Nirvana - In Utero (12 tracks) +Album Reviews

The Swansong To A Legend's Brief Blaze In The Spotlight

Busy Body | London, England | 04/23/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Almost three weeks ago, it was ten years since the tragic death of Kurt Cobain. As a dedication, I'm here to write a review of "In Utero," Nirvana's greatest single musical accomplishment in their short lived career as the world's biggest and best rock band on the planet. In those ten years since Cobain committed suicide, the music scene is forever changing and Kurt's music is still as powerful and widely-received as it was in the early 1990's. Nirvana blazed fiercely as the most revolutionary and influential rock act since the Beatles, and before they knew what hit them, the band was over forever on April 5th 1994. The world came to realise this three days later."Nevermind" has made Nirvana the most famous rock band in the world. It was their second album and sold a staggering 18 million copies worldwide. Kurt was tired of the adulation and praise that he received in truckloads, and decided to go back into the studio in 1993 and make an album that would scare off all the cling-ons. Originally titled "I Hate Myself And I Want To Die," the album was released in September 1993 and was called In Utero. It topped the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, and shifted some 6 million copies in America. Critics adored it and I have to agree, this is one of the finest albums of all time."Serve The Servants" opens the album in grand style with a loud and abrasive beat with a wonderful melody. The song's most striking line is, "I tried hard to have a father, but instead I had a dad." This deep-cutting line refers to Kurt's father who deserted him when he was a child. "Scentless Apprentice" builds the album's aggression up even more, in one of the hardest rocking anthems the band ever recorded. This was one of the first times the band all shared writing kudos on a song instead of just Kurt. However, Kurt completely steals the song with his tortured yelp, "Go away!" throughout the chorus. The disturbing and manic verses refer to a book that Kurt read on a murdering perfume psycho. The album's lead single, "Heart-Shaped Box," is up next and easily towers as one of the greatest rock songs ever recorded. The production and vocals are on to top form here, complete with a visually stunning video (based on Kurt's dreams, apparently) and some genius lyrics such as, "Throw down your umbilical noose so I can climb right back." Perhaps the album's most controversial song, "Rape Me," follows. This is easily one of the best songs on the album in which Kurt sings of rape as a metaphor for his emotional torture. The violence contained within the song makes it a song you simply cannot ignore."Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" is a fantastic song with a subdued intro that just rages out into a massive and loud assault on the ears. The lyrics, the arrangement, the vocals and the instruments are all superb - hell, even the title of the song is genius. "Dumb" is the first truly tranquil song on the album. There are no harsh vocals or lyrics here, everything is laid-back, but underneath lies disturbing images which can be seen through the lyrics, "My heart is broke, but I have some glue. Help me inhale, and mend it with you." The addition of the cello also makes this one of the most beautiful songs you are ever likely to hear, even if it was three years old at the time of this album's release. "Very Ape" is perhaps the worst song on the album, but it doesn't even last two minutes so it doesn't really matter. It's still a good composition, however, but serves as more of an interlude. "Milk It" is one of the best songs on the album and has some amazing lyrics. I love the way Kurt screams his chorus, "Doll steak! Test meat!" which is then followed by "Look on the bright side is suicide. Lost eyesight I'm on your side. Angel left wing, right wing, broken wing. Lack of iron and/or sleeping." Here so much can be deciphered about Kurt's tumultuous state of mind at the time of writing and recording."Pennyroyal Tea" is an extremely heartbreaking song, not so much for the lyrical content, but in the way Kurt almost cries his chorus with so much emotion and the instrumental halfway through. A fantastic song, and an utter classic. "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" is one of my favourite songs on the album, despite what others may think. I love the way it starts off, so loud and shocking, before breaking out with a twisted and head-banging beat that only gets better as the song continues. Kurt's vocals are so full of hate towards himself and the way he keep questioning "What is wrong with me?" is just almost unlistenable. "Tourette's" is the funniest track on the album. The title of the song is a condition which causes people to suddenly blurt out any noise or cuss-word that comes to mind, and suddenly we have Kurt just screaming and babbling a load of nonsense, but of course, in the best way possible. And then the album finally closes with "All Apologies." One of Nirvana's finest ever songs, it represents a man so hard on himself it makes almost unbearable listening.OVERALL GRADE: 10/10So it's 10 years since the death of one of rock's biggest icons. Kurt Cobain became a legend upon his death, and why shouldn't he? He was a true genius who didn't realise his full potential before it was too late. Maybe we didn't realise his full potential. Who knows what he'd have gone on to do if he hadn't have been so stupid to commit suicide? Nevermind was awesome, this is ever better. Buy it now to realise just why. R.I.P. Kurt Cobain. 20th February 1967 - 5 April 1994."

