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Rating:
This album was my introduction to Nirvana and especially made me fall in love with the so-called "grunge." I didn't know Cobain, I didn't know Nirvana, and I had never even heard of the Seattle music movement. Listening to this album meant discovering a new world for me, one that at the time captivated and fascinated me and now accompanies me daily. Chills. Magical chills. The emotions Cobain provides with his "live" voice are indescribable. I will never stop regretting not having been able to hear him live...
The atmosphere this album creates is magnificent. It moves, it gives peace, and at times it almost seems as if Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl, and Krist Novoselic are in front of you, tracing note by note the path to Nirvana... Moments of great transport, strong emotions, more chills. And as I talk about it, I can’t help but listen. "I think I'm dumb"... all of Kurt's alienation, and even more, that of Nirvana's grunge, is encapsulated in this phrase. Every piece is in the right place. The entire performance follows a single thread; the pieces form a whole, a unique entity only occasionally interrupted by audience applause and some jokes from the musicians. Highs and lows alternate with dreamlike harmony, the singer’s voice draws grand arches, and you let yourself be gently cradled by pieces like "Plateau," "Oh Me," tributes with "Lake Of Fire" to the Texans Meat Puppets, also present at Sony Studio in New York.
It's no coincidence that "Smells Like Teen Spirit," the group's most commercial piece, Cobain's blessing and curse, is missing. What the group offers, aside from the already mentioned Meat Puppets, is the best from an emotional intensity perspective of their production. Cobain demonstrates masterful control of that unpredictable instrument that is (was, alas) his voice, and the rest of the band accompanies their leader with great cohesion. From poignant hoarse screams that almost scratch in "Where Did You Sleep Last Night," a folk tribute to Leadbelly, down to melancholic whispers, as in "Something In The Way," an autobiographical piece of Cobain kicked out of his home: it's all in this performance. Even original reimaginings of artists far from grunge are not missing: "The Man Who Sold The World," by David Bowie, and "Jesus Doesn’t Want Me For A Sumbeam," a religious piece by the Vaselines. There really is everything. Atmosphere, imagination, emotions, and again chills. Almost a prelude to what would happen a few months later.
A classic, a milestone in music history. One could say the artistic testament of a controversial and therefore mythical artist, the testament of a band that gave new inspiration to rock as a whole.
Tracklist Lyrics and Samples
01 About a Girl (03:38)
I need an easy friend.
I do, with an ear to lend
I do, think you fit this shoe
I do, but you have a clue
I'll take advantage
While you hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night for free
I do
I'm standing in your line
I do, hope you have the time
I do, pick a number two
I do, keep a date with you
I'll take advantage
While you hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night for free
I do
I need an easy friend
I do, with an ear to lend
I do, think you fit this shoe
I do, but you have a clue
I'll take advantage
While you hang me out to dry
But I can't see you every night
No, I can't see you every night for free
I do, I do, I do, I do
03 Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam (04:37)
Jesus, don't want me for a sunbeam
Sunbeams are never made like me
Don't expect me to cry,
For all the reasons you had to die
Don't ever ask your love of me
Don't expect me to cry
Don't expect me to lie
Don't expect me to die for thee
Jesus, don't want me for a sunbeam
Sunbeams are never made like me
Don't expect me to cry,
For all the reasons you had to die
Don't ever ask your love of me
(x2)
Don't expect me to cry
Don't expect me to lie
Don't expect me to die for thee
Jesus, don't want me for a sunbeam
Sunbeams are never made like me
Don't expect me to cry,
For all the reasons you had to die
Don't ever ask your love of me
Don't expect me to cry
Don't expect me to lie
Don't expect me to die
Don't expect me to cry
Don't expect me to lie
Don't expect me to die for thee
Originally by The Vaselines. Correct title should be "Jesus Don't
Want Me For a Sunbeam". An incorrect title, using "Doesn't", is printed
on the MTV Unplugged CD and covers. Though, I think the Vaselines used
the title "Jesus wants me for a sunbeam" ... !
04 The Man Who Sold the World (04:21)
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
Oh no, not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With The Man Who Sold The World
I laughed and shook his hand
And made my way back home
I searched for form and land
For years and years I roamed
I gazed a gazeless stare
We walked a million hills
I must have died alone
A long, long time ago
Who knows?
Not me
I never lost control
You're face to face
With the Man who Sold the World
Who knows?
