Reviews (page 6 of 15)
'teenage angst has served me well, now i'm bored and old...' what a way to start off possibly the most eagerly anticipated album in alt-rock history!!! it's hard to believe they were able to follow up Nevermind with an album just as good (if not better), but they pulled it off. the hits are hits, obviously, but i love the noisy shit they get into on milk it and tourette's. it's trite to say it but god i wonder so often what they would've done if kurt hadn't died
First Nirvana album!!! (Ironic cause this was their last) This was a fun album because it doesnt have a lot of recognizable songs (i only knew Heart-Shaped Box and Dumb) so I didnt have any expectations and was treated to an aggressive and energetic Nirvana sound 4/5
Althought some songs dont hit like the heavy hitters, overall an amazing rock album that definatly stands out and changed the landscape.
An interesting album, due to its context and contents. It's context is well known, so I'll leave that aside. A lot more 'rough' than most Nirvana songs that I have heard, which makes sense. The more poppy numbers do better with a general audience. Still I like most of the songs on this record. They are not just rough, but they carry emotion and have catchy riffs. Some songs Scentless Apprentice and Tourette's are not my thing, but hey they are good artistic expression. I have added a few songs to my playlists and I found it an interesting listen front to back. Nirvana lives up to the hype. 8.5/10
Ugh, now when I hear "All Apologies" I think of Sinead O'Connor from Universal Mother. Otherwise, we can be assured, many vocal cords, guitar chords, and snare drum heads were harmed in production of this record.
Great album!
wowowowo
Decent but only flashes of the magic of Nevermind.
Nevermind is better.
nirvana realmente é bom ne?
The contrarian in me wants to claim this is better than Nevermind. It's not, but it's still damn good.
Years ago, I accidently saw Nirvana live when they joined a Mudhoney and Tad (remember them?) Subpop showcase tour. They were just starting out then and months later my friend reminded me of the fact that we had seen them with the immortal line, don’t you remember, they were the only band we thought were any good. And that’s Nirvana, their excellence really shone through even from the beginning. But I hated grunge so decided never to listen to them. In latter years, seeing them on the TV I truly realise how stupid that decision was. Thanks to the Generator I get to eat humble pie (again) and get to listen to this truly amazing album which moves seamlessly from grunge to punk rock with deep lyrics and beautiful melodies.
I like Heart-Shaped Box and the rest :3
My personal preference is not this sound but beyond that it’s a masterclass of an album
Listens: 3 Standout Tracks: Heart-Shaped Box, Dumb, All Apologies Back-to-back Courtney Love (Hole) and Kurt Cobain (Nirvana) from the List. Weird coincidence? I listen to my music primarily one of two ways; though Bose QCs when I am working, and through Shokz bone-conducting headset when I am just around the house, commuting to work, preparing to go to bed, etc. My Shokz get a lot of use and have drastically increased the amount of music I listen to. There's a point to this. This album's fidelity seems... off when using the Shokz, even though this is the 20th Anniversary Remastered edition. Obviously, there's a significant difference between the quality of the sound between Shoks and Bose QCs, but on this album in particular, where the sound can be washed out, and Cobain's usual lack of articulation in his singing really contributes to a poor experience listening on the Shokz. So much of the grungy, grimy sound just does not come the bone conduction well. But, I digress. This album is a mixed bag for me. It's good, but it just doesn't get to the same heights as Nevermind in my book. Nevermind is banger after banger, while this album has a few excellent tracks spaced out with a handful of perfectly adequate, but otherwise not particular noteworthy tracks. This is evident by the disparity in the listen counts across the album. Popular songs are in the 70-500 million listens, vs the less popular songs, which barely scratch 10 million. To be clear, this is a popular album. Nirvana is as popular today as it ever was. Compare this album to some of the shit you get on the List; album that have been out for 40 or 50 years that barely scratch 50k listens and it's clear that Nirvana is here to stay. I'll close with the fact that the album cover is dope as hell.
people either love or hate this one huh? personally, im a bit indifferent. its too long, doesnt hit the greatness of nevermind, doesnt have the raw and angry feeling of bleach. this imo is the weakest of nirvana, but yet still hits DIFFERENT. love it. and hate it. heart shaped box is a stone cold banger alwayz
Not my favourite Nirvana album (which is Bleach), but hey it is Nirvana and not Nevermind, so 4 stars
It takes a lot of effort to sound like you're not making an effort. Top job, lads.
Can not join the increasingly loud group of the oh so edgy music nerds that call this better than Nevermind or Bleach, but at least they did not try to do more of the same. They were a good band with real artistry! Who knew. I do think "written as a reaction to" records have a ceiling but I'm not feisty enough to really test out that hypothesis.
I really liked this album. I had listened to this before and had purchased it. Upon re-listening, there are a couple songs that I didn't care for. Still a very good album and one that I will listen to again
Kurt Cobain really was one of the coolest people to ever live. worked with William S Burroughs and Steve Albini while being a household name. reshaped the world of popular music too. and this album shines as Nirvana's greatest achievement. i, much like everyone else, love love LOVE Heart Shaped Box, but the real appeal of this is just how intense and uncommercial it is. Scentless Apprentice is full noise rock and it fucks so hard. this will filter a lot of people, obviously, but if you like this, you really owe it to yourself to look further into the noisy and experimental rock this album takes a lot from. deserves to be one of the 1001? yes, even if it's largely here by the virtue of it being by Nirvana
I remember being super pumped for this to be released and then being a bit disappointed that it was not Nevermind 2. Not much has changed 30 years later.
tengo demasiado soft spot por Kurco por cuando me vi el documental
A good listen, but didn't enjoy it quite as much as I expected to
A good listen with some good hits. Didn't deliver all the way through.
Very good, but not quite as consistent as Nevermind. My wife did not enjoy.
Brutal, not as radio friendly as
can't go wrong with this. a lot different from the polished first album.
Although a huge success I found this album to be really abrasive and that's after some songs were remixed. The subject matter on Cobains physical and mental health are unappealing. The bands musicianship is very good however. I did like All Apologies Rape Me and Heart-Shaped Box. Another unfortunate loss in the world of music.
this is the best nirvana album in my opinion, although i don’t really need to listen to them anymore. the songs are more polished but also less polished than nevermind which i think is really good
Legendary
Finally I actually get around to listening to nirvana. I'll say, it's interesting to listen to the swan song first. The album opens with one of the best lines I've ever heard, that being "teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm bored and old," off of the song "Serve The Servants." It's an excellent, bombastic opener that moves into the angry, screamy "Scentless Apprentice." Very well produced so far (of course it fucking is, it's Albini). It also really beats you over the head with how dark it is; the drums work with the guitar to make something insanely noisy and weirdly macabre for such a "classic 90s rock band" y'know? "Heart-Shaped Box" is obviously superb, no notes. "Rape Me" frankly is kinda wack. Like I get it, but I can't really follow the "plot" of the song, and it just does't really do much for me. I don't fuck with it too much. "Frances Farmer..." is incredible, however, so it's all good. "Dumb" is actually incredible as well, maybe my favorite song so far. "Very Ape," though short, is really awesome. "Milk It" is pretty cool too. Pretty much all the songs from then on are great. “All Apologies” is definitely my favorite. I will say though, this album really doesn’t live up to its legend. Like, it’s one thing for an album to have a legend of being a certain way, like how (depending on how much of an ass you are) you might say that either “The Moon and Antarctica” or “Good News For People Who Love Bad News” would be the point in which Modest Mouse sold out (they never sold out in fact, but that’s beside the point). But when an album has built up some mythology of being one of the best albums of all time, such as this one has, and it turns out to be… pretty cool at best, I can’t help but rate it worse based on the fact that I feel underwhelmed. None of these songs changed my life, or even really defined my day interestingly. I really like a lot of these songs. I think Kurt Cobain is a really awesome and super interesting dude. But… perfect? Among the best of all time? Worth buying on a CD? Well, that last one, maybe. But my point is… this is pretty awesome and not much more. 8.5/10
I was early in on Nirvana with the Sliver 12”, but checked out prior to this coming out. Hearing it for the first time - singles aside - I enjoyed it. I like that they made the follow up to Nevermind THEIR way, when it could have been a glossy, commercial freight train. The production on On Utero is superb. Steve Albini was a god. This deserves a 4.
Love Nirvana; realistically a 4.5, but edging toward the lower half
A classic followup to Nevermind which made their sound a little more raw. I experienced this through the singles until a few years ago, when I finally listened to the whole thing. So it's hard to stand up to Nevermind which I listened to repeatedly for a long time, but I really appreciate the authenticity of the sound.
Well it's not Nevermind, that's for sure. Nirvana's third album, and the follow-up to Nevermind, was always intended to be raw and heavy. They used a producer in Steve Albini who was known for punk rock and aimed to sound abrasive. They succeeded. The highlights for me are Heart-Shaped Box, All Apologies, Pennyroyal Tea, and R*pe Me. It's a good album, but it's just too noisy overall to be great.
Wasn’t my type of song,but i enjoyed it
Ya lo tengo re escuchado, lo iba a volver a escuchar para ratearlo pero no lo hice. Acá va review según recuerdo
The grunge cherry - fuckin straight banger after banger.
It is, of course, very good indeed - just the attitude and the vocals alone are worthy of the high marks. It suffers in comparison to Nevermind, although lots of people like to pretend otherwise. I think elements are just a little bit screamy and lack a little bit of sensitivity, the presence of which is what makes Nevermind unique. Still though, Heart Shaped Box, All Apologies and at least five others bring this right up into the big numbers.
Favourite Songs: Milk It Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
This one is iconic I know and Kurt Cobain is a myth of a man, but his screaming lyrics were my least favorite part. On the harder songs the drums and guitar were fire. I also really liked his lyrics the best when he wasn't singing like a thrash metal artist.
In 1993 I would have given this album a 6. But the 52 year old me isn't as into it, and I think I listened to this album so many times in my youth that I'm sort of over it. I can still listen to this and absolutely love the musicality of it but sometimes the vocals are kinda too much. I appreciate Kurt Cobain more as a guitar player and songwriter more than a vocalist and lyrical poet. His lyrics are depressing, angsty, and abstract. Eat some salt. Get some cancer. Cum on toast. Break my hymen with a swordfish. Drink some laxatives. Pay your parasites. What the fuck, man? I don't know. He likes the comfort in being sad. Rock n Roll! My favorites that stand the test of time: Serve the Servants, Dumb, Very Ape, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (probably my all time favorite Nirvana song), and All Apologies. Those songs make me sad to think about the songs that could have been written. Beyond the persona and legend of Kurt Cobain there is definitely a synergy here between guitar, bass, and drums that is alchemically brilliant.
I definitely gravitated to the more known songs on this album (Heart-Shaped Box, Dumb, Pennyroyal Tea, All Apologies). Those songs are great. The rest, I feel more mid on. Like if it was any other band, I'm not sure I'd like them with how dramatically angsty and rage-y some of them are. But there's a genuine nature in the rawness of his angst and rage. And the guitar and drums are so super rockin' throughout.
This album is like half irreverent class clown junk, and half dark and twisted brilliance. So I guess it's a Nirvana album.
7/10
Da nije nekih notorno glupih pjesama rekla bih da je ovo bolji album od Neverminda. Sviđa mi se što je manje obrađen i manje komercijalno prošao. Sviđa mi se što je bučniji i agresivniji. A neke pjesme su pretjerane i zato malo slabiji dojam.
I'm a bit scared imagine I get into nirvana and I get performative males asking me to name 5 nirvana songs. Serve the servants: I like the guitar. Help I just remembered how different his speaking voice is to his singing voice 💀 omg the chorus got stuck in my head Scentless apprentice: wow the drums!!! Oh he's screaming now. Heart shaped box: my favourite so far!! The lyrics are really good and I enjoyed the guitar Rape me: I liked that one too. I enjoyed the guitar and instruments! Frances Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle: I liked this one. "I miss the comfort in being sad" SAME?? Reading these lyrics were interesting too Dumb: omg so true! I like that one too omg what I'm evolving I think #characterdevelopment Very ape: wait I ALSO like this one. I like the fun lyrics "contradictionary flies/ I take pride as the king of illiterature" that's funny Milk it: I am really enjoying reading the lyrics to these songs and the analysis they're really good Pennyroyal tea: this name sounds familiar I wonder if I know it. I don't know it. I'm also on antacids! Radio friendly unit shifter: this one was ok I don't know if I'm just tired now but I forgot to look at lyrics analysis for this one Tourettes: oh he's screaming again. Oh wow that was short ngl I didn't like this one as much. All apologies: I liked that song again it was so true! Ranking: Heart shaped box Dumb Pennyroyal tea Frances farmer Rape me All apologies Milk it Serve the servants Very ape Scentless apprentice Radio friendly unit shifter Tourettes
The epitome of grunge rock. One of Nirvana best albums. Revisiting was nostalgic.
This album has some amazing songs with some very generic Nirvana sounding songs mixed in, I liked it.
I liked the songs. They had weird lyrics tho. lol. Like something an antagonist with raging feelings would write. My favourite was Dumb and Milk It. I’d rate it a 8/10.
Despite all the banger ("Heart Shaped Box", "Rape Me", "Dumb", "Pennyroyal Tea", "All Apologies") I give it only the weak four stars because there are also some average songs and even some sucker ("Scentless Apprentice", "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", "tourette's") on. 3,5
they're pissed the hell off. the anger does to a significant degree end up sounding the same all the way through, unfortunately, but it's still very high energy. production is great as well.
I feel like Nirvana is one of those bands that really shouldn't work. Kurt Cobain isn't a particularly great songwriter, plenty of bands were already doing their sound before they did (Dinosaur Jr., Flipper, etc.), and one of the biggest songs on this album recycles the guitar riff from their #1 biggest song. Despite that, it just works, and In Utero really is a testament to that. It's a ridiculously fun listen that really never gets old for me and has some really interesting moments throughout it. The best part is Kurt Cobain laughing at the drummer doing something stupid in the middle of Milk It.
