Review: Nirvana- Nevermind [Limited Super Deluxe Edition] Disc 1 (2011)

Band: Nirvana

Release: Nevermind [Limited Super Deluxe Edition] Disc 1

Genre: Grunge

Label: Geffen Records

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/Nirvana

Tracklist:

1. Smells Like Teen Spirit

2. In Bloom

3. Come As You Are

4. Breed

5. Lithium

6. Polly

7. Territorial Pissings

8. Drain You

9. Lounge Act

10. Stay Away

11. On A Plain

12. Something In The Way

13. Endless, Nameless

14. Even In His Youth [Smells Like Teen Spirit single b-side]

15. Aneurysm [Smells Like Teen Spirit single b-side]

16. Curmudgeon [Lithium single b-side]

17. D-7 (Wipers cover) [BBC Radio Session]

18. Been A Son (Live) [Lithium single b-side]

19. School (Live) [Come As You Are single b-side]

20. Drain You (Live) [Come As You Are single b-side]

21. Sliver (Live) [In Bloom single b-side]

22. Polly (Live) [In Bloom single b-side]

Review: 10/10

Growing up a 90’s kid and not having MTV, you were subject to the radio. Bands and artists like R.E.M., Metallica, U2 and Red Hot Chili Peppers taking over the airwaves, Pearl Jam helped break the mold initially with the release of Ten on August 27, 1991, signaling the beginning of the massive grunge movement of the 90’s. Only 1 month later, Nirvana released one the all time greatest albums of not only the grunge genre, but ANY genre ever, entitled Nevermind. In a 1-2-3 punch, Soundgarden also released the album Badmotorfinger in October, further helping grunge’s takeover.

What can be said about Nevermind that hasn’t already been said? It’s an album that helped define an entire generation. From the ultra catchy chords of the very first song “Smells Like Teen Spirit” to the muddled, noisy end of “Endless, Nameless,” the album is all around gold (or diamond to be politically correct). “Smells Like Teen Spirit” will forever remain as one of my all time favorite songs till the end of time. It’s instantly memorable for anyone who hears it for the first time, it’s full of energy, and it’s simple yet heavy so that anyone can get into the music.

“Breed” is a song that reminds me of their previous album Bleach, which was much more raw than this more polished masterpiece. It has heavy and fuzzy bass overtones and played at a faster pace than most songs on the record. “Polly” is probably one of the most underrated songs on the record and I felt it should have gotten more airplay than it did. A much softer song than most of the record, it really throws people off after the energy provided by the last song. Think of it like a come down from the angst.

Then you go into probably the most energetic song on the record called “Territorial Pissings,” which is more punk if anything. It’s got the unpolished guitars, thrashing drums, and familiar punk hooks to keep true punks attention, yet it still has a grunge influence that is not easily explained.

One thing I’ve always liked about this album is the production and the mixing on it, which is very unique, even more so compared to anything that is out today. Some songs are very raw and unpolished, while some songs are polished to a mirror finish and has dominated (and continues to dominate) the airwaves today. This first disc also adds on the studio b-sides that were included with the initial singles of the album and the live b-side tracks that were also included with other singles.