Nirvana - In Utero

A reactionary statement to the phenomenal commercial success of Nevermind, In Utero remains Nirvana’s most noisy, caustic, uncompromised, and aggressive album. It’s also the band’s best, a brilliant combination of contagious hooks, feedback-drenched squalls, bruised beauty, and biting lyrical wit intended to blindside causal listeners with raw emotion, difficult listening, and painful honesty. Rife with medical imagery and references to disease, sickness, decay, and dismay, In Utero is the distraught sound of personal catharsis and unyielding trauma. More revealingly, the record doubles as a haunting foreshadowing of singer Kurt Cobain’s suicide that took place just months after its release.

Unhappy with the high-gloss production and pop-based arrangements on Nevermind, Nirvana set out to make a harsher album that would literally alienate millions. While the trio succeeded in its goal of getting intimate with blistering dissonance and acerbic tones, In Utero resonated with the public, debuting at #1 on the Billboard charts and ultimately selling more than four million copies. Echoing John Lennon, Cobain’s piercing songwriting spoke to the disaffected masses that shared his anguish and set new standards for ironic depth that still stand. For every unsettling screed (“Serve the Servants,” “Milk It,” “Radio Friendly Unit Shifter,” “Tourettes”) there are introspective moments of folk-inspired elegance (“All Apologies,” “Pennyroyal Tea,” “Dumb”) that hint at the direction in which Nirvana was headed.

In Utero is equally legendary for the controversies involving its production. Originally helmed by Steve Albini, an engineer known for capturing live ambience and natural tones, the album was eventually remixed by Scott Litt after the group complained about the vocal sound. While the exact specifics of what party demanded the redo remain blurry, the finished results are staggering, with the added harmonies, better bass definition, and vocal volume boosts achieving an ideal balance that satisfied the band’s wishes. Now, you can hear it like never before.

Cut for ORG from the original master tapes by Bernie Grundman and pressed on colored 180-gram virgin vinyl at RTI, ORG’s Limited Edition Collector’s Version is the definitive edition of this masterpiece. WE GUARANTEE THIS BEATS EVERY PREVIOUS PRESSING. Do not pass up this rare chance to own the Nirvana classic that NPR “Sound Opinions” radio co-host Jim DeRogatis named the best alternative rock album of the 90s!

Nirvana In Utero Track Listing: