Nirvana - Unplugged In New York (1994)

Who would have ever thought that an album of acoustic Nirvana songs would work? The release of this album in the wake of Kurt Cobain's suicide no doubt boosted sales but it proved without doubt the inherent power of Nirvana's music. It also highlighted how gifted they were in interpreting other peoples music. It's hard to shift the image of Cobain crouched on that stool in the middle of a stage littered with flowers. A captive audience sitting doe-eyed on the floor in front of him. Compare this scene with the uproarious video for 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' and you see that by the unplugged album Nirvana had come full circle. By November 1993 Nirvana were the complete band even though Kurt Cobain's inner turmoil would overhaul him within 6 months.

Normally the very notion of an unplugged album makes me nauseous. It just conjures up images of that old goat Billy Joel on his piano, crooning through a back catalogue that should have been put out to pasture decades before. This album is different; even though it is recorded without much wattage the performance is dare I say it, electric. You can almost feel the enthusiasm from the crowd who knew they were witnessing history in the making. Kurt Cobain voice sounds particularly gravely on the stunning opener, 'About A Girl' from the ‘Bleach’ album. The spaghetti strand drumming of Dave Grohl bolsters the constant chord changes. 'Come As You Are' holds on to its distinctive guitar twang even in its stripped down state and Cobain's vocals are as robust as ever. 'Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam' has some wonderful accordion playing from Krist Novoselic and Cobain voice sounds incredibly vulnerable. The lyrics are sadly prophetic and the song is an apt lament for music's great loss. In an album of touching moments, pride of place must go to final track 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night'. Music as heartbreaking as this is rare, so handle the experience with care.

On occasions the unplugged versions outdo their studio relations. 'Dumb' is bolstered by a wonderful cello arrangement and has a more wholesome sound than what appears on the million seller ‘In Utero’’. 'Polly' was an obvious choice seeing as it was already semi-acoustic but hearing it untutored, open to Cobain's mood on the day, is a joy. Not knowing the original version of 'The Man Who Sold The World' by David Bowie, before Nirvana did a take on it, was an advantage. I wasn't tainted by expectation and that powerful chord riff quickly won me over. Who cares if it contravenes the unplugged rulebook, this is one of the greatest reworkings of all time. Cobain rarely falters throughout the performance. He does struggle to get to grips with the vocal strains of 'On A Plain' at first but recovers admirably. His humour is very much in evidence highlighting the comfort he took from performing even when he was experiencing excruciating stomach pains. 'All Apologies' is the only track that lacks a killer edge. The version on 'In Utero' is one of Nirvana's crowning moments but here it sounds a tad tired. Nirvana perform 3 songs from the Meat Puppets 'Oh Me', 'Plateau' and 'Lake of Fire'. To add a taste of authenticity Curt Kirkwood from the Meat Puppets plays guitar on all 3 tracks. Each song seamlessly fits in with the unplugged notion. 'Lake of Fire' is particularly impressive, Cobain adopts a croaking southern drawl and the chugging guitar makes a delightful accompaniment.

The production on the album is exemplary partly due to Nirvana's intoxicating performance. There is the odd amplifier whistle and once or twice Cobain sings too closely into the mike but overall it is astonishing to think that the album was recorded in a single take. Listening now one could almost be transported back to that seminal evening. Unplugged in New York is a tonic for those interested in getting to know this bands music without having to struggle with the complexities of their studio albums. The album gives you the nuts and bolts, the melody without the white noise, a revealing insight into workings of some modern day classics. The fact that most bands would wither under such a difficult spotlight acts as a true testament to Nirvana's legend.

Rating: 9/10

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