Forgive me, I was wrong

T. Tiraterra | Davis, CA | 11/14/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"A couple years ago, I had a different Amazon.com account, and I used it to go in and bash Nirvana albums. I had never actually heard most of them (my reviewing standards were somewhat lower back then), but I thought that since I was a Pearl Jam fan that I had to hate Nirvana. Yeah, the 16-year old mind is a strange one. One day I actually got to listen to "In Utero" and I immediately realized how wrong I had been. I now consider "In Utero" to be one of the best rock albums of the 90's. I write this review partly to say I'm sorry for previous Nirvana reviews I have posted.The album is front-loaded with radio singles, probably a decision of their record company. However, it is immediately striking as a darker and more complex album than their previous "Nevermind". It is much heavier as well, and less pleasing to the mainstream masses. And wow, how it's all so terrific.It's disturbing in many ways because it's difficult not to view this as Kurt Cobain's suicide note- he mentions it explicitly on "Milk It" and often talks about death and despair. However, that man was a true songwriting genius. The lyrics flow together beautifully, and power the music forward. "In Utero" works as an adrenaline rush as well, since most of the songs rock as hard as any of their other grunge peers.The album probably gets most interesting around the halfway mark. Don't get me wrong, I love "Serve the Servants", "Rape Me", and "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle", but I believe that it's most interesting to pay attention to what happens after the album's more commercial first half. It becomes almost downright nihilistic around "Very Ape" and descends into guitar screeches and wails that cumulate in the "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter/Tourette's" duo. This was truly an artist in pain, and yet his songs still remain hauntingly poetic. Everything wraps up with "All Apologies", which I still find myself getting into all these listens later. That was probably the best song Nirvana ever did.After hearing "In Utero", I always have a feeling of sadness because the album just leaves you begging for more, which you know you can't have. I believe that this is the best example of great Nirvana, both in Cobain's songwriting and how hard the music rocks. I only wish they could have gone on longer."

Like fine wine -- it improves with age

Sal Nudo | Champaign, Illinois | 07/01/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""I miss the comfort in being sad," Kurt Cobain grovels harshly on the excellent mid-tempo rocker, "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge on Seattle," a sparse and raw tune that typifies the overall sound of "In Utero." Cobain and company establish a rougher-edged sound right away on "In Utero," rawer than the previous Nevermind album, though not as raw as the band's debut, Bleach, perhaps somewhere in between. The chorus to "Serve the Servants," the opening song, is as catchy as any previous Nirvana tune, just somewhat more plodding and low key. Inescapable from this great disc is the slower, thicker, even woodsy sound that may not grab a hold of listeners like the previous album so overwhelmingly did.

Future Foo Fighter Dave Grohl contributes the over-the-top Sabbath-like riff to "Scentless Apprentice," as Cobain howls the chorus meant to scare all his fans away. Needless to say, this is not a happy album. The lyrics are cynical, isolated and sad, though there are tiny moments of inspiration. The dark feel to "In Utero" was likely created in response to "Nevermind's" sparkling, rip-roaring introduction into the 1990s that sounds highly fan-friendly in comparison. The slow-paced "Dumb" from "In Utero" perhaps could have been a radio hit, but the lyrics are simply too depressing, probably best left for true Nirvana fans; the same holds true for the Pollyesque "PennyRoyal Tea."

On the faster side of things, "Very Ape" is a catchy and vibrant rocker that reveals Cobain's belief in reincarnation. "Milk It" possesses the incomparable formula that Cobain made famous and classic -- start soft and then knock listeners over later with a huge screaming chorus. No one else could properly replicate or match that formula, though too many bands tried. For my money, "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" is the album's top song; listening to Cobain grovel "What is wrong with me?" over and over seems to fit the tone of "In Utero." "Tourette's" is as quick and punk as it gets, a properly named ditty that comes and goes before you know what hit you.

Kurt Cobain was simply incapable of writing bad songs or screwing around with fluffy music. He left this world a winner, making "In Utero" on his own terms. It's truly a guitar, bass and drums rock album -- no extra frills like backup singers, keyboards, overly used strings or an extra rhythm guitar to mix with Cobain's lead. There are no trappings of the rich and famous rock band overdoing things in the studio. As far as the recording, Steve Albini did a great job getting the raw sound Cobain requested, with no extra juice to the vocals. Additionally, Dave Grohl's drums throughout the record are thumping and fantastic.

No disrespect meant, but Cobain was far from a man at peace with himself and the world. "In Utero" is not for the faint of heart or for people who want Nirvana spoon fed to them. Yet, if you want to hear truly genuine, no-nonsense music that is more riveting each time you sink your teeth into it, give "In Utero" a try.

"Find your place/speak the truth." -- Kurt Cobain on "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter""

Better Than "Nevermind"?

David Baker | Nosgoth | 09/15/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Whether you like Nirvana or not, you have to give them credit. "Nevermind" was the filled with teen angst and hooks that rocked like no nobody's business. So did Nirvana follow "Nevermind" up with another angst masterpiece? Listen to the first track, "Serve The Servants": "Teenage angst has payed off well, now I'm bored and old". It gets better. "In Utero" is different, harsher, more complex, and a lot more angrier. For a band that saved Rock with radio-friendly songs to make an abrasive album like "In Utero" can be career suicide. And you can't help but feel that's exactly what Nirvana wanted. A lot of these songs are raw Punk. "Scentless Apprentice" and "Milk It" are more than enough to send Alt-Rock fans running for Creed's "Human Clay". "Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle" snarls with rage. On certain lyrics like "It's so relieving, to know that you're leaving, as soon as you get paid" you can't help but think he's talking about Courtney Love. On "Nevermind", Kurt threw in a lot of funny moments while still being serious. On "In Utero", Kurt just doesn't seem to be in the mood for anything other than expressing his pain. "I miss the comfort in being sad", "I'm on my time with everyone", "I think I'm dumb", "What is wrong with me?". The lyrics weren't whiny like most of the bands today, they were sadly true. The slower songs are beautiful as well. "Dumb" and "All Apologies" weep with brilliance and talent. Both show a side to the band that came out better on "Unplugged In New York", but they're still amazing here. The end to "All Apologies" is enough to make you cry. Kurt sings over and over, "All in all is all we are". So is "In Utero" better than "Nevermind"? No, it's not. It's just as good. But be warned, this isn't an album you should listen to expecting to hear fun little songs, "In Utero" is a bleak masterpiece. On one of my personal favorites, "Radio Friendly Unit Shifter" (How can you not love that title?), Kurt is beyond anger and depression. "What is wrong with me?", Kurt says over and over, "What is wrong with me?". A final call never sounded so disturbing."

DETRACTORS OF NIRVANA PLEASE READ

James Morrison | Ontario, Canada | 09/10/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As I'm sure a lot of you have seen already, there have been some mind-numbingly incorrect statements being made about Nirvana and their album 'In Utero', as well as a few other bands such as Alice in Chains, by certain members of this site. Members such as Spidermonkey, Slave to the Power of Prog Metal, Cure My Ills, EveryoneZen and PARTICULARLY Mastershake. Let me just take some time to address some of the ill-informed opinions of some of these misguided people.

Spidermonkey:

You're major problem with this album seems to be its lyrical content. Quote: "Teenage angst has paid off well...Oh the irony of the opening line of the album. I'm sure it did pay them well... in bucket loads of cash." First off, did you even listen to the line IMMEDIATELY following that one? Incase not, Kurt says "Now I'm bored and old." Kurt is commenting on the futility of being angry at everything and everyone all the time and how it gets you nowhere. Look at the poor mans life, CHRIST...it's a testament to that thought. Do you think he wanted to be rich and famous? He had debilitating stomach ulcers that left him puking up blood before concerts due to the stress of touring and his new-found popularity, he hated the media and avoided interviews whenever he could, shrugged off ANY suggestion that he was the "Voice of a Generation" and drove a 1300 dollar Volkswagen. You also stated that 'Heart-Shaped Box' and 'All Apologies' where...whiny? I will agree that, yes they did come from a different emotional state then some of the other tracks on the album, but to call them whiny is really just ignorant. Listen not to what Kurt is saying with his words but what the overall musical arrangements are trying to tell you. Listen to the way the guitars intermix with the vocals and drums to create a mood of agitation in some parts to mourning and sorrow in other parts. What Kurt could not express fully in his lyrics, he expressed perfectly with his guitar textures. And yes, we all know that Kurt was not the best guitarist in the world but what he lacked in ability and "b*tching licks", he made up for in raw passion and conviction. To me, that is more impressive then how many time signature shifts and fret board wanking you can pull off in a single measure of music anyway. Also, you made light that this album was `less-tolerable' then `Nevermind'. Listen man, this album WAS SUPPOSED TO BE less tolerable then their breakthrough album. `In Utero' was a conscious effort to separate the posers they picked up when early 90's alternative hit the main stream from their REAL audience. They meant it to be a bleaker, more introspective picture of the world and they wanted it to alienate people. So if you're looking for mindless/easy pop music, look to Hilary Duff or Avril please.

EveryoneZen:

You said something to the effect that this album was too polished compared to Nirvana's earlier work. Compared to Nirvana's earlier work, the one track basement tapes I made in 2000 with my old band sound like the work of Brian Eno or Kevin Shields. `Bleach' was made for only $600 because that's all that the band had at the time! Kurt even said that he was less then happy with the way `Bleach' turned out in the end. When they were signed to DGC, for `Nevermind', producer Butch Vig and mixer Andy Wallace were part in parcel with the contract. The result, though a timeless magnum opus was not what the band, in particular Kurt, had envisioned. So for `In Utero', don't you think that it's acceptable that, now that they had the money and the means, they would now make the record they always wanted to make? I mean, they didn't spend it on anything else. And who better then New York Noise scene musician/producer Steve Albini to do the job? Out of any of the producers available at the time, I totally believe that he was, HANDS DOWN, the best man for the job. Yeah, it definitely sounded cleaner than `Bleach' but that's what happens when underground bands hit the mainstream. It doesn't take away from cred, it's just the way the system works sometimes. Who cares if they pumped a lot of money into its production? The result was amazing and yes, it is a difficult listen, but a very rewarding one if you stick with it.

Slave to the Power of Prog Metal:

Ok, like I said before, Kurt Cobain was not the greatest guitarist in the world. So what? Comparing Nirvana to Soundgarden is like comparing apples to oranges. Each band, like each of the big four of early 90's Grunge, has a completely different aesthetic and played for different audiences; they all just got heaped into the buzz-word/lifestyle of "Grunge" to make it easier for record execs and fashion designers to exploit them. Nirvana was a band more concerned with the punk technique for writing songs whereas Soundgarden took the more technical metal approach to theirs. Now, I LOVE Soundgarden and Mr. Cornell, but you can't honestly say one was better then the other...it's unfair. Oh, and by the way, PLEASE leave those clichéd puns to Chad Kroeger.

Cure My Ills:

Now, I understand that a lot of people don't agree with a lot of the things that Kurt did in his life and that a few aspects of it were deplorable (and I think that we're not getting the whole story behind his tragic death, but that is a discussion for another time). Therefore I do realize why you wouldn't want a young child to follow his example. However, if you're child worships Cobain THAT much, then something isn't right here. I loved, LOVED this band when I was younger. They were all I listened to day and night, and opened me to so much beautiful and challenging music as I grew up, but I had total respect and admiration for my parents. They were my role models, not Kurt and how he decided to live his life. If that isn't the case with you, then your qualms lay elsewhere, not with the subject matter of this album. Also, keep in mind that this is a music review page and we're here to discuss that music, not the lifestyle of the artists who made it.

