In Utero [VINYL]

I have been waiting for this, I could have brought the standard version but knew they would release a 30th anniversary version of this album eventually. I was gutted that I simply couldn't afford the super deluxe version but that said, this is excellent.Nirvana's break out album Nevermind changed music in the 90's, it was my introduction to the band and probably to alternative music, Nevermind was my gateway to music as a teenager. My tastes in music started with this band and in particular....Nevermind. It cannot be overestimated how important an album Nevermind is but is it my favourite.....the short answer is no!!!Whilst for awhile it was Nevermind that never left my CD player in the 90's, it was In Utero that I truly fell in love with.Following Nevermind, Nirvana literally beccame the biggest band in the world, and as a consequence of this Kurt Cobain suffered serious addition issues and depression which would ultimately end his life in April 1994. Before that however Nirvana wanted to follow up on Nevermind but they didn't want to do the same kind of record. They wanted to do something unapologetic, raw and in someways bring Nirvana closer to their debut album Bleach. They recruited Steve Albini and the rest is history.Since 1992 it had been challenging for Kurt who had also married Courtney Love (Hole) and had a baby, Kurt and Courtney's drug use was widely reported resulting for a short time in their child also being removed from their custody.In Utero as Dave Grohl has mentioned previous said, was a difficult listen as this is Kurt at his raw best, opening up about his issues but at the same time writing some absolutely incredible music. Whilst this album will not ever get as much recognition as Nevermind, this is Nirvana's true masterpiece. 'All apologies', 'Heart Shaped Box' (both these were the albums singles before Kurt's death) and possibly the greatest opening lyrics to any opener of a song on an album ever "Teenage angst has paid off well, now I'm bored and old"('Serve the servants') shows an album that was mature, raw and honest and brutal. Songs like Pennyroyal Tea shows Nirvana's brilliant talent for crafting a perfect song (originally this was to be their 3rd single from this album but was cancelled following Kurts death), their perhaps most controversial song 'Rape Me' still packs a punch even to this day. 'Dumb' is a beautiful song but is a sharp contrast with the dark lyrics of drug addition. My personal favourite song on this album and probably my favourite song written by Nirvana is 'Francis Farmer will have her revenge on Seattle is quite simple stunning, The middle bridge on this song is stunning with Dave Grohls drums and Kurt's riff providing an immense pleasure to the ears.This 30th Annivesary LP version comes with an additional EP which includes'Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip' (originally Inclued on the international version of in utero)The B side to Heart Shaped Box 'Marigold' written and sung by Dave Grohl hints at the foo fighters in future years time.'Sappy' as originally released on the No alternative completion in 93'Mosit Vagina' a brilliant B side which was originally included on the All apologises SingleAnd finally one of my favourite Nirvana songs 'I Hate Myself And Want To Die.' This was written and recorded during the In Utero sessions but was ultimately left off the album because there were other songs on the album of similar style. It was then slated to be released as the B side for the 3rd single 'Pennyroyal Tea' which as mentioned was cancelled following Kurt's death. Instead this was released as an A side on the Beavis and Buthead experience album (a really good soundtrack, check it out).This reissue is fantastic, the vinyl is of high quality and sounds amazing, the art work is beautiful and I'm glad to finally own this on Vinyl.This is my favourite Nirvana Album and its not even close. This is essential Music for 90's era music.

Nirvana's In Utero is a hybrid of its two predecessors melding the globe dominating, polished grunge of Nevermind with the roughness of their debut Bleach. This is a winning formula, and the album begins with the grunge meets George Harrison-style lead guitar of Serve the Servants which along with the growling/howling Milk It conveyed Kurt Cobain's alienation with fame. Scentless Apprentice screams and thumps along with amazing raw power and its guitar riff was impressively written by drummer and future Foo Fighter Dave Grohl. Heart-Shaped Box is presumably about Cobain's heartbreak, and it is such a storming monster of grunge song - with a spectacular guitar solo - that it absolutely deserved to be lead single and easily ranks amongst Nirvana's best numbers like Smells Like Teen Spirit, Come As You Are etc. Track four is surely Nirvana's most controversial track but musically it is of very high quality and the opening riff recalls that iconic start to their most famous song (Smells Like Teen Spirit). Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle is another highly strong, crunching rocker too. Radio Friendly Unit Shifter is obviously sarcastically named and although it is discordant it is at the same time tuneful enough and a thrilling rush - although Cobain was aiming for a less commercialised sound than Nevermind, this shows his innate ability to write a great song still. Some critics - and the band themselves - were disappointed in the sound of Pennyroyal Tea and felt that it was the one that could have done with Nevermind producer Butch Vig's magic touch. But it is still one of the most mind-blowing cuts on In Utero combining a melodic acoustic initial verse with a heavy grunge sound for the rest of the track and is another that is amongst Nirvana's finest ever songs and the single version - released almost a decade later so not to make money from Cobain's untimely death - was remixed anyway. The sublime dynamics between loud and quiet on Pennyroyal Tea and some of the other tracks also makes In Utero slightly comparable to Nevermind in that aspect too.Very Ape and Tourette's are brief but both pounding and electrifying. While Dumb and All Apologies also provide facets of Nevermind as the former finishes the first half in a musically calmer but troubled way like 1991's Polly with a mixture of electric and acoustic. The latter begins with a quite folky riff and then is another to display the band’s inherent dynamics as grinding guitars appear for most of the rest of the song. It was Nirvana's last single - as a double A-side with track four - and like the lead one is another up there with the group's best ever work with both being re-mixed by R.E.M. producer Scott Litt to enhance their commercial potential slightly. In fact, the final refrain of "All in all is all we are" again saw Cobain channelling his inner Beatle as it is a Lennon-like mantra and a moving and fitting last album lyric before his unfortunate and tragic death.Essentially In Utero is an uncommercialised Nevermind with Cobain's chaotic lifestyle at the time being reflected in lyrics. The subject matter is mostly stark and dark with a lot of the songs describing depression and a couple of disturbing themes and it is comparable to the Manic Street Preachers' Holy Bible (the last one to include Richey James’ lyrics while he was still alive). This 30th anniversary remaster is excellent and including some of the live tracks that are on the super deluxe version makes it of fine value for the much lower price it is. With the talented Steve Albini recording it is loud and noisy rock but crucially spliced with Cobain's mesmerising gift for melody which ensured that Nirvana were not tuneless like some of their peers - though Soundgarden had some great singles - and by far the leading grunge band.