Reviews (page 8 of 15)
Absolutely brilliant in every way shape an form. In fact it was so good he knew the only way to top it was by topping himself. What a lad
this is the most dave grohl that i've put up with for a long time. he used to be such a nice boy. for some reason i've never listened to this album before. what a pleasant surprise. live albums are usually a bit shit, probably because a lot of the time its the band being their most polished and showy which is probably why this sounds so good, its not that.
We had this record on at our Christmas party in Downing Street last year. It made none of us pause for reflection as we snorted coke off eachother's erect cocks. Top night.
You can hear in his voice that he's considering shooting himself in the head. It's fucking great really. Not the shooting bit, the music.
Raw and beautiful. Just how SHACK likes to eat his meat.
An excellent live album. There are so many highlights on this album but their cover of Where Did You Sleep Last Night? remains an all time favorite
Oh yea!
It's a bit good. For many the GOAT when it comes to live albums. Defo a contender! I mean it created a £250,000 cardigan FFS.
This was one of my all time favorite albums before 1001 suggested it and it still is one of my all time favorite albums
This is a perfect concert and to me, the BEST Nirvana album. It spans their entire skillset, shows their versatility, and cements them as one of the best bands of all time.
Just an amazing album
Bomba. Uno dei miei preferiti
Wonderful album. Showcases Cobain’s ability as a performer to enrapture a room as well as Grohl’s versatility as a drummer
Liked it
8/10
I never really listened to Nirvana, but this was real nice. Guitar is creative and kinda new. But, Kurt’s voice is another instrument and was the blood in the veins! Loved it!
Killer live album Man who sold the world Nothing on top but a bucket and mop Meat puppets song
100/5. Just perfect. The originals, the covers, the conversations in between and the set. Everything fell into place that night. The covers had me chasing the originals and the deep cuts made me listen and explore more of Nirvana. What are they tuning a harp?
Best live album of all time no contest.
The one live album on the top 15, the performance we saw again and again for months (and then years and decades) after that fateful April day back in 94, the one from which the most iconic pictures of Cobain are from (google his name and see for yourself), the sui generis MTV unplugged full of covers as they decided it would be a disservice to play an acoustic version of their hits and by doing so making it the greatest of all, the one MTV entrance of this list I might say! the icon, the moment in history, the otherwise impossible tribute/eclipse of Bowie, Lead Belly’s come back from the dead. All that and so much more… as an album it should be disqualified from the list but of course no one should die without listening. I was 7 the first time I SAW this and still give me the chills, I loved it before I ever understood English, I was of course one of the ignorant kids Bowie would later dismiss for not knowing the author of TMWSTW, actually the first song I ever downloaded from Napster I shit you not! After that I have had the opportunity to compare that hyper compressed mp3 file that took ages to download to the tv version and later to the vinyl and lossless versions… damn the mixing is amazing! I would pay to see a restored version of the concert with the album mixed audio. I nag all the time about the US-centrism of this list and how it is full of live albums but how can this one not be a 5?
incredible album and a truly a standout from Nirvana and this genre at large.
Classic. I dig it.
A fanta
My favourite nirvana album
i’ve always loved these renditions of all the songs… 10/10
najjaci album
Amazing live album. Up there with "Frampton Comes Alive".
I came as I am
An amazing album. I forgot how good it was!
Love it! Takes me back to Uni days and seeing them live.
Recorded less than five months before Kurt Cobain’s death from suicide by gunshot, “MTV Unplugged in New York” by Nirvana now plays as a haunting epitaph for the musician as well as a glimpse into where the band could’ve been headed musically had he not ended his life so young. I’ll keep my remarks short as I’m sure plenty has been written already about this record, but in retrospect it’s fascinating to reflect on how big Nirvana were that they could skirt MTV’s requirements for the program - rather than being entirely acoustic, they got to use electric amplification and guitar effects, and instead of performing their hits, Nirvana played nearly as many covers (six, “The Man Who Sold the World” and “Lake of Fire” are two standouts) as originals (eight), and “Come As You Are” was the only hit they performed (“All Apologies” hadn’t yet been released as a single). It’s worth noting that the entire performance can be viewed on YouTube - worth checking out for both the hilarious early 90’s fashion on display in the audience, and to see the set decorated, in Cobain’s words, “Like a funeral” with stargazer lilies, black candles and a crystal chandelier.
5/5 - legend
Il mio problema coi Nirvana è che li ho sempre associati ai svariati compagni delle superiori che andavano in giro con sigaretta, camicia di flanella, capelli lunghi, puzza di sudore e depressione: mi stavano sul cazzo. Per fortuna li ho scoperti molto dopo, quasi per caso. In quest'album, quelle sonorità graffianti tipiche del loro sound sono ridotte perché suonano in acustico, ma la loro anima rimane intatta, di espone e si illumina. Grazie per questa esperienza e questa atmosfera. Sono contento di averlo riascoltato! Il mio voto è 5, ma meriterebbe un 6 per la performance live (ho un debole per gli album live). Voto: 6
One of the best live albums of all time.
Woohoo, class
From my favorite band of all time, this record is amazing!
Best unplugged album ever.
Great live album
Damn good album. def heard it before but still really good. kinda falls off halfway through though
Really good. Never been much in to Nirvana but I like the stripped down versions.
One of the best albums of all time
Just straight up dope.
What an amazing album. Grew up with it and love it but I appreciate it even more now. Kurt's voice sounds great when it's exposed in this "acoustic" setting. So much raw emotion there. Great songs.
Ho consumato questo album fino ai miei 17/18 anni tanto che ricordo a memoria i cazzeggi di Grohl alla batteria tra un pezzo e l'altro come se fossero parte delle canzoni, così come dove Kurt prende fiato all'interno dei pezzi. Risentirlo mi ha riportato indietro ai pomeriggi passati a cantare Where Did You Sleep Last Night o a studiare l'assolo di Lake Of Fire dei Meat Puppets. Questo album per me è l'apice della carriera dei Nirvana ed è stato bello riuscire a capire che dicono tra un pezzo e l'altro dopo tutti questi anni o a vedere la performance su YouTube visto che all'epoca o c'avevi la cassetta o non c'era modo di vederlo. Pensavo che oggi m'avrebbe fatto un effetto diverso, ma quando Kurt apre a Where Did You Sleep Last Night m'è venuta la pelle d'oca come quando c'avevo 16 anni. 5 facilissimo.
best album i´ve heard so far in this app. A classic.
Essential listening for any music fan
Excellent album
What can I say, I loved this album, I want to play it again & again. I tried not to love it, because its Nirvana and everybody loves Nirvana, but it was great and No Apologise's makes this album a 5 star.
Great album
Excellent album, which had recorded in live MTV event.
Obviously an album I still listen to regularly after almost 30 years
Still great, the meat puppets colabs are the stand out tunes. Listened while playing with Gabe, he liked Plateau because of the funny words and the way ‘the man’ said birrrrrds! Can’t argue, an iconic live tv event, strong cardigan game. Special shout out to All Apologies...Mary, ya ya ya yayayyaaaa
Best Track: Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Cool
You dont have a friend in me
Big love for this album forevs
Stunning. They are absolutely wonderful here. The song choices are perfect, the Meat Puppets are a great addition to this and Where Did You Sleep Last Night? is incredible. If I could have been at one show, this would have been it.
What can I say? I start to play guitar with this album. I love it
Great and well known songs by Nirvana, even I have some weak spot in my heart for them.
The final track is worth the top mark on its own, it's stunning. This album reignited my appreciation for Nirvana when it waned a little following my Nevermind obsession period. The Unplugged sessions were such a great idea and produced some amazing musical moments. This is always a great listen, it can't really be faulted.
If I could have 6 stars I'd give them to this album
Good
.
An old fav, big feels. The sound for this show is so good.
Great album, superb arrangements and so evocative of the time.
flawless
Loved this! Classic live album
Jut a series of really great tunes
Not much to say. Its a cultural touch stone.