As this era of music is my comfort food, I am obligated to like this album. There are some great songs on here and it has a fantastic raw feel despite being made by a huge band with a big budget. It’s still not my favorite Nirvana album, though, nor is Nirvana my favorite band of the era by a long shot. Still great though and an important work.
Pretty good, definitely Nirvana's best. I can't wait to see what they do next!
Lots of screaming, couple of bangers: Dumb, Rape me, Heart shaped box. 8/10
Nirvana's best album. Love this as an intro to the genre. Only a four because I think so many of that era do it better.
Crudo, casi sucio, rasposo. Es como si el disco respirara entre tensión y rendición. Él se expone, quiere ser verdadero. Heart-Shaped Box oscuro, denso, atrapante, aunque raspe. All Apologies es más calmo, pero con una tristeza muy real, como el respiro dentro del caos.
el final con all apologies es magico
An interesting mix of Bleach's raw power and the catchy hooks of Nevermind, with a somewhat haunting air. A great record period.
A lot of yelling, but the first song is decent 2nd song was not great. The 3rd song, Heart Shaped Box, is amazing.
Klassiker på alla sätt.
Great album!
wow great album. bangers. just not a huge grunge guy
Love the tone and feeling but not sure it is there best album and falls slightly short of five stars for me personally.
Me gusta
The 90s were full of bands, and the record execs who signed them, trying to recreate Nirvana with a formula of loud guitars and impenetrable lyrics. What they often missed is that Nirvana was doing its own thing, not relying on a formula. In 1994 this was a near-constant listen. A lot of it still holds up, but the "screaming tracks" as I call them are best left to the dustbin of history. We want to assign the label of genius to troubled people. Kurt Cobain sure had a knack for melody and writing lyrics that hinted at a deeper meaning.
It was important.
I liked this one it was nice to listen to but it took me a while
This album features a more aggressive and angular sound than their previous record Nevermind. Because it was produced/recorded by Steve Albini, who is famous for his own bands' very treble-heavy sound, it sounds natural even if the music is abrasive and tortured. It seemed like an obvious pairing. The writing and performances are all very similar to Nevermind though, mostly menacing and abrasive or alternatively dismissive and apathetic. Nirvana managed to merge angry bizarre punk and infectious pop in a way that no one had before. The singles are all 5-star, and unfortunately it makes the rest of the album tracks look less amazing by comparison, even though they're still great in their own way.
It's good? I enjoy Nirvana but rarely pick them to listen to
Shockingly I've never listened to this before despite how much I love Nirvana. Definnitely worth 4 stars for the excellence of some of the hits, but also how punk it is to release this after Nevermind in a period wher they could have cashed in. Good work.
Excited for this one. Second nirvana album, first studio album. There’s some songs I know so I know I’ll like it. Serve the servants is just ok as far as nirvana songs go, good song overall tho. Really good guitar solo. Wasn’t expecting a heavy metal song like scentless apprentice. This is ahead banger. Not really my style but not terrible. Heat shaped box is a banger. Classic nirvana. Great somgwritign/guitar/drums. Followed by rape me which is another banger/classic. Not as much of a fan of Frances farmer. It’s definitely classic nirvana but kinda generic. And then back to bangers with dumb. I like the live better version but it’s just a great song. Really good vocals/lyrics. Very ape is ok. Nothing really special. Really good guitar on milk it, the rest of it is not for me. Again was mot expecting this heavy metal. Pennyroyal tea🔥🔥. I actually like this version better than the live version. Guitar is much better. Really good solo. Radio friendly is really well written. Would’ve liked a more catchy chorus though. Don really like Tourette’s, too metal for me. Can’t tell what he’s saying. Guitar is good tho. I can respect the range however. Especially when it’s followed by such a classic in all apologies. What a song. What a way to end this album. The album as a whole is not as good as nevermind but you can’t expect a band to follow up a classic like that. There’s some all time bangers, and some songs I’ll never hear again. Overall a pleasant listen. 3.6 stars.
A Brutal, painful, cathartic and sad album for many reasons
Nirvana’s 4th best album.
Good album. Some bangers on there I already knew (the singles really: HSB, rape me, serve the servants etc). Would go back again to listen more.
Starts strong with Serve the Servants. Next track a bit abrasive - see also Tourette’s. Great singles. More raw than Nevermind - deliberately. Overall this is superior grunge music - the genre generally includes a lot of shit. Nowhere near a 5 for me - too much angst - but can give it a 4.
Not quite enough for a 5 for me, although love the singles. They lose me from Dumb to Pennyroyal Tea
A really good rock record! Drums sound fantastic. a little reminiscent of Albino's Surfer Rosa production. Wot a closer All Apologies is.
so fucking good bro!!!!!! grunge icons fav song from here: all apologies
I love this album cover so much, there’s something about it that feels strangely familiar, like a memory I can’t fully reach. The songs were playing while I was cooking, and I couldn’t believe how fast time passed for someone who doesn’t usually cook. It didn’t feel like I was there anymore. It felt like I slipped somewhere else. It has this way of feeding my need to escape reality, pulling me into another world without asking. My top 3 songs from this album are: Rape Me, Scentless Apprentice, Serve The Servants. It pulled things out of me I thought were long buried, thoughts about family, the weight of expectations, about what it means to exist without really belonging anywhere.
So good that Courtney had to kill Kurt shortly after recording this. Fuck I've already used that joke
Underskattad platta! Känns som att jag kommer uppskatta ännu mer med fler lyssningar, lyssnat extremt mycket mindre på In Utero än på Nevermind
Banger. Heart-Shaped Box är en av mina Nirvana-favoriter.
Vet inte om jag gillar detta för att jag gillar bandet, eller om det är genuint bra. Men finns ett par toppar som sticker ut o bär upp albumet!
4/5 tack vare ett fåtal låtar, men tveksam till andra
i really liked it!! so far all these albums are very well put together, like a single line of though, but this one has to be the best one so far. For me this type of music is PEAK study music, cause i can listen to in in the background without getting distracted. and Kurt's voice has something that i find so cool idk what it is. He sounds half dead and i find that so cool. I did givenit a second listen, go actually foxus on the sogns instead of the general vibe of the album, and i really enjoyed it both times. A very BERY sold 4. could maybe go to five. im not sure yet though
Nirvana cooked with this one
Album No. 0206 on my list. I had not listened to this in a long time. I’m not the biggest fan of Nirvana (and find them somewhat overrated occasionally), but from my teenage years I remember that I found the album pretty solid at the time. And my assessment of “In Utero” has not really changed; it’s a pretty good album! Peak grunge. It feels like Nirvana took the album’s predecessor and just developed it a little further. Perfected would be one way to phrase it, but at the same time some of the raw energy of Nirvana’s previous record was lost. It’s a little more pop-esque, but I still like it a lot. To me, “In Utero” is equally good as “Nevermind” (hot take, I know). The songs are on point, Cobain’s singing is good, the production is very good. I’ll add “Heart-Shaped Box”, “Rape Me”, “Pennyroyal Tea”, and “All Apologies” to my playlist. Good stuff, I think I’ll listen to the album a little bit more often in the future. 4/5 stars!
The songs I remember are as good as I remember them. The ones I don't remember, I remembered why I don't remember them. In the 90's, this album felt like the axles on our collective culture's band van were shaking and the wheels were about to come off. And then they did.
I really like Nirvana and am surprised I haven't listened to them more often.
Every now and then I wonder what would’ve been had Kurt kept living. Would Nirvana have floated into obscurity, kept releasing awesome albums and stayed on top, or if their sound would change over time. This album almost gives a glimpse into the direction they were heading, seems a couple of semitones heavier and darker, but also a bit more polished in terms of songwriting (rape me notwithstanding). Heart shaped box and all apologies are examples of this for me. It’s a shame we’ll never know. I feel like this album represents a modest shift that indicates they were just starting to hit their straps.
classic…… my favorite nirvana album
This is like the grunge equivalent of Michael Jackson following up "Thriller" with "Bad." Does it have some bangers? Yes! Do the songs that weren't hits drag down the quality of the album? No! Is it better than the absolutely stacked album that came before it? No! Is it still a high quality album? Yes! 4/5
muy buen álbum de una banda que amo con mi corazón pero me parece de los perritos de nirvana igual es un 9 solido
Sludgy
Edited
Scentless apprectice is a very under rated nirvana track
An oldie but goodie. So much heavier than Nevermind. My fave track is still Pennyroyal Tea.
good alum
okay some really solid songs some i don’t like but pretty good 3.5/5
Feels like a homeless man screaming in my ears who has lived more life than I will ever know. Insanely raw production and harsh vocal and drums recorded in a Basket ball hall. Unique and personal. I feel as though this record is great glimpse into the personal side into all of us, the side of ourselves wed rather keep quiet.
Nirvana is the epitome of the Seattle Grunge scene, and as a Grunge teen in the 90s, they were one of my favorite bands. I absolutely appreciate what they did with this album and the lasting impression the band left on the world, but it's not my favorite Nirvana album, but that's just from my ears' perspective. I'm not smart enough to weigh in on the lyrical accomplishments of Cobain, but then again, poetry was never my strong suit.
Good
there was some strange stuff in there but the music was good
me re gusto, me pareció un re álbum mi top 5 1-radio friendly unit shifter 2-milk it 3-heart-shaped box 4-dumb 5-rape me
Good memories of being 14.
I like nirvana yeah.
great, but theres a few songs I didn’t like
Actually my first time listening through the whole album, despite being a Nirvana enjoyed for years. This project is helping turn me into an album guy. That said, I was working and already a little stressed so the screaming was a bit much for me yesterday.
Pretty good, tho i feel its a few bangers but mostly kinda mid
Maybe noisy and abrasive at times. But unlike a lot of post-punk, Nirvana knows how to maintain balance.
There are three or four masterpieces on this album, just killer stuff. The rest is a bit filler, but it serves to create a cohesive sound. Love the quiet-loud.
Great album, wasn’t listening to Nirvana as much when this came out, so I was pleasantly surprised
The Strongest 4
This is universally likable music. I can't imagine anyone who doesn't like this album. A classic.
Some phenomenal songs with a couple that really weigh down the rating
Awesome! I've never noticed how cool the lyrics were before'
Ugh not my favorite. I have a lot of respect and I understand the significance Nirvana made to music.
i own this one. thier last studio album of theirs. i like "Nevermind" better, but there are some good songs on this one. Heart Shaped Box, Pennyroyal Tea, and All Apologies.
Heavy
I don’t have much to say on this. Some classics some songs I usually skip
Loud raw
Okay, I think I like the album more than Nevermind, but there's a spirit missing (no pun intended) on this one. I'm going 4.5, but dropping to 4? This is just instinct after hearing it for the first time in a while.
Some of the great Nirvana songs are on here but the album otherwise isn't too great.
Still raw, still sharp, still powerful. Great stuff. 4.5/5
I really like this album but I do think that Nevermind is better. There are one or two songs I don’t dig; Very Ape, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter and Tourette’s but the rest is great, love the drum sound and guitar tone 4.2
When listening to this I tried to tap into the 90s teen angst I must've been feeling at the time. But I couldn't. That teenager is gone and all that's left is this dry husk of of a man, his promise and optimism smashed into bewildered fragments like a child's forgotten toy due to the accumulated weight of years and constant disappointment. This album still stands up though. Rape Me is a pure banger. 3.8/5
Одну песню услышала только про прослушивании этого альбома, даже в избранное добавила, так что вполне хорош
very high highs of course, solid album all around
good
8.2
3.75. This album was incredibly formative. I still know all the words off by heart; and still find myself moved by the thrashy and reckless way these songs were presented.
Quite a dark album for Nirvanas final work. It probably earns a star for the fact that it is their last, because some of the songs are hard to listen to, and the whole thing feels bleak.
Frantic with beautiful moments tho I prefer my angst better articulated. Moments of very good, moments of crap.
I’ve listened to this album too many times as a high-schooler to have anything meaningful to say about it as an adult.
Frequently cited as the best Nirvana album, In Utero sounds like Nirvana settling into themselves. There are plenty of moments where they still sound like those sloppy, angsty, kids who upended the record industry a few years earlier, but then you get tracks like "Heart-Shaped Box", "Dumb", and "All Apologies" that demonstrate their ability to make more mature music. Maybe not a masterpiece, but it's the closest we'll get from Kurt, Christ, and Dave. Nirvana ending here feels like if The Beatles ended after Rubber Soul. Fun fact: Steve Albini had just finished recording PJ Harvey's fantastic second album, Rid Of Me, at Pachyderm Studio right before Nirvana showed up in Cannon Falls, MN to record this record. What a winter!
Це, мабуть, 4,5. Обожнюю Heart-Shaped Box
A great followup to Nevermind, and some of the songs on this album are some all timers. But ultimately, this album really feels like Nirvana transitioning from a more stripped down sound they had to the kind of orchestration and creative freedom their status had provided them. I know I, like many, would have loved to see the album that came after this one.
this is a great album, i love the feeling in his voice and i love the guitar and the bass and the drums!!! this is amazing.
Опять же, тут важен контекст. После нежелательного мейнстримного успеха Nevermind, который Кобейн писал намеренно и пост-иронично попсовым, он решил сделать альбом-антипод, чтобы и показать, какую музыку он реально хочет писать, а не вот эти вот ваши хиты, и выплеснуть накопившееся разочарование от коммерческого успеха и чрезмерной популярности. Поэтому там в ряде треков умышленно отталкивающая музыка и шокирующие тексты. Как мы знаем, самому Кобейну это не помогло, но это отличный образчик чистого, нефильтрованного гранжа, каким он должен был становиться дальше, если бы его главный идеолог не сдался. В итоге, гранж пошел в абсолютно протиположном направлении, и теперь у нас есть Никельбак. Я и сам больше люблю более доступный Nevermind и не особо люблю переслушивать этот альбом, но и здесь есть примечатльные вещи. Естесственно, бэнегры Heart-Shaped Box и Rape Me, а также я бы отметил Dumb, Pennyroyal Tea и одну из моих любимых песен группы All Apologies. Неровно, но бескомпромиссно и все равно знаково.