Mastershake:

My God...where do I begin? I have taken it upon myself to read all of your reviews and NEVER have I seen anyone so misinformed as yourself. The only thing I can think of that explains your reviews are that A: you have NO idea what's going on, NO concept of the passage of time and have been living under a rock for the last 14 years or B: you're joking around. I sincerely hope its B. If not, I have some writing to do...

1) Its spelled Kurt Cobain, not Kirk Conbay or Kirk Konami. This statement in itself is the biggest evidence I have that you're just a**ing around and that all of what I'm going to say in pointless...but never the less...

2) Nirvana formed nearly a decade before Puddle of Mudd. They were jamming in the Seattle area before Wes Scantlin even picked up his first guitar. Wes has also been quoted as saying that "Nirvana and Alice in Chains were some of (his) biggest influences growing up". So, how can bands that came and concluded before his musical career began, be the ones ripping him off? This is like saying the Beatles ripped off Oasis.

3) Pearl Jam was formed from the ashes of a band called Mother Love Bone who were the remnants of a band called Green River. Green River along with Soundgarden, Malfunkshun (whose singer, Andy Wood, would join with members of Green River to form Mother Love Bone), The Melvins, Skin Yard and The U-Men would appear on a compilation released by Sub-Pop called `Deep Six'. This compilation would lay the groundwork for the genre we now know as "Grunge". Like my previous statement however, Pearl Jam was formed nearly a decade before Staind came into being so once again, you're chronology is incomprehensibly wrong. Staind also have a song on their last album `14 Shades of Grey' called "Layne". As you probably don't know, that song was written about Layne Staley. The lead singer of Alice in Chains who died in mid 2002. Aaron Lewis, like Wes Scantlin, considers Alice in Chains, a MAJOR influence on his bands sound and has total respect and admiration for Eddie Vedder and Pearl Jam.

4) This one kills me. Fred Durst IS NOT an 80's thrash metal pioneer. Fred Durst is a washed-up tattoo artist who road the coattails of Korn and the late 90's Nu-Metal flash in the pan to stardom. If you want REAL thrash metal pioneers, listen to Metallica or Slayer.

5) AVRIL LAVIGNE IS NOT PUNK.

6) HILARY DUFF DOES NOT SCREAM NOR IS SHE HEAVY.

7) Godsmack got their name FROM Alice in Chains not vic versa. Originally, Godsmack was an Alice cover band and it wasn't until 1995, after AIC stopped touring, that Sully Erna decided to write original material with his band.

8) `Nevermind' outsold `In Utero' and though the latter was praised by critics, `Nevermind' (along with `Ten' from Pearl Jam) are considered modern rock masterpieces. Call it a hunch...but I doubt Godsmack, Puddle of Mudd or maybe even Staind will ever have that distinction under their belts.

9) `In Utero' was not Nirvana's debut album, it was their last. `Bleach' was their debut on a minor (Sub-Pop) and `Nevermind' was their debut on a major (DGC). `Nevermind' was never banned in the United States.

10) Lacuna Coil came before Evanescance.

11) Linkin Park has no Thrash elements to their sound.

That all being said, and pending that your not kidding around...though I don't see how you couldn't be, PLEASE for your sake and everyone else's, go to www.allmusic.com and read their critics reviews of some of the albums/artists you have slagged on here. All I can say aside from that is, and this goes for everyone, keep listening to as much music as you can, regardless of style or content. There are two many three-chord wonders writing songs about how their childhood was bad and how their girlfriend left them for another guy and making money off it. That is why the music industry is in the sad state of affairs that it's in today. Not enough people challenging themselves to listen or write truly original timeless music. I'm not saying we need ANOTHER Nirvana...we have too many of those already, I'm just saying we need visionaries of like-minds, not of like-sounds.

Also, being a fan of music, doesn't just mean owning all of bands albums, it means reading up on their bios, history and anything else you can get your hands on all the while being media literate and keeping an open mind.

One final note on this album though. This may be presumptuous, but anyone who doesn't give this album and albums like it, at least 4 stars...isn't listening hard enough. This was the swan-song of a truly gifted songwriter and arguably our generations John Lennon. Don't let this turn into a forgotten masterwork...keep it alive, keep listening."

Search - Nirvana :: In Utero

CD Details

Synopsis

Similarly Requested CDs

CD Reviews