Amazing album with my favorite covers
Raw
Great memories!! Best unplugged ever?
Acústico imprescindible de toda una influencia grunge. Excelente selección de canciones e interpretaciones muy conseguidas. Otra manera de conocer al grupo. Muy bueno
I love this
The good stuff
An absolute classic from my youth. Raw, emotional.
I dig the acoustics and grohl in a sweet sweet turtleneck
5/5 ALWAYS
amazing
Great set from them. Gave some of the songs even more feeling
Man, nostalgia for this one. High school all over
classic - duh
I really like this album
Nirvana is always gonna be top for Me. Interesting takes on the unplugged version of songs
One of the best live, acoustic albums of all time.
Is this the best acoustic set ever played?
I watched this to get the full experience and it was perfect
At the top of their game
One of the best live albums. Really shows the versatility of the band
Awesome live performance.
One of my favorite all-time albums. LOVE the Bowie cover and the Meat Puppets inclusion. Gold standard acoustic transformation
Awesome!
Just a perfect listening experience.
Kurt legend
Jesus don’t want me for a sunbeam
Liked this more that I expected to.
Some good cover songs. I liked Nirvana but was never a huge fan, surprised about the various one star reviews, not sure why people would hate them
Dope
I am a Live version HATER, especially if the crowdwork and applause is lengthy and loud. And unfortunately the vocalist has a pretty unique style that made every song sound the same. I AM ON SOME HATERADE TODAY. It's still a 4 though. I like the unplugged/acoustic. Favorite Song: Come As You Are Close 2nd- Something In The Way
Great and nostalgic
A deservingly iconic album full of some amazing performances on all parts and some of the best covers of all time.
I like this better than anything they recorded in a studio.
These days, MTV Unplugged is an old relic of Gen X's eternal quest for "authenticity," whatever that meant at the time. Essentially, the philosophy for this series was that bands could prove their chops by playing undistorted, acoustic sets of their biggest hits. Nirvana's set is far and away one of the best of the bunch, and while there were some genuinely good ones, like Pearl Jam's, Alice in Chains,' Unplugged definitely had more misses than hits (let's try not to remember Korn's set, or even Kiss'...) Nevertheless, Nirvana's acoustic set here reveal something very interesting about Cobain's songwriting: the shocking harmonic complexity hidden just under the surface of the Pixies-worship guitar crush. Seriously, the details of Nirvana songs become so much more apparent when they're played on something other than distorted guitars. I think this album was a necessity to uncover what would otherwise remain hidden for much longer. Cobain's own performance is a career-defining one as his shockingly fragile voice crackles and struggles to soften against the barren instrumentals. It's a powerful contrast that makes him feel almost separate from the rest of the band, as well as the occasional string section that pops in here and there. It's never more apparent than the closer, a cover of Lead Belly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night." Here, Cobain starts off in a mid-register that seems most appropriate for this old blues tune before he starts screeching and cracking over the still-morose blues riffing. In a way, this was very much his final farewell to live music: Cobain would be found dead not 5 months after it was recorded, and it wouldn't be released until 7 months after that. An important live document to be sure and a solid release on its own, featuring excellent covers of bands like Meat Puppets and the Vaselines, as well as most of their biggest hits. A must-listen to get the understanding of Nirvana's impact on alternative music, and the magnetic persona that created the mythical Kurt Cobain we read about today. Key Tracks: About a Girl, Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam, All Apologies, Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Surely one of the all-time great live albums, probably the only one I know with massive singles that got huge radio play in their own right. Kickstarted my own deep dive into the Meat Puppets and their freaky brand of alt-country which is so clearly an influence on Cobain’s writing but never really translated to the rest of grunge and post-grunge (much as his emotionality and rejection of traditional masculinity did not translate). A fascinating document featuring decidedly uncommercial selections (roughly half of this is made up of covers!) and the only look we got at a softer Nirvana sound that Kurt had reportedly wanted to explore on their forthcoming third album, never to be. Fantastic.
не сильно нравится что я слышал мне больше понравилось что произошло а именно выступление на мтв которое стало таким популярным гранж под акустику, прикольно да, есть хиты есть то что понравилось 3.9
Awesome live album!
great
It transcends the standard "acoustic concert" format. It didn't just showcase Nirvana’s versatility beyond the grunge label; it captured a legendary artist at his most intimate, haunting, and unforgettable
Iconic album, great acoustic renditions, surprising covers, but it lacks a bit of consistency for me to rate it higher.
Nirvana works really well as an acoustic band. I think it helps to have the context of the original album recordings, though. The contrast between the two really hits. Terrific sound quality.
what
The essence of Cobain.....looking back on their releases, they stand the test of time even if Nevermind is mind crushingly compressed...this one is light shining through a gap in the gloom....
Great album for the city 2 surf
Fantastic album. Nirvana was always supposed to be done live.
didnt know you could make some of these songs sound even better, but raw KC vocals say otherwise
Solid grunge, but live. This concert is one of the iconic ones I guess.
This was an enjoyable listen. The second half was great and I especially liked oh me, lake of fire, and where did you sleep last night. Come as you are has such a unique riff that it is instantly recognisable in any format live or otherwise. I liked the chiller pace, even though the songs aren't chill at all.
Лучшая песня объективно - от Боуи, лучшая песня от них - Dumb. Много хитов, но все очень незамысловато.
My love of Nirvana (and the kickass The Man Who Sold The World cover) slightly outweighs my hatred of crowd noise on live recordings.
This is the first time I hear a album by Nirvana. I got to admit Kurt Cobain has pretty nice vocals. But it's more then that. I feel like their music has that little joy mixed in their sadness.
What an authentic and captivating performance! I enjoyed the stripped-back performances of songs like All Apologies, Dumb and Pennyroyal Tea. The album felt intimate in a way and the talent really showed. Rating this a 3.5 but rounding it up to a 4 because I enjoyed it more than In Utero. Favorite tracks: The Man Who Sold the World Dumb All Apologies About a Girl
"That sounded good" "Shut up" 1001 Albums Generator 314 (7/27/2026) The MTV Unplugged series features an interesting gamut of artists from old heads like Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, and Neil Young, to contemporary artists to the time, like Nirvana and Alice In Chains performing songs "unplugged", making these artist re-contextualize their often hard, rocking songs into a softer palette. The most famous of these is undoubtedly Nirvana's 1994 offering, recorded in November of 1993, just months before Kurt Cobain would commit suicide. The album was then released after his death and naturally is quite haunting. The album features a mix of originals and covers, and the covers are some of the best songs here. The choice for originals is largely their quietest songs, which was a smart choice. I don't think Tourette's could have been transformed into an acoustic rock tune. It's also worth mentioning that the album that preceded MTV Unplugged was Nirvana's noisiest, In Utero, so the whiplash from that album to what is by definition their least aggressive makes for a very interesting contrast. It may be my favorite Nirvana album. 4.5/5, rounded down to 4. Favs: The Man Who Sold The World Something In The Way Lake Of Fire Least Fav: Pennyroyal Tea
Yea of course this one went so hard. Saved a lot of songs to my liked songs list. The audience presence was pretty cool I don’t think I’d ever heard a nirvana lie album. The raw sound felt particularly real and intimate.
DGC DGC-24727 (US) vinyl rip: This is better than their "plugged" stuff. I could listen to this beginning to end multiple times a year. I love how intimate this feels with the banter included. Very immersive. The covers are better. Favorite track is "Oh Me."
I knew very little about Nirvana before listening to this. Watching the performance rather than just hearing it made a huge difference. Kurt Cobain's voice was the standout—powerful, emotional and surprisingly versatile. My favourite songs were 'Come As You Are', 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night', 'All Apologies', 'About a Girl' and 'Pennyroyal Tea'. Not every track clicked with me, but the atmosphere of the performance and Kurt's vocals made this an album I'll definitely revisit.
