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Live At Reading

Nirvana

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iTunes Review

Headlining the 1992 Reading Festival in England, Nirvana were at the peak of their powers and had finally brought alternative rock into the mainstream. This oft-bootlegged performance has been considered — for good reason — to be one of the band’s definitive moments, coming after the success of Nevermind and before Cobain’s disenchantment with life itself. The band’s entire repertoire is here, from the early works (“Sliver,” “About a Girl”) to the hits (“Smells Like Teen Spirit,” “Come As You Are”), the b-sides (“Aneurysm,” “D7”) and the still forthcoming In Utero cuts (“Dumb,” “All Apologies”). Mocking reports of poor health, Cobain entered the stage in a wheelchair and proceeded to rip through a physically punishing, emotionally draining set. Though only a trio, the band is not short a note. Drummer Dave Grohl’s fills are perfectly executed and hold things together no matter what anarchy Cobain envisions for his guitar solos. However, the star is simply that voice. Cobain sings these songs for everything they’re worth.

Customer Reviews

Worth The Wait!!

In a word - amazing! Live At Reading serves as a vibrant reminder as to why Nirvana belongs in the pantheon of great rock bands, and how they may likely be the last great and meaningful band to emerge in the past twenty years. Live At Reading captures the band at a crossroads - just a year before in 1991, the band played the very same festival, but was relegated to an afternoon slot somewhere in the middle of the multi-day, multi-band gathering. Just a short year later, they would be arriving as conquering anti-heroes, having in the space of a year, accomplished the small feat of changing the face of music. Now the festivals headliners, Nirvana - and particularly Kurt Cobain, had become the subject of much public attention, and amidst a cloud of rumours and innuenedo stirred up by the press, the appearance was as much anticipated for the spectacle as it was for the expected performance, a performance that would end up being the bands final in the U.K. What is captured on tape hardly comes across as a band in its final moments - Live At Reading explodes with ferocity and moments of sheer brilliance. Granted it has its less than sparkling moments, but those are few and far between, and seem more a by-product of a band at odds with its own success, and adding verity to the event.

The moments where Nirvana truly shine are too many to mention - the performance of "School" displays the skills and sound which made Dave Grohl such a key addition to the band. His drumming matches the visceral attack of Kurt's vocals, turning the performance into a thundering pummel that churns the crowd into a sea of screaming bodies. Other highlights include blistering performances of tracks from Neverming, including "Breed" and "Lithium," the latter of which induces the crowd into a most memorable sing-a-long segment, serving to illustrate both the bands immense popularity at the time, and the potency of its songs.

Other highlights include those from the then forthcoming In Utero album, including the first ever live performance of "Tourette's" and the soon to become classic "All Apologies." Live At Reading is a must have for any Nirvana fan, casual or core.

Real title

They should have released this 13 years ago instead of Wishkah...

Essential Nirvana

This is Nirvana at a young stage in their career & where Kurt really seemed to shine. This is a truly historic concert if you look at the effect it had on everything mainstream. I'm extremely excited about it being released on iTunes & would encourage any fan to buy this album... or better yet, the movie.

Biography

Formed: 1987 in Aberdeen, WA

Genre: Rock

Years Active: '80s, '90s

Prior to Nirvana, alternative music was consigned to specialty sections of record stores, and major labels considered it to be, at the very most, a tax write-off. After the band's second album, 1991's Nevermind, nothing was ever quite the same, for better and for worse. Nirvana popularized punk, post-punk, and indie rock, unintentionally bringing it into the American mainstream like no other band to date. While their sound was equal parts Black Sabbath (as learned by fellow Washington underground...
Full Bio

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