Happy 20th Anniversary In Utero!

When it comes to following up a hit record, few bands have ever been burdened with the pressure and scrutiny Nirvana were in the wake of the culture-altering success of Nevermind. Transcending the mere nature of selling a ton of records, Nevermind was hailed as a quintessential part of every teen's existence as it rocketed the band to not just stars, but rather official spokespersons of an entire generation.

It's a heavy responsibility to be tagged as the go-to for millions of disaffected adolescents, and it's one that ultimately crushed the band (and, more specifically, its troubled frontman) under the weight of expectation. In Utero, the group's swansong, was a kicking and screaming resistance to the bright lights and microscopes alike; faced with the prospect of a massive and insatiable legion of fans (many of them bandwagoners with department store flannel) and a label hungry for lightning to strike twice, Nirvana made a record designed for maximum letdown for all but the true of heart.

In Utero is, as I've often stated in the past, one of rock history's ugliest and difficult records. Aside from a handful of slight concessions to DGC's pleas for radio fodder, it's a gnarled mess of broken tones and pummeling rhythms. It's no surprise reaction was lukewarm; history paints the album as a masterpiece, but it wasn't received quite so warmly while Cobain was still alive. This doesn't make it a lesser album than Nevermind by any stretch; in fact, though it may not be as important from a societal standpoint, In Utero is the better record as a statement.

It's easy to diminish its impact today, as we've seen so many bands try their hand at the "screaming against fame" shtick in a way that's not genuine, it can feel like a contrived move. For Nirvana in 1993 In Utero was a move that, though ultimately not enough to save the life of Kurt Cobain, was absolutely vital to the survival of Nirvana.

Comments

Year in Rock 2025

Alright, I've got some explaining to do. By now anyone who's visited this blog is well aware of how infrequently I've used this space in recent years; aside from the occasional fertile year of content, I really haven't posted all that often over the last five years or so. There are many reasons for this, which have already been outlined in previous apology posts; but, essentially, it boils down to my own laziness and the cold reality that blogs are, like Refused (again), fucking dead. So, I wouldn't hold my breath for a triumphant return to reviews, or even semi-regular posts, but: a) I feel like Year in Rock posts have always belonged here and, even though I've experimented with different methods of presentation recently and been satisfied, the "blink and you missed it" unveiling via Facebook stories this year was perhaps ultimately a disservice to the records I lauded. After all, cramming the list into short videos isn't too far off from ju...

Year in Rock 2013 Nominee: Arctic Monkeys

ARCTIC MONKEYS Do I Wanna Know? From: AM Released: September 10 That Year in Rock 2012's Single of the Year R U Mine? ended up on this album is pleasing, and it fits the motif well enough. But R U Mine? isn't what makes Arctic Monkeys' fifth album an Album of the Year contender. Sweaty, sultry and pulsing with sexual energy, AM is the kind of record that's just as effective whether you're chilling out after a long day, staring into a mirror prepping yourself for a late night clubbing session or setting the mood for some escapades in the boudoir.

Year in Rock 2023: Album of the Year #10-1

Now we're getting somewhere; the top ten, where there are no duds or mids, only bangers. Also, no more teasing it out; let's wrap this up! What I've learned this year from my ten faves this year is that it is indeed still possible for a dude approaching his fifties to more or less stay up to date on the new school. Of course, there are some listed here that got a boost from playing tribute to the old school, but there is an undercurrent happening in rock that points to the future. But, I'm getting ahead of myself; here come the champs. 10 MILITARIE GUN Life Under the Gun June 23, 2023 • Loma Vista Highlights Very High Will Logic Never Fucked Up Once Rising from the ranks of the still-potent L.A. hardcore scene, the debut record from Militarie Gun (following a trio of EPs) bears a dash of polish that's expected with backing from a larger label; the tension and energy remain, though, resulting in one of the catchiest hardcore albums I can think of in recent years. 9 ...

SOUND BITES

Search This Blog