Pretty familiar with this, was one of the first cds I ever bought over 30 years ago. It's great, showcasing Nirvana's skills, and expanding their sound. Well Nirvana and the Meat Puppets. 4.5 rounded down Heard before? Yes Owned: Yes, 97/364 (26%) Will I get: Already
4.4/5 - Pretty damn good. Nice to have playing in the background anywhere, although, not something I would listen to in my own time.
For me this is Nirvana. This was my sister's favorite Nirvana album and one that got the most play in her tape deck driving around the suburbs with me in the passenger seat. I still love The Man Who Sold the World and the cascade of Dumb, Polly, On a Plain, and Something in The Way really sends me. I'm not one of those people that think Cobain was some sort of godsend legend, but I dig what he (and the rest of the musicians) put together here. Would listen to again happily.
I'd rather listen to In Utero or Nevermind. But this is a neat live album to be sure and caps the end of an era for MTV. I will say, this rendition of Lake of Fire sounds really good.
Kjennskap: 20% Positiv overraskelse. Hadde kjennskap til mange av sangene fra før av. Kult med mer nedpå og akustiske versjoner av sangene. Likte også coverne av andre artister.
This was my absolute favorite Nirvana album in high school. I swore by this record more than any of the studio collections, as to me it showcased a man at his most vulnerable, his most fragile and brittle. It's been a very long time since I've listened to this and I wondered how it would hold up to me after so many years. Well, it was still a wonderful listen, but I don't think I have an idyllic view of it the way that I used to. It still stands out as a portrayal of a band and a singer who are desperate to do something creative and unique after the bastardization of their image and beliefs by pop culture at large, and it's refreshing to hear Kurt's voice cracking and fucking up on the guitar as he plays. I do think some of these songs become different beasts altogether in their acoustic renditions, and some of them are just "here's the same song but acoustic". The covers they chose to perform were great picks and fit right alongside their original work. Maybe not their magnum opus, but a great entry in the discography.
It's interesting to hear the songs in an acoustic setting. Melodically and lyrically they hold up very well in this format, which is a million miles from the wall of chainsaws vibe they normally went to. Pity he did a head-ectomy on himself. He could have done some really cool stuff.
I don't have this... why? Maybe because of the hype at the time, maybe the whooping from the American audience? Anyway, it's a piece of history, so it should be on my shelves really. ... that whooping though 😖 Heard before ✅️ Listened this time ✅️ Revisit ✅️ ★★★★☆(7/10) Total reviewed : 387 Already owned : 85 Purchased : 21 To buy : 3 Nope : 278
Amazing album.
least objectionable Nirvana album
Where did you sleep last night was nuts
Hard rock 🤘 Humour je précise
Yet another live album! And while I usually prefer studio albums due to them being more polished and "complete", a good live album certainly proves a band's ability to perform their music outside of the comfort of a studio. This alpplies to this album too, especially since it's unplugged. The music sounds not as unobtrusive as it does on the studio records, as there are no heavily distorted guitars, and everything justs seems lighter. But at the same time, Kurt Cobain sings (almost) the same way - powerful, yet sometimes reluctant and more reserved - giving this performance it's own power. I enjoyed listening to this record and hearing some songs I know in a slightly different way (them covering David Bowie kind of surprised me, didn't know that Cobain liked him).
This was a huge deal of an album when it came out... yet, I was listening to 'In Utero'.
white man guitar yes it is very good. there is a real emotion to the way he sings.
I mean, yeah, it's not ACTUALLY unplugged, I get it. That's a problem, sure. Okay. But, effects and amp aside, the songs really DO sound different with an acoustic guitar. There's something about that slight change that compliments Cobain's voice at the time. It's a definite vibe. Haters like to say that this only hit #1 because Cobain was recently deceased and people were seeing the band through rose colored glasses. I disagree... but only in part. I think this album hit #1 because it felt like a worthy and fitting capstone to the band's legacy. It feels darker and more somber than previous releases. There's a seriousness here that's unique for Nirvana It feels like the end and, with the death of Cobain, it was. THAT is why it was so huge, I think. So, yeah, it's big because Cobain bit the dust. But not because of some misplaced sense of "he's gone and now I think he's a genius!" It's big because it feels like a fitting goodbye. And it still feels like that, all these years later.
Grunge at its finest, raw and unfiltered. Hearing the ramblings in between songs is great, you really feel like you’re in a room next door listening to them.
The Unplugged series is pretty hit and miss and there’s probably more misses than hits. Nirvana’s performance was one of the best. Glowing through the shadow of Cobain’s death, it transcends the television broadcast and stands alone as a live recording. Cobain performs like he might be aware of his fate and legacy and the band delivers subtle and beautiful arrangements of selections from their catalog and incredible choices of covers of Vaselines, David Bowie, Leadbelly and Meat Puppets joined by the “brothers meat”. Cobain gives one of his best performances, Grohl plays with subtlety without losing power m, Novoselic is a solid melodic anchor (and pretty decent accordion player, while punk icon Pat Smear gives Cobain acoustic support. Every song is a killer especially the last spine chilling performance of Where Did You Sleep Last Night. It’s as superb as it is somber considering the incredible loss of an artist with so much potential.
YOUR FACE, TO FACE
Is a wide spectrum of how good songs here are or aren’t.
4/5
Normally live albums really drag on the score, but this one was high production value for the music. Full of Nirvana classics, interspersed with funny dialogue between the members, this is a really solid live album. Polly, Come as you Are, and several others here are Nirvana classics. Tough to not love a Nirvana album
Great live recording with a setlist of eclectic songs that showcase Cobain's outstanding vocal range, supported by delicate and interesting guitar work. The context and timing behind this album's release is relevant and adds some significance to the commentary between tracks and the overall success of the album.
(Almost) nothing good every came from MTV.
Onhan tää ny ikoninen veto. Muutaman biisin olinkin kuullut entuudestaan, mutta koko albumia/livevetoa en ollut kuullut.
I like the acoustic treatment of these songs, and the covers are incredibly well curated. Such a relic of its weird particular moment, and the moments that came soon after.
It’s hard not to listen to this through a veil of nostalgia and wistfulness. Somehow those feelings harmonize with the set Nirvana played that day. Kurt Cobain and the band make it all cohere.
So good all the way through. Nice to hear some songs that I hadn't heard before or hadn't heard in a long time.
4.5/5
Great originals and covers, showcasing Kurt as a lyricist and an even better performer, especially on Where Did You Sleep.
Come as you are
ze zijn echt goed live
zo een klassieker
Man, that was good
I think this album made people realize that Kurt Cobain’s songs had a lot more range and versatility than the aggressive treatment the band gave them initially suggested; witness the staggering range of covers of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” that have emerged, from country to jazz to piano ballad, in the years since. Unplugged is also notable for incorporating strings and its impeccable choice of semi-obscure songs to cover. This was my (and I suspect many others’) introduction to the Bowie track, and it’s a reminder that Meat Puppets II damn well better be on this list if there’s a God.
This is os the version of "About a Girl" I hear in my mind when I think of that song. Bonus points for turning the spotlight on meat puppets and vaselines.
Excellent Album. 4.7
6.26.26 A fantastic live album with great covers and great versions of their own songs. Favorite Song: Where Did You Sleep Last Night Rating: 4/5
An iconic live album that has a certain aura around it. Hard to put into words but it has the feel of something special. Lots of great covers and mildly subversive in its stylising, some great stripped back but not fully “unplugged” performances. Will be a repeat customer at some point.
Any album that has the meat puppets on it gets my vote! Perfect harmony of style on this specific album. It's like the polite version of Nirvana. No maximalist grunge and distortion on show. It's a stripped back version of artistic delicacy! My only complaint which is minimal is the vocals are strained at times which possibly is part of the despair vibe or could argue a slight lacking in vocal ability at times but based on their typical style they are living up to and the fact it's a live album then I think it can be almost entirely forgiven as works. Very limited weak songs and even at worst those act as a perfectly reasonable transition, and the album never feels disconnected. Really enjoyed this and not sure I have ever actually listened to it despite being a fan.