Маме снова 15. С тех пор почти не слушала Нирвану. Зато вспомнила, как мне нравилась песня all apologies. Кортни мне нравится в триллион раз больше.
Один из тех альбомов, которые прям хочется любить всем сердцем, и у него все для этого есть, но не ёкает. Куча бэнгеров, звучок мой, Кобейн краш, но с Невермайнд была искра, а тут просто уважение.
Лучшая песня: Heart-shaped box Худшая: Milk it Сорри, но некоторые песни на этом прослушивании показались очень скучными
4.5, возможно конечно это все ностальгия
Вспомнила серию «Трудностей ассимиляции», где главный герой встречается с родственником-фанатом роцка. Возможно, если бы эта музыка попалась мне в юные годы, мой музыкальный вкус сформировался бы иначе. Порадовало, что альбом до сих пор звучит свежо, чего не скажешь о некоторых других работах тех лет. Добавила в плейлист: Scentless Apprentice, Very Ape, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Tourette’s
Ожидания были выше.
Si pienso en los 90 pienso en Nirvana y en este álbum.
love it, blast from the past. not my absolute favourite Nirvana album, but it will suffice for now
Despite being 16 when this came out, I've never listened to this whole album til today and there was some songs I'd never even heard before. I dug it more than I thought I would and I can see why there's a certain camp who thinks this is better than Nevermind.
Heavier, moodier, 3-4 bangers, yet doesn't move me the way In Bloom did.
I love screaming angry men yum. Just vibes that take me back to my angry high school bedroom days
Nevermind on kindlasti etem plaat. Siin on paar väga head lugu, ülejäänud on sellised OK-hea skaalal. Isegi kui see on Cobaini puhas emotsionaalne väljendus, siis see polnud nii hea kuulamine, kui kõik see haip endas eeldas. 3.5/5
A slow start but some phenomenal tracks here
я вже його частково колись слухала. В теорії, він мав би сподобатися мені дуже, адже музичний стиль моє + воно з 90стих.. проте чомусь я не можу його сприйняти цілком. не можу і все. можливо, я б цінувала цей альбом більше, якби він не був настільки популярний, що навіть бісові позери носять футболки з його світлиною ніколи й не чуючи ні однієї пісні з in utero...
There are a few bangers on this and it’s a solid album in general. Doesent quite hold up to Nevermind but few do.
Any band faced with the task of following up an album as big as Nevermind is a tall order. So I like the way this one carved its own path. Most likely due to Albini’s production style. It’s more dirty, more rough around the edges, more sharp and abrasive…yet still delivers. The three tracks that were mixed by Scott Litt are definitely noticeable as they have removed the edges and sound more glistening. Still, a really good record that in the end sounds more like the band live, which is probably the way they should be heard.
Heart shaped box is greatness. Same with apologies. Pennyroyal, serve the servants are also solid. Ha, I’m going to talk myself into a higher rating. Alas there are a few on here that feel like feelers so doesn’t quite reach epic 5 star status for me. 4.25
Nirvana tratando de huir de Nevermind pero el sonido sigue ahi
A classic
Quite an accomplishment considering they were coming off a genre creating debut album.
I think this is a 4 to me. Some of my favorite songs are on this one but as a whole just not as solid as others.
This album was amazing with great replay ability. I didn’t know I enjoyed as much nirvana as I did until I played this album. Heart shape box, all apologies and very ape are in rotation now on the morning commute.
- classic grunge album - maybe my fav nirvana album - incredibly influential
cool!!! 4/5
I’m not normally a big fan of 90s grunge. I feel like the alternative rock of other decades is typically more enjoyable. However, even I have to admit this is a good album. Good songwriting, well produced, several great tracks
Grunge is fine but I just can’t give it that last star.
Enjoyed it, doesn't catch me massively but love the sound and dark tones
Mochte ich, bisschen anstrengend mit den schrillen Tönen aber passt schon. 9/13
Sometimes I wish I could see a glimpse into what more music could be like if Kurt Cobain hadn't passed away.
4/5 This album inspired me to add a new book to my collection, so. God I love Nirvana, and this album is full of bangers.
great
Always a great album, amazing songs, just need to listen to it more to hear the less well-known ones
9 / 10
Bra så klart. Lite hårdare anslag än jag förväntade mig.
Honestly quite enjoyed most of this. There was quite a bit of nostalgia, I didn't necessarily know the tracks by name but I recognised a lot of them immediately. I quite like the heavy sound overall, the vocals aren't always my favourite but they're undeniably powerful. Lyrically it's a mixed bag since it's hard to understand someone singing with a load of marbles in their mouth (thanks Weird Al). Would listen to this album again pretty happily, with maybe a couple of skips. I'd probably skip the end of "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter", for example. "Scentless Apprentice" is also not my thing, but mostly just because of the screechy bits, overall the track was fine... Highlights: - "Serve The Servants" - "Heart-Shaped Box" - "Rape Me" - "All Apologies" Undeniably an important album. Low 4. Might have been a 5 without the bits mentioned above.
A bit more basic than I thought it'd be based on how high of a regard its held in. Just solid throughout, had its moments but I found myself getting quite bored of the song structures and Kurt's vocals on occasion
Standouts Scentless Apprentice Radio Friendly Unit Shifter - 💫 All Apologies This album is sorta what I thought it'd be. Half of it is generally palletable and the other half is experimental noisy bliss. Kinda makes it feel inauthentic. This album is called abrasive but most of the time I don't hear it Why did they put all the noise into Radio Friendly Unit Shifter... tht was aamzing Solid Album with a few appreciated noise breaks Low 4
J’ai les mêmes compliments et problématiques à donner que Nevermind, super bonnes tracks entremêlés de AAAAAAAAAAAAARGH ultraaaaaa gosssaaaaaaaant. Mais ça reste bien au dessus de la moyenne
serve the servants- 5 or 6 scentless apprentice- 5 heart shaped box- 6 or 7 rape me- 6 Frances farmer will have her revenge- 5 dumb- 6 very ape- 5 or 6 milk it- 8 or 9 penny royal tea- 6 or 7 radio friendly unit shifter- 5 or 6 tourettes- 8 all apologies- 10
Dumb, Heart-Shaped Box
Hey! Wait! I got a real Cobain. Forever in debt to your priceless vase.
Got already
Yeah. Gotta go with 4. I love the raw energy of this. Like a (slightly) more musical punkism. Only challenge is the cardigan thing. Never ever a good look - even on 1950s pipe smoking guys.
Some absolute tunes, was almost a 3 cause some songs were just shouty and whiny but really liked most of it
Not as good as Nevermind. Still decent though. Simpsons: Sadgasm song Shave Me is a parody of Rape Me
Enjoyed this, it's not as good as Nevermind, but it's still good. Had a couple of these tunes on my iPod back in the day.
