Nirvana - In Utero (September 24, 2013)

[oasisfan35]

So, I...uh, previewed this. I have always loved Nirvana's albums, and would cite them among the most important bands in the history of my life, but I have never been an obsessive tracker of their demos and unreleased sessions, so for me there wasn't a lot hinging on whether they got this release "right" in the sense of what's out there that still has yet to be properly released. All I cared about--which is the same thing I cared about with "With the Lights Out" and the "Nevermind" set--was getting some good music. Bearing that in mind, my feelings are mixed.

The Live and Loud show sounds great--I remember watching this over and over as a kid and it's great to have the full set in such quality. But I wonder--and this is an honest question--for you folks who have been praising the extras on the 2CD version, is there something that strikes you about these crude demos and slight remixes as critically different, in a musical/historical sense, than what came out on "With the Lights Out" and the "Nevermind" set, or is the interest mainly on an audiophile/tech level? Because musically this just seems to me like this era's version of the same stuff that came out on the "With the Lights Out" and "Nevermind" sets--basically rough sketch-type material that sets the stage for what came later but ultimately isn't much to chew on on its own terms. I think the only thing really essential that this box set "unearths" (apart from the live set) are the original Albini mixes of "Heart Shaped Box" and "All Apologies," both of which sound fierce and are long overdue for release. I found the 2013 remix utterly pointless.

To my mind the only thing missing from Nirvana's discography at this point is a 1CD (or 2, if needed) collection of "loose ends"--basically a roundup of officially released B-sides, one-offs, etc., all in their original forms, tidied up neatly for cataloging purposes, similar to the Beatles' "Past Masters." That would be a great album, an "alternate history" of sorts:

Spank Thru
Here She Comes Now
Pay to Play
D7
Even in His Youth
Aneurysm
Oh, the Guilt
Curmudgeon
Return of the Rat
I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Sappy
Marigold
Moist Vagina
Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol
You Know You're Right

The first Outcesticide boot, which I traded for eons ago, included most of these I believe but I'd agree a cleaned up version of such would be a nice book-end to their catalog.

Aren't all those songs on the reissues except for Spank and Right?

Essentially yes, I'm still going through In Utero but I think the point was more of a final compilation; which in theory we can make ourselves minus the two tracks noted.

[Kevin Davis]

http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/968 ... ears-later

Great article. Steven Hyden is one of my favorite music writers working today. Thanks for sharing.

No probs. I'd never heard of him before but his writing is very involving and relatable.
Has he written about any hands I like, I wonder?
I'm afraid to look:)

He wrote a great piece on Neil Young last year after "Psychedelic Pill" came out, which was the article that got me looking for more of his stuff.
http://www.grantland.com/story/_/id/857 ... ate-career

Aren't all those songs on the reissues except for Spank and Right?

I think so, some of them in slightly different mixes. But yeah, I've always liked the idea of artists, after a certain point in their career when the original one-off sources have gone out of print, rounding up all their stray non-album material (formally released stuff I mean, not cutting room floor snippets and whatnot) and putting it on an easily accessible collection. I think it's a service too few artists pay their own bodies of work, and I think the idea of making them only available on reissues of albums that most people long ago paid for is kind of tacky.

But yeah, I have more or less made that collection myself, mixed in with a few scattered oddities that I liked from the "With the Lights Out" set, and it's great. I really like the 1-2 punch of "Oh the Guilt" and "Curmudgeon."

[Tyler Durden]

But yeah, I've always liked the idea of artists, after a certain point in their career when the original one-off sources have gone out of print, rounding up all their stray non-album material (formally released stuff I mean, not cutting room floor snippets and whatnot) and putting it on an easily accessible collection. I think it's a service too few artists pay their own bodies of work, and I think the idea of making them only available on reissues of albums that most people long ago paid for is kind of tacky.

I think that is more of a record company ploy and probably little to do with the artist's intent.

[bada]

They never did a studio version of Talk To Me right?

[matt reeder]

So, I...uh, previewed this. I have always loved Nirvana's albums, and would cite them among the most important bands in the history of my life, but I have never been an obsessive tracker of their demos and unreleased sessions, so for me there wasn't a lot hinging on whether they got this release "right" in the sense of what's out there that still has yet to be properly released. All I cared about--which is the same thing I cared about with "With the Lights Out" and the "Nevermind" set--was getting some good music. Bearing that in mind, my feelings are mixed.

The Live and Loud show sounds great--I remember watching this over and over as a kid and it's great to have the full set in such quality. But I wonder--and this is an honest question--for you folks who have been praising the extras on the 2CD version, is there something that strikes you about these crude demos and slight remixes as critically different, in a musical/historical sense, than what came out on "With the Lights Out" and the "Nevermind" set, or is the interest mainly on an audiophile/tech level? Because musically this just seems to me like this era's version of the same stuff that came out on the "With the Lights Out" and "Nevermind" sets--basically rough sketch-type material that sets the stage for what came later but ultimately isn't much to chew on on its own terms. I think the only thing really essential that this box set "unearths" (apart from the live set) are the original Albini mixes of "Heart Shaped Box" and "All Apologies," both of which sound fierce and are long overdue for release. I found the 2013 remix utterly pointless.

To my mind the only thing missing from Nirvana's discography at this point is a 1CD (or 2, if needed) collection of "loose ends"--basically a roundup of officially released B-sides, one-offs, etc., all in their original forms, tidied up neatly for cataloging purposes, similar to the Beatles' "Past Masters." That would be a great album, an "alternate history" of sorts:

Spank Thru
Here She Comes Now
Pay to Play
D7
Even in His Youth
Aneurysm
Oh, the Guilt
Curmudgeon
Return of the Rat
I Hate Myself and Want to Die
Sappy
Marigold
Moist Vagina
Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol
You Know You're Right

I've never figured out why this doesn't exist. I've made one of my own that is probably my go-to disc when I want to listen to Nirvana:

1. Spank Thru
2. Do You Love Me?
3. Been a Son [Blew EP version]
4. Pay to Play
5. Here She Comes Now
6. D-7
7. Even In His Youth
8. Aneurysm [SLTS single version]
9. Endless, Nameless
10. Curmudgeon
11. Oh, the Guilt
12. Return of the Rat
13. The Priest, They Called Him
14. I Hate Myself and I Want to Die
15. Sappy
16. Marigold
17. Moist Vagina
18. Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through the Strip

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

[VinylGuy]

i used to think You know you are right was a Hole song because of the MTV unplugged from that band.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

[bodysnatcher]

Not sure if this was posted, but a fun read nonetheless. Add: Fuck Brendan O'Brien

http://www.buzzfeed.com/danmartin/this- ... incredible

[matt reeder]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

I have the entire HDD of Nirvana stuff that's going around. Whenever I decide to actually redo this disc that's going on it.

It's pretty awesome having every circulating source of everything, even if I'll never listen to 98% of it.

[oasisfan35]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

I have the entire HDD of Nirvana stuff that's going around. Whenever I decide to actually redo this disc that's going on it.

It's pretty awesome having every circulating source of everything, even if I'll never listen to 98% of it.

Didn't realize there was a Nirvana drive making rounds, that's pretty awesome.

[super nintendo chalmers]

Super Deluxe is where it's at. Wow.

[matt reeder]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

I have the entire HDD of Nirvana stuff that's going around. Whenever I decide to actually redo this disc that's going on it.

It's pretty awesome having every circulating source of everything, even if I'll never listen to 98% of it.

Didn't realize there was a Nirvana drive making rounds, that's pretty awesome.

It's more thorough than the PJ drive that's going around - the PJ drive had like 60-70 missing shows but like 5 sources of every EV solo show and like 5 different radio rips of every FM soundboard.

[Wendy Carlos's Twin]

This is my Nirvana B-Sides set. I auditioned a whole pile of vinyl transfers and some are transfers that I did myself. Most of the digital tracks are untouched. It's 100% lossless and complete. I don't think it gets any better...

DISC 1
------
01 Love Buzz (Single Mix)
02 Spank Thru (Compilation Track)
03 Do You Love Me? (Kiss Cover)
04 Been A Son (EP Version)
05 About A Girl (BBC Version)
06 Polly (BBC Version)
07 Love Buzz (BBC Version)
08 Spank Thru (BBC Version)
09 Molly's Lips (Live)
10 About A Girl (Live)
11 Spank Thru (Live)
12 Pay To Play (Compilation Track)
13 In Bloom (Sub Pop Version)
14 Here She Comes Now (Velvet Underground Cover)
15 D-7 (Greg? Sage Cover)
16 Even In His Youth (B-Side Version)
17 Aneurysm (B-Side Version)
18 Smells Like Teen Spirit (Single Edit)
19 Dumb (BBC Version)
20 Drain You (BBC Version)
21 Endless Nameless (BBC Version)
22 Krist & Jonathan Phone Conversation

DISC 2
------
01 School (Live)
02 Drain You (Live)
03 Been A Son (Live)
04 On A Plain (Live)
05 Something In The Way (BBC Version)
06 Sliver (Live)
07 Polly (Live)
08 Oh, The Guilt (Single Version)
09 Curmudgeon (B-Side Version)
10 Return Of The Rat (Greg? Sage Cover)
11 Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip (UK Bonus Track)
12 Heart-Shaped Box (Albini Mix)
13 All Apologies (Albini Mix)
14 Pennyroyal Tea (Litt Mix)
15 Marigold (B-Side Version)
16 Sappy (Compilation Track)
17 I Hate Myself And Want To Die (Compilation Track)
18 Moist Vagina (B-Side Version)
19 Rape Me (Live)
20 You Know You're Right (Pre-Remaster)
21 Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Live)
22 Bullshitting & Rantings (Wishkah Side 4)

[super nintendo chalmers]

Gonna share it you jerk? Or you just flexin?

[Fuzzcharger]

Gonna share it you jerk? Or you just flexin?

[zeb]

LOL @

[Fuzzcharger]

Live versions of album tracks as B sides suck. It always struck me as such a lazy way of filling cd single space in the 90's.

[Evolution6579]

Is there a studio version of Talk To Me? That would be my ultimate Nirvana track.

[Evolution6579]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

I have the entire HDD of Nirvana stuff that's going around. Whenever I decide to actually redo this disc that's going on it.

It's pretty awesome having every circulating source of everything, even if I'll never listen to 98% of it.

This drive...does it, by chance, include a studio version of Talk To Me?

[matt reeder]

I've always left off "You Know Your Rights" because I hate the studio mastering and because I really like ending the disc with "Gallons...".

There's a non-mastered version on the "Original B-Sides & Rarities" boot.

I have the entire HDD of Nirvana stuff that's going around. Whenever I decide to actually redo this disc that's going on it.

It's pretty awesome having every circulating source of everything, even if I'll never listen to 98% of it.

This drive...does it, by chance, include a studio version of Talk To Me?

No such thing exists, unless they managed to record one and then never tell anyone and then lose the tape. The only way we'll ever hear anything like that is if Craig Montgomery recorded a soundcheck sometime in late 1991 when they were rehearsing the song.