Unplugged in New York - Dark Publications

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5 out of 5 stars

Essential, and not just for fans December 3, 2007
53 out of 56 found this review helpful

Thanks to the legal hijinks that dragged on long after Kurt Cobain's death, anything Nirvana-related was put on hold. After the legal resolution a couple of years ago, a 3-cd set of unreleased recordings saw the light of day (With The Lights Out), not to mention the obligatory "best of" (Nirvana). Now finally comes the somewhat legendary "MTV Unplugged" show. This set still draws some mixed reactions, even if most fans agree it's brilliant. Taped just months before Cobain's suicide, it's both startingly raw and disturbingly planned, with the band playing amongst candles and flowers (stargazer lilies, to be precise)--more than a few people noted it seemed like a funeral, and indeed that's the way Cobain intended it. Other details that stand out include the fact that while most of the band sit propped on wooden stools, Cobain sits in what appears to be a standard swiveling office chair ("I have very bad posture," indeed!) and the presence of ex-Germ (and future Foo Fighter) Pat Smear, who backs Cobain up as a second guitarist. Anyway, for all its emblamatic status, "Unplugged" also gave a somewhat false impression of the band, and Cobain in particular. Instead of the decidedly plugged in punk the band was known for, Cobain was transformed into a pained-looking, cardigan sweater wearing ghost warbling about how Jesus didn't want him for a sunbeam. Another MTV broadcast, taped just a few months before "Unplugged" the suitably-named "Live and Loud" show, could restore the balance somewhat, but of course it hasn't been officially released on DVD yet. Nevertheless, "Unplugged" retains an almost atavistic hold on the viewer, and is still one of the most intense musical performances ever broadcast on television.

Instead of a basic acoustic run-through of their hits, the band used the opportunity to put a new spin on some of their album tracks. The songs "Polly" and "Dumb" were pretty much unplugged before, but in the context of this show became brillianty-etched character studies. The main character, however, was always Cobain, and his songs constant references to death and alienation became all the more chilling here. "Unplugged" is, therefore, something of an audiovisual suicide note. No suicide note has been as exhilerating as this one, though. If you never believed in the concept of catharsis, this might chance your mind.

The band also used the show to highlight some of their own favorite music, and five of the songs here are covers, all of them given new life by their inclusion here. David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold the World" now seems like Cobain speaking from his grave, even if he wasn't dead yet. The tradional ballad "Jesus Doesn't Want Me for a Sunbeam" was performed by one of Cobain's favorite bands, The Vaselines, but this version was both tribute and personal statement. Three songs from Meat Puppets II, with Chris and Kurt Kirkwood from that band joining in, also seemed handpicked for their metaphorical content, most notably the damnation-themed "Lake of Fire."

What makes this DVD more than just a keepsake is the fact that the entire performance, complete with between song banter and mistakes, are included, as well as the original broadcast version. The uncut "Unplugged" also has 14 songs, compared with the broadcast version's 12. Of course, all the songs can be found on the CD version (MTV Unplugged in New York), but now it's available in full 5.1 glory (and done remarkably well, I might add). The long version also includes a very brief, abortive version of "Sweet Home Alabama," done as "the Brothers Meat" (as Cobain says) were setting up. While the retrospective documentary also included here is disapointinly light on information, it does include a short clip of Sonic Youth's Lee Renaldo, who was at the taping. So while this is pretty much essential for fans, even the curious will want to check this out. Hopefully, some of Nirvana's electric performances will be released soon, but this is still a unique performance that easily transcends the era when it was done.

5 out of 5 stars

About F*ckin' Time!!! October 27, 2007
14 out of 21 found this review helpful

It is about F*ckin' time they release this legendary concert to dvd, or even to have it officially released period. I Will def. be picking this dvd up on it's release date. I will forever be a fan of Kurt Cobain and Nirvana. PS. no more ppl forking out $50 or more for a crappy bootleg, this is OFFICIAL BABY! WHOOHOO! (Below is the offical Press release)

LOS ANGELES, October 23, 2007 - Nearly 14 years to the day of the filming of Nirvana's landmark "MTV Unplugged" performance, that raw, revealing and emotionally gripping acoustic concert previously seen only on television will be available for the first time on DVD. Unplugged In New York (Geffen/MTV Networks/UMe) will be released on November 20, 2007 and will feature the complete, unedited 66-minute concert including "Something In The Way" and "Oh Me" not aired during the original 44-minute broadcast. Unplugged In New York also includes five previously unreleased rehearsal performances and MTV News interviews with the band and audience members.

