There are a lot of options for this, but I'd narrow it down to three this time to choose: Heart-Shaped Box, Lithium or Paper Cuts. Every song repesenting my favorite on their albums. "Nevermind" and "In Utero" are still battling for my No. 1 Nirvana album (Bleach is still a great starting point for a band). But my favorite act from the grunge movement will always be Alice in Chains, but that's another story. Anyway, for a long time my favorite was Heart-Shaped Box and I guess it still remains as the one for me 🙂 In terms of covers, I think picking one from the MTV Unplugged one is almost undeniable. Either "Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam" or "The Man Who Sold the World".
In Utero is their best album, hands down. Milk It is my favorite song by them. I saw Hole live on the Live Through This tour in Rochester, NY a few months after Kurt died. It was a great show and Courtney was her usual crazy self. Me and some friends were hanging out outside the venue afterwards when Courtney and Melissa walked right out the front door. Melissa said hi to everyone and walked off. Courtney hung around a bit. She signed autographs for all of us and talked music with us. She told us to never give up on ourselves and to never let anyone tell us who we are. She was incredibly sweet and gracious. She told us that she loved us before we left. I always feel the need to repeat that story whenever she is brought up. Yeah, she was a train wreck but there was a side to her that people didn't see. I know you didn't trash her or anything. I.just thought you might find the story interesting. I can't wait fir the Live Through This episode! One of the best albums of the 90's. I will die on that hill.
This will probably get buried but first-time viewer here. I've watched countless videos about In Utero, and this is by far one of the most concise videos I've seen. Your breakdown and insight was fantastic, but mostly I loved the way you didnt pull punches regarding the conspiracy. 10/10. Subscribed immediately.
I had a similar experience with the conspiracies around Kurts death. Growing up, my parents spout the idea that Courtney was responsible for Kurt's death and how he wasn't suicidal because he said he wasn't, how "I hate myself and want to die" was just a joke and how his attempt in Rome was an accident, but as someone who's been battling through depression and suicidal ideation, of COURSE he brushed off being depressed and suicidal. He said contradictory things all the time, such as him not wanting to be famous but saying in previous interviews how he's always wanted to be famous. And of course he wouldn't want the world to know. My own parents hardly if at all know that I've been struggling through depression for years, and I sure as hell avoid admitting it to them. It's annoying in a way to discredit the struggles he was facing and pin it all on Courtney
Dead men can't pull triggers. Watch the American SpyFox series. I get what you're saying as I have been at War with severe depression for decades as well. But there is just too much that doesn't add up in the case, regardless of your opinion. Check it out with an open mind, it's interesting. Whether or not he did it doesn't matter, he's gone either way. There's just way too much going on there. #Justiceforkurt
Heart Shaped Box was the first song and video that scared the shit out of me as a kid. Definitely (now that I'm old) NIrvanas best song. It haunts me every time I hear the opening notes. Truly the masterpiece of a tortured and misunderstood artist.
That was a terrific review. This album always takes me back to that week in April 1994, when I was working in Tacoma, WA for a few days. That day the local rock radio stations reported all morning about an unidentified man found dead in Kurt's home, and all I could think of was the stalker syndrome that seemed to be part of the culture of the time and that some desperate fan had broken into his home and then, well, met with a bad ending. Later in the day when it was confirmed to be Kurt, I just felt a profound sadness. He was only about a year older than me, so while I was a fan I felt a few years removed from the "he speaks for me" generation. It felt more like I'd just lost a contemporary, someone I could've gone to school with. So thumbs way up for In Utero and All Apologies, my favorite of theirs.
Damn.. that was truly incredible. All of it.... every thought & comment. And I couldn't help but chuckle at the 'cough Fantano' 😂 I so enjoy your blending of personal/heartfelt commentary with the more technical & factual history.. you strike the perfect balance. 👌😊
Oh boy, I like what I see for next week, just my favorite album of all time!!! Also, slightly more importantly, you do awesome when you open up and are genuine, even if the message is tough to say and hear. Keep it up :)
@@90sArchive The Shotgun shell landed on the side where it shouldn’t have. He had not double but triple the lethal amount of heroin in his blood, yet managed to, not just only operate the gun but also neatly lay away his utensils before shooting himself. That’s nearly impossible, even for avid Drug Users, considering that the lethal dose was injected intravenous.
Oh, hey, it's my favorite album. Also cool that you talked about Mia Zapata. The Git's 'Frenching the Bully' is also one of the best albums of this era of rock, maybe the best after this one imo. Would be cool if you ever talked about it, if you're doing more 90s stuff at all. Don't see too many people mentioning The Gits unfortunately.
The nanny on the inner sleeve is Cali DeWitt, who was dressed in drag. He was a former roadie for Hole. He was also one of the last people to see Kurt alive during his elusive final days in Seattle after he left the Exodus Rehab Facility in Los Angeles.
What a season opener Abi! In my teens I was a huge Nirvana fan, this was when these albums were current. I also started on Nevermind.... Like most, then went backwards with bleach and Incesticide. In Utero was exactly how I wanted Nirvana to sound, the album is raw as fuck and I love it.... Still love it, most people don't know about the album due to Nevermind, but it's a massive assault on the senses. Brilliant review, you just get better.
Beautiful closing thoughts omg, this review put in words about everything I love about Nirvana and In Utero, it was the first album that I ever listened to and the moment I heard the screams in Scentless Apprentice I fell in love with it and albums and music in general. Can't believe it took me 10 years to finally get it on cd, thank you so much for uploading this review :)))
Cool episode and awesome start to Season 3. To me, "In Utero" joins Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" and Joy Division's "Closer" in being masterpiece final albums by brilliant talents sadly gone too soon. Happy 30th Anniversary to a great album that I love.
Nirvana opened the door to older music for me when I started middle school. I’ve always had a fascination with them since then. Really loved this episode. It gave me some new perspectives on one of my favorite albums ever.
Perfect video Abby!!!! I love "In Utero" album so much but I can't forget the other two albums that they had made... They are so many songs that are my favorites that I can't choose, Kurts' lyrics & poetry are amazing.... Too bad for the death of Kurt Cobain, he was so young....
A few weeks ago I lost a very good work colleague. He never talked about his personal problems but unfortunately I never asked why he spoke so little to us. Maybe I could have done something. Instead, there is now a little girl who is growing up without a father. I will never forget his friendly smile.
My all time favorite! Also, I am looking forward to the episode on Live Through This and glad you gave Courtney her due as a great artist. She’s a very flawed person but that record is awesome and super underrated imo
Hi, Im new here. I have the deluxe box set. It is amazing! One of the best Nirvana album. The box is full of stuff, like a book, arts, tickets, etc. That box is amazing! Great video!
That was awesome,Abigail, and also moving. A great start to the season. As a guy currently in EMDR (and so much better for it) your take meant a lot. 2 years ago I was shaking hands with death happily. Was ready to be acquainted! But somehow I managed to find EMDR, read a book called The Body Keeps the Score, got on anti depressants, and 2 years later I’m so much better. We’ll never know what magic we would’ve gotten had Kurt found help (or help found him). Perhaps what we got was enough. Sometimes this world is really too hard for certain spirits… this was really insightful and moving. So thanks… Oh, and on Rape Me, I can’t believe after all these years I never really honed in on ‘…my friend’ cuz I always got hung up on the title alone. So when he sang that contradiction, the oxymoron, I was already perplexed. No one asks to be raped! This doesn’t make sense! But, as you point out, he had this empathy for this very thing. I suppose foreshadowed by Polly. The very act seemed to haunt him. And it should haunt us all. But sometimes it isn’t real enough until it is something you actually brush up against in your own life. Until u actually hear a victims story…. Phew. This one was heavy!
Outstanding review of one of my top ten records. I only count records among my top ten that I’ve become absolutely obsessed by - to the point where I won’t listen to anything else for months. There’s pre-suicide “In Utero” and post-suicide “In Utero for me. Listening to the former took place over many nights under the stars in the Sonoran desert, and the latter during the year I lived in New Hampshire. My perceptions and feelings about the album changed dramatically. “Nevermind” completely blew me away. It’s like I was primed for it my whole life. It was a sound that woke something up in me. After years of hair metal, and then Guns & Roses, 🤮Nirvana was a most-welcome asteroid. It wasn’t just the music (how is it that three-piece bands are often the most powerful?), but the new directions it pushed me in. It led to a personal revolution. Even with the squeaky-clean production, I caught a suicide vibe in “Nevermind” - for me very similar to what I hear in Joy Division. I absolutely love how they turned their fame into complete anarchy and used their platform to bring attention to so many under-the-radar bands that ended up enhancing my musical perspective. If it’s not 100% authentic, I don’t have the time for it. I was living in Seattle during the time. I’d moved up there from California. My wife grew up there, and we were on the periphery of the “grunge” movement. It was a very exciting time and place. The spirit of the thing really took a hit when Mia Zapata was killed. I like that you describe post-Nirvana alternative “rock” as a power vacuum, because it very much was. We’re lucky to get a Kurt Cobain once in a generation. Soundgarden and Alice In Chains put out some respectable stuff for another year or so, but then we got the likes of Bush and Live and Hootie and the f$#%ing Blowfish and it was soooooo depressing. Worse than a garden variety hangover. “In Utero” is possessed by the spirit of duende (a Spanish word used to describe a work of art that is almost unbearable in its intensity - an all-or-nothing gambit that stands in the gap between life and death). It takes a certain fearlessness to go there. It’s what Jim Morrison meant by “Break on Through to the Other Side.” I was utterly devastated by news of Kurt’s death. I wept inconsolably. It was like losing John Lennon all over again. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I didn’t muster the energy to get off the couch and take a bus to the Seattle Center for the memorial a few days later. After most folks left, Courtney appeared with Frances and a box of Kurt’s clothes and gave them away to the lucky few who were still there (incidentally, Frances was named after Frances Farmer). Obsessing on “In Utero” provoked a back-and-forth in my head about ending my life. Although that obviously didn’t happen, I came to the belief that most people who succeed at suicide are those who truly believe everyone’s life would be better without them. I believe Kurt really thought Frances would be better off without him. THANK YOU for not censoring the f-bombs when calling out those who continue to propagate the “Courtney killed Kurt “ nonsense. You’re right about the callousness. “Grotesquely Beautiful” is an apt descriptor for Nirvana. “Nevermind” watered that down some, but it rages all over “Bleach” and “In Utero.” One interesting tidbit that speaks volumes about who Kurt was as a person and artist: Wal-mart refused to stock “In Utero” unless the words “Rape Me” were removed and the fetus Art blurred out. Rather than take a defiant stance, Kurt readily agreed to these changes, countering cries of “sell-out” by saying that Wal-mart was the only place he could get music growing up in Aberdeen. Kurt hated purists and those who preached only to the choir. (“Rape Me” became “Waif Me” on the Wal-mart cover). Yoko Ono saved John Lennon. Courtney kept Kurt alive longer than he otherwise would have been, according to Danny Goldberg. Albini has a habit of burying vocals in his recordings. I’m glad Kurt was adamant that he not do that. The vocals are at least 50% of what makes “In Utero” so great. Finally, in terms of discussing mental illness: those who do not suffer from it have no idea how lucky they are. Life is hard enough without a shit load of intrusive thoughts. This is our “coming-out” moment, and I’m proud to be a part of the movement. Thank you!
Quite a way to kick-off season 3. So much great info on this album. Thanks for digging in on this one. Next week should be a real barn burner. You just may break some kind of record (no pun) for total # of 'our swears' in an episode. Well, I see you're on the cusp of 20k subs. Really can't wait for 'Forever Changes'. I'm assuming this will be your first time hearing it, but maybe not. If it is I wish I were a fly on the wall to see your expressions the first run-through. 😊
This is the most beautiful video about Nirvana and Kurt i have ever seen. I want to give a hundred likes for each sentence. Conspiracy suckers can suck it. Great to find your channel through this video. Subbed!
I agree with you 100% about the mia show. It was amazing and truly punk rock. Thats so cool some guy uploaded it to RUclips ❤😎 🎸. Also " milk it " scared me as a child 😂. Now i love it
From AM to in Utero, the other album that soundtracked 2013 for me. These two consecutive episodes have brought back a lot of memories, Abigail, thank you!
It’s strange for me to listen to this album again, after not hearing it for years. When I wanted to hear Nirvana, I tended to reach for Nevermind or Unplugged. It’s almost like I forgot about this record existing. I guess because some of the songs have difficult themes in them, even though I know Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies so well. What’s even more weird is that I been married to my still current husband since 1993. We’ve been together since 1989. When he first heard Heart Shaped Box the only word he could pick out was cancer. So for the longest time he thought the song was about someone dying from cancer. I’m glad you went over this album. I guess another reason I avoided it is because mentally I put it together with Kurt’s death, even though that’s not accurate in any way. I’m glad to pick this music back up again after so long and listen to what it is, and not mix it up with other misremembered things from the past.
This album lived large in my young life I was just out of high school and was in deep on this record... or so I though. Your perspective has been so insightful and translates so well with what I recall of those years.
Thank you so much for this video. As a Gen X weirdo dealing with depression and anxiety my entire life, so much of this speaks directly to me. Talking about suicide and mental health is critical and important and should absolutely be addressed more often. The day Kurt died, was the last time I attempted suicide and seeing and feeling the response from Nirvana fans helped open my eyes and pushed me to find help. Please, if you're in a bad place, there are so many people who want to help you -- not just people who can help you, but genuinely want to help you. Thanks again. This was a great video.
Loved it, Loved it, Loved it!! Never miss a show!! (slight fact check though... Francis Farmer was an actress in the 1930's and was institutionalized in the early 40's, and obviously never the same again afterwards. She lived to be 56. Tragic, tragic story.)
I was already in my 20s and in college when Nevermind came out and, having lived through it, can state that the legacy of Nirvana is well deserved. Prior to Nevermind there was a stagnation to the music that we were hearing on the radio versus the raw energy we were seeing from local bands who were already utilizing the “grunge” sound in the club scene. Once Nirvana hit the mainstream, the change was absolutely palpable. We were finally hearing the music on the radio that spoke to us. The music we were hearing our friends play in bars was now on the radio. I can’t think of another band that ushered in such a change other than the Beatles.
i can't imagine the excitement that must've surrounded them when they first hit the mainstream. i've felt it on a much smaller scale a few times with other groups, but in retrospect? after nirvana, nothing was ever the same
@@abigaildevoe It’s funny because there are some things that you don’t realize are happening when you are actually living through them..like looking back at a picture and thinking that you can’t believe you dressed like that. With Nirvana, you knew right away that there was a change and you were living through it. All of the sudden the same clubs that were playing “2 Legit to Quit” or “O.P.P.” were now playing “Come as you are”, which was the same music we were already hearing in the more “goth” or alternative clubs at the time. It was both strange and wonderful at the same time!
I remember all of it well. My ear was more to the ground in those days, I was in my late teens / early twenties. We knew change was coming, but we didn’t know what the next big thing was going to be, some people thought it would be industrial. If you knew what was up on an underground level, Nirvana was a cool band, I don’t think anyone could predict they would hit as big as they did. Word of mouth was building, my friend had an advance copy of Nevermind and told me wait til you hear it. Alternative was getting bigger, when The Cure headlined Dodger Stadium that told me something, but Nirvana getting huge took a lot of people by surprise, me included
Frances Farmer's movie career peaked in the 1930's, though it lasted into the early 1940's. She also had stage roles. During the 1950's, her acting was pretty much limited to television; from 1958 to 1964, she hosted a local TV show in Indianapolis called "Frances Farmer Presents". She died of esophageal cancer in 1970.
That photo of Francis Bean's nanny always subliminally suggested Perry Farrell to me. Which I suppose is right on the nail for that particular zeitgeist.
They also hired Albini because he had most recently produced PJ Harvey's Rid of Me and Kurt was OBSESSED with that record too. And for good reason, because it's amazing.
he actually showed up around the frances farmer point in the video. it was way too late in the vid for a buddy intermission but i didn't want to cut it out lol
My Brother and Sister in laws had a dog also Buddy, he was abused left at the pound. My niece got him back to enjoying life and he was a very sweet dog. He passed away about a year ago, but he had a great life after all. I know your Buddy will always have a good life, enjoy.@@abigaildevoe
It’s remarkable how Nirvana’s legacy continues and so many fans who weren’t even born then love their music. It’s sad Kurt isn’t around to perform for them, todays generation really got ripped off
Absolutely loved your rant on Kurt's death, I've never heard such a passionate way of saying something that so many people completely ignore, my respect for you is collosal after hearing that. This was a great review with some spot on points in there, big respect to you ❤️
I’m a massive Nirvana fan, they were the first band ever to shape my music taste, I’m even planning on getting the ‘In Utero’ cover tattooed! my favourites gotta be Marigold and All Apologies
Sweetheart have you done Love Foreverchanges? a great band and an overlooked record for sure--love u!---damn, i cant find my cassette of Brian Wilson doing What a wonderful world, but I will find it eventually
It's a rainy Monday here in NH and Mondays are hard to begin with, but your point about suicide definitely struck a nerve and made me tear up a bit. Though I remember when Kurt died, I was never a big enough fan of Nirvana to weigh in too heavily on the did he/didn't he debate. I have friends who are convinced he didn't. I have a former classmate who did and two former bandmates who did. The bandmates both reached out to me just before and I wasn't receptive enough see what was in their eyes or their words. The classmate had once written in my yearbook, "Don't do anything I would do." I can look back now on the details of what was going on for each of them and feel like I have some understanding of where they must've been at, but everyone deals with their pain differently and some mask it far better than others. Thank you for your brief moment of honesty and vulnerability.
Awesome episode, Abby. I always thought of In Utero as the ultimate contrast of melodic & chaotic. Milk It is a huge favorite. My girlfriend & I gasped in unison when we saw next week's album. We looked at each other & exclaimed, "Dead Daddy Horsehead!" LOL. That double album desperately needed Richard Wright on keyboards. Speaking of Richard, I have Wet Dream on preorder. It's more Pink Floyd than anything Roger's done.
I just picked up yhe 30th anniversary edition of In Utero and it sounds absolutely fantastic. You shoul definitely pi k it up. A worthy edition of Nirvana's best record.
