Nevermind (Deluxe Edition - 4-LP)

This is a neutral review. NIRVANA's Nevermind isn't too special compared to the better alternative acts of the 90's, but it doesn't deserve all these needlessly negative reviews from the AFI guy. It's not like this CD is as bad as a Limp Bizkit album, people! It seems AFI is sour about Kurt Cobain's fame. I think it's horrible AFI is actually happy a fellow human being ended their life. Maybe AFI wishes he had the balls to do what Kurt did. Maybe AFI should grow a some. Hey Amazon... Is there any way AFI can be suspended?

If you like NIRVANA, then check our POD's Satellite album. Slayer is cool too.

I have been listening to Nirvana since 92, collecting every thing I could, both official on non-official. My mouth was watering over this release since I now only buy vinyl records...but then I listened to it.

My main problem is with LP 1 (Nevermind Remastered) - This is the worst of it (It's all pretty bad though). Compared to my 2009 pressing, the cymbals have been nearly stripped of their presence. The beauty of Dave's crashing has been flattened down. It all sounds more like a badly mixed CD than a high quality vinyl. I thought my ears were playing tricks on me so pulled the remaster off my turntable and threw on my 2009 copy. While the new one made my ears ache, the original drew me right through to the end of a side, like it always does. The new version is devoid of any depth and there are obvious clipping issues. I'm afraid to turn this thing up for fear of that awful overdriven distortion creeping in. Kurt's vocals on parts of Lithium sound especially bad, artificially distorting. I didn't believe it on the first listen, but after comparing to the original there is no mistaking it. I'm am no expert but this does not sound like it is even analog sourced. The 2009 vinyl edition was remastered from the original analog master tapes. Buy this while you still can.

Aside from this, the track listing shows UME has no idea what a person listening to vinyl records wants. Boombox demos are unnecessary on a audiophile medium, but they took it further and split them across 2 records. Logic would tell you they could have been on one separate LP so you could listen to it once and put it aside, but hey, what do I know?

For the other material, I'm willing to settle since it's the only way you are going to get this rare material on vinyl. The highlight is actually the last side of the last record. Early versions of Drain You, Something in the Way (loud as hell, in a good way) and the standard Endless Nameless.

All in all, this could have been so much better.

Try to avoid the inane ranting of the metal nerds. They're still upset that the alternative rock revolution dethroned the shallow and airheaded era of mindless, over the top guitar solo's of the hair band days. These are the same people who think Bret Michael's lyrics were "thought-provoking" lol...

As for this album, a great album, with clever lyrics and raw punk passion. This album is from a band that were beginning to come to their own. An album that paved the way for great underground music to begin to get radio airplay. After this album great underground bands started to get mainstream recognition. Bands like Smashing Pumpkins, Nine Inch Nails, Radiohead, The Pixies, Sonic Youth Soundgarden, Alice in Chains etc.