The Listening Room

As I started to sharpen the guardrails for album selection into albums of our childhood Nirvana was one of the first bands that came to mind. I was never a massive fan, but their presence was so pervasive and influential they were impossible to ignore once Nevermind came out. I thought it'd be fun to tackle them early on given that fact. But instead of treading through Nevermind, the one that I'm most familiar with, I decided to start at the end with In Utero. I don't have any personal background or context beyond Heart Shaped Box being on constant play on MTV back then. According to Google AI results... -- In Utero is the third and final studio album by Nirvana, released in 1993. It is known for its abrasive, raw sound, which was a deliberate departure from the polished production of their previous album, Nevermind. The album is a deeply personal and often uncomfortable exploration of themes like fame, self-loathing, and complicated relationships, featuring a mix of searing emotional noise and melodic pop-punk. -- Excited to dive in!

I love Nirvana. I know they at this point have gotten their due, but I will say I think that most of it is deserved. Their Unplugged album is fantastic, and I always love to witness or hear stories of silly people saying that that have seen them or are seeing them post.

Great album that makes me feel like I've been trapped in a dark room by myself for too long. The back half of the album really started to narrow in on the themes and subject matter to form a portrait of Kurt in a very bad place physically and mentally. So sad, but so honest. The sound of the album while raw showed a huge range that I didn't really remember Nirvana for. It definitely makes me wonder where they would have gone next.

Ah man, I was hoping I would have the opportunity to talk about this album in this club, or at least on this site. I was not lucid enough to know the public's reaction when this came out, but I just have a hard time believing the split decision the public had on this album before it was ceremoniously re-evaluated after Cobain's death. It's got the same appeal as Nevermind, but much more fully fleshed out, raw, and emotionally resonating. It may not be the right flavor of anthemic 90s radio wanted, but don't tell me Frances Farmer didn't have a shout-worthy chorus. Milk It is where I find myself vicerally feeling this album. I'll admit way too often, as lyrically poetic as Kurt can be, it's hard as hell to understand him. So often I use my body, and the reverberations of the floor to connect to his music. And for Milk It, it's immediate, omnipresent, and overwhelming. Every time I listen to this album I dream of a fourth Nirvana album (no, Foo Fighters, nor MTV Unplugged, count). There was clearly more artistry left in that head of his, that if given carte blanche, would have changed the world even further.