Nirvana - In Utero Demos

Nirvana’s last album before Kurt Cobain’s death was an attempt to get away from what was, in the band’s view, the too-polished sound used on Nevermind. I think they succeeded - the recording is fuzzier, less transparent, as if you can feel the room they’re recording in (actually the same studio where PJ Harvey’s Rid of Me was recorded), whereas on Nevermind you can’t even imagine them being in a room at all. Nevermind was digital sounding, while In Utero sounds like it’s coated with wood and vinyl and dust. The songs themselves are very much siblings to those of Nevermind, however, and the band was clearly still at the top of their game as trailblazers of the Seattle sound.

The only critique I have is a minor one - this album has less all-time singles than Nevermind, although as I wrote about Nirvana before, the amount of absolutely perfect tunes on this album would more than satisfy any other band. Talk about looking for clouds on a sunny day, Dave. I guess Nirvana’s music can do that to you.

Jams

• “Polly”

• “Heart Shaped Box”

• “Dumb”

From the roundup Jamwise #42 - Best Albums of 1993.