What's the best Nirvana album?

[IamFogHat]

I really love In Utero. What's your affinity?

[yojimbo7248]

This is a great thread. I thought about it but decided on Nevermind on the strength of the songs. I prefer Steve Albini to Butch Vig as producer but the songs were strongest on Nevermind.

[Dougie Brootal]

bleach but in utero is a close 2nd

[TheMojoPin]

Out of the studio albums, I'd pick In Utero, though overall I think Unplugged is the one I think shows where they, or least Kurt, could have gone in terms of expanding musically.

[biozombie]

Bleach is the only one I've listened to multiple times, it's raw & fantastic. Listened to Nevermind a few times when it came out, it was OK, never bothered with anything else they've done.

[Marc with a c]

unplugged is the correct answer.

[GreatAmericanZero]

"Unplugged in NY" by far

[underdog]

Out of the studio albums, I'd pick In Utero, though overall I think Unplugged is the one I think shows where they, or least Kurt, could have gone in terms of expanding musically.

Unplugged is just amazing. Alice In Chains pulled the same thing, putting out this absolutely stunning Unplugged album.

[JPMNICK]

In utero

[grlNIN]

Unplugged, In Utero.

Sans a handful of songs from Bleach and Nevermind, they barely exist to me.

[PerryWinkle]

unplugged is the correct answer.

"Unplugged in NY" by far

good choice.

I just had a discussion with a friend about best unplugged performances and he chose nirvana's, which is good, but I wasn't sure if the fact that they did covers should knock them down a peg or two.

[PerryWinkle]

Unplugged is just amazing. Alice In Chains pulled the same thing, putting out this absolutely stunning Unplugged album.

I love you

[HBox]

UNPLUGGED!!!!!!!!!

The DVD has a little more awesome.

[zildjian361]

in utero that baby is 18 now.parents got $3000 for the picture

[TheMojoPin]

good choice.

I just had a discussion with a friend about best unplugged performances and he chose nirvana's, which is good, but I wasn't sure if the fact that they did covers should knock them down a peg or two.

If they were hack covers, I'd be inclined to agree, but they were some pretty bold choices that they just nailed in really unique ways.

[TheMojoPin]

Bleach is the only one I've listened to multiple times, it's raw & fantastic. Listened to Nevermind a few times when it came out, it was OK, never bothered with anything else they've done.

I really like Bleach, but I definitely prefer the band with Grohl. He just added so much power.

[PerryWinkle]

If they were hack covers, I'd be inclined to agree, but they were some pretty bold choices that they just nailed in really unique ways.

they were far from hack covers. absolutely beautiful songs. but since they weren't "their" songs unplugged, does it put their performance behind, say an Alice in Chains, who did all their own stuff, which was the concept of the show i believe

[paulisded]

"Unplugged in NY" by far

I'm too much of a purist to pick a live album, as it has a bit of an advantage as it culls the best songs from an artist's career. In this case, obviously, Nirvana threw in plenty of extras with their covers and steering clear of some of their biggest hits. While a classic album, I still can't give it a vote as their best.

Bleach was a stunning debut that really came out of nowhere, but more importantly gave glimpses of their chart-topping future. Nevermind struck for the fences, and obviously succeeded. In Utero proved that art was potentially more important than the standard attempt to duplicate the previous album's success.

All three are worthy choices, but I'll have to give the nod to In Utero. I appreciate the fact that it wasn't as glossy as Nevermind, and while there are a couple of tracks that miss their mark they are more than made up by "All Apologies", "Rape Me", and "Pennyroyal Tea".

[IamFogHat]

I didn't want to do this, but now I feel I must, can the Unplugged supporters defend their position, and I only ask this because it is no new material, plus covers, so why is this the best? I will say I love this album whole heartedly, but to say it's the best Nirvana album, I need to know why. Who knows? Not me.

[TheGameHHH]

Unplugged is amazing, I like all of their albums but this one can stun anybody that listens to it.

[PerryWinkle]

I'm too much of a purist to pick a live album, as it has a bit of an advantage as it culls the best songs from an artist's career. In this case, obviously, Nirvana threw in plenty of extras with their covers and steering clear of some of their biggest hits. While a classic album, I still can't give it a vote as their best.

Bleach was a stunning debut that really came out of nowhere, but more importantly gave glimpses of their chart-topping future. Nevermind struck for the fences, and obviously succeeded. In Utero proved that art was potentially more important than the standard attempt to duplicate the previous album's success.

All three are worthy choices, but I'll have to give the nod to In Utero. I appreciate the fact that it wasn't as glossy as Nevermind, and while there are a couple of tracks that miss their mark they are more than made up by "All Apologies", "Rape Me", and "Pennyroyal Tea".


i like this and value your opinion. i agree with you sir

[grlNIN]

I voted for Unplugged based solely on the performance. It's a stand-out album not only because of how they delivered acoustically but how you could really hear the depths of Cobain's emotions spilling out into the words, completely taking the old and transforming it into something new, something you've either never heard before or never heard in that way.

The covers were just the cherry on top of that set.

[paulisded]

I voted for Unplugged based solely on the performance. It's a stand-out album not only because of how they delivered acoustically but how you could really hear the depths of Cobain's emotions spilling out into the words, completely taking the old and transforming it into something new, something you've either never heard before or never heard in that way.

The covers were just the cherry on top of that set.