Hello Abigail, as a record collector, I think you might find it interesting that I have an unmastered version of In Utero on vinyl. I don’t know the details but inexplicably, a Canadian factory pressed copies of the unmastered version of the album instead of the official release. The dynamics are more extreme (soft to loud) and the eq lacks a crisp presence or high end. It also has the the Albini mixes of Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies instead of the Scott Lit mixes.
Ok this was super good, and thanks for not shying away from all the difficult stuff too. This is only the second video of yours I've seen, but now I want more! The storytelling and the context and the honest personal perspectives are really engaging, so thanks for putting your heart into this (also here for the wings) Yeah the rhythm section really shines on this album, I feel like the production's a big part of that. A lot of Kurt's guitar tones are really harsh and brittle, and it leaves a lot of space for the bass and drums to fill really clearly - plus it has a very "live" sound (which I think Steve usually goes for). I know there was some criticism around Pennyroyal Tea, like Kurt saying it should have been recorded by Butch Vig or something and been a big, slick soaring powerhouse single and... I dunno, I feel like it's already powerful, but still has this desperate frailty to it that fits the lyrics, especially with the vocals pushed back. I've heard the Scott Litt mix and it sounds good and all, but it doesn't feel ~right~ to me... anyhow that's a great song
lol gotta love not having butch vig produce in utero because it'd be too pop, then wanting butch vig to produce pennyroyal tea so it'd be pop. classic contrarian kurt! i totally agree, the beauty of that song was its fragility. thank you for being open to the hard stuff, it happens from time to time on this channel. the wings happen a lot less often
@@abigaildevoe the other video I saw was the Siamese Dream one so I'm 2 for 2 on wings so far! If these trends continue... ey! Nah I just like that you're having fun with the fashion themes (and the broken wing ~was~ excellent) Yeah the difficult stuff is gonna come up in any honest look at band histories and album stories I think. And I like that you tie it into a broader, relatable picture instead of the "things that happen to rock stars" angle we often get. You're talking about stuff that's really important that maybe people aren't aware of, I always appreciate when people do that, and it ain't always easy or comfortable either. So y'know, thank YOU for being cool and real when you need to be!
Remember listening this album when it just came out. Was depressed at the time, so this was _not_ the album to listen to. Definitely respect this album though. That an album as uncompromising as this sold 6 million copies is a remarkable, great thing.
You make a good point about how people thought Kurt wasn't suicidal because he "didn't seem like it" to his friends. He was already quiet and repressed, you'd think he would reveal that to people? You think a bunch of punk kids in the 90s could tell? I mean, do people even know how suicidal people act? There's no definite pattern to my knowledge. A lot of people can even seem happier because they don't have to mope about their future in their mind anymore.
Did you get to hear Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol flows through the strip? it was only available officially on the UK CD pressings when In Utero came out. I Hate Myself and Want To Die was also the title of a song from the In Utero Outakes, found on the Pennyroyal Tea CD single that was to be released either the week he passed or the week after. It was released on the Beavis & Butt-head experience some months before that. this was great, thank you. it makes me want to invest in the 30th anniversary set. the vinyl cost is way too much for me but maybe i'll get the cd set
Michael Stipe said he heard what was supposed to be the next Nirvana album, said it was actually pretty quiet music, would be interesting to hear them do a 180 like that
what’s your favorite nirvana song? (or cover they did?) comment below!
There are a lot of options for this, but I'd narrow it down to three this time to choose: Heart-Shaped Box, Lithium or Paper Cuts. Every song repesenting my favorite on their albums. "Nevermind" and "In Utero" are still battling for my No. 1 Nirvana album (Bleach is still a great starting point for a band).
But my favorite act from the grunge movement will always be Alice in Chains, but that's another story.
Anyway, for a long time my favorite was Heart-Shaped Box and I guess it still remains as the one for me 🙂
In terms of covers, I think picking one from the MTV Unplugged one is almost undeniable. Either "Jesus Don't Want Me for a Sunbeam" or "The Man Who Sold the World".
Something in the Way, but I will have to add that Nirvana Unplugged is the greatest live record ever made.
Scentless Apprentice
In the pines
I'm a basic bitch so mine is come as you are, love the drumming
“Rock and Roll is Saturn and it devours its sons.” Very well said.
“Aneurysm” is still my favorite Nirvana tune, pure, raw, rock n roll.
“Afraid of not being sad paired with feeling uneasy when you are happy” you may have just solved my life.
Brilliant.
In Utero is their best album, hands down. Milk It is my favorite song by them.
I saw Hole live on the Live Through This tour in Rochester, NY a few months after Kurt died. It was a great show and Courtney was her usual crazy self. Me and some friends were hanging out outside the venue afterwards when Courtney and Melissa walked right out the front door. Melissa said hi to everyone and walked off. Courtney hung around a bit. She signed autographs for all of us and talked music with us. She told us to never give up on ourselves and to never let anyone tell us who we are. She was incredibly sweet and gracious. She told us that she loved us before we left. I always feel the need to repeat that story whenever she is brought up. Yeah, she was a train wreck but there was a side to her that people didn't see. I know you didn't trash her or anything. I.just thought you might find the story interesting. I can't wait fir the Live Through This episode! One of the best albums of the 90's. I will die on that hill.
Milk it is a great song.
This will probably get buried but first-time viewer here. I've watched countless videos about In Utero, and this is by far one of the most concise videos I've seen. Your breakdown and insight was fantastic, but mostly I loved the way you didnt pull punches regarding the conspiracy. 10/10. Subscribed immediately.
Great opening line ! " Teenage Angst Has Paid Off Well , Now I'm Bored & Old "
The contrast with Smells Like Teen Spirit, And Kurt Cobain 's Life...
Word.
This album is a whole poetic experience! Love this opening too!
In Utero is the album Nirvana wanted to do & Geffen allowed them to do. It's their best 👌.
I had a similar experience with the conspiracies around Kurts death. Growing up, my parents spout the idea that Courtney was responsible for Kurt's death and how he wasn't suicidal because he said he wasn't, how "I hate myself and want to die" was just a joke and how his attempt in Rome was an accident, but as someone who's been battling through depression and suicidal ideation, of COURSE he brushed off being depressed and suicidal. He said contradictory things all the time, such as him not wanting to be famous but saying in previous interviews how he's always wanted to be famous. And of course he wouldn't want the world to know. My own parents hardly if at all know that I've been struggling through depression for years, and I sure as hell avoid admitting it to them. It's annoying in a way to discredit the struggles he was facing and pin it all on Courtney
Dead men can't pull triggers. Watch the American SpyFox series. I get what you're saying as I have been at War with severe depression for decades as well. But there is just too much that doesn't add up in the case, regardless of your opinion. Check it out with an open mind, it's interesting. Whether or not he did it doesn't matter, he's gone either way. There's just way too much going on there. #Justiceforkurt
@@krisfrederick5001 Perhaps I'll take a look, cheers 🍻
Heart Shaped Box was the first song and video that scared the shit out of me as a kid. Definitely (now that I'm old) NIrvanas best song. It haunts me every time I hear the opening notes. Truly the masterpiece of a tortured and misunderstood artist.
You basically took the words right out of my mouth with the defending courtney speech. I've somehow gained even more love and respect for you.
That was a terrific review. This album always takes me back to that week in April 1994, when I was working in Tacoma, WA for a few days. That day the local rock radio stations reported all morning about an unidentified man found dead in Kurt's home, and all I could think of was the stalker syndrome that seemed to be part of the culture of the time and that some desperate fan had broken into his home and then, well, met with a bad ending. Later in the day when it was confirmed to be Kurt, I just felt a profound sadness. He was only about a year older than me, so while I was a fan I felt a few years removed from the "he speaks for me" generation. It felt more like I'd just lost a contemporary, someone I could've gone to school with. So thumbs way up for In Utero and All Apologies, my favorite of theirs.
Much respect Abigail, you struck a nerve and made great points. Thank you.
Damn.. that was truly incredible. All of it.... every thought & comment. And I couldn't help but chuckle at the 'cough Fantano' 😂
I so enjoy your blending of personal/heartfelt commentary with the more technical & factual history.. you strike the perfect balance. 👌😊
I love how this video is nice,calm,funny,and a great documentary about nirvana
Holy moly I love this album. I’ve been listening to it non stop for weeeks now
This is your best video ever @abigaildevoe - loved everything about this. You put your heart into this one. Proud to be part of your audience
Oh boy, I like what I see for next week, just my favorite album of all time!!! Also, slightly more importantly, you do awesome when you open up and are genuine, even if the message is tough to say and hear. Keep it up :)
Couldn't agree more about the conspiracy theory. Those people are ridiculously insensitive and in denial.
A denial (x9)
I don’t think Courtney did it but there are some strange circumstances surrounding Kurt’s death, my opinion.
@@Censored4UViaGoogle There really aren't.
I know, if there was anyone who was a likely candidate for suicide, or even accidental death by shotgun, it would be Curt Cobain.
@@90sArchive The Shotgun shell landed on the side where it shouldn’t have. He had not double but triple the lethal amount of heroin in his blood, yet managed to, not just only operate the gun but also neatly lay away his utensils before shooting himself. That’s nearly impossible, even for avid Drug Users, considering that the lethal dose was injected intravenous.
Kurt was my hero..I didn't cry when my beloved grandma passed away but i cried when Kurt passed
This was a superb analysis. Well done, Abby. Now I can't wait for next week.
Oh, hey, it's my favorite album. Also cool that you talked about Mia Zapata. The Git's 'Frenching the Bully' is also one of the best albums of this era of rock, maybe the best after this one imo. Would be cool if you ever talked about it, if you're doing more 90s stuff at all. Don't see too many people mentioning The Gits unfortunately.
The nanny on the inner sleeve is Cali DeWitt, who was dressed in drag. He was a former roadie for Hole. He was also one of the last people to see Kurt alive during his elusive final days in Seattle after he left the Exodus Rehab Facility in Los Angeles.
What a season opener Abi!
In my teens I was a huge Nirvana fan, this was when these albums were current.
I also started on Nevermind.... Like most, then went backwards with bleach and Incesticide.
In Utero was exactly how I wanted Nirvana to sound, the album is raw as fuck and I love it.... Still love it, most people don't know about the album due to Nevermind, but it's a massive assault on the senses.
Brilliant review, you just get better.
Beautiful closing thoughts omg, this review put in words about everything I love about Nirvana and In Utero, it was the first album that I ever listened to and the moment I heard the screams in Scentless Apprentice I fell in love with it and albums and music in general. Can't believe it took me 10 years to finally get it on cd, thank you so much for uploading this review :)))
Still got my ticket to the UK show that didn't happen. That's a damn fine record, you know.
Cool episode and awesome start to Season 3. To me, "In Utero" joins Nick Drake's "Pink Moon" and Joy Division's "Closer" in being masterpiece final albums by brilliant talents sadly gone too soon. Happy 30th Anniversary to a great album that I love.
Nirvana opened the door to older music for me when I started middle school. I’ve always had a fascination with them since then. Really loved this episode. It gave me some new perspectives on one of my favorite albums ever.
Hi Abigail. Thank you for these amazing videos.
Perfect video Abby!!!! I love "In Utero" album so much but I can't forget the other two albums that they had made... They are so many songs that are my favorites that I can't choose, Kurts' lyrics & poetry are amazing.... Too bad for the death of Kurt Cobain, he was so young....
A few weeks ago I lost a very good work colleague. He never talked about his personal problems but unfortunately I never asked why he spoke so little to us. Maybe I could have done something. Instead, there is now a little girl who is growing up without a father. I will never forget his friendly smile.
Fantastic Vinyl Monday one of my favourites. Thank you.
Your commentary was dead on, especially on Courtney. Layla, Smile, and this...another great job. The wings are perfect.
My all time favorite!
Also, I am looking forward to the episode on Live Through This and glad you gave Courtney her due as a great artist. She’s a very flawed person but that record is awesome and super underrated imo
thank you for mentioning Mia Zapata. Good perspective on Courtney and Kurt.
Glad S3 began forthwith:-). Getting the popcorn ready now...
