Release Date: 1993

Previously Owned: Yes

Impressions: This disc is supposedly tough listen, but, in the past, I mostly found it to be challenging but still enjoyable. Sometimes I’ve even enjoyed it more than Nevermind. Let’s put it on… Big, unvarnished Steve Albini production makes it seem very present and still fresh. Even at their supposed most “difficult”  like with the screaming, power-chord driven “Scentless Apprentice” Nirvana still can’t help but be suprisingly catchy, listenable…even hypnotic. “Heart Shaped Box” comes in like a bit of a relief, until the grinding chorus with lines like “I wish I could eat your cancer when you turn black.” Just like with Hole, I keep shaking my head that this dark stuff was popular. Could you imagine someone singing “Rape Me” on The Voice? Then again, by this album, Nirvana was so big they could do whatever they wanted. Even if Kurt Cobain was alive today, this album would still have a suicide note tension running through it, but still there’s lots of energetic playing like on the Pixies-ish “Very Ape.” Okay, I guess we could probably describe most of this album as Pixies-ish, with it’s big “loud, quiet, loud” riffs, twisted lyrics and thunderous drum sound. The album is kind of short, which helps, but it’s very lean, tormented, and focused throughout and then ending on (relatively) gentle, yet heart-breaking “All Apologies.”

Starred Songs: “Heart Shaped Box,” “Pennyroyal Tea,” “All Apologies”

Sneaky Track: “Dumb,” “Very Ape”

Should this be on the list: Yes

Will you listen to this again? Yes
Summary: Huge grinding riffs and harrowing lyrics make Nirvana’s last album a bracing collection of broken post-punk tunes.
Rating: ★★★★1/2