A great deal of music press (among Q and NME, etc.) has been given to the 20th anniversary of Nirvana's final album, released 20 years ago today (September 13th 1993). As nostalgia flared so highly for the 20th birthday of Nevermind, a couple years back, it is no surprise now that Nirvana have passed into the realm of legends despite their short period on earth.
The band had only three studio albums (and a range of other compilation releases). Bleach was the heavily raw, gritty rock affair that was born in the late '80s. Nevermind was the more properly arranged album of a generation and In Utero... that was the final plunge into chaos before the end in 1994.
Recorded in just two weeks, the album was an atempt to defy expectations following their commercial breakthrough the year before with hits such as "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and "Come As You Are." Kurt Cobain was never comfortable with the spotlight and this album was to meant to return the Seattle band back to another place, entirely. Producer Steve Albini therefore decided to record Cobain's vocals in a resonant room and to not double-track them. The sound was leaning towards the more visceral side of the scale. Promotion was even adapted for its release so as to not over-hype it. Did the band succeed? Not really- the public came and bought the album that was once going to be titled I Hate Myself And Want To Die. It has since gone platinum five times and the 20th anniversay edition will surely introduce a whole new generation to one of the last gloriful moments of the Grunge era.
Key Tracks: "Heart Shaped Box," "All Apologies," "Rape Me" and "Scentless Apprentice"
