In Utero

A fine outing by these three fine lads. Can't wait to see what they do next!

This was an amazing album, among the best of its era. Sadly, it's also one of the band's best and an indicator of where Nirvana might have been headed musically had things turned out differently. The songs are stunningly crafted and pretty perfect, but deliberately less polished than on Nevermind. Musically, the band is unforgiving in their delivery. It grinds, it burns and blisters, but also sometimes with an ear towards the melodic. Cobain's delivery flows effortlessly from insouciance to raging in a way I can't even compare to another artist. Lyrically, Cobain is brutal, clever, sarcastic, clearly in pain. I would just like to add that this is the second album I have reviewed in the past week by an extremely talented person who took his own life after the album I was reviewing came out, and it's a bummer, to put it mildly. The world was a better place with Kurt Cobain and Elliott Smith in it. If you're struggling, there are people who can help you. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, 800-273-8255. Fave Songs: All Apologies, Heart Shaped Box, Dumb, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Milk It

Meh. The 1 star belongs entirely to All Apologies.

For so long I was trying to determine whether to rate this 4 or 5. But then I realized I was trying to determine how whether it could match or surpass Nevermind. Nevermind is a masterpiece but is polished and poppy from start to finish. But this album is raw and punkish. Sure, the more popular songs have the sound and genius songwriting we're used to, as in "Heart-Shaped Box" and "All Apologies", but the majority is more personal to Cobain. Overall, the songs flow together as a whole better than Nevermind, but the comparisons stop there. There is a dramatic contrast between pop and punk, and you can never tell what the next song will sound like, it's that unpredictable. Take "Dumb" for instance. It sounds like it should be one of those poppy songs, and like "Heart-Shaped Box" or "Rape Me", you'd expect grungy soft sound followed by a loud and guitar-heavy chorus... but it never comes. And of course, this works perfectly with the subject matter and makes for a memorable experience. But even with these pop songs, there is a rawness found in the recording you would never find on Nevermind. This is all an attempt to sound more like the indie albums Cobain admired, like Pixies's "Doolittle." Most songs get real personal to Cobain, dealing with his partner, his daughter, his drug use, and the media. Beyond a few bands, I always found the grunge genre to be dull and uninspired, but Cobain is one of those few who can remind us what the genre is about. Not just being a social rebel, but finding a medium to express the grimy elements of our lives, both the happy and sad parts of it. I admire Cobain's determination to take total control of this album and produce something they truly want, instead of what the public expects. It doesn't end up as garbage. Instead we have an album that, despite all, holds itself up as one of the greatest albums of the decade.

This is the best of it's genre and an extremely important album to boot. It's style, sound, and substance was huge, managing to enjoy mainstream success while also resonating with music nerds of the day (and today). To top it all off, it managed to do this while being the follow-up to the darling Nevermind, and it still rocks. Oh, and it has Albini production. Nirvana forever.

I hadn't ever listened to this album in its entirety before, and I went in expecting five stars. After a few songs I was like "never mind."

I enjoyed some damn good years in the 90s. But what I've come to realize is that how much of that was surrounded in myth because I don't miss the decade of snark, the cynicism, and in music that manifested into the "if it's not indie (which this wasn't...) it's utter shit" credo that wasn't even so much stated as just assumed. And Nirvana was the perfect synthesis of all of that. Which is probably why when they hit I hated them right off the bat. I wasn't stuck in the 80s or any particular era; as a marked counterpoint to that, the early 90s brought a revelation of/in rock music to me - so much amazing new music EVERYWHERE (I would say comfortably that nearly 100% of any excess money i made for a 2-3 year stretch went to buying new CDs) that I couldn't believe *this* was the band that stuck out and somehow got to be the symbol of the GenX rock fans. Goddammit WHY?! I wanted to revisit this today and give it a fresh ear. Because I hated this album. But I still hate it and maybe even more-so. Members of the loud/soft/loud cult of the late80s/early90s which I never enjoyed - there's not much melody to be found anywhere on this album; it's a noise record and - ok I can see how some people would like or even love this - but as much as I love power and energy in music there's no release in Nirvana's music for me. Kurt Cobain's voice is like listening to my cat angrily vomit into a microphone over and over which doesn't cover up the lack of musical progression. Listening to "Scentless Apprentice" are 4 of the worst minutes you'll ever spend. Until "Tourette's" - it's less than 2 minutes but feels like 20. Was going to give small points for occasional - OCCASIONAL - nostalgia. But then that same nostalgia gets some points docked because this is even worse than I remembered. No apologies. 1/10 1 star.

Lots of rock stars scream about how difficult it is, how they can’t be their true selves, how the system eats them up but very few deliver something this gutteral and beautiful. Make no mistake this is a real album about rock star angst. About feeling like you’ve sold your soul and trying to stay true to your craft. Just read the first line of the album “Teenage Angst has paid off well” It’s a thing of wonder that I didn’t fully appreciate until I was a bit older. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Not often on this list does an album incontrovertibly deserve to be on it regardless of personal feelings about the band, the music, etc. Rarer still, does the album earn all five stars in spite of that as well. At this time, there are two studio and one live album by Nirvana on 1001. This being their final studio album, it did ride on the success of "Nevermind" but demonstrated more importantly that Nirvana was not single happenstance, but rather a hot iron that had everyone scrambling to strike. While the success of "In Utero" was comparatively somewhat dwarfed by "Nevermind" any band with any dreams of success would be hard-pressed to achieve what "In Utero" did as it would likely be their best performing album of their career if they did. This album captures all of the heavy, the hard, the angst, and grunge elements of an era, an era not necessarily started by Nirvana, however nearly 30 years later, comparisons and root traces still find Nirvana as their common ancestor. Bands who have "Seattle-based" as part of their promotional material is undoubtedly drawing from the mythos of Nirvana. Subsequent or "new" music can all go back to what Nirvana did to rock music in the early 90s, when music collectively abandoned overnight the glam rock and heavily synth'd pop of the 80s. People found that Cobain's introspection asked people to look inward, ultimately for him which led to a tragic end. Casting a shadow on an entire city that became socially ubiquitous with a perception of depression, and mental fatigue. The album deserves 5-stars because it proved "Nevermind" was not a fluke, that Nirvana had indeed codified into the world of music how things were going to be.

One of the greatest albums of the '90s and possibly ever. Nirvana expanded their dynamics on this album which gives it more texture and shows that the band was not simply content to rehash Nevermind. This album hints at their Beatles and Pixies influence while incorporating elements of punk and hardcore music. Kurt Cobain was a master songwriter and an avid student of music.

Get the shotgun

This album is better when played as a whole rather than as several disconnected singles. It is clear that this record was meant to evoke a visceral response in the listener. From the opener, Serve the Servants to the closer All Apologies this record is meant for movement but is at it's heart disturbing emotionally.

Bores me

1.5 nahvana

It is often seen where bands go from punk to a more "radio friendly" genre, becoming polished over time and losing that "edge", but Nirvana did the exact opposite here, releasing their critically acclaimed Nevermind first and later following it up with the more edgy, unpolished In Utero. There are some songs on this album that have that similar Nevermind polish, but this is ultimately a more primal album. And as I understand it, this is exactly what Nirvana was going for. Still, the magic of Nirvana is there for those that are drawn to it in the first place. You have grating, visceral emotions from Cobain's vocals and lyrics. His words fit the grunge genre so well, as he is adept at telling his very personal stories with dirty, grimy, grungy lyrics befitting of the genre. The music, while also incredibly grungy and distorted, is masterfully edgy; you can tell you're listening to musicians who know how to do more than slam on their instruments. While I understand that Nirvana wanted to go more unpolished, I personally believe they were at their best on Nevermind. Still, this album is solid, and a very shining example of 90s grunge and punk-adjacent genres. Cobain was known for pushing hard for what he wanted, and Nirvana shows here what they wanted to be, and they were uncompromising on that. And it proved to be a success. This likely would have been the beginning of their sound moving forward, had it not been for Cobain's untimely death.

Ghastly pub rock drone

Basically if you take Nickelback, then dip them in a vat of crack and meth you get Nirvana. While I think the guitar riffs are really cool, I don't like how they fit with Kurt's voice; as soon as his voice comes in I'm like ah shit stop singing. I love counterculture music and Nirvana do have some better songs on other albums, but just never been able to appreciate this band in particular. Knew a few of these songs but I always prefer non-singles, which weren't decent enough to save this album for me.

never really cared much for Nirvana

Nirvana never does it for me.

ugh. Never liked them; never liked grunge or whatever they called it.

If this album's goal was to annoy me then it did its job well. I don't like this genre and this album solidified that fact for me. If I wanted something to make me go deaf with just straight noise, I'd pick this. Favorite track: All Apologies

Disappointing. Not heard a Nirvana album before, so was excited. But it was boring & the singer's voice grated with me. Forgettable

Someone should've told him he was brilliant. Best Tracks: Serve The Servants; Heart-Shaped Box; Radio Friendly Unit Shifter

One of the best albums of grunge, alternative rock and 90's music at all. Raw sound and pure energy! Listened dozens of time.

Sharp, tight guitar, definitely hear Albini's hand at the controls

There's so much of Steve Albini here. Great great production.

Definitely the best Nirvana album. The songs are catchy and raw, and the instruments are peak 90's grunge. Kurt's anger and energy throughout the album help solidify it as the best Nirvana album for me. The worst thing about this album is that it's their last (studio album, at least). Highlights: 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 10, and 12.