Hi, Im new here. I have the deluxe box set. It is amazing! One of the best Nirvana album. The box is full of stuff, like a book, arts, tickets, etc. That box is amazing!
Great video!
Already looking forward to the 'Live For This' episode. Enjoyed this one with all of its brutal subject matter.
Through
Great video and review. I find it hard for me to watch 40 min videos due to my short attention span but this one had me hooked , so great job !
That was awesome,Abigail, and also moving. A great start to the season. As a guy currently in EMDR (and so much better for it) your take meant a lot. 2 years ago I was shaking hands with death happily. Was ready to be acquainted! But somehow I managed to find EMDR, read a book called The Body Keeps the Score, got on anti depressants, and 2 years later I’m so much better. We’ll never know what magic we would’ve gotten had Kurt found help (or help found him). Perhaps what we got was enough. Sometimes this world is really too hard for certain spirits… this was really insightful and moving. So thanks…
Oh, and on Rape Me, I can’t believe after all these years I never really honed in on ‘…my friend’ cuz I always got hung up on the title alone. So when he sang that contradiction, the oxymoron, I was already perplexed. No one asks to be raped! This doesn’t make sense! But, as you point out, he had this empathy for this very thing. I suppose foreshadowed by Polly. The very act seemed to haunt him. And it should haunt us all. But sometimes it isn’t real enough until it is something you actually brush up against in your own life. Until u actually hear a victims story…. Phew. This one was heavy!
Outstanding review of one of my top ten records. I only count records among my top ten that I’ve become absolutely obsessed by - to the point where I won’t listen to anything else for months.
There’s pre-suicide “In Utero” and post-suicide “In Utero for me. Listening to the former took place over many nights under the stars in the Sonoran desert, and the latter during the year I lived in New Hampshire.
My perceptions and feelings about the album changed dramatically.
“Nevermind” completely blew me away. It’s like I was primed for it my whole life. It was a sound that woke something up in me. After years of hair metal, and then Guns & Roses, 🤮Nirvana was a most-welcome asteroid. It wasn’t just the music (how is it that three-piece bands are often the most powerful?), but the new directions it pushed me in. It led to a personal revolution. Even with the squeaky-clean production, I caught a suicide vibe in “Nevermind” - for me very similar to what I hear in Joy Division.
I absolutely love how they turned their fame into complete anarchy and used their platform to bring attention to so many under-the-radar bands that ended up enhancing my musical perspective. If it’s not 100% authentic, I don’t have the time for it.
I was living in Seattle during the time. I’d moved up there from California. My wife grew up there, and we were on the periphery of the “grunge” movement. It was a very exciting time and place. The spirit of the thing really took a hit when Mia Zapata was killed.
I like that you describe post-Nirvana alternative “rock” as a power vacuum, because it very much was. We’re lucky to get a Kurt Cobain once in a generation. Soundgarden and Alice In Chains put out some respectable stuff for another year or so, but then we got the likes of Bush and Live and Hootie and the f$#%ing Blowfish and it was soooooo depressing. Worse than a garden variety hangover.
“In Utero” is possessed by the spirit of duende (a Spanish word used to describe a work of art that is almost unbearable in its intensity - an all-or-nothing gambit that stands in the gap between life and death). It takes a certain fearlessness to go there. It’s what Jim Morrison meant by “Break on Through to the Other Side.”
I was utterly devastated by news of Kurt’s death. I wept inconsolably. It was like losing John Lennon all over again. One of my biggest regrets in life is that I didn’t muster the energy to get off the couch and take a bus to the Seattle Center for the memorial a few days later. After most folks left, Courtney appeared with Frances and a box of Kurt’s clothes and gave them away to the lucky few who were still there (incidentally, Frances was named after Frances Farmer).
Obsessing on “In Utero” provoked a back-and-forth in my head about ending my life. Although that obviously didn’t happen, I came to the belief that most people who succeed at suicide are those who truly believe everyone’s life would be better without them. I believe Kurt really thought Frances would be better off without him. THANK YOU for not censoring the f-bombs when calling out those who continue to propagate the “Courtney killed Kurt “ nonsense. You’re right about the callousness.
“Grotesquely Beautiful” is an apt descriptor for Nirvana. “Nevermind” watered that down some, but it rages all over “Bleach” and “In Utero.”
One interesting tidbit that speaks volumes about who Kurt was as a person and artist:
Wal-mart refused to stock “In Utero” unless the words “Rape Me” were removed and the fetus Art blurred out. Rather than take a defiant stance, Kurt readily agreed to these changes, countering cries of “sell-out” by saying that Wal-mart was the only place he could get music growing up in Aberdeen. Kurt hated purists and those who preached only to the choir. (“Rape Me” became “Waif Me” on the Wal-mart cover).
Yoko Ono saved John Lennon. Courtney kept Kurt alive longer than he otherwise would have been, according to Danny Goldberg.
Albini has a habit of burying vocals in his recordings. I’m glad Kurt was adamant that he not do that. The vocals are at least 50% of what makes “In Utero” so great.
Finally, in terms of discussing mental illness: those who do not suffer from it have no idea how lucky they are. Life is hard enough without a shit load of intrusive thoughts. This is our “coming-out” moment, and I’m proud to be a part of the movement.
Thank you!
Damn you weren't kidding, that got intense! I'm disturbed both by the content and the fact it's been 30 years *cue old rose gif from Titanic*
Quite a way to kick-off season 3. So much great info on this album. Thanks for digging in on this one.
Next week should be a real barn burner. You just may break some kind of record (no pun) for total # of 'our swears' in an episode.
Well, I see you're on the cusp of 20k subs. Really can't wait for 'Forever Changes'. I'm assuming this will be your first time hearing it, but maybe not. If it is I wish I were a fly on the wall to see your expressions the first run-through. 😊
Ohhhh I'm so happy! Thank you for covering Nirvana
This is the most beautiful video about Nirvana and Kurt i have ever seen. I want to give a hundred likes for each sentence. Conspiracy suckers can suck it.
Great to find your channel through this video. Subbed!