While I couldn't bring myself to voting for Unplugged as their best album, I do have to say that Cobain's vocals on "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" were his greatest ever. I still get chills.

[IamFogHat]

While I couldn't bring myself to voting for Unplugged as their best album, I do have to say that Cobain's vocals on "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" were his greatest ever. I still get chills.

I cannot argue with that. (edit: that's my favorite Nirvana song)
The more I read these posts the more I'm beginning to regret my poll answer, which is rare, but you fuckers are bringing up goddamn great points.

[fezident]

I think I was just discovering Savage Garden at that time in my life.


Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[TheMojoPin]

If anything, I ended up listening to the Vaselines because of Nirvana, so, uh, THANKS!

[underdog]

There's just an amazing emotion behind Unplugged. Maybe it has something to do with my only connection to ever hearing or "seeing" them live, but while I love their other albums, I actually feel their Unplugged album.

[TheMojoPin]

There's just an amazing emotion behind Unplugged. Maybe it has something to do with my only connection to ever hearing or "seeing" them live, but while I love their other albums, I actually feel their Unplugged album.

There's just something so...soild about it. It's hard to describe, but it just feels very organic and right, which is pretty remarkable given that it's a live album.

[K.C.]

I'm too much of a purist to pick a live album

I'm with you on that.



As far as the rest, it's In Utero, easily.

[TheMojoPin]

Wouldn't a "purist" technically prefer a live album as opposed to studio chicanery?

Just a random thought.

[K.C.]

Wouldn't a "purist" technically prefer a live album as opposed to studio chicanery?

Just a random thought.

Nah, a purist would view an album as conceptual based on the song structures, and ordering of them.

A live performance is a collection of random songs.

Although I will grant that Unplugged has an ebb and flow to it that most live albums don't.

[TheMojoPin]

Nah, a purist would view an album as conceptual based on the song structures, and ordering of them.

A live performance is a collection of random songs.

Sometimes. Better bands tend to put some thought into their setlist in the regard.

[sailor]

you can't compare live albums or best of's with regular studio albums. it's just silly.

[TheMojoPin]

you can't compare live albums or best of's with regular studio albums. it's just silly.

There's no best of up there.

Unplugged is generally considered to not be your usual live album.

[paulisded]

If anything, I ended up listening to the Vaselines because of Nirvana, so, uh, THANKS!

Good point.

[drjoek]

This is a very serious discussion. I was going to post Thriller as a joke but I didn't want to disturb the reverence being displayed. So my vote is for in utero

[Sarge]

I think Bleach would be #1 for me, with In Utero coming in second. I love the Unplugged show, but I always kind of looked at it as that, music from a show. I'm probably explaining this wrong but it never seemed like an album to me, it always came off as a tv show that they taped the music from. Maybe because I watched the Unplugged so many times, I view it that way.

[sailor]

There's no best of up there.

Unplugged is generally considered to not be your usual live album.

best of's were mentioned as part of a general rule. i also wrote that a few hours ago but didn't post until long after other made a similar point more eloquently.

[paracetamol flanders]

http://3.music.bigpond-images.com/images/AlbumCoverArt/296/XXL/The-Story-Of-Simon-Simopath.jpg

The 1967 album by Nirvana-"The Story Of Simon Simopath." Great psychedelic album. I guess they went to court against some 80's band of the same name who later found some notoriety.

[ahhdurr]

Wow - I didn't expect In Utero to be so far in the lead.

That album came out right around 93 as I recall and every-thing was happening at that moment for me but it was my favorite period of 90's music - heading into a lot of great stuff from 94 and 95 and before the disappointing Bush albums.

Nevermind is great but falls to far into the category of it and Ten - both of which were so adored by college kids everywhere that a. I couldn't stop hearing it and b. I couldn't tell if it was good or good b/c everyone said so.

In Utero was also impressive because it was such a strong follow up to Nevermind.

I was taking a crap when I heard about that guy that killed himself. I honestly have to dig in my memory for his name right now. (Cobain - I didn't finish typing before it came to me)

Fame is forever man.

[Slumbag]

As much as I enjoy In Utero, Unplugged might be one of my favorite CD's of all time.

[jennysmurf]

I have to go with Nevermind, just because the point I was in my life when it came out. Every song is tied to a certain memory. One of the other albums may be musically or creatively better or worse, but it didn't have the impact that Nevermind had. It's just a personal experience.

[midwestjeff]

Incesticide.

Just because no one else has even mentioned it and I don't know that I really have a favorite.

But, in defense of my useless vote, the first 7 songs on Incesticide are as good as any Nirvana song.

[TheMojoPin]

Incesticide.

Just because no one else has even mentioned it and I don't know that I really have a favorite.

But, in defense of my useless vote, the first 7 songs on Incesticide are as good as any Nirvana song.

For an "odds 'n' sods" album, it's REALLY impressively strong.

[Fezticle98]

in utero that baby is 18 now.parents got $3000 for the picture

That baby, of course, was from Nevermind.

I'm not much of a Nirvana fan, but I would select In Utero.

[FunkyDrummer]

I voted for Nevermind, because of Dave like someone mentioned before. But I also enjoyed the shit out of this one...
http://msp254.photobucket.com/albums/hh94/andremoraes2008/Nirvana/AllCDCovers_nirvana_from_the_muddy_.jpg

[furie]

In Utero :thumbup: