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The culmination of the band's tragically short career, Nirvana's In Utero initially stoked fears over its raw, aggressive, and seemingly uncommercial sound. To say that those fears were unfounded is an understatement: the 1993 album debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard 200 and the U.K. Albums Chart, and has since been certified 6x Platinum in the United States. On October 27, it will return from Geffen/UMe in a multi-format 30th anniversary edition.
As TSD opined back in August 2013 as the 20th anniversary edition was being announced, "In Utero was the polar opposite of 1991's breakthrough Nevermind, with abrasive production by Steve Albini and considerably less accessible songs crafted by Kurt Cobain, who was clearly uncomfortable with his growing fame as the voice of a disaffected generation. (Almost seven months after the album's release, Cobain died of a self-inflicted shotgun wound at 27.)" Indeed, the album was a primal scream of an album that was nonetheless a triumphant testament to the music crafted by Cobain, Krist Novoselic, and Dave Grohl.
The 30th anniversary boxes differ from the 2013 sets which included a remix of the album as well as the Seattle Live and Loud concert from December 18, 1993 on both CD and DVD. The 30th anniversary edition arrives in various formats including a limited-edition 8LP Super Deluxe box set, 5CD Super Deluxe box set, 1 LP + 10" edition, 2CD Deluxe Edition, and a Digital Super Deluxe edition. The Super Deluxe releases comprise 72 tracks, 53 of which are previously unreleased. The contents are:
- Original remastered album plus five bonus tracks/B-sides (1 CD or 2 LPs);
- Live in Los Angeles - Great Western Forum: December 30, 1993 (2 CDs or 3 LPs);
- Live in Seattle - Seattle Center Arena: January 7, 1994 (2 CDs or 3LPs); and
- Bonus Live 1993-1994 (included on B-Sides LP and Live in Seattle CD).
Both Live in Los Angeles and Live in Seattle, the band's final performance in their hometown, are previously unreleased. Seattle producer-engineer Jack Endino has restored the show from stereo soundboard tapes. The In Utero album and five bonus sides have been remastered from the analog master tapes by Bob Weston at Chicago Mastering Services; Weston assisted Steve Albini as the only other engineer at the original recording sessions.
The CD and LP Super Deluxe sets feature a removable front cover acrylic panel depicting the album's Angel; a 48-page hardcover book with previously unpublished photos; a 20-page newly-designed fanzine; a Los Angeles tour poster lithograph by hot rod artist Coop; replicas of the 1993 record store promo Angel mobile, three replica concert fliers, two replica ticket stubs for the Los Angeles and Seattle shows, an All-Access tour laminate, and four cloth sticky tour backstage passes: Press, Photo, After Show, and Local Crew. Fans who buy the Super Deluxe Editions at uDiscoverMusic.com and SoundofVinyl.com will receive a Nirvana stand to display their acrylic panel; the stand is limited to 3,000 units, so get those orders in early!
A 2CD highlights edition contains the original album plus 14 live tracks culled from the big box. A 1LP remaster adds the five bonus tracks/B-sides on a 10-inch EP. All formats are due on October 27. You can peruse the track listing and pre-order links below.
Nirvana, In Utero (DGC DGCD-24607, 1993 - reissued Geffen/UMe, 2023)
8LP Box: UDiscoverMusic.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
LP 1: Original Album Remaster
SIDE 1
- Serve The Servants
- Scentless Apprentice
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Rape Me
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
- Dumb
SIDE 2
- Very Ape
- Milk It
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
- tourette's
- All Apologies
LP 2: Bonus Tracks & B-Sides (Remastered)
SIDE 1
- Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip
- Marigold
- Sappy
- Moist Vagina
- I Hate Myself And Want To Die
BONUS LIVE 1993/1994
SIDE 2
- Serve The Servants (Live in Rome)*
- Scentless Apprentice (Live in Rome)*
- Heart-Shaped Box (Live in Rome)*
- Very Ape (Live in Rome)*
- Milk It (Live in Springfield)*
- tourette's (Live in New York)*
LP 3-5: Live in Los Angeles: Great Western Forum - December 30, 1993
SIDE 1
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter*
- Drain You*
- Breed*
- Serve The Servants*
SIDE 2
- Come As You Are*
- Smells Like Teen Spirit*
- Sliver*
- Dumb*
SIDE 3
- In Bloom*
- About A Girl*
- Lithium*
- Pennyroyal Tea*
SIDE 4
- School*
- Polly*
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle*
- Rape Me*
- Territorial Pissings*
SIDE 5
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam*
- The Man Who Sold The World*
- All Apologies*
- On A Plain*
SIDE 6
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Blew*
- Feedback Jam*
LP 6-8: Live in Seattle: Seattle Center Arena - January 7, 1994
SIDE 1
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter*
- Drain You*
- Breed*
- Serve The Servants*
SIDE 2
- Come As You Are*
- Smells Like Teen Spirit*
- Sliver*
- Dumb*
SIDE 3
- In Bloom*
- About A Girl*
- Lithium*
- Pennyroyal Tea*
SIDE 4
- School*
- Polly*
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle*
- Milk It
- Rape Me*
SIDE 5
- Territorial Pissings*
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam*
- The Man Who Sold The World*
- All Apologies*
SIDE 6
- On A Plain*
- Scentless Apprentice*
- Heart-Shaped Box*
- Blew*
(*) Previously unreleased
5CD Box: UDiscoverMusic.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD 1: Original Album Remaster & Bonus Tracks/B-Sides
- Serve The Servants
- Scentless Apprentice
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Rape Me
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
- Dumb
- Very Ape
- Milk It
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
- tourette's
- All Apologies
Bonus Tracks
- Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip
- Marigold
- Sappy
- Moist Vagina
- I Hate Myself And Want To Die
CD 2 & 3: Live in Los Angeles: Great Western Forum - December 30, 1993
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter*
- Drain You*
- Breed*
- Serve The Servants*
- Come As You Are*
- Smells Like Teen Spirit*
- Sliver*
- Dumb*
- In Bloom*
- About A Girl*
- Lithium*
- Pennyroyal Tea*
- School*
- Polly*
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle*
- Rape Me*
- Territorial Pissings*
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam*
- The Man Who Sold The World*
- All Apologies*
- On A Plain*
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Blew*
- Feedback Jam*
CD 4 & 5: Live in Seattle: Seattle Center Arena - January 7, 1994
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter*
- Drain You*
- Breed*
- Serve The Servants*
- Come As You Are*
- Smells Like Teen Spirit*
- Sliver*
- Dumb*
- In Bloom*
- About A Girl*
- Lithium*
- Pennyroyal Tea*
- School*
- Polly*
- Frances Farmer Will Haver Her Revenge On Seattle*
- Milk It
- Rape Me*
- Territorial Pissings*
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam*
- The Man Who Sold The World*
- All Apologies*
- On A Plain*
- Scentless Apprentice*
- Heart-Shaped Box*
- Blew*
Bonus Live 1993-1994
- Serve The Servants (Live in Rome)*
- Scentless Apprentice (Live in Rome)*
- Heart-Shaped Box (Live in Rome)*
- Very Ape (Live in Rome)*
- Milk It (Live in Springfield)*
- tourette's (Live in New York)*
(*) Previously unreleased
2CD: UDiscoverMusic.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
CD 1: Original Album Remaster
- Serve The Servants
- Scentless Apprentice
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Rape Me
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
- Dumb
- Very Ape
- Milk It
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
- tourette's
- All Apologies
CD 2: Live 1993-1994
- Serve The Servants (Live in Rome)*
- Scentless Apprentice (Live in Rome)*
- Heart-Shaped Box (Live in Rome)*
- Rape Me (Live in Seattle)*
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle (Live in Seattle)*
- Dumb (Live in Los Angeles)*
- Very Ape (Live in Rome)*
- Milk It (Live in Springfield)*
- Pennyroyal Tea (Live in Los Angeles)*
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter (Live in Los Angeles)*
- tourette's (Live in New York)*
- All Apologies (Live in Los Angeles)*
- Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam (Live in Seattle)*
- The Man Who Sold The World (Live in Seattle)*
(*) Previously unreleased
1LP + 10-Inch: UDiscoverMusic.com / Amazon U.S. / Amazon U.K. / Amazon Canada
Side One
- Serve The Servants
- Scentless Apprentice
- Heart-Shaped Box
- Rape Me
- Frances Farmer Will Have Her Revenge On Seattle
- Dumb
Side Two
- Very Ape
- Milk It
- Pennyroyal Tea
- Radio Friendly Unit Shifter
- tourette's
- All Apologies
Bonus 10-Inch EP Side One:
- Gallons Of Rubbing Alcohol Flow Through The Strip
- Marigold
Bonus 10-Inch Side Two:
- Sappy
- Moist Vagina
- I Hate Myself And Want To Die
Release Round-Up: Week of October 27
Release Round-Up: Week of November 12
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is there a audience for this ? there are surly no new fans but what of the old ones. i would like to hear what they have to say bout this box.
I wouldn't be quick to write off new fans. A good friend of mine has a teenaged son who has just discovered Nirvana and is eagerly investigating their catalog. I highly doubt he's alone - and imagine that even more new fans are made every year on college campuses. While new fans in that age group might not necessarily be buying the Super Deluxe box, the vinyl LP will be right in their wheelhouse. UMe wouldn't keep releasing these box sets (and the various cutdowns) if there wasn't still a sizeable audience. All that said, I can certainly imagine some disappointment for fans who purchased the last SDE and find this one with new live shows that aren't available in full as standalone releases. Casual fans - I know some of them, too - may well be happy with the 2CD set of the remastered album and live highlights.
thank you joe, nice responce
I agree with Zally. If we visit the sales of Nirvana's "Nevermind" 2021 updated Super Deluxe Box Set it didn't sell well and is available for $51.05 currently on Amazon (originally $149.98) - they can't give 'em away. Yet, the 2011Super Deluxe (out of print) "Nevermind" box set can't be had for less than $120.00 anywhere. The 2011 had a poorly remastered album but did have some nice B-Sides + Smart Studio Session tracks.
What I want is a great sounding album, all the associated b-sides, demos, session tracks, etc. Gathered in one place - perhaps throw in one live concert. Is that so difficult? Whatever this approach is with the Nirvana catalog, it's amateur hour at best and certainly not consumer centric. My guess is this latest "In Utero" offering that borrows from the same theme as 2021's "Nevermind" will follow the same the path down to the bargain bin.
I love me some Nirvana but wow they can milk so much out of so little when it comes to this catalog. Looks nice as far as packaging but it's a pass for me.
And that price is absolutely absurd.
You would think a one disc of live material would suffice. Also 5 CDs and or 8 LPs for just one album is it a bit of overkill.
Milk it!
My opinion, as a long time fan (this is an understatement) is that I welcome the "new" (live) stuff;
The new stuff is really my draw to this (and the aforementioned Nevermind 30th) release.
It seems that that actual album is the same as the one released in several formats ten years ago - and I don't believe it breathes any new life into the album (which the 20th version did in spades).
Was it overpriced, yes... but it's a fun package, and frankly I am at a phase in life where I can afford to waste money once in a while on a guilty pleasure.
I hope that any subsequent releases just cut to the chase, and are releases of live performances - likely from the tours which followed the celebrated album's release.
I had for a time chased down live cd's, and actually downloaded a couple, but I would always prefer to buy official releases where the band gets royalties.