This thing still sounds freakin' great - Songs are good too - A couple sounded very alike -
I feel like a teenager who just discovered a new emotion
What a grand album! I think I'm more of a Nevermind guy, but this is obviously fantastic
Hmm, decent! I think I wanted some heavier stuff at one point, but, all in all - a great last album of a tragic band.
Strange but cobain being cobain as usual definitely not as good as early albums but class
Bangahhh
3,5
Álbum muito bom com algumas das músicas relevantes do Nirvana
Just the right amount of angst for me
4+ stars - I know this is the consensus "best" album from the band (and it's great!), but I've always enjoyed Nevermind more.
Not my favorite Nirvana album, but still pretty amazing.
C’était sympa mais je m’attendais à un petit truc en plus. Là on a quand même bcp de cris pour rien ça change mais j’aime moins.
One of the greatest albums of the 90's, much heavier and more raw than Nevermind. You can really hear Albini's influence in the production. If punk, grunge, alternative are your thing then this is a must hear album.
Nirvana não tem nenhum álbum abaixo de 4, e as melhores músicas da carreira da banda tão aqui.
Serve the servants 4/5 Scentless apprentice 2/5 Heart shaped box 5/5 Rape me 5/5 Frances farmer 3/5 Dumb 5/5 Very ape 2/5 Milk it 1/5 Radio friendly unit shifter 3/5 All apologies 5/5
This was great! I’ve never listened to this album top to bottom before and I loved it. Grungy, clever, and I wasn’t in high school in the 90s but dang I wish I were and I was listening to this in my parents basement as an angsty teen. Favorites: serve the servants, pennyroyal tea Favorites: Sparks, Eple, She’s so
Would I give this a 4 if I heard it for the first time ever today. I'd like to think so but the reality is, this gets a bit of a bump for the outsized place this album and band played in steering my musical tastes. I had just turned 15 when this album came out and, as a kid growing up in the suburbs of Seattle, already worshipped Nirvana.
enjoyed it, i think the raw, unpolished production works so much better for grunge and punk if it sounds too clean it doesn’t fit overall 8/10 fave tracks : frances farmer will get her revenge on seattle, all apologies, pennyroyal tea
ya lo había escuchado antes, me gusta nirvana no creo que sea su mejor álbum ni en pedo pero está bueno. necesitaba escucharlo de nuevo xq hace banda no escuchaba. hay algunas cosas igual que nunca me cerraron, son muy grunge para mi gusto
I love 3 songs on this album, ‘Heart-Shaped box’, ‘Dumb’ and ‘All Apologies’, I hate 2 songs on this album ‘Scentless Apprentice’ and ‘Tourette’s’, and everything in between that I thought was a good listen. So, it becomes difficult to rate the album as you must weigh up all the songs. I want to rate this album 4 stars and I will, but those 2 songs really ruin it for me, so it just gets into 4 stars because of the songs I love carry a lot of weight for me. I really wish that my top 3 songs were a blueprint for the other songs because they are 5-star songs.
Great!
Not my favorite Nirvana album, but still has a few classics that never get old for me. Some of the songs really spoke to me as a teenager, but the screaming grates on my nerves now (example: Scentless Apprentice). Guess I’m officially too old to understand.
Helt konge - bare ikke når du sitt på bussen på morran.
Interessant produksjonshistorie (flat lyd fra Albini). Hele plata virker litt uinspirert. Mye umelodisk støy mellom høydepuktene.
Always forget how much I used to like nirvana
Great, their best album
Class
After a couple of dull days, Metallica and Deep Purple, this was a joy to listen to. Arguably a more complete album than the breakthrough, Nevermind. Steve Albini is a great producer so not sure why some songs were remixed. Heart Shaped Box, All Apologies, Pennyroyal Tea and Dumb some standout tracks. Easy 4 out of 5
────୨ৎ──── honestly not my vibe- was a bit tough to listen to, however the raw, angst and frustration is so visceral that the only thought i'm left with is that 'in utero' is painfully caustic and unapologetically human. its basically cobain's autopsy of fame, a manifesto for artistic authenticity, and a portrait of a genius at war with himself, and the media, and the music industry, and his fans ~ 𝜗ৎ serve the servants 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ the start of the song jumpscared me, but the opening line is such a banger- "teenage angst has paid off well, now i'm bored and old..." the tone is set right from the get go: jaded, sarcastic, yet self aware. this song is just a big f*** you to the music industry, as it should be hehe 𝜗ৎ scentless apprentice 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ not my type of sound, buh i understand the intention- brutal drums to evoke the disgust and alienation that stems from the inspiration of 'perfume: the story of a murderer'. the screams of "GO AWAY!" really channel the emotions of suffocation, claustrophobia and existential revulsion. overall this song made me feel icky- as intended. it really left a long lasting impression on me~ 𝜗ৎ heart-shaped box 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ooh this song was so lovely to hear after the two before it. albeit the lyrics told a different story- one of a love so tender yet suffocating. the soft verses crescendos' into the eruptive chorus is a sonic metaphor for vulnerability and pain enduring. 𝜗ৎ r*** me 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ as a female, the title was very off-putting, making me feel uncomfortable from the start. my body was very clenched and stressed as i did not know what to expect with a title as such. however i get it- rather than the sexual violence aspect, it was more of a mockery in response to exploitation- by the public, the media, and the record industry. no matter who you are, what kind of life you walk- no is a full sentence. no means no. yet cobain didn't even have the decency to be listened to as he was just another star than shone a bit too bright, a bit too fast. the repetition is the defiance that cobain expresses to reclaim his own agency in the face of objectification. 𝜗ৎ france farmer will have her revenge on seattle 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ after doing some research, this song is titled after a real actress who suffered media persecution. this mirrors cobain's fear of similar treatment. the refrain embodies the fury and sardonic resistance- "i miss the comfort in being sad", captures cobain's paradoxical longing for emotional numbness 𝜗ৎ dumb 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ deceptively sweet and melancholic piece. the cello line portrays such forlorn beauty. its like cobain is embracing the irony- the irony of describing happiness as a form of ignorance, poking at how simplicity might shield one from deeper pain. which he pokes at wanting go fall back to, but as he's seen so much, he mocks those that are still in that phase. 𝜗ৎ very ape 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆ the title is self-explanatory. its fast, riff-heavy and sarcastic. its jabs at the societal expectations of masculinity. its short yet precise- very ape. pure punk energy. 𝜗ৎ milk it 𝜗ৎ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ a deep plunge into psychological fragmentation- dissonant, chaotic, self-destructive. vocally, cobain alternates between the muttering and shrieking, creating discomfort that mirrors mental collapse. this song is not my taste, but if i was having a breakdown then this is what it'll sound like lmao~ 𝜗ৎ pennyroyal tea 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ nice melodies, yet very disturbing. heavy themes of depression and exhaustion- made me feel so sad and tired, more than usual haha. was a very tiresome listen. definitely needed a cuppa after this song 𝜗ৎ radio friendly unit shifter 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ musically and lyrically abrasive, it parodies the media's commodification of rebellion. the feedback-laden intro was purposefully loud, therefore alienating the listener- this is basically cobain mocking the very mechanisms that made nirvana famous oop~ 𝜗ৎ tourette's 𝜗ৎ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆ ☆ sonically its a no. just no. however i do get it. the title is self-explanatory as well. the unintelligible screaming- pure catharsis. overall it embodies in utero's essence: unfiltered expression over interpretation. big respect for the vision, however my poor ears. 𝜗ৎ all apologies 𝜗ৎ ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ for this to be 'tourette's' follow up was a breath of fresh air. it closes the record with haunting resignation. its quiet, mantra-esque, balancing human imagery with spiritual fatigue. "all in all is all we are", feels both accepting and fatalistic- the perfect final statement, especially in retrospect~ 𝜗ৎ final thoughts 𝜗ৎ in utero captures an artist fighting to remain in a world of distortion- and paradoxically finding truth within said distortion. its sound is uncompromising, unfiltered and raw. this is the birth of post-grunge introspection, emo confessionalism, noise-influenced indie rock. after some more research, cobain's death in 1994 turned this noise-influenced indie rock album into a tragic prophecy- in utero is a man's desperate attempt to articulate pain before it consumes him. ────୨ৎ────
I find it a little amusing how obviously this album is an attempt to be less commercial following the success of Nevermind - strained vocals, distorted guitars, unsettling lyrics and provocative song titles; it's textbook stuff. Yet the album as almost all very listenable and accessible. You're not fooling anyone, Kurt.
