All the punk noise stripped away and still sounding brilliant (Mtv Unplugged In New York - Nirvana)

Member Name: underdog_78

Product:	Mtv Unplugged In New York - Nirvana
Date:	02/07/09 (4 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Getting a glimps at what could have come next

Disadvantages: The fact it was the end

Nirvana Unplugged is many things. A chance to see the softer side of a loud band. A chance to hear the wonderful pop music behind the distorted guitars. A sign of what would come next from the band, and ultimately a poignant reminder that for all his faults Kurt was truly a once in a generation talent.

A lot of Nirvana fans reacted badly to this gig at first and only really embraced it after Cobain's death. They felt it was a sell out, but ultimately it give Kurt a chance to evolve musically for the first time in many years. There is a rumour that the next musical project for Kurt was an acoustic album with Michael Stipe.

This set is the standard for all past and present unplugged. The bands before them done unplugged exactly the same way they done a normal gig, they simply done acoustic versions of those songs.

Nirvana however done everything differently and the intimate atmosphere seemed to agree with the often shy Cobain. The set list comprise of almost 50/50 Nirvana Originals and cover songs.

Even the covers they done weren't your run of the mill kind of stuff. The 3 meat puppet songs were performed wonderfully (and give a nice boost to the band following this), David Bowies Man who Sold the World was breath taking and Where did you sleep last night sounded like a direct message to Courtney Love as Kurt's voice actually creaks and cracks it's way through the final lines.

The classic About a Girl opens the set and sets the mood showing just how good the chord progressions Cobain used were. Often ridiculed for writing 3 chord songs, this set showed the strip down songs and their wonderful melody behind them.

Polly makes a star showing during the gig also, while it's a horrible story the song is truly a classic. For me the stand out track is Penny Royal Tea, completely different to the recorded album version and sung only with Kurt accompanying himself on the guitar.

This album will probably always be remembered as the last great thing Cobain done, and a fitting tribute it is.

Summary: A brilliant blend of originals and obscure cover versions.