Nevermind [Vinyl] [Import]

Nirvana | Format: Vinyl

Product Details

• Vinyl (October 11, 2005)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Universal Import
• ASIN: B0000088DC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl  |  UMD for PSP
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1,789 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #108,621 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

If Nevermind's sound is familiar now, it's only because thousands of rock records that followed it were trying very hard to cop its style. It tears out of the speakers like a cannonball, from the punk-turbo-charged riff of "Smells Like Teen Spirit" onward, magnifying and distilling the wounded rage of 15 years of the rock underground into a single impassioned roar. Few albums have occupied the cultural consciousness like this one; of its 12 songs, roughly 10 are now standards. The record's historical weight can make it hard to hear now with fresh ears, but the monumental urgency of Kurt Cobain's screams is still shocking. --Douglas Wolk

Product Description

Released in September 1991, Nirvana's sophomore album and major label debut elevated Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic and Dave Grohl from a critically acclaimed Aberdeen, Washington, cult band to generational spokesmen who'd unwittingly created a cultural shift and musical touchstone. Rising to No. 1 the world over by year's end and ultimately selling over 30 million copies worldwide, Nevermind would come to be much more than one of the most successful and influential albums of its or any era. As the album that returned unaffected rock 'n' roll integrity and passion to the top of the charts, Nevermind would prove a singular inspiration to fans and musicians alike over the last two decades--and will undoubtedly do so for generations to come --This text refers to the Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

226 of 285 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Nearly A Decade Later......., September 9, 2000

By 

David Baker (Nosgoth) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nevermind (Audio CD)

.......and "Nevermind" still sounds fresh. How? Nirvana were just that damn good. Dave Grohl's drumming was not only powerful, but lightning-speed fast (my personal pick for the greatest drummer ever). Krist Novoselic's bass skills were amazing, melodic, furious, and catchy. And Kurt Cobain, well, what can't you say about the guy? I can sit here and say all these great (and true) things about Kurt, but I'll leave it at this: there is a reason Kurt is a legend, and this was proven numerous times before his unfortunate passing. All the classics are here, "In Bloom", "Lithium", "Come As You Are" (my personal favorite from the band), and, of course, "Smells Like Teen Spirit". But the album as a whole is amazing. "Drain You" is one of the best Alternative songs ever made. "Breed", "Territorial Pissings", and "Stay Away" are punk rock perfection. "Something In The Way" is haunting (it's far superior on their "Unplugged In New York" album), while "Polly" is a glimpse of Cobain's "softer" side at it's best. Even the worst ones here, "Lounge Act" and "On A Plane", are better than anything Creed will ever do (I guess that isn't saying much, but you get the point, those two songs are still brilliant). Cobain was a brilliant singer-songwriter, he could be filled with rage and self-doubt one second ("Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Something In The Way") and be funny the next ("Breed" and "Lithium"). From lines like "Here we are now, entertain us" to "I'm so ugly, that's okay, 'cause so are you", not many could even come close to the talent of Kurt Cobain. From start to finish, Nirvana made one of those rare albums that manages to pull everything out of the bare essentials (guitars, bass, drums) and make an absolute classic out of it. Some of these songs sound better on the band's live albums, and even "In Utero" was just as good as "Nevermind" (despite what some say), and even those two albums put together could not equal "Unplugged In New York"; but this still stands as a landmark for not only rock, but music in general. It was talent beyond anything mortal, that's for sure.

72 of 89 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Accept it or not, it molded the 90's, October 3, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Nevermind (Audio CD)

Nirvana's Nevermind sounds so cliche and overplayed today because a million and one bands have ripped off their innovative sound that molded grunge and rock music for the better. The musicianship of the album isn't complicated for the mostpart, as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come As You Are" are typical songs for the early guitarist, but the song writing and arrangements are so well done that the need for anything profound and complex is immediately thrown out. Nirvana was a band who were great at what they did, needing only their honesty and emotion to get them across, not flashy 80's solos and glam attire.

Kurt Cobain's guitar work, as stated, was not complex, but was interesting, new, innovative, creative, and original, as he was one of the first artists to begin using the rhythm guitar to lead the melody without the choppy leads of 80's hair metal. His chord progressions are simple and basic for a large portion of the album, but throughout the entire recording his technique stays true to form, using original flowing riffs to carry the song when he does use his instrument as a lead. Kurt Cobain's guitar style has essentially motivated and shaped how the instrument has been used since 1991 and almost all of rock's song writing processes today. In equal impressiveness alongside his guitar skill are Cobain's lyrics and his vocal stylings, which always have an underwritten sense of urgency and need in them, supporting the hurt heard in his voice. Although he did not possess one of the greatest voices in music, and still does not, he used his singing well with the music, fitting the musicianship and instrumentation perfectly.

Chris Novoselic's bass lines are upbeat, catchy, and just as sincere as Kurt's guitar playing, his instrument carrying a melody all of its own instead of just following the bass drum and staying in the background, once again breaking away from the rock and metal stylings of the previous decade. Truly standout. Alongside him on the rhythm is Dave Grohl, who should've stuck with the drums instead of moving onto fronting the Foo Fighters in later years and taking up guitar duties. His drumming is solid and top notch on Nevermind, showing him at his best on the instrument he shines with.

Standout tracks in addition to the first six, all of which were hit singles, are "On A Plain" and "Something In The Way"'s acoustic strummings. One of the greatest albums of the 90's. You may think Nirvana is getting a bit old now and the sound too cliche, but try to listen from a perspective when all this was new to the scene and you will feel the truly groundbreaking effect on you it was meant to have.

30 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 15 years later . . ., June 1, 2006

By 

Natalie "nat9761" (Greeley, Colorado USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Nevermind (Audio CD)

I was 16 when it was released and I loved it then and I love it now. For me this is something I can listen to the whole way through without skipping songs. I think the 12 songs on this CD have aged quite well and fit well in any rock fans collection.

I have read the last 300 reviews and many people don't know what they are talking about. I didn't realize how polarizing this album was.

Music shouldn't be about technical guitar prowess or a 5 octave vocal range or hair spray. People shouldn't be caught up with genre labels like grunge, punk, emo, hair metal, nu-metal, alternative. Reviews of music shouldn't comment on the personal lives of the artist's drug use, death, or bizarre choice of mate. You shouldn't even care about how tastes in fashion and music changed after this (and other "grunge" acts) came onto the scene.

It should be about the songs and how you relate to them personally. If you don't like this that is fine, but the other superfluous [...]shouldn't be relevant in the discussion of the album, please feel free to get a MySpace account and [...]about it there.