Not me
We never lost control
You're face to face
With the Man who Sold the World
05 Pennyroyal Tea (03:40)
I'm on my time with everyone
I have very bad posture
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
I'm anemic royalty
Give me a Leonard Cohen afterworld
So I can sigh eternally
I'm so tired I can't sleep
I'm anemic royalty
I'm a liar and a thief
I'm anemic royalty
I'm on warm milk and laxatives
Cherry-flavored antacids
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
I'm anemic royalty
Sit and drink Pennyroyal Tea
Distill the life that's inside of me
I'm anemic royalty
06 Dumb (02:52)
I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone
But I have a light
The day is done
But I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Or maybe just happy
Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy
My heart is broke
But I have some glue
Help me inhale
And mend it with you
We'll float around
And hang out on clouds
Then we'll come down
And have a hangover
Have a hangover
Have a hangover
Have a hangover
Skin the sun
Fall asleep
Wish away
The soul is cheap
Lesson learned
Wish me luck
Soothe the burn
Wake me up
I'm not like them
But I can pretend
The sun is gone
But I have a light
My day is done
But I'm having fun
I think I'm dumb
Maybe just happy
Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy
Think I'm just happy
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
I think I'm dumb
07 Polly (03:16)
Polly wants a cracker
Think I should get off her first
Think she wants some water
To put out the blow torch
Isn't me
Have a seat
Let me clip
Dirty wings
Let me take a ride
Cut Yourself
Want some help
Please myself
Got some rope
Have been told
Promise you
Heaven True
Let me take a ride
Cut yourself
Want some help
Please myself
Polly wants a cracker
Maybe she would like some food
She asked me to untie her
A chase would be nice for a few
Isn't me
Have a seat
Let me clip
Dirty wings
Let me take a ride
Cut yourself
Want some help
Please myself
Got some rope
Have been told
Promise you
Have been true
Let me take a ride
Cut yourself
Want some help
Please myself
Polly said
Polly says her back hurts
She's just as bored as me
She caught me off my guard
Amazes me the will of instinct
Isn't me
Have a seat
Let me clip
Dirty wings
Let me take a ride
Cut yourself
Want some help
Please myself
Got some rope
Have been told
Promise you
Have been true
Let me take a ride
Cut yourself
Want some help
Please myself
08 On a Plain (03:44)
I'll start this off without any words.
I got so high that I scratched 'till I bled.
I love myself better than you.
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
The finest day that I ever had,
Was when I learned to cry on command.
I love myself better than you.
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
I'm on a plain.
My mother died every night.
It's safe to say, don't quote me on that.
I love myself better than you.
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
The black sheep got blackmailed again.
Forgot to put on the zip code.
I love myself better than you.
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
I'm on a plain.
Somewhere I have heard this before,
In a dream my memory has stored.
As a defense, I'm neutered and spayed.
What the hell am I trying to say?
It is now time to make it unclear,
To write off lines that don't make sense.
I love myself better than you.
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
One more special message to go,
And then I'm done, then I can go home.
I love myself better than you
I know it's wrong so what should I do?
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
I'm on a plain, I can't complain.
09 Something in the Way (04:01)
Underneath the bridge, the tarp has sprung a leak,
And the animals I trapped have all become my pets,
And I'm living off of grass and the drippings from my ceiling.
It's okay to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings.
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Underneath the bridge, the tarp has sprung a leak,
And the animals I trapped have all become my pets,
And I'm living off of grass and the drippings from my ceiling.
It's okay to eat fish 'cause they don't have any feelings.
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
Something in the way... mmm...
Something in the way, yeah... mmm...
10 Plateau (03:38)
Many a hand has scaled the grand old face of the plateau
Some belong to strangers and some to folks you know
Holy ghosts and talk show hosts are planted in the sand
To beautify the foothills and shake the many hands
There's nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don't be scared
Who needs action when you got words
When you've finished with the mop then you can stop
And look at what you've done
The plateau's clean, no dirt to be seen
And the work it was fun
There's nothing on the top but a bucket and a mop
And an illustrated book about birds
You see a lot up there but don't be scared
Who needs action when you got words
Well the many hands began to scan around for the next plateau
Some said it was in Greenland and some say Mexico
Others decided it was nowhere except for where they stood
But those were all just guesses, wouldn't help you if they could
12 Lake of Fire (02:55)
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
I knew a lady who came from Duluth
She got bit by a dog with a rabid tooth
She went to her grave just a little too soon
And flew away howling on the yellow moon
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
The people cry and the people moan
They 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 'em their own
Where do bad folks go when they die?
They don't go to heaven where the angels fly
They go to a lake of fire and fry
See 'em again 'till the fourth of July
(Originally by the Meat Puppets)
13 All Apologies (04:23)
What else should I be
All apologies
What else could I say
Everyone is gay
What else could I write
I don't have the right
What else should I be
All apologies
In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
I'm married
Buried
I wish I was like you
Easily amused
Find my nest of salt
Everything is my fault
I'll take all the blame
Aqua Sea Foam shame
Sunburn with freezeburn
Choking on the ashes of her enemy
In the sun
In the sun I feel as one
In the sun
In the sun
Married, Maried, Maried!
Buried!
Yeah yeah yeah yeah
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
All in all is all we are
14 Where Did You Sleep Last Night? (05:06)
My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
My girl, my girl, where will you go
I'm going where the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
Her husband, was a hard working man
Just about a mile from here
His head was found in a driving wheel
But his body never was found
My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
My girl, my girl, where will you go
I'm going where the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
My girl, my girl, don't lie to me
Tell me where did you sleep last night
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
My girl, my girl, where will you go
I'm going where the cold wind blows
In the pines, in the pines
Where the sun don't ever shine
I would shiver the whole night through
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Other reviews
By jackas
This album is truly a gem!!!
Kurt Cobain’s heartbreaking and melancholic voice, filled with anger and deep pain.
By andrewramone
Perhaps the most beautiful live album in the history of music.
Cobain’s voice is always at the forefront, especially in the final masterpiece, 'Where Did You Sleep Last Night.'
By ashanti
The emotion of that live is tied only to our selfishness, to our over-excited imagination, to the unconscious impulse of wanting to create myths.
Cobain doesn’t look at you, he shuns the camera, drinks tea. Discomfort, boredom, embarrassment. Anything but poetry and emotion.
