MP3 CBR 320 Kbps - Label: Geffen Records/Universal #0602527779034
Remastered Deluxe Edition - 13 Unreleased Recordings
Nevermind was never meant to change the world, but you can never predict when the zeitgeist will hit, and Nirvana's second album turned out to be the place where alternative rock crashed into the mainstream. This wasn't entirely an accident, either, since Nirvana did sign with a major label, and they did release a record with a shiny surface, no matter how humongous the guitars sounded. And, yes, Nevermind is probably a little shinier than it should be, positively glistening with echo and fuzzbox distortion, especially when compared with the black-and-white murk of Bleach. This doesn't discount the record, since it's not only much harder than any mainstream rock of 1991, its character isn't on the surface, it's in the exhilaratingly raw music and haunting songs. Kurt Cobain's personal problems and subsequent suicide naturally deepen the dark undercurrents, but no matter how much anguish there is on Nevermind, it's bracing because he exorcises those demons through his evocative wordplay and mangled screams -- and because the band has a tremendous, unbridled power that transcends the pain, turning into pure catharsis. And that's as key to the record's success as Cobain's songwriting, since Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl help turn this into music that is gripping, powerful, and even fun (and, really, there's no other way to characterize "Territorial Pissings" or the surging "Breed"). In retrospect, Nevermind may seem a little too unassuming for its mythic status -- it's simply a great modern punk record -- but even though it may no longer seem life-changing, it is certainly life-affirming, which may just be better.
by Stephen Thomas Erlewine
Tracklist, CD1:
1. Smells Like Teen Spirit - 5:02
2. In Bloom - 4:15
3. Come As You Are - 3:39
4. Breed - 3:04
5. Lithium - 4:17
6. Polly - 2:57
7. Territorial Pissings - 2:23
8. Drain You - 3:44
9. Lounge Act - 2:37
10. Stay Away - 3:32
11. On A Plain - 3:16
12. Something In The Way - 11:02
13. Even In His Youth (B-Side) - 3:04
14. Aneurysm (B-Side) - 4:46
15. Curmudgeon (B-Side) - 2:59
16. D-7 (B-Side, Live At The BBC) - 3:46
17. Been A Son (B-Side, Live) - 2:31
18. School (B-Side, Live) - 2:34
19. Drain You (B-Side, Live) - 3:53
20. Sliver (B-Side, Live) - 2:04
21. Polly (B-Side, Live) - 2:47
• Kurt Cobain - vocals, guitars
• Krist Novoselic - bass
• Dave Grohl - drums
Produced and Engineered by Butch Vig and Nirvana
Chad Charming: Drums on "Polly"
Kirk Canning: Cello on "Something In The Way"
Mixed by Andy Wallace. Recorded at Sound City; Van Nuys, CA on May 2-19, 1991
Produced by special arrangement with Sub Pop Records
Track 16 taken from A Jon Peel Session, recorded on October 21, 1990
Tracks 17-19 recorded live at Paramount Theatre, Seatle, WA on October 31, 1991
Tracks 20-21 recorded live at O'Brien Pavilion, Del Mar, CA December 28, 1991
Tracklist, CD2:
1. In Bloom (The Smart Studio Session) - 4:32
2. Immodium (Breed) (The Smart Studio Session) - 3:15
3. Lithium (The Smart Studio Session) - 4:32
4. Polly (The Smart Studio Session) - 2:59
5. Pay To Play (The Smart Studio Session) - 3:29
6. Here She Comes Now (The Smart Studio Session) - 5:02
7. Dive (The Smart Studio Session) - 3:56
8. Sappy (The Smart Studio Session) - 3:37
9. Smells Like Teen Spirit (The Boombox Rehersal) - 5:40
10. Verse Chorus Verse (The Boombox Rehersal) - 3:15
11. Territorial Pissings (The Boombox Rehersal) - 2:12
12. Lounge Act (The Boombox Rehersal) - 2:38
13. Come As You Are (The Boombox Rehersal) - 4:13
14. Old Age (The Boombox Rehersal) - 4:22
15. Something In The Way (The Boombox Rehersal) - 5:31
16. On A Plain (The Boombox Rehersal) - 3:22
17. Drain You (BBC Session) - 4:04
18. Something In The Way (BBC Session) - 3:24
Tracks 1-8 Recorded at Smart Studios, Madison, WI on April 2-6, 1990
Produced by Special arrangemen; wiih Suh Pop Records
Tracks 9-16 Recorded by Nirvana in a practice space, Tacoma, WA
Track 17 from a John Peel radio session, Maida Vale Studios; London, England, September 3, 1991
Track 18 from a Mark Goodier radio session, Maida Vale Studios; London, England, November 9, 1991