I've never given Nirvana the credit other people do. I think it was just a metal kid's resentment towards grunge? Maybe it was thinking Dave Grohl made better music in Foo Fighters? But this album rules! || It might also be because I have a higher base stressed-out level these days, but the raw tones and attitude in the all of the tracks just seems to resonate and feel comforting. || Never knew it was recorded in Goodhue County, literally one over from where I grew up in Dakota County! doesn't mean much, but neat! ||

9/10. no idea why this site wants me to listen to so much 90s music but im not complaining. seriously like half of these fucking albums have been 90s. what the hell! anyway this album is great. i wrote a more serious "review" on my rym top 200 list but aside from scentless apprentice this is super good and connects with me kinda hard. probably needs a relisten!

A personal and anxious vocal performance that is complimented adeptly by obstreperous rockers.

4.2 + I appreciate the warts on this album now that I'm older. When I was 14, I was disappointed that this didn't sound like "Nevermind 2.0." Steve Albini captures a more live, organic feel, and there's more dynamism in the guitars. Compared to "Nevermind", there are higher highs ("All Apologies", "Heart-Shaped Box"). But there are also lower lows, which almost tank the second half ("Tourette's", "Radio-Friendly Unit Shifter"). Some of the same themes around anatomy and disease are here with some darker kinks ("eat your cancer", basically all of "Milk It", "umbilical noose"...). It's a messier, nastier, less poppy and more interesting record than "Nevermind." My only knock is with those two aforementioned tracks - they kind of stink.

Ok, I am about to get my 90s kid credentials revoked. Let me preface this by saying that I like grunge. I like the mix of rock and punk and all the grit and distortion that comes with it. But for whatever reason, I just could never get totally behind Nirvana. There are lots of songs I like (All Apologies, Dumb), some I love (Heart-Shaped Box), and some I don't really get but I'm willing to go on that ride (PennyRoyal Tea). But I actively dislike Scentless Apprentice and especially Tourette's (why is that possessive??). They are just noise for the sake of noise. Rape Me has always bothered me because it is supposed to be an anti-rape song like "go ahead and rape me but I will survive this" but you can't really get that unless you read that Kurt intended it that way. Ultimately I feel like Nirvana is Ethan Hawke's character, Troy, in Reality Bites. Trying to be counter culture, anti-everything artists on the outside with a soft, sensitive center...but in reality Troy (and Nirvana) just aren't as good as people want to believe them to be.

All the apologies in the world wouldn’t suffice for making me listen to this butt rock bullshit.

"All apologies" is a classic. The rest is good.

5/5

Would it get a 5* review if it wasn’t Nirvana. Good question but academic.

One of My favourite albums.

I was working at Scratches Records in 1991. It was a grungy little store in Newtown that sold new and secondhand records, with a heavy alternative leaning. I was 21 years old, and had just moved of home, dropped out of university, and hanging around the alternative music scene a lot, back when the alternative scene was not just an arbitrary genre label, but a generally alternative industry with separate bands, record labels, stores and media. Every week, I took home just enough cash to pay the rent and buy a few beers, and the rest of my pay went on vinyl. It was a heady time to be working in a record store. And Nevermind changed everything. Suddenly, every store, even the most boring mainstream mega-stores, wanted to stock the hip new alternative bands. While it led to a short period of better music on the radio, major label contracts for bands that you never expected (Butthole Surfers, who would have thought?) and an uptick in sales of flannel shirts, ultimately, the capitalist machine chewed up, watered down, and spat out the masticated and lifeless husk of what had previously been a vibrant and interesting alternative scene, yet another victim of the incessant appetite of a consumerist society for fresh meat and new fashion. While I have to admit that Nevermind was a pretty damn good record, it was wildly over-played, and everyone I knew who worked in a record store at the time was heartily sick of listening to it. It was literally everywhere, all the time. I remember being at a Boxing Day barbeque at the end of 1991 and someone went to pop Nevermind on the ghetto blaster, to howls of protest from all the record store clerks in the room (and there were a few). Great record, but overplayed. Don't get me wrong; I bought a copy (at wholesale; $14.51. Original vinyl pressings now to sell for a pretty fair chunk of change). But I skipped seeing Nirvana when they toured Australia in early 92. I was pretty skint, and was a bit sick of them and all the hype, and preferred Mudhoney anyway. I really regret that decision. My flatmate, Andy, went to see them at the Phoenician Club, and said they were awesome. I was especially sick with jealousy and regret when In Utero came out, and there on the inner sleeve of the vinyl version (not the CD, just the vinyl) was a photo of the crowd at that very show, and there, pressed against the barrier, was Andy! I was spewing! I preferred In Utero to Nevermind as a listening experience. I don't think objectively it's a better album; there are quite a few filler tracks here. But the decision to try to deliberately piss off a chunk of their mainstream audience with an aggressively noisy record was right up my alley. I was familiar with the Albini production oeuvre, so the squalls of noise and feedback and screaming was par for the course. I really like the sound of a great band just hammering it out in the room. Albini really captured them trying to blow up their career. But Cobain still couldn't help himself from writing some really great tunes, especially Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies. I found the whole approach exciting and funny, and this was on pretty regular rotation until Kurt died, when I found it all a bit too real, and I hadn't played it the whole way through again until today. These days, I find the lyrics overly anxious, angry and depressing. All the self-loathing just makes 53-year old me feel tired and sad for Kurt, a young man who clearly didn't have a handle on life. I wish the kid could have found some happiness. So probably not (objectively) as good or important as Nevermind, but still five stars.

Released in 1993, "In Utero" is the third and final studio album by the iconic American rock band Nirvana. Produced by Steve Albini, the album serves as a departure from the band's commercially successful predecessor, "Nevermind." This in-depth review will delve into the various aspects of "In Utero," examining its lyrics, music, production, themes, and influence, while also addressing both its strengths and weaknesses. Lyrics: Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain, wrote the majority of the album's lyrics, showcasing his introspective and often cryptic approach to songwriting. The lyrical content of "In Utero" delves into themes of existentialism, disillusionment, and personal struggles. Cobain's enigmatic and sometimes abstract lyrics contribute to the album's emotional depth. Songs like "Serve the Servants" and "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle" reflect Cobain's inner turmoil, while tracks like "Heart-Shaped Box" and "Dumb" reveal a more vulnerable and introspective side. The lyrics are a highlight of the album, offering a glimpse into Cobain's complex psyche and adding layers of meaning to the music. Music: Musically, "In Utero" presents a departure from the polished sound of "Nevermind," embracing a rawer and more abrasive style. The album incorporates elements of punk, alternative rock, and noise, creating a sonic landscape that is both intense and experimental. The guitar work, driven by Cobain and Krist Novoselic, is characterized by distorted riffs, dissonant chords, and dynamic shifts, exemplified in tracks like "Scentless Apprentice" and "Milk It." Dave Grohl's powerful and dynamic drumming further adds to the album's visceral impact. The music on "In Utero" captures the essence of Nirvana's grunge roots while pushing the boundaries of their sonic palette. Production: Steve Albini's production on "In Utero" is a defining factor in the album's distinct sound. Albini's minimalist and unpolished approach aligns with Cobain's vision for a more raw and authentic record. The use of unconventional recording techniques, such as capturing live performances and avoiding overdubs, contributes to the album's unfiltered and visceral quality. The production choices create an intimate and immediate listening experience, heightening the impact of Cobain's impassioned vocals and the band's energetic instrumentation. While some listeners appreciated the album's rawness, others found fault in the lo-fi production, considering it a departure from the cleaner sound of "Nevermind." Themes: The themes explored in "In Utero" are deeply personal and reflective of Cobain's struggles with fame, relationships, and his own identity. The album's title itself, "In Utero," suggests a return to the womb, perhaps symbolizing a desire for retreat and escape. Songs like "Rape Me" and "Milk It" confront issues of exploitation and disillusionment, while "All Apologies" serves as a poignant reflection on self-forgiveness and acceptance. The themes on the album contribute to its emotional weight and resonate with listeners on a visceral level. The exploration of darker and more introspective subject matter distinguishes "In Utero" from the more accessible narratives of its predecessor. Influence: "In Utero" left a lasting impact on the alternative and grunge music scenes, influencing a generation of musicians and shaping the trajectory of rock music in the 1990s. The album's rejection of mainstream expectations and its embrace of a raw, unfiltered sound paved the way for a wave of alternative and indie acts. Nirvana's success also played a crucial role in bringing alternative music to the forefront of the mainstream, challenging the dominance of glam metal and opening the door for a diverse range of musical expressions. The rebellious spirit and emotional honesty of "In Utero" left an enduring mark on the cultural landscape, solidifying Nirvana's legacy as one of the most influential bands of their era. Pros: Lyrically Rich: The album's lyrics are thought-provoking, introspective, and add depth to the overall listening experience. Musical Innovation: "In Utero" showcases a departure from conventional grunge, experimenting with abrasive and dynamic musical elements. Raw Production: Steve Albini's production style enhances the album's authenticity, capturing the band's live energy and intensity. Emotional Resonance: The themes explored in the album resonate on a personal level, providing a raw and genuine emotional experience. Influence on Alternative Music: The album's impact on the alternative music scene and its role in shaping the 1990s rock landscape are significant. Cons: Lo-fi Production Criticism: Some listeners found fault in the lo-fi production, missing the cleaner and more polished sound of "Nevermind." Commercial Viability Concerns: The album's departure from a more mainstream sound raised concerns about its commercial viability, especially following the massive success of "Nevermind." Conclusion: "In Utero" stands as a testament to Nirvana's artistic evolution and Kurt Cobain's uncompromising vision. The album's exploration of raw emotion, coupled with its sonic experimentation, solidifies its place as a landmark in the alternative and grunge genres. While the lo-fi production may have divided opinions, it ultimately contributed to the album's authenticity and impact. "In Utero" remains a powerful and influential work that transcends its time, offering a window into the tumultuous psyche of one of rock music's most enigmatic figures.

This is my favorite Nirvana album. It's pure 90s and it's wonderful.

My favorite Nirvana album (usually). Not as rough as Bleach, not overly slick like Nevermind. 9/10 1. Heart-Shaped Box 2. Rape Me 3. Pennyroyal Tea

Just classic. I remember when this was released and how raw and urgent it sounded. Still no album like it

Hell yeah

Awesome. Just awesome.

One of the more raw Nirvana albums with a few defining hits. Playlist song Dumb.

One of my favorites, great sound and awesome songs, always

My favorite album tbh.

Obviously, I love this album. It has some of my favorite non-hit Nirvana songs on it. Very Ape and Milk It really stand out.

Good album

It’s been over a decade since the last time I listened to this album end-to-end, and I’m surprised at just how well it holds up

Rough and pleasurable

1993. Key Songs: Serve The Servants, Heart-Shaped Box, Dumb, Rape Me

One of my favorites albums. Lots of memories of the 90s Arizona state fair $5 GA show

Good. Familiar with this one.

Such a perfect distillation of cynicism and earnest rage. It doesn’t feel like a singular moment in time, either - it just knocks you down and drags you into its own moment. Heart-Shaped Box was always one of my favourites and it probably still is. Dumb and All Apologies were also highlights. I’m choosing not to look to deeply into the fact that both of those songs feature Kurt Cobain yearning to be stupider so that he could be happier. I was also delighted by the Leonard Cohen reference in Pennyroyal Tea. It’s one of the things that the legions of Nirvana imitators usually failed to grasp - Kurt Cobain was the voice of a generation because he’d looked very far and very wide to find someone else who spoke for him and came up empty. But he respected all those influences and you can tell.

I don't believe I have ever listened to an entire Nirvana album before (not counting the Unplugged album from earlier on this list). I thought this was going to be an easy 5 stars but a couple of the early tracks are just too grating. Not sure I can give them less than a 4 though, so here you go.

I like this.

Better songwriting overall on Nevermind but this one has the riffs, and Albini’s raw production kicks too much arse not to deny its power.

Edging to this

I'm a Bleach fan, but Dumb is great song. Kurt is very relatable.

-Serve the Servants — was okay, didn’t stand out particularly but was fine to listen to. -Scentless Apprentice—had to skip, too loud and screamy -*Heart-Shaped Box — was enjoyable. The chorus was angsty and rough while the verse was whispery, calm, intelligible and touching. -Rape Me — first, why? Interesting beat and melody. Skipped because I don’t want that stuck in my head. -Frances Farmer…—“I miss the comfort in being sad”, good vocals and guitar solo -*Dumb — love the guitar on this. The lyrics hurt which is the point. “I’m not like them, but I can pretend” -Very Ape—meh -Milk It—nope, I’d classify as explicit -*Pennyroyal Tea—one of the rougher ones that I can still tolerate. Cobain’s vocals are great alternating between the soft and hard -Radio Friendly…—meh, interesting but didn’t strike me as overly special. The guitars are making very interesting sounds so there must have been a lot going into that. -Tourette’s—not a fan of the delivery on this one, I guess it’s simulating Tourette’s but I don’t want to listen to that lol -*All Apologies—goooood; “all in all is all we are” said that 50 times and took me forever to get it; guitar is pleasant, contrast in Cobain’s voice is nice. Like this one I appreciate the talent of Kurt Cobain in his lyrics and also his delivery. His difference in tones and then, as mentioned, his soft singing and more rough/gritty delivery. The songs are emotionally intense in a frustrated kind of way. And because I know his name, Dave Grohl’s drums come through nicely without being overwhelming. Nirvana isn’t my cup of tea but I was able to enjoy some songs which I think can prove their great ability as musicians and lyricists *would download 3/5 or 6/10

I did not enjoy this as much as I thought I would. I imagine this music played in a small club full of sweaty guys jumping off the stage and it works.

Mostly crashy clashy noise with 2-3 major hits thrown in. I’m not a fan of Grunge but I appreciate these kings and what they did for music.

This album is one of the all time greats! Almost every track on the album is hugely popular and influential. The production on this album is shockingly clean, and the lyrics are as raw as it gets. Genuinely one of the best albums ever, if you haven’t heard this album go listen to it.

Top 100 album

A standard in my house.

Bro wtf

даже не заметила как весь послушала. Пока лучший из тех что были

Super good rock album. Does so many new things and does them right. not a single miss.

Gran disco del grunge No tiene ninguno de los exitazos de Nirvana y aún así es increíble

Well done. Deeper as they grow. Tragic for what Cobain could have developed.

if I've learned anything from this list it's that Nirvana is actually the only good grunge band

Прикольно, кто нибудь вообще понимает о чем сука поется блят? зато звучит пиздато, груздновато так, мне нравки 5/5, и я знаю, что это мнение пизда какое заезженное, но мне поебать

Cosmo's Factory en In Utero na elkaar... Ik weet niet waarom ik dit verdien, goeie karma ofzo? Ja, what can I say? Dit is Nirvana op z'n best, maar dat is zo bij alle drie de albums. 5.0

Music that sounds like you're getting jumped down an alleyway. If Cobain wanted to shed some of the new fans the band had made after the success of Nevermind, he should have made the songs on this album worse. If that was the idea, the only song he succeeded on was Tourettes, which is terrible. The rest are great. In the top tier of 90's rock albums. 5 Stars.

My first interaction with Nirvana was via a hoody. I was 11 or 12, early into my first year of secondary school and for the first time rubbing up against a subculture with a dress code that wasn’t just “the latest Manchester United kit”. Soon after that I got hold of Nevermind, which was hidden in the bottom of my parents’ wardrobe for a month waiting for Christmas. And then, after Nevermind, it was everything I could get my hands on. The next year or two a frenzy to acquire as much Nirvana – albums, bootlegs, both respectable and entirely unofficial biographies about Kurt, the band, whatever; greeting “You know you’re right” and the journals like a second coming (rather than an invasion of privacy) – as I could carry home from the record fair, the HMV, the shops that stank of incense, wherever. It feels significant to me – and not just because I can still imagine the burning hot shame of being accused, accurately, of wearing a Nirvana hoody without knowing any of their songs; the spotlight that lingers over those preteen and early adolescent years becomes an X-ray in the decades that follow – that Nirvana has always been a puzzle for me. It wasn’t that big a jump in time between working out the identity of the band represented by that cool smiley face thing I liked wearing, to trying to work out why someone who could write songs and lyrics that stuck in my psyche like gravel sticks in the waffle soles of skate shoes would choose to ever stop doing that (“Heavier than Heaven”, another six months later, got me to understand how little a role “choice” played in all of it). A gap of maybe a month between overhauling my identity in reaction to a clothing trend, and reflecting on the real existential jeopardy that might break cover at any moment. “In Utero” sits right in the centre of my Nirvana puzzle. Let alone the fact I didn’t know what a “Radio friendly unit shifter” might be (I suspected something mechanical, which I guess was sort of right) and struggled to fully get across most of the album’s themes, the primordial soup of angst, anger and antipathy from which “Scentless Apprentice”, “Tourettes”, “Rape me”, “Very ape”, “Milk it” and even “Heart shaped box” emerged was a swamp I was willing to get bogged in. As the years rolled on, I found that “In Utero” jagged and caught on my loose threads in a way that Nevermind didn’t. I’d come back to find “Serve the servants” – for me arguably grunge’s greatest song - had clicked, or suddenly with a start realise that “Frances Farmer…” had a story with energy and intensity to match its bombastic middle-8 freak out. I’d listen to “All apologies” bleed into “You know you’re right” on DIY playlists and pretend they’re part of the same breath. I’d discover Leonard Cohen entirely because “Pennyroyal Tea” told me to. Throughout all this – 20 plus years of my life – there sat at either end of “In Utero”’s emotional polarity “Dumb” and “RFUS” – the first a song that lets itself be “just happy” and the other a song that demands to know “what is wrong with me?” Two totally contrasting attitudes to life, incompatible to the point of mutual annihilation – fittingly, completely sonically distinct (vale Steve Albini) from one other too. “Dumb” is dipped oneiric syrup and conjures pastel shades of diaphanous colours; it weighs you down while it lifts you up. “RFUS” is noise as geometry, wave forms crashing atop one another; an exhibition in art punk overseen by a mumbling, desperate, anxious, aggressive, defeated curator. Poles apart in almost every possible sense, then – but here’s where we come back to the puzzle. Because for a thinking, feeling person the idea that the contrasting perspectives of “Dumb” and “RFUS” ought be mutually incompatible will make logical sense, but also won’t ring true in the slightest. We’re all in moments one or the other, sure, but we’re all also often both. 23 years after I first heard “In Utero” I know that. I know that ambivalence is a fact of life; I even suspect that learning to self-regulate might be the whole point of it. Kurt perhaps didn’t, and certainly never had the chance to offer himself that kind of grace. It’s a puzzle, all this.

My favourite Nirvana album

Hacía tiempo que no escuchaba el disco! Una verdadera maravilla volver a oirlo. Ruido y melodía a partes iguales

It's hard to pick a favorite Nirvana album. But Serve the Servants is among my favorite Kurt Cobain lyrics (Teenage angst has paid off well; now I'm old and bored. I tried so hard to have a father; but instead I had a dad.) Scentless Apprentice is among my favorite Dave Grohl drum parts. The oft underrated Krist Novoselic does a lot of heavy lifting, especially on Pennyroyal Tea. And the whole album represents Kurts best guitar sounds, achieved with the help of engineer/producer, Steve Albini. In Utero sound is decidedly abrasive, its lyrics are dark; and as such, it had the bare minimum number of songs that could have gotten regular play on the radio. But it remains among the band's best work.