I listened to this a few times through and enjoyed it. Nirvana have a low key, effortless sound. The choices of covers were great and the highlight of this live album. On the other hand, I didn't find the album particularly special. Nirvana have a certain mythos that has developed around them but listening to this album didn't feel like some sort of transcendent experience. I wonder whether this is an example of another good band that have been promoted to greatness purely because of a lack of competition at the time. They are a good band, but ultimately just another good rock band. Taking the music purely for what it is, I'm not sure they qualify for greatness. Tough to rate but I will be generous because it was an interesting listen and they covered the Meat Puppets.
I like Nirvana.
Pretty good for a live album! Probably the best I’ve heard. My reviews suck recently - I gotta get back on the horse.
I’ve always been perplexed with the playlist.
classic, second only to the pj unplugged set
It's not unplugged, but it is majestic.
Album #194 Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York Nirvana are a band that, by all measures, should be stuck in the 90s; their sound, attitude, and aesthetic are all so stuck in time that it is a miracle that they are still as relevant and popular as ever. However, there are reasons why Nirvana still appeals to so many people even today; I myself wasn’t even born until almost ten years after Kurt Cobain took a trip to his shed, yet I still can’t refuse some Nirvana every now and then. Kurt Cobain is the quintessential relatable songwriter for almost every kid who ever felt different, and though the collective obsession with Nirvana proves that we really are all the same, what makes us so similar is our panging isolation. The ‘grunge’ sound that Nirvana played was almost an afterthought to Cobain himself; he could have been playing any sort of counter-culture music, and Nirvana would have been successful all the same, because what is so endearing about them isn’t the music, it’s the vibe. MTV Unplugged was the inevitable culmination of what Nirvana had been doing up to that point, because below the facade of electric guitars and distortion, there was really just a sentimental, sappy songwriter who wanted to share his pain with the world; Kurt Cobain has more similarity with Elliott Smith than he ever did with Eddie Vedder. It’s funny how the debate amongst Nirvana fans was always whether the clean Butch Vig production of Nevermind, or the raw Steve Albini production of In Utero was better, when in reality, you could literally just send the band out there with some acoustic guitars, and they would remain just as compelling and captivating as ever. In the mythos that is Nirvana, MTV Unplugged represents the epilogue, where Nevermind is the climax and In Utero the comedown; it is a teaser as to what was to come, and leaves us longing for what never was. The covers are the standouts here, because even though Cobain was a great songwriter in his own right, what was really special about him was his true love for music, which absolutely shines through while he gives his all into performing songs from his favourite artists. That being said, as a massive David Bowie glazer, I need to state that the original is better, though both versions are excellent. I’m not even a huge Nirvana fan, but I can’t deny that the band is utterly fascinating, and considering this might be my favourite album of theirs, I’m quite disappointed we never got to see what came next. Best Songs: The Man Who Sold The World, Where Did You Sleep Last Night?, About a Girl Worst Song: Polly Score out of 10: 9
Pues bueno, Nirvana, esta bien.
A great live album. I also didn't realise 'Something in the Way' was by Nirvana.
Very good for a live album
An enjoyable time. Some familiar favourites, and some covers. The covers strike me as somewhat weird choices though, and kind of break me out of the music. That said, Cobain's vocals are incredible.
Pre-Listening thoughts: First live album from Nirvana, recorded just a few months before Kurt killed himself. I'm familiar with the album, I think my brother owned it. Nirvana was a great act, and this was their final real performance. When it was recorded it wasn't meant as their final word, but ended up being it. I've listened to this a lot, but it's been nearly 30 years since I listened a lot. This is a concert, not an album, so it's kinda… different. About a Girl: Acoustic really helps Nirvana. I think they are much easier to understand, and hear the talent in the performance. Great track to start the performance. Come As You Are: And now onto Nevermind, good to get something in here quickly. As good as the other two albums are, this is what got them famous, Bleach was only popular AFTER the fact. And any music hipsters can bite me, unless you were in Seattle, you weren't listening to Bleach until after Nevermind. Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam: Now, to fill out the setlist, a cover of a Vasolines song. I love the accordion! This works well with Kurt and Dave's vocals. The Man Who Sold the World: Another cover, this time of David Bowie! At least Kurt was open about screwing up, as it's a challenging song. He's doing a great cover here. Honestly, I think I prefer this over the original. Pennyroyal Tea: Into the final album for a couple tracks. Kurt solo on guitar and vocals, This is really a great sound. And show just how damn talented he is. (Even if I really prefer Dave's voice, Kurt's voice was the sound for Nirvana) Dumb: The second (of three) In Utero tracks, the cello is a great sound that comes clear in this, and was just what this needed to add some depth with it being unplugged. Polly: And back to Nevermind for another three tracks. It's interesting that they went with deeper tracks rather than the ones you'd expect like Lithium of In Bloom. All are great tracks, so no complaints, but still it's interesting. On a Plain: This gets into why I'm not a massive fan of Nirvana, the music is very repetitive… this is just… filler in my book. Something In the Way: And the last Nevermind song in the show. I genuinely like it. Like all their stuff, it just is a bit sad… But that's grunge for ya. That cello is pronounced again, really nice. Plateau: Hey time for three covers of the Meat Puppets, all from their second album. Featuring Curt and Cris Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets. It's a good take, and Kurt is doing interesting vocals, pushing higher than he normally does. Oh, Me: This shows some real range musically, just a bit country rock, and some delicious guitar Lake of Fire: This is great cover, such interesting strained vocals from Kurt, but musically it's very fun. All three of the Meat Puppet covers are wonderful listens, and a highlight of the concert. All Apologies: One final track from In Utero. A GREAT close out for the band's music. One of my favorite tracks from Nirvana. Just a great track. Where Did You Sleep Last Night: Wrapping the show with another cover, this time a traditional piece, one that Kurt had guested on for Mark Lanegan's debut album. Kurt was crediting it to Lead Belly, but he didn't write it. This is a very Nirvana cover, and sounds amazing, Overall Thoughts: A great finale for Kurt Cobain, showing his lighter side, his funny side, and his talent. I can get why this was so hard to work on after recording for Dave and Krist. It was a great concert, a lot of fun, and VERY much a cultural moment from my senior year in high school. (Yes I'm dating myself, HUSH!) The recording/performance was in November 1993, was broadcast on MTV a month later, then Kurt died in April of 94, and this was released in November of 94. The album ended there, but MTVs producers had been arguing with Kurt because they wanted an encore, Kurt refused, he thought the show couldn't be topped. Favorite Song: Oh, Me Least Favorite Song: On A Plain Album rating: 7 Familiarity: 9 Would I listen to again: Eh… being honest the answer is yes, but I'd not seek it out anymore.
Super grungy and fun, expressive vocal performance from Kurt. The crowd and ad-libs are enjoyable.
classic
The acoustic arrangements of the songs on here sound great, better than I expected. I still mostly prefer the studio versions, tho. I’m not sure how the cover songs hold up compared to the originals, since I’m not familiar with them, except for “The Man Who Sold The World”. I prefer the Bowie version. Still, I really liked the covers. Those three songs after each other by Meat Puppets if I’m correct were amazing. Favourites: Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sunbeam, Something In The Way, Plateau
Never been a fan of Nirvana, plus it is a live album, two counts against it going in, still I will listen to it. Actually, I liked the album. I think the acoustical nature made me appreciate the group much more than I had in the past. I had to laugh when Kurt Cobain struggled to reach the notes in a couple of the songs, especially on "Plateau" and "Lake of Fire". All in all, the album made me sad knowing of Kurt's demise.
Truth be told, no song from this album is a favorite of mine, but the WHOLE record is. Fantastic mood.
lo tengo en cd, me gustó pero es como que muy chill para mi gusto, igual nirvana le mete mucho y es un buen álbum
Culte.