4.5
haven’t finished it yet, but it’s such a classic i don’t feel the need to rush it. some songs are a little screamy for me, but it’s so good! i love nirvana, this isn’t my favourite album of theirs but it’s still so good i really enjoyed it!
Brilliant
My favourite Nirvana album, if we're not counting Unplugged in New York as a proper album.....
Personally not their best one, but still good
I enjoyed this, I’m not sure how I’ve not listened to it before
All these years trying to get into Nirvana, I should have been listening to this album instead of Nevermind. I never really loved Nevermind. It’s good. This one is much more my wavelength: rough and loud and raucous in a way that better fits the angsty, sharp lyrics. I still think Nirvana is ever so slightly overrated, but I’ll probably revisit this. It’s good. Must-listen #286.
Classic nirvana
A really solid album. Getting big Pixies vibes through parts of it. Enjoyable listening
Great! The extend ones are really good too.
Eh ben voilà un album intéressant ! Moins connu que Nevermind, c’est pourtant un très bon album dans la discographie de Nirvana. Plus cru et plus sale, il offre des titres souvent très tristes, amers ou désabusés. C’est du 4/5 sans problème pour moi.
ive only listened to nirvanas more popular songs, so im glad i listened to one of their albums for once. i really like the overall vibe and mood of the songs, very loud yet in a way pleasing to listen to. i liked heart shaped box (obviously) dumb, and all apologies.
This really benefits from not having the overplayed feeling of Nevermind
shit fucks, heart shaped box is obviously the star but scentless aprentice was killa, and I've always loved tourettes
Hell ya
C’est raw et brutal. Où est-ce que ça serait allé après ça? 4.25 étoiles
Not my favorite of theirs but still great
replay value имеется, бэнгеры имеются, но есть и прям оч сырые песни(но их мало)
Liked this more than I thought I would. Not my favorite vibe/grunge is pretty low on my list but this is a high 3
solid
good shit
Album 6/1001. Listened 1/13/2026. Classic 90s grunge rock. The rage and the rock can't be beat. I didn't love each song, but I would definitely play it again.
Definitely less commercially “polished” than Nevermind. Rounding up from 3.5.
I could really appreciate the song placement that sends a listener on a roller coaster of highs and lows, as Cobain yells and mumbles with great emotion on this mostly unpolished album.
Der er nogle gode sange på og det er åbenbart lavet som et album, som skulle være det stik modsatte af Nevermind. Kurt følte sig udnyttet og misforstået og ville gerne vise grunge kunne være kunst også, så det afspejler meget selvhad, selvdestruktion, vredt og udfordrende. De nægtede at gentage succesen af nevermind igen. Derfor lavede de et meget oprørsk album, det er mere noise rock og punket end Nevermind. Der er mere rå lyd og skrål hvilket er meget fedt. Men det faldt ikke lige i min smag på dagen, selvom jeg synes mange af de numre jeg synes er gode på MTV unplugged er med i denne.
Another pleasant surprise as I was never a Nirvana fan, having heard the singles a million times on the radio. But here, those songs just sound better when populated among these rockin'-ass album tracks.
Good album, not my style, but good
Beefy and more abrasive than Nevermind. Definitely has grown on me over the years.
Great piece of work from Nirvana, with some all-time classics.
This album blew my mind
Heard it already gangy
Nirvana defined a generation, specifically the angst and rebellion against the tide of bullshit that unfortunately swung back around and has plagued us in 2025. Hopefully we can Nirvana out in 2026 and get back to some sense of humanity again. With that said, for MY tastes Nirvana is a bit too screamy and experimental to be restful or "easy" to listen to. On the other hand I "get" them. Also they are genre defining and canon. (So there is that!). Thus, regardless of my own deeper personal preferences, this band is a must hear and the message underneath is critical for today's political and social environment.
It great but Nirvana has better albums
I am very familiar with this one from my Angry Grunge Fan days. My opinion really hasn't changed in 30 years. Half the songs are awesome. Half the songs are unlistenable.
I'm definitely biased
Kurt Cobain was the man. I can see why he's regarded as the GOAT of grunge. The subject matter was just a tad bit too depressing imo but otherwise it was a great record.
Excellent grunge
Sympa ! Mais pas parfait en vrai 7.5/10
It's surprising that this is the first time I've ever fully listened through a Nirvana album. I've known their singles from listening to the radio but never have gone out my way to listen to a full album. So, I recognized 4/12 of the songs on In Utero. It's honestly everything I'd expect from a Nirvana album.
Excellent album with some amazing all-time grunge songs like Serve the Servants and Heart-Shaped Box. Some songs do feel too rough or screamy for me, the most egregious example being Scentless Apprentice which has an almost unlistenable chorus.
raw lyrics, heavy, truthful and just plain good.
My Nirvana preference.
killlerrrrr album
I bought this album a few years ago, I had been into Nirvan from when I heard them on “The Word” all those years ago, I played this album again yesterday, most of the songs I love, loved Kurtz songwriting, great 3 piece band.
Just as good as Nevermind. Love the production by Albini. It loses 1/2 a star for my because I find the transitions a bit rough, maybe because of the non-Albini reworks on a few songs. Amazing song writing. Cobain's pain can be hard to listen to, but makes moving music.
Good, I like it, I like Nirvana, introduced me to a handful of songs I havent heard before.
Ja ouvi muito bom
3.5
I used to have this on par with Nevermind. With another listen I can see I overrated it. The lesser known tracks are much less listenable than Nevermind.
this went hard whilst playing amongus
Nirvana trying to consciously get rid of all their fair weather fans made a record mostly free of catchy hooks and clean production. Steve Albini makes this record sound sludgy and angrier than Nirvana probably even intended. I definitely wasn’t sure what to make of it when it came out but years later I have a greater appreciation.
listened before but felt like i could really get into it this time, was really good background to study until Kurt started screaming like 10 mins in. should come back to this one note often
Actual Rating: 4.5/5
I like this album a lot, but I would prefer "Im Bleach" on this list. Definitely 4 stars, maybe more, but not sure, need to listen more to it, but not enough time! But I see already rated this 4.5/5.0 on RYM so there's that.
Definitely enjoyed it more than N.W.A cause that shit was boring af. This was the first rock album I've ever listened to and definitely I don't regret it. I enjoyed it.
Yes
I actually had a nirvana phase in high school. ii was so obsessed with rock music and culture. I read up on Curt and his decline in loving life and how he was less and less himself the more fame he got.
Great Songs: Serve the Servants, Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Very Ape, Pennyroyal Tea, All Apologies Good Songs: Scentless Apprentice, France Farmer Will Have Revenge On Seattle, Dumb, Milk It, Radio Friendly Unit Shifter, Tourette's Mid Songs: Bad Songs:
Nirvana's third and final studio album, In Utero is raw and aggressive. It hasn't got the polish of Nevermind and for the most part hasn't quite got the tunes. The ones with actual melodies are fine with some strong lyrics throughout (Serve the Servants, Heartshaped Box, All Apologies). Whilst the likes of Rape Me and Dumb are fine enough. But a lot of the rest is deliberately trying not to be tuneful and going for noise and rage. Which is fine enough as it is, and it certainly has a lot of energy, but as a piece of work I'm not going to give this the full marks. The real question is what they would have done after this, had Cobain not done himself in.
Historically, I hold a "completely ambivalent" position on Nirvana, but this album has Heart-Shaped Box on it, and I do really love that song thanks to my parents getting MTV when I was in my early teens and it being played constantly. I loved the music video too. Of everything else, I liked Scentless Apprentice and Milk It a lot (absolutely the right type of screamy), and Pennyroyal Tea (I like how it descends into shambles at the end). I liked Radio Unfriendly Unit Shifter and Tourettes too. Plus it's nice to hear All Apologies in the proper recorded version (MTV also obsessively played the Unplugged version of that too). I actually enjoyed this album way, way more than I thought I might. I will say, now I've seen that clip of Dave Grohl telling Pharrell Williams that while in Nirvana he just ripped off disco drums, I can't unhear it, which certainly adds to the listening experience. Genuinely a surprise to me how much I liked this album (which I imagine is a bizarre statement for a lot of people my age to read). It very nearly got the top mark, but it definitely deserves a 4. 4/5
Time is such a weird thing. Have you ever thought about what albums would've been popular when your parents were your age? I do every now and then. When this album came out my dad would've been basically the same age I am right now, only a year older. Mid to late 20's is such a weird age. I don't believe he ever listened to this though, he was more into Pink Floyd and ACDC, though he says it's all demonic now. A lot of people tend to like the music of their teens, so this probably came out too late for him to enjoy. I think I've only really heard one Nirvana song before. The one that everyone knows. I know my younger brother got into their stuff when he was around 15, but no one ever really played music aloud (don't anger dad), so I never heard it. I'm interested but nervous to actually listen, since they're so iconic. This means I actually have to form an opinion on them. Listening notes: 4th song - Production is really nice, but I won't be coming back to this for pretty obvious reasons. The same reasons I tend to skip Tori Amos' "Me and a Gun", which interestingly would've came out just the year before this album, and Samia's "Breathing Song". I think this song is less intense, lyrically, than the other two, but it's just a subject that I am well aware of and don't need constant reminders of lol. It's why I put this album off for like 3 days lol. All love tho Faves: Heart-Shaped Box, Francis Farmer, Pennyroyal Tea, All Apologies. Overall, I think my opinions are a little mixed. I get why they are so revered, but it is slightly outside of my normal listening soundscape. I think I'm going to end up giving this a few more listens, except for track 4 sorry, and pick out my faves from there but I don't think I'm going to go back to the album as a whole personally. Shout out scoliosis and anemia 3.75/5
It was actually a lot heavier on the album tracks than I realized it would be based on the hits. Strong album from them.
On each of my listens I've preferred Nevermind, but I've enjoyed In Utero. Let's see how this listen compares shall we? Heart-shaped box whips such ass it's nuts. Frances Farmer is a very grunge sounding song that rips too. All Apologies is GOATED in addition! The difference between this and Nevermind is there are skipable songs, but there are no skipable songs in Nevermind. In Utero is still VERY good and quintessential, don't get me wrong. They just really killed it with Nevermind. 4/5
Incredible songwriting and performances all around. Not fully my style of music, but so good otherwise that it was a fantastic listen.
I was obsessed with Nevermind in 1991, then never listened to the follow-up. I did hear and loved the singles. On a first listen, I’m not partial to the return (apparently) to the abrasive and brash tones of their punkier roots. I like when Nirvana is warmer and more melodic, as evidenced on the singles. Apparently they had to bring in another producer and remix to be more commercial than the first go. Four of the songs, which I already knew, are so strong that they lift this from 3 territory. The others could grow on me with repeat listens but them’s the breaks of the challenge.
I used to be the biggest Nirvana fan ever but I only really listened to never mind. RIP Kurt Cobain, and I hope Pat Smear and Dave Grohl keep making good tunes in Foo fighters ❤️❤️🎸 I kinda hate the last few songs though :/
This album hit a little differently this listen. I think the album gets better the farther you go down the song list. Still my favorites: Dumb Milk It Pennyroyal Tea Always a classic: All Apologies Don’t really like anymore (but I have a story about it if anyone ever wants to know): Rape Me Honorable mention: Heart-Shaped Box & the end of Scentless Apprentice. I might just start screaming “go away”…
With the production a little less refined than Nevermind Nirvana come blazing out of this record with all their trademarks, including the now cliché of grunge, there acoustic intros and verses building to the distortion laden choruses. It’s also full of Cobain’s trademark lacerating self-disclosure. Probably the best of their three albums.
I've listened to a lot of Nirvana and can never really figure out my opinion on this album, until right now. It's about four stars, give or take.
So much messier than Nevermind, but intentional.
Not as commercial as nevermind. But a great album.
There are some songs that are really good, like Heart-Shaped Box and All Apologies, but there are some songs where he's just screaming, and not in the good way, it sounds really painful. It's just a really rage-filled album that you just kinda have to be in the mood for. 7/10
Pretty good
So different from the MTV live album, I feel like there is a lot more variation, but also just more rage and anger, a quiet spite lurking through even the quiet sections of the album.
Perfect for a rainy day
3,5/5
Heart-Shaped Box, Rape Me, Very Ape отличные песни. Остальное так себе.
Feel like I should listen to Nirvana more now
brilliant fucking album
Ótimo álbum! Mantém a identidade do Nirvana, mas é criativo em vários aspectos.
Quite enjoyable and very influential 4/5
What’s good is really good. What’s bad is really bad. Fortunately, the good outweighs the bad.