
Давайте так: здесь есть лучший кавер на боуи эвер + есть ебанутый вокал, который тяжело повторить будучи не похуистичным куртом Как сказал великий скилз: попасть в ноту намного легче чем попасть в похуй Алкоальбом: "Бойлермейкер" или "Ирландская автомобильная бомба" (виски с пивом)
pure emotion, and the ones that are too often times hidden. a pure moment, real people, life's worth of feelings in songs and in a performance. wonderful stuff
5 outta 5
BEST EVER
Pretty haunting in retrospect, given Cobain's mental state in early 1994. And yet, this is a surprisingly intimate set of songs that still remains faithful to the Nirvana spirit. It's every bit as good as the only other Nirvana album I've listened to (Nevermind), but with some interesting differences in energy. It's lower-energy, more relaxed, and has a great un-produced acoustic feel similar to the Naked version of Let It Be (which is vastly superior to the original). The banter between tracks – something I normally criticise – works much better in a live album than the more typical scripted skits of hip-hop bands. The cover of Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World is iconic and, maybe surprisingly, outshines the original by a lot. The riff, infectious as it is, is all but lost in the track on Bowie's 1970 album – but it takes centre stage here. Love it. The other tracks I'm familiar with are ones that also appeared on Nevermind: On A Plain, Something In The Way, Come As You Are, and Polly. They're good choices for this album because of their more introspective, low-texture feel. Even On A Plain, whose original recording was a fiery ball of pop-energy, is toned down a lot on MTV Unplugged. About A Girl was a solid choice of opener. Hoping Nirvana's debut album, Bleach, appears on this list. 5/5 Key tracks: all of them, honestly
I lik
No notes. A perfect album. One I've listened to no less than 100 times
Absolutely brilliant.
This is so much better than I remembered. Flawlessly performed. Recommend watching on YouTube, there’s a lot of extra details you miss merely listening to the audio.
Masterpiece!
I love hearing these Nirvana songs, some of which are favorites of mine, in a smaller setting. Kurt's voice and the band's talent really shines through amid the intimacy. But what boosts this record to crazy heights are the covers. Nirvana's version of The Man Who Sold the World is probably my favorite cover of any song by any artist. The emotion and weariness that it carries never gets old. And then you have the string of Meat Puppets songs which sound right at home with the rest of the tracklist, plus that rendition of Where Did You Sleep Last Night? So heavy, so good. This album is an all-timer.
Everyone’s favourite live album.
Nirvana really understood the assignment here. It’s a ridiculously strong performance and nothing gets buried in the mix like with so many other live albums. The song choices, whether it’s rearrangements of their original songs or well-selected covers (The Man Who Sold the World and the haunting Where Did You Sleep Last Night are obvious highlights, but the Vaselines and Meat Puppets covers also pay homage to their influences in the 80s alt-rock and punk scene), are perfect to showcase the more intimate side of one of the biggest rock bands on the planet. Is it the best live album ever? No. But is it the best live album not performed by Johnny Cash in a prison? Yeah, maybe
I have probably listened to this album 100 times. I think this is the best nirvana album. All of the covers in this album are better than the original songs by far.
This album is a masterpiece. The vibe is very intimate. The small conversations Kurt makes with his audience just make it a wonderful experience to listen to. Feels like your almost part of the crowd. Today marks the 30th year of Kurt's dead and I'm glad to listen to this album today.
Just great! Always has been. The covers alone make this a top album of all time.