Nevermind

Nevermind. The word alone evokes images of ripped jeans, flannel shirts, and the raw, unfiltered energy of a generation. More than just an album, it’s a cultural artifact, a touchstone for the 90s and a testament to the power of genuine, angsty rock. Listening to it on vinyl, more than three decades later, is a singular experience that both rekindles nostalgia and reveals new nuances. The Sound: This is where the vinyl experience truly shines. While digital versions can sound crisp, Nevermind on vinyl possesses a warmth and depth that’s hard to replicate. The opening riff of “Smells Like Teen Spirit” hits with a satisfying crunch, the drums feel heavier and more resonant, and the bassline in “Come As You Are” thrums with a visceral presence. The dynamic range of the vinyl allows the quiet moments, like the verses of “Lithium,” to truly breathe before exploding into the explosive choruses. The overall experience feels more organic, less compressed, and more engaging. It's not necessarily "better" than digital, but it's definitely different, offering a more nuanced and textured listening experience. The Experience: Beyond the sound, the act of physically handling the vinyl is part of the appeal. Carefully removing the record from the sleeve, placing it on the turntable, and dropping the needle is a ritual that encourages active listening. You're not just passively consuming music; you're participating in a process. The crackles and pops inherent in vinyl add a certain character, a sense of history that you don't get with digital streams. It’s a more deliberate and immersive way to engage with the album. Flipping the record halfway through acts as a natural break, prompting you to reflect on what you’ve heard and anticipate the rest. The Packaging: The album art for Nevermind is iconic in its own right, and holding the full-sized sleeve in your hands is a treat. The baby in the pool feels both innocent and unsettling, perfectly encapsulating the themes of the album. Examining the liner notes, credits, and artwork up close allows you to appreciate the details that get lost on smaller digital screens. It's a physical artifact that feels substantial and worthy of its place in music history. Minor Considerations: Cost: Vinyl records, especially newer pressings, can be more expensive than their digital counterparts. This is a factor worth considering. Equipment: Obviously, a record player is necessary to enjoy this format. Surface Noise: Depending on the condition of the record and the quality of your equipment, you might experience some surface noise (pops and crackles). This is part of the vinyl experience for some, but can be a deterrent for others. Overall: Nevermind on vinyl is more than just a listening experience; it’s a journey. It's a chance to connect with this iconic album in a tangible and visceral way. The warmth of the sound, the ritual of playing the record, and the tangible nature of the packaging all contribute to a uniquely rewarding experience. While the cost and potential for surface noise are factors to consider, for any fan of Nirvana, or even just anyone looking to explore a classic album in a different way, the Nevermind vinyl is a worthwhile investment. It’s a reminder of why this record continues to resonate with generations of listeners – not just for its music, but for the feeling it evokes. It's a piece of rock history you can hold in your hands and truly experience. Highly Recommended for: Die-hard Nirvana fans Vinyl enthusiasts Anyone looking for a more engaging and immersive listening experience Those seeking to connect with the music on a deeper, more tangible level Not Recommended for: Those strictly seeking convenience and portability Listeners who are easily annoyed by surface noise Those on a tight budget Hopefully, this review gives you a comprehensive overview of what it's like to experience Nevermind on vinyl!

I purchased this to replace my original CD from the 90s though it’s a reprint it still has the same quality one would expect from an audio CD.

Those who argue that Nevermind is one of the greatest albums of all time do so on the basis that it changed and defined music, single handedly, for the first five years of the 1990s. You would be hard pressed to find a single album that has done so before or since. The impact that the ultimately doomed Seattle trio made, over just seven years, makes Nirvana one of rock’s most successful artists. Nevermind begins with Nirvana’s signature track: Smells Like Teen Spirit, which Rolling Stone Magazine ranks at #9 in its 500 Greatest Songs Of All Time for its influence and lyrics about the social pressures and anxieties faced in adolescence with a massive chorus: With the lights out, it’s less dangerous Here we are now, entertain us I feel stupid, and contagious Here we are now, entertain us! The aggressive, four powerchord opening echoed down the line of the early ‘90s, being sampled by many imitating artists. Nevermind was never meant to be as huge on the pop scene as it was. Kurt Cobain worried that his grunge credibility would be threatened. His gloom was increased when Smells Like Teen Spirit, which he didn’t feel was anywhere near his best lyrical effort, was demanded at concerts. Ultimately, Cobain’s fractured, unbearable youth would provide the lyrical structure for much of Nevermind: Smells Like Teen Spirit, the anti-judgemental Come As You Are, the chilling Polly, the characterised denial and confusion of On A Plain and the heartbreaking Something In The Way all have evidence of a troubled, anguished childhood and the terrible inner turmoil that was, sadly, never too far under the surface. However, not all of Nevermind is a collection of underlying teenage unrest by an alternatively brilliant, damaged young man. The frenzied shred of Breed and Territorial Pissings are music as a party drug, the latter being most enjoyable when control is thrown out the window, Cobain’s voice cracks and the song smashes through logical structure of music. In Bloom, with its blaring riff and murmured, boiling verses, would become a fan favourite and a radio staple, as would Come As You Are. Cobain loved Drain You, which is brash, faintly repulsive yet somehow un-put-down-able. The clean cut, cynical Lithium is Cobain’s lyric writing at its best on the album, with wry, almost funny one liners turning personal slights into rebound attacks: I’m so ugly?/ That’s OK, ‘cause so are you! Polly, an acoustic about the rape of a young girl, is hard to listen to too often, especially with the line Let me clip your dirty wings. Ultimately, what makes the album is the final track Something In The Way. After the pounding and thundering of the first eleven songs, its soft, quiet desperation stands out a mile. The depressing lyrics, about Cobain living under a bridge as a young man, are graceful and poignant, with a mournfully beautiful cello playing over the chorus. A stand out. Nevermind is difficult to fully judge. The music is more than a classic of its genre; it is the genre. The lyrics, while at times unpleasant, fit perfectly with the sound. The disillusion that Cobain felt following its success makes it tragic. If you look at it in a purely music relevance sense, it is a classic, and arguably the most influential album of all time.

One of my favorite albums from Nirvana! My favorite song on there is Lithium.

Geffen is great. for decades , they have been making records, right. Flat, centered, and sound amazing. Remastered, I think, the sound is great. Very high quality vinyl. I was impressed. Sounds a little different ( louder, if you can beleive it) Kurt Cobains' vocals really stand out. Love it. Great "pressing" of this legendary album.

High key a album with songs

I'm kinda torn on the rating here. Nirvana were my favorite band for many years, and still are easily in my top 10. This album was never my favorite from them. That honor has always gone to In Utero for me, but this is the classic that made that album possible, and there was a time where this was probably my 2nd favorite album of all time behind In Utero. I'm giving a 4 star rating, because anything under that seems ludicrous, judging the songs by themselves. I, however, agree with all the 1 star reviews complaining about the remaster, and if I wasn't worried about it impacting the rating of an all around fantastic piece of music, I would give it the same. I was ecstatic when this remaster was first announced. By the time it was announced, the original version of this album sounded dated to me. It didn't always sound this way to me, but by 2011 this album sounded most definitely like it came out in 1991 and no other year. It's a shame when over-production stops well written songs from being timeless. On this remaster, however, they went way, way, way overboard. Rather than fixing the 1991 polish to make it sound more like 21st century polish, they just cranked the volume up and ruined the 'loud, quiet, loud' aspects that made this album so great to begin with. Luckily, In Utero received the treatment it deserved, but this remaster destroys the dynamics of this entire album. I think the problem with this remaster was with the marketing team. They probably thought, "what made this album so popular? Oh, it was loud and abrasive, so if we make it louder we'll also make it more abrasive!" The strategy kinda makes sense to marketing teams who don't understand art, but it completely undermines the point of this album which made it so popular. Yes, it was partially that it was loud and abrasive in a time where most music was very pretty and glossy. Popular rock music in the 80's sucked, and this album was the perfect gut punch to get culture away from the dumb hair bands and pop songs that dominated the decade (not that all 80's music was bad... rock certainly was pretty bad, unless you were listening to hardcore punk, but some of the New Wave and Synth pop was quite excellent, and really paved the way for a lot of today's great Indie bands) However, the point of this album, and the thing that made it such a hit, was it's Pixies formula. It was the dynamics. Moments of hushed tones waiting to be shredded to bits by a roaring chorus. The song structures in this album are very basic pop, and not terribly impressive (though, melodically very impressive), but it was the dynamics of this album that made it a classic. Turning up the volume the way they did just butchers those dynamics, and ruins the album. The album itself gets a 4 star rating from me. It's not as good as In Utero. While I blame the production more than the song writing, this album does sound quite dated, even in it's louder form (almost worse because of it). I would, however, rate this remaster 0 stars, and would recommend against it. I wouldn't recommend the CD or MP3 of the original, non-remastered edition very much either. If you want to listen to and enjoy this album the way it should be enjoyed, I'd actually recommend the 180 grain vinyl edition. That doesn't sound as dated, it has the right and proper dynamics and would get a 5 star rating from me based on those merits. I hope that they do a 30th anniversary remaster and fix this crap so that I have something as enjoyable as this album deserves to remain in the 21st century. Oh, not sure if I mentioned it, but I would still strongly recommend In Utero's 20th Anniversary remaster. That album already had a timeless sound, and didn't really need the remaster, but somehow the remaster of that album made the dynamics even better. I'll do a separate review of that at another time, but having listened to the orignal and remastered In Utero side-by-side, they actually turned down the volume on some parts of it and made the loud-quiet-loud aspects much sharper, like I wish they did here.

This is one of the best albums of all times.