Josef Burns from Aspirin Feast and El Duce from the Mentors say otherwise lol
@@Metallimad06they can suck it
This is my favourite episode in a long time
Good stuff. Scentless Apprentice is from the book Purfume. I got og print blue/ green vinyl from 93. My fav Nirvana album, hormoning 2nd
Best season 3 opening to anything ever made.
Scentless Apprentice - the sound of those drums!
I agree with you 100% about the mia show. It was amazing and truly punk rock. Thats so cool some guy uploaded it to RUclips ❤😎 🎸. Also " milk it " scared me as a child 😂. Now i love it
From AM to in Utero, the other album that soundtracked 2013 for me. These two consecutive episodes have brought back a lot of memories, Abigail, thank you!
It’s strange for me to listen to this album again, after not hearing it for years. When I wanted to hear Nirvana, I tended to reach for Nevermind or Unplugged. It’s almost like I forgot about this record existing. I guess because some of the songs have difficult themes in them, even though I know Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies so well. What’s even more weird is that I been married to my still current husband since 1993. We’ve been together since 1989. When he first heard Heart Shaped Box the only word he could pick out was cancer. So for the longest time he thought the song was about someone dying from cancer. I’m glad you went over this album. I guess another reason I avoided it is because mentally I put it together with Kurt’s death, even though that’s not accurate in any way. I’m glad to pick this music back up again after so long and listen to what it is, and not mix it up with other misremembered things from the past.
This album lived large in my young life I was just out of high school and was in deep on this record... or so I though. Your perspective has been so insightful and translates so well with what I recall of those years.
In Utero is in my top 5 albums of all time and every time I hear it I discover more and new things to love about it
This lp is brilliant!!!!
Thank you so much for this video. As a Gen X weirdo dealing with depression and anxiety my entire life, so much of this speaks directly to me. Talking about suicide and mental health is critical and important and should absolutely be addressed more often.
The day Kurt died, was the last time I attempted suicide and seeing and feeling the response from Nirvana fans helped open my eyes and pushed me to find help. Please, if you're in a bad place, there are so many people who want to help you -- not just people who can help you, but genuinely want to help you.
Thanks again. This was a great video.
We gotta hang in there, life’s all we’ve got
ABIIIII i always look forward to when you upload a new installment of vinyl monday
Loved it, Loved it, Loved it!! Never miss a show!! (slight fact check though... Francis Farmer was an actress in the 1930's and was institutionalized in the early 40's, and obviously never the same again afterwards. She lived to be 56. Tragic, tragic story.)
Its so cool that you do this thank you its probably a lot of work but its great so good job
Congratulations Abby, and may it continue, as you are a RUclips enigma, who is the real Abigail, we get a different one every week 😆
I was already in my 20s and in college when Nevermind came out and, having lived through it, can state that the legacy of Nirvana is well deserved. Prior to Nevermind there was a stagnation to the music that we were hearing on the radio versus the raw energy we were seeing from local bands who were already utilizing the “grunge” sound in the club scene. Once Nirvana hit the mainstream, the change was absolutely palpable. We were finally hearing the music on the radio that spoke to us. The music we were hearing our friends play in bars was now on the radio. I can’t think of another band that ushered in such a change other than the Beatles.
i can't imagine the excitement that must've surrounded them when they first hit the mainstream. i've felt it on a much smaller scale a few times with other groups, but in retrospect? after nirvana, nothing was ever the same
@@abigaildevoe It’s funny because there are some things that you don’t realize are happening when you are actually living through them..like looking back at a picture and thinking that you can’t believe you dressed like that. With Nirvana, you knew right away that there was a change and you were living through it. All of the sudden the same clubs that were playing “2 Legit to Quit” or “O.P.P.” were now playing “Come as you are”, which was the same music we were already hearing in the more “goth” or alternative clubs at the time. It was both strange and wonderful at the same time!
I remember all of it well. My ear was more to the ground in those days, I was in my late teens / early twenties. We knew change was coming, but we didn’t know what the next big thing was going to be, some people thought it would be industrial. If you knew what was up on an underground level, Nirvana was a cool band, I don’t think anyone could predict they would hit as big as they did. Word of mouth was building, my friend had an advance copy of Nevermind and told me wait til you hear it. Alternative was getting bigger, when The Cure headlined Dodger Stadium that told me something, but Nirvana getting huge took a lot of people by surprise, me included
Frances Farmer's movie career peaked in the 1930's, though it lasted into the early 1940's. She also had stage roles. During the 1950's, her acting was pretty much limited to television; from 1958 to 1964, she hosted a local TV show in Indianapolis called "Frances Farmer Presents". She died of esophageal cancer in 1970.
That photo of Francis Bean's nanny always subliminally suggested Perry Farrell to me. Which I suppose is right on the nail for that particular zeitgeist.
They also hired Albini because he had most recently produced PJ Harvey's Rid of Me and Kurt was OBSESSED with that record too. And for good reason, because it's amazing.
Love In Utero, so underrated
I loved how Buddy shows up just when it seemed you needed him...or am I just over thinking it?
he actually showed up around the frances farmer point in the video. it was way too late in the vid for a buddy intermission but i didn't want to cut it out lol
My Brother and Sister in laws had a dog also Buddy, he was abused left at the pound. My niece got him back to enjoying life and he was a very sweet dog. He passed away about a year ago, but he had a great life after all. I know your Buddy will always have a good life, enjoy.@@abigaildevoe
The movie Frances with Jessica Lange is very good btw
Love your reviews Abby - Ten and Superunknown were the pinnacle of grunge! 😊
Something tells me im going to like this video
It’s remarkable how Nirvana’s legacy continues and so many fans who weren’t even born then love their music. It’s sad Kurt isn’t around to perform for them, todays generation really got ripped off
The whole world got ripped off that day in April of 1994. That's the way I felt then.... and that's the way I still feel...
Absolutely loved your rant on Kurt's death, I've never heard such a passionate way of saying something that so many people completely ignore, my respect for you is collosal after hearing that.
This was a great review with some spot on points in there, big respect to you ❤️
Thanks for this. And extra credit is always a benefit.
I’m a massive Nirvana fan, they were the first band ever to shape my music taste, I’m even planning on getting the ‘In Utero’ cover tattooed! my favourites gotta be Marigold and All Apologies
Best intro yet
Welcome back, Lovely wingéd Lady, we missed you. Love the new titles, by the way. Teen Spirit is my fave, perhaps predictably, but there it is.
Sweetheart have you done Love Foreverchanges? a great band and an overlooked record for sure--love u!---damn, i cant find my cassette of Brian Wilson doing What a wonderful world, but I will find it eventually
ABSOLUTELY SECOND THIS! Arthur Lee's opus haunts on!
and how tear wrenching is the Live dvd?@@PRAGMAGICK
It's coming very soon. When she gets to 20k subs, it'll be done, or soon after.
Francis' nanny in the artwork is a man named Cali DeWitt, who is in drag in the shot.
That scream on Scentless Apprentice tho...
When I heard that the first time I thought he was in trouble...
It's a rainy Monday here in NH and Mondays are hard to begin with, but your point about suicide definitely struck a nerve and made me tear up a bit. Though I remember when Kurt died, I was never a big enough fan of Nirvana to weigh in too heavily on the did he/didn't he debate. I have friends who are convinced he didn't. I have a former classmate who did and two former bandmates who did. The bandmates both reached out to me just before and I wasn't receptive enough see what was in their eyes or their words. The classmate had once written in my yearbook, "Don't do anything I would do."
I can look back now on the details of what was going on for each of them and feel like I have some understanding of where they must've been at, but everyone deals with their pain differently and some mask it far better than others. Thank you for your brief moment of honesty and vulnerability.
Awesome episode, Abby. I always thought of In Utero as the ultimate contrast of melodic & chaotic. Milk It is a huge favorite. My girlfriend & I gasped in unison when we saw next week's album. We looked at each other & exclaimed, "Dead Daddy Horsehead!" LOL. That double album desperately needed Richard Wright on keyboards. Speaking of Richard, I have Wet Dream on preorder. It's more Pink Floyd than anything Roger's done.
I just picked up yhe 30th anniversary edition of In Utero and it sounds absolutely fantastic. You shoul definitely pi k it up. A worthy edition of Nirvana's best record.
Brilliant. Thank you!
I remember collecting the $.05 beer can deposits from our college parties in Poughkeepsie to buy the compact disc when it came out.
Hi Abby!!😁Season 3 is HERE!!!😊
Pennroyal Tea. Where's the Nirvana live link?
Awesome Job 👌
Hello Abigail, as a record collector, I think you might find it interesting that I have an unmastered version of In Utero on vinyl. I don’t know the details but inexplicably, a Canadian factory pressed copies of the unmastered version of the album instead of the official release. The dynamics are more extreme (soft to loud) and the eq lacks a crisp presence or high end. It also has the the Albini mixes of Heart Shaped Box and All Apologies instead of the Scott Lit mixes.
whoa i think that’s the version my best friend has too!
23:55 Couldn't have said it better.
Ok this was super good, and thanks for not shying away from all the difficult stuff too. This is only the second video of yours I've seen, but now I want more! The storytelling and the context and the honest personal perspectives are really engaging, so thanks for putting your heart into this (also here for the wings)
Yeah the rhythm section really shines on this album, I feel like the production's a big part of that. A lot of Kurt's guitar tones are really harsh and brittle, and it leaves a lot of space for the bass and drums to fill really clearly - plus it has a very "live" sound (which I think Steve usually goes for). I know there was some criticism around Pennyroyal Tea, like Kurt saying it should have been recorded by Butch Vig or something and been a big, slick soaring powerhouse single and... I dunno, I feel like it's already powerful, but still has this desperate frailty to it that fits the lyrics, especially with the vocals pushed back. I've heard the Scott Litt mix and it sounds good and all, but it doesn't feel ~right~ to me... anyhow that's a great song
lol gotta love not having butch vig produce in utero because it'd be too pop, then wanting butch vig to produce pennyroyal tea so it'd be pop. classic contrarian kurt! i totally agree, the beauty of that song was its fragility.
thank you for being open to the hard stuff, it happens from time to time on this channel. the wings happen a lot less often
@@abigaildevoe the other video I saw was the Siamese Dream one so I'm 2 for 2 on wings so far! If these trends continue... ey! Nah I just like that you're having fun with the fashion themes (and the broken wing ~was~ excellent)
Yeah the difficult stuff is gonna come up in any honest look at band histories and album stories I think. And I like that you tie it into a broader, relatable picture instead of the "things that happen to rock stars" angle we often get. You're talking about stuff that's really important that maybe people aren't aware of, I always appreciate when people do that, and it ain't always easy or comfortable either. So y'know, thank YOU for being cool and real when you need to be!
Beautiful review
i know i'm a year late to this video but it is very good
Remember listening this album when it just came out. Was depressed at the time, so this was _not_ the album to listen to. Definitely respect this album though. That an album as uncompromising as this sold 6 million copies is a remarkable, great thing.
Beautiful video :) very well written and spoken and your speech about Kurt’s mental health issues was very inspiring ☺️
You make a good point about how people thought Kurt wasn't suicidal because he "didn't seem like it" to his friends. He was already quiet and repressed, you'd think he would reveal that to people? You think a bunch of punk kids in the 90s could tell? I mean, do people even know how suicidal people act? There's no definite pattern to my knowledge. A lot of people can even seem happier because they don't have to mope about their future in their mind anymore.
Did you get to hear Gallons of Rubbing Alcohol flows through the strip? it was only available officially on the UK CD pressings when In Utero came out.
I Hate Myself and Want To Die was also the title of a song from the In Utero Outakes, found on the Pennyroyal Tea CD single that was to be released either the week he passed or the week after. It was released on the Beavis & Butt-head experience some months before that.
this was great, thank you. it makes me want to invest in the 30th anniversary set. the vinyl cost is way too much for me but maybe i'll get the cd set
New to your channel. Thanks!
Favorite album ever
Amaaaaaaaaaaazing outfit!!
Thanks for your empathy for men’s mental heath
Michael Stipe said he heard what was supposed to be the next Nirvana album, said it was actually pretty quiet music, would be interesting to hear them do a 180 like that
my favorite album honestly is probably the unplugged album
If it was in that direction with new material, that would have been cool
What a lovley review of in utero 😍