To say that I listened to this a lot in my teenage years is an understatement.. I may have been about a decade late to Nirvana, but I still wore the knees out of my jeans and wore flannel in the humid Upstate NY summers of the late 90s/early 00s. I was very much looking forward to giving this a listen for the first time in years. Would I enjoy this if I hadn't gone through a grunge phase? Dunno, but I'm enjoying it now. To this day, on the rare occasion that I get to sit at a drum kit, I inevitably bang out the Scentless Apprentice intro.

Final albums are often a chance to cement a legacy. Few stick the landing as perfectly as Nirvana. An album that perfectly encapsulates the darker sides of the human emotional spectrum that concludes with one of the best album closers in any genre, made all the more tragic by Kurt Cobain's suicide 7 months after the release of the album. Best track: All Apologies

It's a shame that Kurt couldn't get the help he needed, but as far as final albums, this one is pretty hard to beat.

Fuck it, 5 stars. I was too young but I get it, ya know? This one, I get it.

Exceptional

Just class

Resonates more in 2025 than it did when it came out. Brilliant album.

Good

Gear: Abyss DIANA MR Artwork: 👼🫀🌱 Production: 🥩😊👌 Music: 🥀🤬🆘 Rating: ❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹❤️‍🩹/5

I think this is my favorite Nirvana album. Something about the emotion in Kurt's voice always gets me. Makes me feel all kinds of ways. Easy 5 stars for me.

Not my favorite album of theirs but still an easy 5.

There's a line I remember about this album — and don't ask me where I got this line from, but the way I remember it going is, basically, "IN UTERO was made with the purpose and intent of losing every fan Nirvana had made with NEVERMIND." Whether or not that's exactly true, it's always been the lens through which I've understood this album. It's not an entirely unreasonable assumption. You listen to the noisiest tracks off of NEVERMIND and there's a level of polish present in them so that they won't scare off people who bought the CD for "Smells Like Teen Spirit". The guitars are heavy, and the drums can do machine gun fills, but none of it's mixed to be too loud or abrasive. Meanwhile, you contrast that with a lot of the songs on this album, with its whining feedback, up-to-eleven fuzz and distortion, confrontationally descending riffs... Goodness, just how Kurt screams a lot of the lyrics. There's hardly any concessions to mainstream appeal beyond, like, one or two songs — and you could argue that they're only there because the album couldn't be 100% noise. They're not The Jesus & Mary Chain, after all. But, I mean, even the big lead single, "Heart-Shaped Box", doesn't strike me as exactly the friendliest sound for radio. Honestly, listening to NEVERMIND directly after IN UTERO, I can really understand why some people in my group said pretty quickly after the album was revealed that it was Nirvana's best. NEVERMIND, despite how good the material is and how important it is to popularizing grunge, can sound like a compromise when placed next to how raw and punk IN UTERO is. It can feel like NEVERMIND is only considered Nirvana's best album because it has the big pop hits, overshadowing the true genius found in songs on IN UTERO like "Milk It", "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" and "Radio-Friendly Unit Shifter". For my money... I will say, I actually am inclined to agree with that to an extent, although I would still say NEVERMIND is my favorite. See, I'm someone who likes polish and big pop hits. "In Bloom" and "On A Plain" might not have that raw punk sensibility of abrasive noise, but damn it, they're killer songs with great hooks. NEVERMIND isn't as acclaimed as it is for nothing, after all, and I can't front: polish and hooks are more often than not I'm gonna return to first over anything else. I mean, I don't think it's not nothing that besides the songs that were released as singles, the track I return to the most from IN UTERO is "Dumb", an outlier in the track listing for being a mellower song with a cello. The rest, let's be real, can blend into the mush of "noise." But as for IN UTERO as Nirvana's best album, meanwhile — y'know, I wanna start off by making something clear about my perspective. When I say that this album was made to lose all of the fans they'd gotten with NEVERMIND, there's sometimes a part me that subliminally extrapolates that to their **entire** fanbase. As if this album was supposed to be their equivalent of Eminem's ENCORE or Bob Dylan's SELF PORTRAIT; just a giant middle finger to the fans, the critics, the label, the expectations, everything and everyone. Clearly, though, they did still want people to **like** this album; I don't think you'd have the mellower songs like "Pennyroyal Tea", "Dumb" and "All Apologies", and I don't think they would've left off songs like "I Hate Myself And Want To Die" if that were the case. What it's more about is that this album was designed, from its conception, to be the kind of album the band would like to buy. So, y'know, y'still got your share of pop-ish moments (Kurt **did** love MEET THE BEATLES!, after all), but it's louder and way more unrestrained. And if we're to view this album, then, as the band's "true sound," unchained from concessions... Yeah, in that sense, absolutely, it's the best thing they ever made. So, despite my small reservation about this album falling into "noise for noise's sake," I can't give it any less than a 5 like I gave their other two albums on this list. It's incredible, from Kurt, Dave and Krist's performances, down to Steve Albini's decision to get out of the band's way and let them make the sound they wanted to. I don't reach for it as often as NEVERMIND, but I don't hafta in order to recognize its greatness. All in all, that's all it is. Kurt Cobain (1967-1994) Steve Albini (1962-2024)

Kurt was a once in a generation kind of artist, and this album shows it in spades. Solid 5 Stars.

I’m at a 4.5 – I’ll have to talk my brain one way or the other. This is my first time listening to In Utero in full – much like Nevermind, I knew the bigger hits, but everything in between was a mystery to me. Granted, some of it was on the MTV Unplugged album we got around 350 days ago, but it’s been a while, you know? When I finished Nevermind, I thought I had a real sense of clarity about the hype behind Nirvana, and specifically, what Kurt Cobain really and truly meant to a rabid generation waiting for their sort of musical messiah that would inspire people and lead a counterculture revolution of sorts. Obviously, I’m exaggerating a bit, but from the way he’s still held up as this sort of mythical figure in the 27 Club and all that, it’s hard to not perceive him as something at least close to that. In a way, I’m very glad that this album is all about trying to deconstruct that image as much as possible – this is not the radio friendly unit shifter that Nevermind was. This is Nirvana, as a group, led by Kurt Cobain (but not defined by him), openly rejecting the MTV-driven movement that made Nevermind a monster smash success. This is riding the wave of what grunge would soon become, and what would soon be picked up on by Alice in Chains, the Smashing Pumpkins, and others – fuck the refinement of it all & make something raw that speaks to the soul and comes from the heart. There’s not anything like Smells Like Teen Spirit or Something in The Way on here, and it’s honestly kind of welcome. That’s not to say that the Nevermind style goes away; the tracks that do lean back into that style are fantastic, and the highlights of this album for me. However, this album still shines rather bright whenever it accepts its grungier, heavier, more gritty, and less polished sound. At its core, this is a raw album, and while Kurt Cobain’s lyrics tell the stories of each track, his presence feels less notable here than on Nevermind from a vocal perspective. Let me put it this way – imagine if Freddie Mercury just stopped belting, and just sort of… sang, without any of the showmanship that made him famous. It wouldn’t sound bad, but it would be noticed, and it would certainly feel different. That’s what Kurt does here – gone is the extreme polish, and in comes a man battered and wounded by the effects of global fame. Don’t get me wrong, his voice still has great standout moments, and his presence is unmistakably there, but it’s tinged with a combative tone, and that combative tone spread to the rest of the band, and arguably, to the rest of the genre following his suicide. That’s all preamble about Kurt – what do I think of the actual attempt, musically, to shift away from Nevermind’s style and introduce a grittier, more “raw” Nirvana that would still sound fresh and innovative? Well, I’d say it worked – I really do like the unpolished feel of this album. Dave Grohl’s drumming is still fantastic, but the overall feel of each track is looser, more reminiscent of the garage punk bands that inspired Kurt in the 80s. “Serve the Servants” is a great opener, and the album doesn’t really slow down from there, though it falters a little – stuff like “Rape Me” and “Milk It” didn’t quite mesh well with my tastes but they’re still solid tracks. I bounced totally off of “Radio Friendly Unit Shifters” & “tourette’s”, though I didn’t hate them – just a little too out there for me, even for Nirvana. Ultimately, while I don’t think it lends itself to the same knockout consistency of Nevermind, I also don’t think they wanted to achieve that at all. As far as how it translates into a full album, that’s where I’m stuck between a 4 and a 5, because I can’t really get a grasp on how much I liked the album for itself, and how much I liked it for the attempt to reclaim their own image. I don’t think it’s as good as Nevermind, but it’s still Nirvana, and some of my favorite songs from them (Heart-Shaped Box, Dumb, All Apologies) are on this album. I think, just based on the strength of those tracks (and most of the others), as well as the (mostly) successful attempt to disavow the idea of Kurt Cobain as a musical savior, that I’m gonna bump this up to a 5. God bless Kurt, though, man. Gone too soon.

Probably their best.

Listened to the album. Think I’m just happy.

Couple of stinkers but a couple of greatest evers

Sonic storm of lost love, pain, and wanting to be oneself. Fabulous work of art.

I was an angsty teenager who loved grunge, of course this album gets 5 stars. Amazingly I remember all the lyrics despite not listening to this album in years. The big thing with this list is figuring out which of the 5 star Nirvana albums is my favorite.

Serve the Servants - 9.0/10 Scentless Apprentice- 8.7/10 Heart Shaped Box - 9.7/10 Rape Me - 9.2/10 Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle - 9.4/10 Dumb - 9.3/10 Very Ape - 9.1/10 Milk It - 8.4/10 Pennyroyal Tea - 9.5/10 Radio Friendly Unit Shifter - 8.6/10 Tourette’s - 8.5/10 All Apologies- 10/10 OVERALL - 9.1/10

I was debating this one. It's my least favorite Nirvana Album. The highs are great but I find some of the songs to be just Okay. Really what I think happened is that I've heard the best songs on the album too many times. This album is great and it's no one's fault that I can't listen to it with fresh ears again. It's a 5 star album. What Nirvana did was revolutionary.