Number 22 - MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana

 Number 22: MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana

Acoustic artwork

Release: November 1st, 1994
Genre: Acoustic
Favorite Tracks: Where Did You Sleep Last Night, All Apologies, The Man Who Sold the World

 

Where I heard it: 

Nirvana is another one of those bands that feels like I've always been listening to their music. They're such an integral part of 90's culture that it's impossible to tell the tale of the decade without them. I believe my fixation toward Nirvana coincided oddly enough with my obsession with "Weird Al" Yankovic around 2008. His album Off the Deep End parodies not only the iconic album cover of Nirvana's Nevermind, but also leads with the hit single Smells Like Nirvana which pokes fun at Kurt Cobain's unintelligible vocals. Al and his band are such talented musicians that the parodies they write sound nearly identical to the source material, so Smells Like Nirvana ended up as my first example of grunge music. Once I started looking into Nirvana's repertoire, I plunged down the YouTube rabbit hole and watched several crudely made lyric videos of songs like Smells Like Teen Spirit, In Bloom, Heart-Shaped Box, and Rape Me. Nirvana's music was dismal and depressing in ways that I had difficulty processing at the ripe age of 10, but would revisit again in my teens as those feelings of angst became applicable to my life. By the end of high school in 2014, I was well familiar with what Nirvana had to offer - or so I thought. I heard primarily through recommendations on Reddit that the band's performance on the MTV Unplugged series was perhaps the greatest project Nirvana had ever worked on. Intrigued, I spent an evening watching through the entire concert, and must agree with the sentiment I read online. In fact, I'd take it a step further and say MTV Unplugged in New York is one of the greatest live performances in the history of music.

 

People cry and people moan

Look for a dry place to call their home

Try to find some place to rest their bones

While the angels and the devils try to make them their own

Where do bad folks go when they die?

They don't go to Heaven where the angels fly

They go down to the lake of fire and fry

See 'em again 'til the fourth of July

~ Lake of Fire

What to expect:

As poster children of the Seattle grunge movement, Nirvana established their gritty and noisy sound across the two remarkable studio albums Nevermind and In Utero. Their brief run that suddenly concluded after the death of Kurt Cobain in 1994 adds to the mystique of this legendary band, leaving fans only to wonder what could have been of these prolific talents. Kurt Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl made for a terrific trio that revolutionized the direction of music in the 90's and beyond. It's no surprise Nirvana caught the eye of musical authorities MTV, who invited the band to perform on the show MTV Unplugged, which focused on acoustic variations by popular artists. Both Nirvana and MTV were at the height of their popularity, setting the stage for an all-time performance that merged these two superpowers into one. The show took place at Sony Studios in New York City in late November 1993, as fans of Nirvana packed the venue to capacity for a chance to hear a once-in-a-lifetime concert by the band. As opposed to other groups in this forum, MTV Unplugged in New York remarkably was recorded in a single, immaculate take. The setlist consisted largely of Nirvana deep cuts and cover songs, including stellar renditions of David Bowie's The Man Who Sold the World and Lead Belly's Where Did You Sleep Last Night. Kurt was especially eager to share his diverse music tastes to the audience, while simultaneously challenging the band's abilities to play well in a stripped-down environment. Each song employs a minimalist approach that contrasts the grungy distortion effects of recognizable tunes like Come As You Are and All Apologies, reinventing these tracks into profound showcases that emphasize the emotional weight embedded in Kurt's songwriting. The garage rock-inspired heaviness Nirvana is known for is replaced with deliberate strokes of the acoustic guitar that pierce through the amps with exceptional impact, delivering the heaviest sound you'll find on the album. These conditions highlight the tenderness of Kurt's vocals during tracks like Dumb and Jesus Doesn't Want Me For a Sunbeam, juxtaposed with the strained tones of songs like Lake of Fire and About A Girl. Kurt absolutely steals the spotlight on this album, as his bandmates are content with playing a more contemporary role within the music that works in conjunction with Kurt's desired musical direction. His vision is flawlessly executed on the album, much to the delight of the studio audience that squeal with glee between songs (and even before on a few). MTV Unplugged in New York would end up being Nirvana's final recording as a group, as the album was released seven months posthumously to Kurt's death. While far from a traditional Nirvana album, MTV Unplugged in New York offers a beautiful and elegant take on the revolutionary music that sculpted the sound of the 90's.

We passed upon the stair

We spoke of was and when

Although I wasn't there

He said I was his friend

Which came as a surprise

I spoke into his eyes

I thought you died alone

A long, long time ago

~ The Man Who Sold The World

Why it's my favorite: 

I'm not particularly fond of live recordings as replacements for their studio companions. There's too many variables involved in live performances with potential to throw off the vibe. Generally, a studio recording is tediously engineered to bring the highest quality audio through the speakers. However, MTV Unplugged in New York possesses a conservative modesty that unashamedly embraces its flaws as features that result from the quirkiness of the band and unpredictability of stage equipment. Discussions between the band during song interludes are left intact to recreate the intimate atmosphere of the album. Sharp microphone feedback in The Man Who Sold the World and All Apologies add character to songs already full of personality. Kurt's audio spikes in Lake of Fire and Where Did You Sleep Last Night add breathtaking moments of drama that resonate with cutting fury. In fact, Kurt's unhinged final verse within the album's thrilling conclusion is perhaps the most poignant point of the performance. You can hear every ounce of devotion to the material in the absolute passion the lyrics are uttered with. There's palpable energy in the chilling silence of Kurt's final words as he takes a heavy sigh before his last note, almost contemplative in nature to the gravity of the situation. Here was Nirvana, one of music's most iconic groups ever, and they absolutely brought the house down with one of the most memorable performances in the history of live music. Do you think Kurt was aware of the genius that had just occurred on that stage? I'd say given his reserved and critical nature, Kurt was simply too humble to acknowledge the totality of what he'd just done. Instead, Kurt was completely immersed within the music, losing all sense of perception and allowing the art to take control in something akin to an out-of-body experience. From beginning to end, MTV Unplugged in New York is an undeniable masterpiece that is sure to delight grunge fans of all kinds.