Filmed November 18, 1993 at Sony Music Studios, the show first aired on MTV on December 14, 1993; just four months before the untimely passing of Kurt Cobain. Unplugged In New York DVD is now presented in both Dolby Stereo and 5.1 Surround Sound and includes both the shorter original broadcast version, and Nirvana's entire unedited performance. When released on CD in November 1994, MTV Unplugged In New York debuted #1, won the Grammy for Best Alternative Music Album in 1996 and was quickly certified five times platinum.

Favoring a selection of carefully chosen tracks over the band's hits, Cobain, bassist Krist Novoselic and drummer Dave Grohl perform acoustic versions of Nirvana's "About A Girl," "Come As You Are," "Pennyroyal Tea," "Dumb," "Polly," "On A Plain," "Something In The Way" and "All Apologies." Six other songs are covers that mined Nirvana's musical diversity and depth, from David Bowie's "The Man Who Sold The World" and The Vaselines' version of "Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam" to the trad folk "Where Did You Sleep Last Night?" associated with Leadbelly and the Meat Puppets' "Plateau," "Oh, Me" and "Lake Of Fire." Meat Puppets singer-guitarist Curt Kirkwood and bassist brother Cris Kirkwood perform with Nirvana on those tracks. Also seen and heard throughout are Nirvana's touring guitarist Pat Smear, an original Germs member and the original and now recurrent guitarist of The Foo Fighters.

The DVD adds the MTV News "Bare Witness" feature of interviews with the band, the MTV production staff, and fans in the audience, plus the rehearsal footage for "Come As You Are," "Polly," "Plateau," "Pennyroyal Tea" and "The Man Who Sold The World."

COMPLETE SHOW (UNEDITED):

About A Girl
Come As You Are
Jesus Doesn't Want Me For A Sunbeam
The Man Who Sold The World
Pennyroyal Tea
Dumb
Polly
On A Plain
Something In The Way
Plateau
Oh, Me
Lake Of Fire
All Apologies
Where Did You Sleep Last Night?

MTV NEWS - BARE WITNESS:
Documentary

THE REHEARSALS:

Come As You Are
Polly
Plateau
Pennyroyal Tea
The Man Who Sold The World

***UPDATE***
I've already pre-ordered this dvd as of Yesterday!

5 out of 5 stars

Awesome November 22, 2007
13 out of 13 found this review helpful

Awesome. I am so impressed with this release. Not only is the sound and picture fantastic, but they have both the original mtv edit of the show and the unedited version of the show. They finally got it right!

5 out of 5 stars

The pinnacle MTV Unplugged Performance - FINALLY! November 7, 2007
7 out of 9 found this review helpful

This performance cemented Nirvana's reputation as being more than just a band of the moment, it elevated Kurt Cobain to the pantheon of great musician/songwriters and convinced any naysayers that he truly was THE artist of his generation. Songs from Nevermind and In Utero like "All Apologies" and "Something In The Way," stripped to their skeletal parts, revealed facets previously unnoticed, and a depth the studio versions failed to capture. Nirvana's Unplugged performance became the measuring stick against all other Unplugged performances, and nothing held a candle to it. It has become a moment in time for a generation, and it was no wonder that MTV replayed the performance ad infinitum when Kurt was found dead in his home several months later. It also happens to be the one performance that bears repeat viewing, which owes much to the careful orchestration of the set and song choices by Nirvana. From the start with a "ABOUT A GIRL" a song from the first Nirvana album, which Kurt states 'no one really knows this song,' to the cathartic final performance of "WHERE DID YOU SLEEP LAST NIGHT" culminating in a primal scream, which still gives me chills when I see it.

I can't wait to see this again, and again...

5 out of 5 stars

Timeless. Absolutely Timeless. November 20, 2007
6 out of 6 found this review helpful

Maybe Kurt was just at the right place at the right time. Maybe he was a sloppy guitar player. But he was a good song writer and he was honest. Call it Nirvana. That's what it is.

I was 12, maybe 13 when I was first truly starting to love this band. Something spoke to me. After seeing the Unplugged performance on Much Music I had to own it on video. Finally today, 13 years later, I am.

Nirvana unplugged was to me then what it is to me now. An honest performance of a band at its best that spoke to a generation and more.

Call Cobain what you will. He is the Elvis and The Beatles of a later generation.

And just so you know, there hasn't been an artist in rock as big since.

To finally see the entire concert uncut in the pleasure of my own home is a blessing. As a bonus, you can view the original aired version. The rehearsals offer insight into how the night was played out. See why Kurt was worried about screwing up 'The Man Who Sold The World', and why 'PennyRoyal Tea' was a solo performance. See for yourself why Nirvana Unplugged is a testament of time.

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