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 Nirvana were meant to sound like. It's brilliant.

in my opinion, anyway. this is the album that tried to annoy some of the listeners of Nevermind. people expected more songs like "Come As You Are", when they were greeted by this. the album is 50% abrasive songs. "tourette's", "Very Ape", "Frances Farmer" and "Rape Me" provided very uncomfortable listening to the fans expecting more radio-friendly songs. that is why it's brilliant.

without a doubt one of the best albums ever made by arguably the best songwriter and band ever. The lyrics may seem dark and mysterious at first but after a couple of listens to the album you start to understand what kurt is singing about and you realise just how good this man was at telling stories through songs and how greatly he is missed by every nirvana fan

with the exception of 'You Know Your're Right' and 'Sappy' nirvana's best songs are found on in utero. i like to think i'm a nirvana fan over a kurt cobain fan, and so when i listen to nirvana, i try to listen to a band and not a man, but saying that, In Utero is definatly more about Mr Cobain than nirvana, unfortuatly. Saying that, In Utero shines as Nirvana's most raw, honest and best album ever. a portrait of one mans pain and inner demons painted by three extrememly talented young men. as all nirvana fans know, in utero was kurt cobains way of getting back to his hardcore punk roots after his mainstream nevermind success, which would give the impression the aformentioned honesty and rawness is manufactured, but it's too real to be produced for hardcore effect, and so, as an insight to kurt cobain, its as close as we can get but as an album for the band that changed the 90's, it's a master piece

Every song may not be exellent but it doesnt matter if you like nirvana if you dont this cd will satisfy. This is well worth every penny considering the great classics on the cd which include heart shaped box, very ape and all apoligues in othe words this is a NIRVANA MUST BUY!!

...released in 1993, Nirvana's sophomore commercial album remains undimmed in power and impact. One of the most uncompromising follow up albums in rock, Cobain set about demolishing what he saw as the artifice of fame that the previous album had brough him and his bandmates...Tunes full of vitriol, decay, anger and insecurity expose his personal demons for all to see, but the singer was no fool, the whole album pervades with a dark sense of humour. It is on this album, not the previous two that the foundation for the legend stands as they prove they were no one trick pony. The emotion here is genuine, something that separates the band from their more derivative contemporaries and the drivel that profess to be influenced by Nirvana today. Make no mistake their will never be another like them, in this digital download age where albums will soon be obsolete it's simply not possible. This album is the real deal.

A must buy for any true nirvana fan!! By far the best Nirvana album! And unlike most of his songs some songs (or at least some lyrics) are personal to him! serve the servants is all about his dad... heart shaped box is all about courtney love (she bought him a heart shaped box) ... rape me is about vanity fair exploting him and getting frances bean taken away from him and courtney... so yeah it is a truely awesome album! would reccomend to ANYONE! =D