Kurt Cobain - Vocals/Guitar
Dave Grohl - Drums/Vocals
Krist Noveselic - Bass/Guitar
Pat Smear - Guitar/Vocals
Meet Puppets
This is the best Nirvana album. Nevermind was a classic, and brought Nirvana success, In Utero allowed Nirvana to go back to their more raw sound and Muddy Banks showed off what alive band they were, but this album displays everything good about Nirvana. Their standard of their live performances, their skill as musicians and being able to adapt to other musicians and covers as well as to other instruments(Krist plays the accordian in one of the songs). It shows off Kurt's talent for song writing as all the songs are stripped right down and I also think that Kurt's voice on this album is stunning.
1.About a Girl
Originally on Bleach, Nirvana's first great song. A really good choice for an opener as it is lively with the up, down riff through the verses, the choruses are good and Dave compensates well for not being able to go nuts on the drumms with simple yet effective fills. The solo sounds very different, and the final build up is strong, your dissapointed when this song ends.
Rating - 8/10
2.Come as you are
Before Nirvana played unplugged this was their only well known song on the set list. The vocals were a little shaky at the start, but asyou get into the choruses the guitar sounds beautiful and Kurt really gets into the song. The song hasn't lost anything from the electric, and without the effected guitar I think the solo sounds brilliant. Another good choice.
Rating - 8/10
3.Jesus Doesn't want me for a Sunbeam
This isn't one of my favourite songs on the album. I personally find it a little boring, there are no drums, but I do love the accordian. The voals are good in this song and I like the fact that the band that played Scentless Apprentice are willing to try something like this.
Rating - 6/10
4.The Man who sold the world
Easily one of the highlights of the album. The effected guitar sounds nice but maybe purists of the unplugged genre may not like it. The bass is excellent and I like the fills after the choruses which are also top notch. The solo at the end is great, and you really evaluate what the song os about. To me this song owns the originall David Bowie version.
Rating - 9/10
5.Pennyroyal Tea
Another highlight. Kurt plays on his own, which I like as it slows everythign down and adds another element to the whole show. We also get a real incite into the emotion in Kurt's voice and even the guitar seems to be painfully singing out to us. This song is very different to the version on In Utero. Kurt wisely left out the solo, but I don't feel you can compare the two as they are so different and both great in their own right.
Rating - 8/10
6.Dumb
One of Nirvana's best songs in my view. I love the cello, and unlike the electric version you can really get to grips with Kurt's poetic lyrics. The bridge is good, but apart from the acoustics there isn't too much difference from the original. Dave's vocals on 'dumb' on the outro also work well.
Rating - 8/10
7.Polly
This song is like the original except this one isn't sung in the flat, emotionless tone that could be heard on Nevermind. Apart from that it is still pretty much the same old, too long, too repetitive story and is one of the lower points of the album.
Rating - 5/10
8.On A Plain
One of the more underrated Nirvana songs. It is upbeat, good lyrics and a song you can really enjoy. People who say they don't like it never have a good argument why. This version seems like all the other songs, to have so much more emotion and again the guitar sounds good, which improves the song immensley. The vocals on the chorus are have been better, but you don't notice unless your writing a review and feel you should say something bad about this song.
Rating - 8/10
9.Something in the Way
I like the slight change in guitar in this song. Kurt picks the two top strings and doesn't just strum away. The cello gives this song a badly needed edge, as though all Nirvana fans can appreciate how meaningful this song is, it isn't one of the most upbeat songs you'll hear. I think it was important for Kurt to play it though. The song is strong, but by no means great.
Rating - 7/10
10.Plateau
The first Meat Puppets song. The drum beat gives the song a rhythm and the vocals are impressive. You can tell Kurt is challenging himself and he is rising up to it. The guitar is good, the lyrics are interesting but for me the outro makes the song. With Kurt humming over a great riff that you wouldn't think goes with the rest of the song but it works really well always leaves me feeling good.
Rating - 8/10
11.Oh Me
Probably the weakest Meat Puppets song. The guitar is good, and I really like the solo after the first chorus, the vocals aren't as good as Plateau, but this is still a good song, if it was a little faster I think the song would be better. The end of, what I personally believe to be a boring chorus is good though. Apart from that the song is so so, but not one that I would listen to again and again.
Rating - 7/10
12.Lake of Fire
I love this song. Whilst most make a big deal about Plateau, for me this is the best Meat Puppet song on the album. It has rythym, good guitar riff and the vocals are superb. I also like the use of little fiddly solos fading in and out of the chorus. The solo at the end is good, the lyrics don't make as much sense as they could but their isn't particulary wrong with this song. Definetley an album highlight. Also the last Meat Puppet song.
Rating - 8/10
13.All Apologies
I think it is funny how Kurt left this song until the end. It would really well though, and is one of the best songs on the album. Kurt's voice is so raw and emotional, and you can really get to the essence of the song, unlike the In Utero version. One Kurt's best riffs and the fading outro, which could of been a challenge, happens seemlessly and I sets up for a great finale.
Rating - 9/10
14.Where did you Sleep last Night
Unbelievable. Is the only word I can use to describe this song. It is simply breathtaking. A good riff, from a Ledbelly cover, the lyrics are so emotional and it still sends shivers down your spine, especially considering what happened only five months later. The song slowly builds up, then gets quieter for a verse, then Kurt bellows out the end, and then there is a pause, where Kurt gives that famous,final look, and then the song ends strong and turns what was until that point a very very good show, to a masterpiece for the ages.
