For a swansong album, I can think of no better example of how to issue a final statement of intent to the record listening public. I think Kurt felt that Nevermind got away from him with regards production. The result was something he never liked, not to detract from a seminal work of geius which Nevermind is, it's just that they never wanted it to sound like it did.
Cue a total reboot and In Utero is it. If the guys had actually sat down with a plan to make the anti-Nevermind, then I would not be surprised. What they offered up is a collection of typically fine pop songs mixed with harsher offerings all wrapped up in hefty distortion and screamed vocals.
To sum it all up into a few words: In Utero is in turns harsh, vitriolic, melodic, ironic, lyrically and musically brilliant, complex and most of all, deeply personal, even if it is sung in riddles.
If you are of an age where you have heard about Nirvana without living though it and are curious, then I advise that you… more »

For a swansong album, I can think of no better example of how to issue a final statement of intent to the record listening public. I think Kurt felt that Nevermind got away from him with regards production. The result was something he never liked, not to detract from a seminal work of geius which Nevermind is, it's just that they never wanted it to sound like it did.
Cue a total reboot and In Utero is it. If the guys had actually sat down with a plan to make the anti-Nevermind, then I would not be surprised. What they offered up is a collection of typically fine pop songs mixed with harsher offerings all wrapped up in hefty distortion and screamed vocals.
To sum it all up into a few words: In Utero is in turns harsh, vitriolic, melodic, ironic, lyrically and musically brilliant, complex and most of all, deeply personal, even if it is sung in riddles.
If you are of an age where you have heard about Nirvana without living though it and are curious, then I advise that you should begin at this, the end and work backwards.

Be warned; this is not another Nevermind. It is however still brilliant. Kurt Cobain had always moaned about the cleaness and polished-sound of Nevermind and this album was his response to the people who called for another 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. It starts off with a horrible distorted cord which of course Cobain intended. However, 'Serve the Servants' is an amazing song and opens brilliantly for the rest of the album. It is raw and powerful, although admitedly probabaly not as powerful as Nevermind. 'Heart-shaped box', 'Rape me' and 'Dumb' are the most Nevermind-like songs on the album and they are fantastic, while 'tourettes' and 'Scentless Apprentice' would shock some people with Kurt's screeching voice and the heavily distorted guitars. The middle section perhaps stands out the most, Very Ape is Kurt at his lyrical best, Milk it is loud and dark and Pennyroyal Tea is very Beatles-esque and stunning. All in all 'In Utero' is superior to Nevermind, simply because this is what… more »

Be warned; this is not another Nevermind. It is however still brilliant. Kurt Cobain had always moaned about the cleaness and polished-sound of Nevermind and this album was his response to the people who called for another 'Smells Like Teen Spirit'. It starts off with a horrible distorted cord which of course Cobain intended. However, 'Serve the Servants' is an amazing song and opens brilliantly for the rest of the album. It is raw and powerful, although admitedly probabaly not as powerful as Nevermind. 'Heart-shaped box', 'Rape me' and 'Dumb' are the most Nevermind-like songs on the album and they are fantastic, while 'tourettes' and 'Scentless Apprentice' would shock some people with Kurt's screeching voice and the heavily distorted guitars. The middle section perhaps stands out the most, Very Ape is Kurt at his lyrical best, Milk it is loud and dark and Pennyroyal Tea is very Beatles-esque and stunning. All in all 'In Utero' is superior to Nevermind, simply because this is what Nirvana were meant to sound like. It's brilliant.