Nirvana: MTV Unplugged In New York LP

1994's Unplugged In New York was the last Nirvana collection recorded before the suicide of alternative-rock icon Kurt Cobain and its stripped down, neo-acoustic arrangements and bridled fury caught many fans by surprise. However, the emotion and anguish revealed through the intimate performances here end up offering a new appreciation for the nuances of one of the greatest and most revered bands of recent times, one that may have been on the verge of discovering a new sound and style. 

 

Standout tracks include stirring renditions of the Meat Puppets' "Plateau," "Oh, Me" and "Lake of Fire," the Vaselines' "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam," David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" and Leadbelly's "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" along with band classics like "About A Girl," "Come As Your Are," "Pennyroyal Tea," and "All Apologies."

 

"Nirvana shine brightly on this striking live set because the volume is turned down just low enough to let Kurt Cobain's tortured vulnerability glow. The powerful, reverent covers of Lead Belly, David Bowie and (three) Meat Puppets songs sum up Nirvana as a haunted, theatrical and, ultimately, truly raw band." - #313 on Rolling Stone's '500 Greatest Albums of All Time'