This is a classic for me, it's what made me wanna play guitar as a kid. I saw a YouTube clip of this and was like wow he has so much aura. I'm not good at guitar and I don't have any aura, but the sentiment remains. Stand-outs for me are Plateau and Where Did You Sleep Last Night. I think a lot of the album blurs together otherwise, but not in a bad way. They just have their style and they're consistent with it. I also just really enjoy "In The Pines," so learning Nirvana did a cover of it is really fun. 4/5. Good, I like some songs but I don't think I'll listen through this album regularly.
Who knew the intimate setting would be so definitive for unplugged and for the band? I am not sure of the timeline here, so looking it up: recorded November '93, aired December '93, Cobain suicide April '94, album of the event released November '94. Terrible. Hard to listen to and harder to watch the brilliant performance without feeling like you're engaging with the loss of a generational talent.
I enjoyed it!
Harrowing
You cannot really go wrong with Nirvana. I always love it when a band releases an acoustic album. I think that is where they really show their chops as a singer and musician. The album had a nice balance between some of the more popular songs and some lesser known songs.
Nice performance with some classic covers.
Maybe not the best live album
It’s nirvana of course it’s good
ага, донт хев е ґан
Toores grunge, aga vast heas mõttes. Mõni lugu on oma originaalist ikka tunduvalt kehvem esitus, aga tegelt on ka mitu sellist, mis hakkasid oma elu elama just selle kontserdiga (nt "About A Girl", "The Man Who Sold The World"). Laivis oleks seda päris põnev kuulata ja vaadata poiste emotsioone ning mulle tõesti imponeerib see, et see on niivõrd erinev tänapäeva muusikast, mis on stuudios perfektsuseni lihvitud ja puhastatud, kõik iseloom on eemaldatud. Siin on kuulda inimlikkust ja emotsiooni. Sp ka 3.9/5, isegi kui kõik lood siin mulle ei meeldi.
Loved the acoustics and listening to songs in a different way
Pffff chicos, que decir, gran álbum, gran grupo… las canciones en su mayoría me gusta más la versión original que la versión del concierto, pero x simplemente el sonido más distorsionado, y aun así, en este álbum encontraremos mi “The man who sold the world” favorito 🧘🏻♀️
One of the things I loved about Unplugged was that artists and bands got to show how great their songs are when stripped down and performed in an intimate setting. I would love to see more of these on the list. Nirvana, which was such an in your face band musically, gave a subdued performance that was as compelling as their studio stuff. The acoustic arrangements showed a different side of the band but still had the same intensity and rawness. Great album.
I remember when MTV first launched these intimate concerts with high profile bands in NYC back in the 90’s. Nirvana was one of the better recordings they ever did and I believe it showed the audience, that was in the room as well as at home, a different side of the grunge rock band that had blasted onto the scene just a year or two before. The songs being performed acoustically went over very well and the inconsistencies in the vocals were all a part of who Nirvana was. This was a really good compilation for me and I still enjoy listening to it today.
A classic moment in time album and still a good listen. This doesn’t merit a 5 with so many cover songs and Cobain’s grating vocals, even if that was his intent. Bonus to hear the in-fighting and the way everyone hates each other!
Unplugged has always been a favorite and Nirvana unplugged is easily a top 5 all time unplugged. Kurt shines in this performance, he was best suited for intimate settings and you feel that on this record. Great set, except I need to make a bit of a confession....i don't like Nirvanas version of man who saved the world and it's been played so often it's become grating to me. Phew I said it and feel better. Amazing band, amazing performance.
really good loved the batman song 8/10
Pretty good album, heard it many times, but not sure why it's on the list!
Aside from a few, I actually prefer the grunge sound to the unplugged version.
Long Live Kurko
Rating: 9/10 Deservedly acclaimed as one of the best live albums ever. Very cool that Kurt continues his tradition of his distaste for fame and doing things his way even when he's making a record for MTV. The entire set could have been Nirvana mega-hits, even almost entirely with Nevermind, instead the band plays mostly deep cuts and covers (and the covers are so good). This choice clearly gave the album even more of a timeless classic quality that gets to stand out on its own in the Nirvana discography. A great display of the band's playing in a quieter intimate setting. Seeing them live would have been an incredible experience, but you know with all the noise and stuff
eu AMO esse, uma baita referência da série de unplugged
Though I really enjoy Nirvana from time to time, this album really solidified my interest in them. Kurts voice, while not much in range, has a melancholy and haunting baritone that really compliments this acoustic album. The drums aren't overbearing, the base has clean legible tone, the guitar is crisp and eerie. This whole album feels like I'm walking through the woods in a foggy morning, just minutes before the sun comes up. It's strange, fae, reeks of danger, but is also strangely hopeful. I love it. It's an 8/10 on my list.
No hyvä settihän tää on, ei siitä mihinkään pääse, mutta ei tuo livetaltiointi tuo tähän silti mitään lisää näin himassa kuunneltuna. Niin annetaan nyt yks miinuspiste ihan sen takia.
Onhan tää Nirvanan paras levy. Kivoja sovituksia joiden ansiosta paskat biisit kuulostaa paljon paremmalta. Mulla on ollu tää ihan jopa cd:llä.
Nunca fue mi favorito, pero se ha convertido en un clásico. ¿El mejor unplugged? Desde luego no es un unplugged porque tiene efectos, pedales, elétrica etc etc. ¿Acustico? Hombre... Nebraska, Harvest, Blue, cualquiera de Nick Drake... otros como Clapton, Metallica, Lauryn Hill, Arrested Development (este de gran valor), Willy Deville, Alicia Keys... todos son buenos. No nos pasemos, tampoco lo veo para estar en el listado, pero no es en absoluto un mal disco. Eso sí, no es una celebración, salvo la de un funeral. El ambiente y decoración eran eso, y además su publicación coincide con la muerte de Cobain. Arrasó y dejó una enorme huella. El repertorio sorprende para bien, algún éxito y muchas versiones, la de Bowie es ya un clásico. Talento les sobraba.
Uhhhh FOMO niin suuri FOMO, ja ne viel soitti bowiet...
This but not nevermind? Come as you are still slaps, 4
I can't listen to this all the way through. I just find his voice too grating! I am part way through Pennyroyal Tea and I have to turn it off. I can listen to some Nirvana but only a couple of songs at a time. I knew I would struggle with this one as soon as I saw it. The guitars sound very 'rich' and woody and I like that. But I can only take a little bit at a time! I don't get the appeal of Kurt Cobain and I never have and I know I'm in the minority but I can't help it.
8 / 10
Yo can that guy who is talking too close to the mic kindly shut the fuck up I wanna hear Kurt not your white fanboying ass.
Probably one of the only albums on here that is inextricable from the moment in time in which it was released; To view this independent of Kurt’s death would be unjust. The feeling of absence is begging to be read into the stripped back acoustic instrumentation and melancholic song choices, which creates an even more unsettling feeling when contrasted to the live audience’s unknowing cheers.
Closer to a 5 than a 3. Really fantastic. Cobain, as the icon.
That cover of in the pines is something
I’ve never gotten into grunge music and have been slow to dive into Nirvana. It was nice to experience this album without all the mythology that fans clearly have projected onto it. Like with lots of Unplugged sets, there’s an intimacy here that really touched me, and it provided satisfying contrast with the brusqueness of Kurt’s voice and lyrics. The covers made it feel all the more like I was getting to know him.
3/5
Great album 4/5
it’s not that great
escucharlo fuera de su contexto quizás lo desmerece un poco, pero mola ver en un directo la emoción tan desnuda que se enseña aquí
Now there are some good acoustic covers, there are also some good live song versions, but the double whammy of both here mostly leaves me thinking I'd rather listen to the actual albums. It's still good though, it's Nirvana, and cool historically.
Good stuff. I prefer loud, but this is how the songs were originally written (per Dave Grohl's book), so great it made the list.
Road trippin with a gaggle of Gen Xers and Millennials? Toss this one on and you've got a crowd pleaser. The live album emphasizes their authenticity, stage presence and Kurt's glowing grungey star power. It's pretty easy to listen to, fun crowd interactions. I dig it.
I wasn't really into it at first but the more it went, the more I got into it. Liked the acoustic chill vibe. Maybe I'll check out more, see what studio stuff's like. 4/5
There is a bittersweetness I feel when listening to this album. No, it's not because Kurt Cobain took his own life shortly after its recording, as tragic as that was. But it's because this really is a document of a bygone era, when popular music championed more than just lowest-common-denominator-flavor-of-the-week stuff and there was a sense of legacy building and intention behind everything. MTV was a big part of that, and the Unplugged series one its most obvious example. This is rightfully the most famous show of the series, and as an album it holds up extremely well, too. Nirvana deliver a setlist that forgoes some of their greatest hits in favor of songs that work best within the acoustic context. One would wonder if this was the direction the band would go in had they not come to such an abrupt end. Key tracks: The Man Who Sold the World On a Plain Plateau All Apologies
excited about this one! i went through a 90's rock phase in high school and really loved nirvana and this album so i'm happy to revist. truly such a iconic album full of talent and heart.
I’ve heard many of these songs many a time on the radio. Remarkably they are still great. Curt had a way of lazily singing and working through songs but still conveying so much passion. Call it a gift, it’s incredible nonetheless.
Really good, sad, nostalgic, memorable....just short of being a 5. Not every Cobain song moves me.
Though it clearly reflects the 90s bias in the 1001 albums list, it's hard to argue against the inclusion of this entertaining, low-key performance by a band that is one of the signature acts of the decade. I remember the uneasy smell of cashing in on Cobain's death that came with the original release of this, and how we all kind of got over it because to hear these pared down versions of some Nirvana tracks, plus the unexpected covers thoughtfully explored, was to once again understand the genius of both the man and the band. "The Man Who Sold the World" could arguably be placed on a list of top ten covers of the rock era.
아름다운 멜로디와 반복을 가지고 있음.
Really good and I like the live feature
Difficult to rate. I know how enthusiastic people are about nirvana and this album, but it just doesn't resonate with me. I kind of liked it but I wouldnt listen to the whole album again. The highlight however is the last song, which pushes the rating up a bit
Very good
It is impossible to talk about Nirvana’s Unplugged album without mentioning Kurt Cobain’s death. The album was recorded at Sony Music Studios in Hell's Kitchen, Manhattan, on 18 November 1993. Less than six months later, on 8 April 1994, Cobain’s body was found. He had presumably shot himself in the head three days earlier. Six months after that, in November 1994, the album was finally released, although excerpts from the concert had already been broadcast on MTV's heavy rotation, including 'All Apologies' and the David Bowie cover 'The Man Who Sold the World'. Six of the 14 tracks are cover versions, whereas only one of their own hits, 'Come as You Are', was included in the setlist. Cobain and his band clearly did not want to follow the series' usual format, eschewing a 'best of' live set of acoustic versions in favour of obscure tracks from their catalogue and songs that had influenced them. The album also symbolises the turning point that came with Cobain’s death: grunge was dead, and its unwitting messiah had taken his own life. The movement that had sought to change so much in music and art imploded. The remnants were commercialised, and the focus soon shifted to entirely different genres. Of course, you can hear the band’s musical limitations. The guitars are far from cleanly played (and are perhaps even a little out of tune), and Cobain’s vocals aren’t always in tune. But that was virtually part and parcel of Nirvana’s musical identity. It wasn't about perfection, but about immediacy, spontaneity and authenticity. Never before or since has anyone sounded so raw, unpolished and unrefined on an MTV Unplugged performance. I would have loved to hear more from Cobain, one of the most talented songwriters of his generation. It would have been great to see him break away from grunge and develop musically. As it stands, 'MTV Unplugged in New York' is the only album on which he was able to present himself in a different context.
mostly bangers
la verdad es que tambien debería escuchar más nirvana. había escuchado las más conocidas de este concierto, pero algunas me gustaron mucho. no sabía que tocaban something in the way (Thursday, October 31st. The city streets are crowded for the holiday. Even with the rain.) y where did you sleep last night. también me llamó la atención que el público suena super claro y tbh eso me gusto. creeeo que 3.5 pero voy a bump it up a 4.
Live альбомы это немного чит, ведь на концертах поют обычно хитяры либо прикольные каверы. В целом мило, но не фанат.
Норм как материал Нирваны, но именно как лайв нейтральные ощущения у меня оставляет
Не самый большой фанат гранжа в целом, но это конечно база. Something in my ass, aahhhhh©️куртка бейн
There are a few excellent tracks on here - but call me unsophisticated, I just prefer the original versions in most cases. It's good as far as a live album goes, I'd just always rather either (a) witness the performance in person, or failing that (b) hear the originals. Still worth a 4/5.
My #3 Nirvana album. His voice on Where Did You Sleep Last Night? Amazing. About A Girl is probably the only song that isn't improved on. When this happened it was completely unexpected and I loved it.
Such an iconic album that I’ve heard so many things about, but never took the chance to actually listen to the full thing. I’m really glad I did.
super cool
Where Did You Sleep Last Night, one of the best songs I’ve heard by nirvana. Also liked On A Plain. Good grimey grungey dirty tunes.
just peak isnt it cheeky bowie cameo 8.8/10
I mean it is really good, but isn't entirely my thing, I do like the acoustic-ness thought, really lets you hear Cobain's voice better, which is peak.
Quintessential 90s grunge. I've been lucky enough to see The Nirvana exhibit at MoPop and this takes me right into that space. Such a loss with Kurt Cobain. I understand why this album is on the list--the live version of Nirvana's music is intimate and raw. Cobain was actually known for being somewhat shy--I feel like that comes out through this recording. Definitely worth additional listen-throughs in the future.
Love the Meat Puppets covers, Man Who Sold the World and the rawness of this Pennyroyal Tea. Vaselines cover was cool too. Interesting laid back takes on some of the other tracks but I’m reaching for Nevermind or In Utero over this any day.
Some history for the kids…Unplugged was a show on MTV… okay back up, MTV was a TV channel…back a little further?…okay a TV was like a big tablet that you put on a wall in your house…. Anyway in the before time, Unplugged had a moment as sort a cultural force in popular music. A simple concept of having contemporary and classic artists from various genres perform acoustic sets that took off like wildfire. From the humble early episodes that usually involved no more than a couple of acoustic guitars and a singer, the show became almost instantly successful. Viewers thrilled at seeing familiar bands playing familiar songs in an unfamiliar setting. The format was so successful that “bigger” acts, by acclaim and actual number of personnel, became enticed by this chance to reinvent themselves. Soon the quality of the performances increased and the production values to match. With popularity rising, some genius named Paul McCartney thought it might be a good idea to release his performance as a (bootleg) album. Eric Clapton did the same and won 6 Grammys in 1992. Wasn’t long before everyone was milking this cash cow. Which leads us to grunge superstars, Nirvana, sitting down to record an acoustic set in 1993. It was a moment in time. We didn’t know that they had already released all the studio music they would ever produce and Kurt would be dead in less than six months. This performance would become their coda. They were at the absolute height of their power having recently released the dark masterpiece In Utero. I was a fan. Of them and the show. So when this premiered my friends and I huddled around the TV, programmed the VCR to record it at the same time so we could watch it repeatedly (history lesson on some other time), and watched excitedly as they took the stage, eager to see what they did with the opportunity. To be honest at the time I was disappointed. The set was about a third covers of songs I’d never heard (including Man Who Sold The World which I didn’t know) that seemed designed, especially those in the latter half of the set, to challenge the lay listener’s expectations of Nirvana. The originals they chose were pretty obvious, mostly down tempo songs that didn’t have to be altered much to be performed acoustic like Polly and Something In The Way. Visually they seemed pretty spent or tired or fucked up or something and I remember feeling sorry or sad for Cobain because he was clearly struggling at times. The “Unplugged” banner became more and more a brand and not really an edict by which the artists had to abide and this performance really stretches the bounds of what could be considered “Unplugged”. Dave plays a full drum kit which wasn’t really de rigueur for the show. Chris has chorus on his “acoustic” bass that is definitely running into an amp somewhere. There are all kinds of effects, including distortion, on the guitars in parts, and they’re mic’d so hot they’re often overdriven. To me there was none of the anticipated reimagining of their formula or revelations to be had in the performance. The whole affair smacked of sellout. This listen proved that my feelings have mellowed somewhat in the intervening years. I’m not as connected to the source material so it’s just nice to hear some Nirvana tunes. I remembered it as sloppy, but the performance is tighter than I gave it credit for especially I think when divorced from the visuals. I like the sort of raw overdriven acoustic guitar sound. They found a way to “Nirvana-ify” the Unplugged format, and now I don’t mind the liberties they took. Many of the unfamiliar covers have slipped into the zeitgeist because of this recording like Lake Of Fire, and I still love this version of Bowie’s song almost as much or more than the fantastic original maybe because I heard theirs first. It’s hard for me to consider a live album more than just a collection of songs or a good set, but ironically the mildly enforced format ties this one together into something a bit more.
One of the few live albums that I’ve spent time listening to. Amazing performance.
I really like the Meat Puppets ones and that David Bowie cover.
Cool, I think nirvana were at their best when they *were* plugged so to speaker but this is a cool show of the bands musicianship with some highlight tracks.
Histórico
Vaya tracks, tú. Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold The World, Dumb, Lake Of Fire... On a Plain me ha gustado bastante
I should really listen to more Nirvana; great album, but they definitely have a style which works in a 'less is more' kinda way.
already listened to this one so nun special great
top 3 live albums of all time
The (mostly) Unplugged album is a classic. This is a great album. It's really a cover/live album. It's not an album in the traditional sense - but still great. Pitchfork: 9.5 Rolling Stone: Top 500 Albums #279 Best Songs Come As You Are The Man Who Sold The World (Bowie cover) Polly Something In The Way Lake Of Fire (Meat Puppets) All Apologies Where Did You Sleep Last Night (Lead Belly)
me gusto mucho y el hecho que no sea unplugged es más divertido
Still a bit hit and miss, but when it’s good, it’s very good
Elegiac
I find this album to be a very good introductory album to Nirvana. Not just if you’ve never listened to them but also if you’re like me and only knew nevermind. The songs off of nevermind were the only ones I knew at first from this album but I quickly grew to really appreciate these other ones. This album has incredible tracks spanning all 3 of the bands albums while also including really great covers of a few different songs. This album was my first introduction to “about a girl”. I really really like this song and it’s one of my favorite on the album. It goes so hard. “The man who sold the world” is a pretty controversial one but in my opinion I find bowies to be infinitely better than this cover. It’s definitely not bad by any means whatsoever but bowies is just better. I find it crazy how many people only know nirvanas version of this song. Maybe it’s just because I’m such a huge Bowie fan but I’d take the original version of the song any day. The other covers here are really good such as “Jesus doesn’t want me for a sunbeam” and “lake of fire”. I really like the meat puppets covers and it definitely intrigues me to listen to them. My favorite cover is also the closer of the album, “where did you sleep last night”. I really like Cobain’s vocals here. I think I prefer the acoustic version of “all apologies” to the original. The guitar is so so beautiful. This really is one of the best songs ever recorded and is easily my favorite Nirvana song. The guitar intro is also just so iconic. This album really left an impact on me after I first listened and I’ve continuously come back since. This may be my favorite Nirvana project just for how well spread it is throughout their whole catalog while including additional covers. It gets 4.5/5 stars, nearly flawless. My favorite song is “all apologies”
I hate that spotify just has the live recordings of this album. it was enjoyable though
Favourite songs: Polly, Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold the World, Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam
🥀
Good music, sounds great live.
Nirvana no falla, tiene tomones muy bueno
Gran álbum con los grandes exitos de Nirvana, los unplugged están hechos para que los puristas cierren la boca.
Cobain manages to be overstated and somehow an underrated musician. I think especially the more distance we get from Nirvana the clearer it is how singular he was as a writer of chord progressions, a guitarist and a voice. The cult of fandom can go. But I want his music to stick around for a long time
About a Girl — the guitar line is so catchy on this. The vocals aren't the cleanist, but they're definitely emotive. Come As You Are — the guitar line on this haunting and the lead guitar that comes in later is a big earworm. The harmonies on the final chorus are eerie and sound amazing. Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam — catchy rhythm guitar and chorus. Focused lyrics about rejection from traditional christian ideals. The Man Who Sold The World — that electric riff slaps. The best vocal performance up to this point. The prechorus does a great job at moving to the chorus in an unexpected and interesting way. The lyrics are sorrowful and regretful and the instrumental matches them in their own catchy way. Great close to the song too. Pennyroyal Tea — sweet depressing solo. Surprisingly catchy hook. Dumb — that's a really catchy string section. Bass line slaps. The lyrics are far from poetic, but are extremely honest and potent. The harmonisations at the end help the outro not fall flat and dull. Polly — haunting lyrics with almost lackadasical guitars matching the disturbed mind of the character Cobain is voicing. Don't really understand the chorus and don't find it that catchy, but it does help build the character. On A Plain — really catchy motifs. Cobain's voice is really good at feeling in pain at all times. Something In The Way — haunting and sorrowful. Best vegan song I've ever heard. The lyrics explore the uncomfortableness of living in a system that has carved up the world to serve its growth. Despite there being no evidence to make the life of other creatures feel as important as our own, that something is there, unexplainable but everpresent and vengeful; the looming strings exemplify this something. Plateau — an honest portrayal of settling for where you are out of fear of being somewhere higher. Catchy riffs. Cobain does sound like Shaggy on that high note. Oh Me — another slow, melodic, catchy song. The idea of an internal infinity feels dreadful. It's clear how Nirvana's songwriting set them apart in the mass's eyes to the rest of the grunge groups at the time. Lake Of Fire — Cobain refuses to sing normally. The bass, drums, and guitar all have a relentless groove. The vocals are catchy in all their quirkiness. All Apologies — again... that rhythm guitar is catchy af. Not sure what the "Everyone is gay" line is supposed to mean; can't tell if it was just the ignorant homophobia of the time or a very unclear attempt at LGBTQ support. Not as catchy to me as the other songs and Cobain's vocals don't quite do it for me on this one. Cobain, king of the (uncontrolled and self-damaging) vocal fry. Where Did You Sleep Last Night — one of the better Cobain vocal performance. The range and power and emotion he puts into this song probably stopped him from singing for the week after. That deep string is also amazing (for a band without a string specialist, it's amazing that every use of string is perfect). An amazing close to the set. Favourite song: Something In The Way Least favourite song: All Apologies Overall: the songwriting throughout this is impeccable. No song feels empty or too long. The only issues I have with some songs is that they don't leave as big an impression on me as some of the standouts here. The standouts are many though. Cobain's vocals can sometimes leave me wanting a more traditionally trained singer, but then equally his voice reaches emotions that a traditional singer would struggle to find. He is both what stops this from being perfect to me and what makes this a masterpiece. Rating: 4.6/5 Horses -> 4.6/5 Van Halen -> 3.0/5
Nirvana plays what is basically their greatest hits album in the form closest to how Kurt Cobain conceived these songs. The reason this album has the notoriety it has is because when stripped down to the bare essentials, the song writing speaks for itself and the band's tight performance proves why they reached the zenith of popularity at the time. About a Girl is the first great nirvana song, just a really interesting tune and dissonant chord progression. With this being played years later, the performance is even better. An excellent first song. Come As You Are is by all means a Classic and this performance is no detraction. The acoustic sound works so well despite the original using such heavy distortion. Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam is a cover originally by The Vaselines. The accordion adds a brightness not seen in nirvana songs and seems to just work. That being said, this is probably my least favourite cover on the album, because, despite being an alright song, it's not particularly interesting and the melody doesn't speak to me. The Man Who Sold The World has Nirvana covering a lesser known David Bowie song and completely surpassing the original in the way you wouldn't even realise it was a cover. The mostly acoustic instruments work extremely well with the cutting electric guitar soaring atop the rhythm section. Pennyroyal Tea is a great Kurt Cobain solo performance and features bare bones acoustic strumming that brings a spotlight to the really good song writing. Dumb is a self-deprecating song about being an outcast. Because the subject is different, he's led to believe he's dumb, not as good, etc. The blunt lyrics are the crux of the song. Musically, the song is really poignant, especially the bridge, which is one of Nirvana's best instrumentals. Being an acoustic set, this song benefits from its dark string backing and contrasts nicely after Pennyroyal Tea. Polly has some of the darkest lyrics in all their music and the music matches the misery of Polly, the girl Kurt is talking about. This is a great performance of the song, might be better than the original recording. On a Plain is one of nirvana's catchiest songs; not mentioned enough if you ask me. The melody is simple, its lyrically succinct. The acoustic guitars sound really good too. What more do you want? Something In The Way, The Batman song ~ song from The Batman. Its so bleak and depressing, it's immediately clear why a Nirvana song written about living under a bridge is the theme song for Batman. Apparently Kurt possibly did live under a bridge for some time. This song is perfect for a unplugged gig - one of the highlights of the album for sure. Plateau is the first Meat Puppets cover and stands out on the album stylistically. It's not my favourite, however Nirvana make pretty good work with the song. Kurt Cobain uses falsetto and it sounds really good with the redneck accent. Oh Me is another Meat Puppets cover. The instrumental is pretty damn fine and the bass lick is really cool. Solid performance and a good tune. Lake of Fire is the last Meat Puppets cover and it is legendary as far as covers go. Kurt kills the vocals on this one, never heard the original but I'm not sure the original dudes would've sung it better. All Apologies has one of Nirvana's best riffs and is one of the best songs so it's interesting to hear how it sounds live. I do think its a bit empty compared to the original but either way its a solid rendition. Where Did You Sleep Last Night as the final song is the chef's kiss, the ideal send off. Nirvana smashed this cover. Their style of grunge compliments Lead Belly's bluesy folk, Nirvana smashed this cover. Kurt's screaming vocal in the later verses sound immense, its heavier than a lot of heavy metal. Favourite Songs: About a Girl, Come As You Are, The Man Who Sold The World, Polly, Something In The Way, Lake of Fire, All Apologies, Where Did You Sleep Last Night Least Favourite: Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam Overall, this album stands to be one of the finest live albums in the popular canon. No doubt I would buy this on vinyl. Still can't believe I have never listened to it in full. Nirvana at their peak performing their greatest hits and a few of the best covers out there makes this an essential. Rating: 4.75/5
very basic songwriting (the guest artist tracks are the best of the lot) but sold by the performances. lead vocals in particular are compelling despite (or perhaps because of) clearly struggling at times.
Not the biggest fan of live albums, some good renditions and such. Man who sold the world for one
I hate live albums. My standard is: how easily can you tell that this nonsense was recorded live (outside of applause between sets and such). This is an excellent album and an excellent Nirvana showcase. Love the acoustic touches here.
A lot of track I've not heard here, but like several rock bands their song translate to acoustic really well. One of the best Quireboys gigs I've ever been to was an acoustic one. Anyway back to the case in point. I enjoyed this. It will definitely be on my look out for list at festivals. Worth a four any day.
I remember being a bit underwhelmed by this at the time. I preferred my Nirvana plugged in and loud. And I wasn’t familiar with many of the cover versions. Listening again, I can really appreciate the talent, and the arrangements. Pennyroyal Tea was a bit too strained, but when the rest of the musicians participated more there were some beautiful noises. Something In The Way, Oh My and Come As You Are the standouts.
Its not quite 'Unplugged' is it? It was great to hear some old favourites played in a semi-accoustic way, especially the songs from Nevermind as I cannot bear to listen to them in their original form now due to being overplayed to death. With everything dialled back to 1 or 2 on the amplifiers, which they weren't supposed to be using, you can appreciate Cobain's songwriting and musicianship. With the tracks stripped back, rather than jump up and down in a mosh pit spilling your beer all down ones self, it makes you want to sit down with a glass of fine wine and listen. I'm not sure if that was the desired effect, but at my age it's probably a safer course of action. What makes this even more refreshing is I never bothered with this when it came out, so to listen with fresh ears after all this time was a good thing.
i mean it's nirvana and mtv unplugged. can't really get much better besides dark side of the moon. 4 stars.
Estuvo bien. Me gustó.
When you want to listen to Nirvana but you also want to chill
Really fun and relaxed ? recording in a way I didn’t know nirvana could be. Really pleasant surprise
4 stars My third day in a row of live albums and another positive one after shitting on many of them. This is unique in it being recorded for television broadcast and acoustic-ish, so less harsh instruments to negatively impact the sound quality. It’s why I feel like live jazz albums play better, this more toned down presentation of rock is more pleasant to listen to live than a full on live Nirvana album would have been. The vocals can standout in the way they are meant to and not strain to be heard over screeching guitars. Additionally, the presentation of covers provides a unique variety to what would be expected from a Nirvana album during their huge rise to success, shunning nearly all of their singles from Nevermind in place of the lesser known deeper cut tracks that are more fitting for the softer set. This is a fitting farewell to the group, as it displays the power of the music stripped of the screaming, blaring guitar, and smashing drums. Dave Grohl’s restraint is particularly impressive, given how much he can do on a drum set. It’s definitely a live album worth revisiting and worthy of this list.
Knew this would be an enjoyable listen. Also knew it wouldn't truly blow my mind, in that Nirvana has never been THAT band for me in the same way they were for everyone else. Still, a solid live unplugged album.
Nirvana is one of those bands that I’ve always been meaning to listen to, so I’ve been excited to get their albums on here so that I had to listen to it. As expected, they’re pretty great. This sounds exceptionally good for a live performance. I only knew one or two songs on here so it was a good exposure to their other stuff. Excited to hear them on the original albums soon!
I wish this could have been a double album. It is so very good
It's kinda sad. Melancholy might be the right word.
Wow. This is a really good live album. It takes these otherwise grungy, heavy and distorted songs and transforms them into introspective and melancholy songs. The lyrics really take centre stage on this album. This was Kurt Cobain's last album with Nirvana before he died and his whole soul is bared on this album. This is a fantastic album through and through. The cover of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold The World is particularly a standout. Highlights: Come As You Are The Man Who Sold The World Dumb Polly On A Plain Where Did You Sleep Last Night
Just a banger album. 4.5/5
About A Girl - 4/5 Come As You Are - 4.5/5 Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam - 3/5 The Man Who Sold The World - 4/5 Pennyroyal Tea - 3.5/5 Dumb - 4/5 Polly - 3.5/5 On A Plain - 4/5 Something In The Way - 3.5/5 Plateau - 4/5 Oh Me - 3/5 Lake Of Fire - 4/5 All Apologies - 4/5 Where Did You Sleep Last Night - 3/5
not my style but good
Gran álbum para arrancar con esta pagina. Chill para una tarde de otoño. Empezamos con 4 estrellas. Recomendado
Solid
This might be my favorite nirvana record. Gen X apathy and artistic integrity rolled into a nice, eerie acoustic package. 4/5
Very meaningful
Banger of an album
Beautiful songs and covers. Not really a big nirvana listener but was a pleasure to listen to.
Overwhelmed with a sad melancholic nostalgia and this was my first time even listening to the album