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

Why 5 stars? Cos few read the 1 star reviews! Interested in quality vinyl? Please read the 1 stars!! Brilliant album, superb production and quality sound so why 1 star? When I took it very carefully out of its card inner sleeve it looked dull, not like my other hundreds of albums. Also many light scratches across its surface, I assume from its insertion into the sleeve. I played it (Rega Planar 3, Elyse 2) and while I could put up with the noise and clicks between tracks, and though they were inaudible during tracks, I could not put up with it sticking and jumping!!! Returned the next day. Why oh why do some continue to use hard scratchy card inner sleeves?

As I write this review on April 22, 2024…I’m reminded that Kurt passed away on April 5, 1994. 17 days ago it was 30 years since his death-wow….seems like just yesterday. So sad. Okay I understand this is not the 2013 Bernie Grundman mastering and pressing. That cut is getting more rare and expensive to find. It's also been discontinued due to licensing agreement disputes and rebranding since around 2019. I want to speak specifically about this particular master cut from Levi Seitz (Black Belt Mastering/Furnace) as part of the 30th anniversary and 2022 re-release. No one knows if this was cut using the original master tapes but seeing that it was originally recorded in 1991 the record industry started to digitize recording by this time anyways. Likely the original master tapes were converted to high-fidelity digital files anyways given the popularity of CD's in the late 80's. I imagine it's AAA as this mastering is very rich, clean, and precise ... I find Kurt's voice and guitar have been moved more focal and crisp - stage centre. The drums have an excellent loud punch but have been moved slightly back behind Kurt...at least on this cut. The cymbals ring slightly less but still sharp and clean. Even in (i.e., Smells Like Teen Spirit) the crashing cymbals have been slightly tamed and plays on the left channel but not both speakers. The sound stage is quite open with very good separation between instruments and singers-more similar to a live performance. It's obvious to me that Levi intended to cut this lacquer wanting to keep the sound stage wide (similar to the highly acclaimed BG master) but I can tell that Levi also wanted to focus a little more on Kurt's voice and guitar. This mastering is extremely close to the BG master but just slightly tighter control over the percussion...and that's a good thing in my opinion. I was born in 1973 and remember hearing this Album in Grade 10 .... I know it very well. I really like this version that Levi has remastered. The bass tones on "Something in the Way" are incredible and Kurt's voice sounds like he's just beside you, whispering the lyrics into your ear. I played my original CD from 1991 that I bought as a young teenager when it was released. I can honestly say ... listening to "Something in the Way" on this vinyl album vrs my original cd is night and day different. This LP mastering sounds like a new song - almost like hearing it live for the first time. It literally sends shivers down my spine! I own a vintage 1978 Marantz 6300 turn table, playing a vintage N98e Shure cartridge elliptical nude stylus set at 1.2 grams, a vintage Marantz 2252B amp, and expensive custom 4 omi-directional speakers 20 hz - 27,000 hz at 8 ohms. If something doesn't sound good from a bad remaster or pressing I would hear it because my system is very good quality. The album arrived extremely clean, absolutely no-surface noise, complete dead wax, no warps. If you want a wonderfully, open, rich, full sound cut...get this 180 gram Levi Steitz. You will not be disappointed. He knew what he was doing in my opinion. He's left all the grunge, left all the potent, timed chaos of Dave Grohl's drumming...that we all love... but Levi has really brought Kurt's voice and guitar front and centre in this beautiful mastering! My favourite version hands down!

El mejor álbum de la banda y el representante por excelencia del mítico y fabuloso grunge y sonido Seattle. Imprescindible en cualquier colección de discos que se precie.

Sui Nirvana è stato scritto di tutto e di più, pertanto inutile dilungarsi sulla presentazione del disco in questione ma mi soffermo sui dettagli tecnici. Amazon ha il brutto vizio di essere poco chiara nelle descrizioni e soprattutto di raccogliere nello stesso canale di vendita recensioni fatte negli anni su articoli che di fatto nel tempo sono cambiati. Il disco acquistato a giugno 2025 è la ristampa 2023 in vinile nero 180gr con pressatura francese MPO e cut a cura di Bernie Grundman, ingegnere audio che firma dal '73 ad oggi il mastering dei più grandi artisti della scena musicale principalmente statunitense. Nelle varie recensioni ho rilevato che nel corso degli anni le ristampe vendute sullo stesso annuncio sono state molteplici e ben diverse. Questa non prevede un codice di download MP3 (non è le Back to Black) ma la qualità della pressatura e del master è molto buona, aggiornata ad un sound più corposo e bassi maggiormente presenti rispetto l'originale. Nel complesso il sound risulta bilanciato e molto piacevole con un sottofondo silenzioso. Sicuramente una delle migliori ristampe degli ultimi tempi. Quando recensite riportate sempre i dati tecnici del runout altrimenti non si capisce più nulla!

Fantastic album. Great reissue with fantastic sound quality. My first record from Amazon and very happy